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Why it's hard to close learning gaps
Student behavioral issues are a major barrier to closing learning gaps, say 67 percent teachers in a Khan Academy survey, reports...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 29, 20221 min read


If the house is haunted, get out
Absurd "racial equity" policies are hurting students who need help the most, writes a self-described left-wing teacher on Wesley Yang's...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 28, 20222 min read


Merit is not a myth
If I wanted to prevent disadvantaged or "marginalized" students from doing well in school, succeeding in college, learning a career or...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 27, 20222 min read


When teachers know their students well
When teachers know their students well, they can teach more effectively, writes Fordham's Nathaniel Grossman. When teachers and students...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 26, 20221 min read


Why teachers quit
Student misbehavior is a key reason that teachers leave their jobs, writes Chalkboard Review's Tony Kinnett, who surveyed teachers in the...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 26, 20221 min read


It's too noisy for kids to learn
It must be 45 years ago that I visited my first classroom as a reporter. I was shocked at the change from my school days. Students got up...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 23, 20222 min read


Teachers' union poll: Dems have lost education edge
Voters in battleground states trust Republicans slightly more than Democrats on education issues, according to a new Hart poll...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 15, 20222 min read


Tennessee rebounds: Is it tutors?
Reading scores have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels or better in Tennessee, according to a new analysis, reports Beth Hawkins on The 74....

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 12, 20221 min read


How to tell there's a teacher shortage
Paying teachers more if they have hard-to-find skills has been controversial in public education, but that's changing, reports Will...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 11, 20222 min read


Arizona: You can start teaching before you earn a degree
Arizona teachers won't need a bachelor's degree to launch their careers under a new law signed by Gov. Doug Ducey, reports Fox's Stephen...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 11, 20221 min read


4-day week appeals to teachers, students
Schools -- especially low-paying, rural schools -- are using a four-day week to recruit teachers, reports Elizabeth Heubeck in Education...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 10, 20222 min read


An 'incomplete' for 'equity grading'
What does an "A" mean? Does "C-" signify "almost satisfactory" or "learned very little but got some extra credit points?" The push to...

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 6, 20222 min read
Black male teachers are not security guards
If schools want more black male teachers, principals will have to let them be teachers — not security guards — writes Durrell Burns....

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 16, 20221 min read


Out the classroom door, but still teaching
While there’s little evidence of a “Big Quit” in education there may be a Significant Shift in how teachers see their options, writes...

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 15, 20223 min read


Second wave of learning loss is coming in ’23-24
Students learned a lot less in remote classes, test scores show. “The achievement loss is far greater than most educators and parents...

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 12, 20221 min read


For years, a teacher groomed girls for sex
Matt Drange’s high school journalism teacher was a cut-up who always had time to hang out with students. Especially teenage girls from...

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 8, 20222 min read


Gender lessons: Boy parts, girl parts
gender identity, reports Laura Meckler in the Washington Post. “Seven states now require that curriculums include LGBTQ topics,” she...

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 4, 20223 min read


If you can’t hire a physics teacher, is virtual OK?
A chemistry teacher live-streams into a conventional classroom. Photo: Elevate K-12 Virtual learning didn’t work well during the...

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 1, 20222 min read


Don’t know much about teaching math
Are elementary teachers well prepared to teach math? Many elementary teachers aren’t confident about their math skills, and transmit...

Joanne Jacobs
May 24, 20221 min read


Magical thinking on teaching math
We know a lot about how to teach students who have trouble learning math, writes researcher Tom Loveless. Why not use that? Photo:...

Joanne Jacobs
May 23, 20222 min read
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