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At an average university, the average student is 'functionally illiterate'
College students can't read well and don't try, writes a philosophy professor.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 313 min read
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Writing by hand builds reading, writing and thinking skills
Handwriting is part of literacy, but many students never learn to write in cursive.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 301 min read
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He, she, they, ze, tree: Don't keep secrets from parents about their own kids
Schools must tell parents if their child has requested to use a different name or pronouns at school, says the U.S. Education Department.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 292 min read
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Schools are becoming social services hubs with a little reading and math on the side
Schools are trying to solve every student's every problem, but neglecting their academic mission.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 281 min read
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If a student isn't learning, who's responsible?
Teaching students to be responsible for their actions is back in fashion.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 272 min read
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Seattle is losing top students: 'We don't serve their needs'
Seattle is closing special schools for advanced students -- and losing students to private schools.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 262 min read
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Devices are distractions: Take the tablets away
Internet-connected devices are distracting students -- not helping them learn.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 252 min read
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Chicago closed digital divide: Low achievers learned less, high achievers learned more
Closing the digital divide widened the achievement gap for Chicago students.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 251 min read
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Academia tilts very far to the left: Restoring balance won't be easy
Renaming DEI departments and ending diversity statements won't fix academia's intellectual monoculture.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 242 min read
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DEI double take
Columbia researchers say they're losing federal grants for DEI language that they were required to add by the Biden administration.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 232 min read
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Ed Dept's end will make Florida schools as good as Finland's, says Trump. Probably not.
Dismantling the U.S. Education Department will cut costs and improve learning, says President Trump.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 212 min read
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Dump the devices and bring back textbooks
Good, old-fashioned printed textbooks are valuable learning guides.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 202 min read
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What's a 'good' school? Parents have more choices, need more info
As school choice expands, parents need to evaluate test scores to find a "good school."

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 193 min read
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Data-loving district sees big learning gains: Is there too much testing?
Math and reading scores are way up in a high-poverty California district, but some teachers say there's too much testing.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 183 min read
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How 'Bama got better in math: Crunching numbers, coaching teachers pays off
Fourth-grade math scores are way up in a rural Alabama county that's turned to data analysis and coaching to improve learning.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 182 min read
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Covid broke public schools: Let's build a 'future-ready' system
Education's "new normal" is horrifying. Let's build a new education system out of the ashes.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 172 min read
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When Irish eyes are smiling (and Jewish kids are singing)
I loved singing Irish songs for St. Patrick's Day at my mostly Jewish public school.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 161 min read
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Silicon Valley runs on Asian tech talent: 66% of workers are immigrants
Two-thirds of Silicon Valley tech workers are immigrants: Half were born in Asia.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 151 min read
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Paying for failure: If at first you don't succeed, you get a try-again bonus
Failure algebra in Philadelphia, go to tutoring, retake the test and get a cash reward -- even if you fail again.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 142 min read
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Teachers can't do it all: Let them focus on teaching
Teachers should focus their time and energy on teaching, not DIY curriculum design.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 132 min read
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