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Beyond fat cats on mats: Knowledge closes the learning gap
Teaching phonics is a critical first step in teaching reading, but students need to build knowledge and vocabulary to get from fat cats...

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 12, 20232 min read
2 comments


From wombats to koalas: Does knowledge 'transfer' for young readers?
"Chatty Chick chats in church" in a poem used by reading tutors. Last year, the second grader I was tutoring was shocked at Chatty...

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 2, 20232 min read
5 comments


Scientists, engineers, chefs, gardeners become freelance teachers
An ecosystem of innovative schools and teaching specialists is growing in South Florida's Broward County, writes Ron Matus on ReimaginED....

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 12, 20232 min read
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Climate ed in PE, art . . . ?
New Jersey teachers are teaching about climate change in all grade levels and subjects, writes Caroline Preston on the Hechinger Report. ...

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 22, 20222 min read
3 comments


NYU fires tough chem prof, raises complainers' grades
Would-be doctors have to get through organic chemistry, a tough class that can be a dream killer. When NYU pre-meds earned poor grades...

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 5, 20223 min read
9 comments


They passed calculus, but can't add fractions
Alex Small, who teaches physics at Cal Poly Pomona, keeps seeing students who passed calculus in high school, but aren't prepared for...

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 20, 20222 min read
11 comments


The smart get smarter
In the ten years before the pandemic, high achievers did better in math and reading while everyone else slid, writes Fordham's Michael...

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 1, 20222 min read
1 comment


Science teachers: Don’t say ‘parent’
Who are these people? Photo: Serrano1004/Pixabay Don’t say “parent,” advises a feature article in the National Science Teaching...

Joanne Jacobs
May 23, 20221 min read
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Good Idea, or Watering Down Science Class Even More?
From the major Sacramento newspaper: Dissecting frogs and cats — a common assignment for kids in California biology classes — could soon...

Joanne Jacobs
May 1, 20191 min read
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How to win a Nobel Prize
Science is all about the posters, reports The Onion. STOCKHOLM—Anxiously awaiting critiques from the judges, the world’s leading...

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 6, 20181 min read
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Young scientists
Science Fair, a documentary about teenage competitors in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, is “unfailingly charming,”...

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 22, 20181 min read
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Girls call STEM come-ons ‘creepy’
Teen-age girls are groomed for the STEM lifestyle in summer coding camps. “With responses ranging from “squirming in discomfort” to...

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 13, 20181 min read
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STEM is for C students too, says report
Young people can succeed in technical jobs even with mediocre grades in math and science or liberal arts majors, claims a new study, on...

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 13, 20182 min read
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Middle school to manufacturing
Middle-schoolers in Ohio are learning math, science and programming — and competing in contests such as MakerMinded to expose them to...

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 10, 20182 min read
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Even confident, capable girls don’t study STEM
Girls who are high achievers in math, and confident about their ability, are less likely to major in math, engineering and science than...

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 22, 20181 min read
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Equality widens STEM’s gender gap
In gender-equal Norway and Finland, 20 percent of college graduates in science, engineering and math are women, compared to 41 percent in...

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 21, 20181 min read
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Teacher coaches boost math learning
“Extending the reach of excellent teachers,” the goal of Public Impact’s Opportunity Culture initiative, improves math achievement,...

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 30, 20182 min read
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Turning scientists, engineers into teachers
Math, chemistry and physics teachers are in short supply. A new MIT-based program is trying to turn scientists, engineers and programmers...

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 29, 20182 min read
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Auto shop is sold as STEM training
Pushed to offer more college-prep classes, California high schools have cut auto shop and other vocational classes, reports Carolyn Jones...

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 8, 20182 min read
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Playing with DNA
Among the STEM toys in this holiday gift guide is this kit for ages 10 and up. In my day, children couldn’t isolate DNA at home, though I...

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 22, 20171 min read
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