In the face of poor test scores and a lack of basic math skills among secondary-school students, educators around the country are rethinking math curricula, the New York Times reports. Math reforms a decade ago that emphasized letting students solve problems their own way, without necessarily teaching basics like long division, have not had their […]
Americans under 30 voted in the largest numbers for midterm elections in at least 20 years, and may have made a difference in the many close races. Young people favored Democrats by 22 points, nearly three times the Democratic margin among other age groups. Some say this indicates a rising Democratic bloc that could be
“For the wealthy with lots of financial assets, college costs less than it used to. For those who depend on their jobs for income, the opposite is true.” That’s the conclusion of the College Board, a research firm, as reported in Saturday’s New York Times. When expressed as weeks of pay needed to finance four
The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and its student clubs are celebrating October 15-21 as Ally Week. GLSEN says: “Ally Week is about identifying and supporting allies and asking them to sign the Ally Pledge to intervene in bullying and harassment throughout the school year.” Students and clubs are encouraged to register for Ally
Akeelah and the Bee is a gem of a movie for middle-school and late-elementary school children. Eleven-year-old Akeelah lives with her overworked mother in South Central LA and mourns the death of her father. Her two older brothers have their own paths, one in the Air Force and the other hanging with gangbangers. Akeelah struggles
Tomorrow, September 30, is Museum Day, and that means museums across the U. S. will be offering free admission. Simply print a pass from the Smithsonian Web site and you and a guest can get in free to participating museums. (Special exhibits may not qualify.) The Smithsonian organizes the yearly event, but this is the
The Seattle Times published an article this week on Finding Schools that Strive to be Inclusive. It’s a positive article, with examples of two moms, two dads, and interracial families. There are also some useful hints for educators, such as: A phrase such as “don’t forget to tell your parents about the field trip” rather
Having a pre-schooler, I don’t write about teens as often as perhaps I should. Here’s one item, however, that caught my eye: A long-term study of high school seniors’ educational and occupational plans found a widening gap between goals and actual achievements. Ambition can be good for some, the researchers say, but can also lead
Well, not exactly. But the man behind Elmo, Kevin Clash, has an upcoming book, My Life as a Furry Red Monster, in which he describes his life as the animating spirit behind one of Sesame Street’s most beloved characters. Clash, who is six feet tall and African American, is physically a far cry from his
Many of us are busy this week buying new lunchboxes, pencils, sneakers, and knapsacks for our school-bound broods. Equally helpful may be some of these school-related resources for LGBT parents. (You can also find most of these links, along with other good stuff, in my resource directory): [Update: Please see the 2016 list for the
