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Solving the math problem: Who decides how to teach math?
Math scores are low, and educators can't decide if students need more explicit instruction or more time for "inquiry."

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 112 min read


Learning 'isn't always fun, and that's OK'
Learning may not always be fun, but kids need to know it's worth the effort.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 172 min read


The anti-knowledge league prefers 'engagement' to learning
Teaching knowledge and vocabulary helps students learn, but education professors prefer "engagement" to learning.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 21, 20252 min read


Structured math is the new old math: Teach the basics, test mastery, move on
Low math scores have pushed New Zealand and England to adopt explicit, structured teaching "mastering the basics before you move on."

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 18, 20252 min read


A radical idea to improve schools: Do what works
Doing what works -- and avoiding fads and ideology -- would improve learning dramatically.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 28, 20252 min read


Vibes-based, guide-on-the side teaching is 'soul destroying'
Ignoring how children learn in favor of letting teachers do what feels good is a "soul destroying" mistake.

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 18, 20253 min read


Hands on, minds off: Constructing confusion
"Discovery" students are busy and engaged, but not necessarily learning.

Joanne Jacobs
May 7, 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


Johnny, Jelani and Juan can't read: Is it Mom and Dad's fault?
Don't blame parents for children's reading struggles.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 17, 20253 min read


'I can't learn if I have no idea what to do'
When teachers teach, ask questions, let students practice and provide feedback, students learn more.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 5, 20252 min read


Atticus learns to read: Teaching phonics works
K-1 students made significant gains when teachers used UFLI Foundations, a systematic phonics and phonemic awareness program.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 15, 20251 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


Teaching shouldn't be 'guess what's in my head'
Explicit teaching works better than student-centered learning.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 25, 20242 min read


Sprinkling the fairy dust that helps children fly
My visiting eight-month-old granddaughter crawl-flopped past the teething toys to chew on the metal leg of the coffee table. "Try the...

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 21, 20241 min read


Only the education-rich can afford laissez-faire schools
Monogamy is "outdated," Troubled author Rob Henderson's Yale classmate told him. She's been raised in a stable, two-parent family and...

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 1, 20242 min read


It takes a teacher: Many students won't 'discover' science on their own
You'd think that science educators would "follow the science" about what works for students, writes Holly Korbey on The Bell Ringer. But...

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 25, 20242 min read


How to teach math well: There are wrong answers
Engineering, computer science, accounting, finance and medicine will not be options for people who couldn't find the lowest common...

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 4, 20242 min read


Why so many parents mistrust schools: They didn't teach our kids to read
"When schools fail to teach reading, it harms the public's trust in schools," writes Kendra Hurley in Slate. Her children's Brooklyn...

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 17, 20232 min read


Old is new in math teaching: 'You have to explicitly teach content'
Johnny can't calculate -- or order enough pizza for a group of six who each want one-third of a pie. Math proficiency, already low,...

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 20, 20232 min read


'Learning stations' are glitzy busywork: Teachers should teach
"Learning stations" are a waste of time, writes Daniel Buck. Motivated achievers may be able to learn independently, but most students...

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 23, 20232 min read
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