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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 28, 20251 min read


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 18, 20253 min read


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 18, 20252 min read


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 15, 20251 min read


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 14, 20252 min read


Teaching number sense: 3 + 4 is not 34
Children need to learn basic math facts at an early age to develop number sense.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 24, 20252 min read


In search of the 'science of math'
Is learning math really like learning to ride a bicycle?

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 24, 20253 min read


What did we get for $190 billion in school aid? Very little
Pandemic learning loss averaged half a year for most students, but the neediest students lost more in reading and math.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 12, 20252 min read


Way behind and not catching up: Inside a math 'intervention' class
If students don't learn foundational math skills, they tend to fall farther and farther behind.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 4, 20253 min read


Getting better: How Louisiana is raising reading and math scores
How Louisiana is raising reading scores and hoping to improve math achievement.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 3, 20253 min read


Reading, math scores are out: 'The news is not good'
Reading scores are still falling on the "nation's report card," while math scores are the same.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 29, 20252 min read


Covid school closings hurt kids' learning, health and happiness -- for nothing
Reopening schools didn't increase Covid cases, hospitalizations or deaths in five countries. But kids learned more.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 27, 20252 min read


Do your math: You'll earn more as an adult
Math skills predict adult earnings more strongly than reading skills, health or other factors.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 9, 20252 min read


Return of the nerds: US should honor mathletes as much as athletes
Honor mathletes and science fair winners or plan to import a lot of high-tech immigrants.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 2, 20252 min read


STEM students will face sink-or-swim calculus in California
California community colleges will require unprepared STEM majors to be placed in calculus.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 12, 20242 min read


If tests are optional, calculus is mandatory for aspiring students
Taking AP Calculus is almost obligatory for students applying for top colleges, even if they aren't interested in math or science majors.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 12, 20241 min read


'Multilevel classes' aren't equitable or excellent, say teachers
Mixing high-achieving, average and low-achieving students in the same class was a noble experiment, writes Ryan Normandin, a high school...

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 11, 20242 min read


U.S. math scores show 'devastating' decline
U.S. students are doing much worse in math, while some other countries are improving.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 5, 20242 min read


Students learn more math when the teacher teaches
Direct instruction helps more students learn more math compared to student-led methods.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 25, 20242 min read


Teach the children well: From rural Oregon to Houston, students are learning more
Third-graders at Adrian Elementary School, in the poorest county in Oregon, have the highest reading proficiency scores in the state,...

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 28, 20242 min read
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