Survey finds disconnect with gifted classes
Students in gifted classes are more likely to spend time on critical thinking, creativity and so-called “extension activities” than on advanced material, according to a survey by the National Center for Research on Gifted Education at the University of Connecticut. Three-quarters of the schools surveyed said they did not use a separate curriculum for gifted courses.
Full Story: The Hechinger Report
Activities to help prepare students’ brains to learn
Brain breaks and focused attention practices help to prepare students’ brains to learn, suggests Lori Desautels, assistant professor in the College of Education at Butler University. Desautels shares several such activities, including having students simulate swimming, trace their hand and pour water between two cups.
Full Story: Edutopia online
Experts cite benefits of whole-child focus
Schools that incorporate whole-child educational competencies have greater success in teaching social and emotional literacy, which better prepares students to navigate the workforce, experts said at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education. A major challenge for schools lies in measuring their own success in teaching those skills, panelists said.
Full Story: Education Dive
Study demonstrates value of preschool programs
Expanded access to preschool programs can improve students’ performance — even among those who do not attend — according to a study by researchers at the University of South Carolina. Researchers credit preschool attendance with helping to curb bad behavior and improve test scores in elementary school, which helped to boost the school environment for all students.
Full Story: Chalkbeat
School adopts hands-on approach to science
An alternative school in New York state uses hands-on, collaborative learning to engage middle-schoolers in science lessons. Rather than prepackaged experiments, students engage in challenges and experimentation largely driven by students’ own questioning and knowledge.
Full Story: KQED-TV/FM (San Francisco)
Audrey Altmann is an editorial assistant at SmartBrief.
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