When formalized mandatory education in this country began, students were not required to attend school during the summer months.  At that time, our country was still primarily agrarian in nature, and many children were necessary to assist in the chores of the family farm. Therefore, “summer vacation” really wasn’t a vacation.  It mean laboring in…

If you Google “Music Education NCLB,” you’ll find article after article decrying the cutting of music and arts programs from as far back as almost 20 years ago. Even back then, experts spoke of the positive effects of music education on scholastic performance because of its influence relative to discipline, competitiveness, achievement, creativity, and physical…

Back in 1956, a team of researchers led by Dr. Benjamin Bloom identified three domains of educational activity: Cognitive, Affective and Kinesthetic. Cognitive refers to the processes involved with learning that happen via the mind.  Rote memorization, scaffolding, and mnemonic devices are examples of learning involving processes which engage the mind.  It’s where knowledge “resides”…

Back in 1988, a company called Nike launched a very successful marketing campaign with the tag line, “Just Do It.” That phrase became so ingrained within the collective psyche of our society that it’s now believed that if you’re not seen as “doing something,” you’re wasting time. Further, with the promise of technology being able…

In celebration of the first day of spring this week, this article, appropriately titled, was submitted by a teacher who was completing her first year at a new school a few years ago.  Does it resonate with what happens at your school…perhaps even more so in our post-pandemic environment? “Why do our new teachers keep…

Many companies today espouse “Best Practices” when they say what their company does.  That’s a great way to build confidence in their target market. But difficulties arise when companies that may not espouse “Best Practices” want to know what others consider to be “Best Practices” so they can consider implementing them at their company. Then…

Remember that song from “Sesame Street?” My wife and I grew up in “MisterRogers Neighborhood,” so the next generation that grew up on the “Street” had to find out who the people in their neighborhood were through song rather than a by a personal visit or video views through a magical picture frame. So who…

In the schools I’ve visited, I’ve heard several administrators say that if the children are happy, the parents are happy.  If the parents are happy, the teachers are happy.  If the teachers are happy, the administrators are happy.  Put them all together and it creates an environment conducive to learning and school success. In mathematical…

Everyone working the field of education today has heard the arguments for and against the Common Core Curriculum as well as the benefits and drawbacks of increased standardized testing. Interestingly, anyone graduating from college with their degree in education has undoubtedly done some type of research regarding these topics, but has also experienced the additional…

You may have heard of the 3 “V”s of Big Data. What’s Big Data?  It’s the voluminous amount of information that is being mined by corporations by various means (like Internet searches, surveys and preference settings) for a variety of purposes (like targeted marketing, new product development and predictive analytics). Its now the storehouse of…