Most Clicked ASCD SmartBrief Stories
1. Ideas for teaching students to craft logical arguments
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 15, 2012
The writer of this blog post suggests ways in which educators can teach students to construct logical arguments, a key element of the new Common Core State Standards on writing. Among other ideas, Katherine Schulten suggests students analyze a series of opinion blog posts on a topic that interests them, or create a collection of classroom opinions on a new topic of their choosing. New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (02/13)
2. Recognizing 7 myths about the way students learn
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 16, 2012
Education blogger Valerie Strauss addresses seven misconceptions about how students learn -- some of which are driving school reform. She asserts that basic facts can be included in engaging lessons; teachers talking should not be the focus of class; covering a lesson does not mean the material was taught; students' interests can be used to teach; acceleration does not equal rigor; a quiet classroom does not mean quality learning; and traditional schooling does not prepare students for life. Washington Post, The (02/14)
3. Will common standards drive improved student achievement?
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 17, 2012
New Common Core State Standards are not likely to improve student achievement, according to a study released Thursday by the Brookings Institution. The study, which considered the effects of state standards on student achievement, revealed that even higher standards and higher cut scores do not necessarily lead to improved performance on standardized tests. Education Week (02/16)
4. School focuses on real-life experiences for low-income students
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 14, 2012
Educators at New York City's P.S. 142, where nearly all students qualify for free lunches, take students on neighborhood field trips to help provide real-life experiences and a broader frame of reference to improve their reading and math skills. The strategy was developed by the school's principal, along with a child specialist. It also includes more playtime for younger students to help make learning more fun. New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (02/12)
5. NYC targets reading to boost middle-school performance
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
An initiative in New York City schools aims to improve student performance at 18 struggling middle schools by putting more emphasis on students who read and write at third- and fourth-grade levels. "The core problem of literacy in middle school is you're transitioning from learning to read, to reading to learn," city education official Josh Thomases said. The initiative includes funding for teacher training, reading specialists, and new software programs and books. New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (02/10)
6. What does AP data say about gender preferences?
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 16, 2012
Female students represented a majority of those taking the latest Advanced Placement Art History and English Language and Composition exams, while male students dominated AP exams in computer science and physics, according to this analysis by education blogger Erik Robelen. While these statistics from tests taken by 2011 high-school graduates may reflect certain stereotypes, Robelen also found more female students taking biology AP exams and more male students taking tests in music history, while the AP Calculus AB exams were evenly divided among genders. Education Week (02/15)
7. Danielson offers insight on teacher-evaluation work
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 16, 2012
Author and education expert Charlotte Danielson in this interview shares how she developed a framework for evaluating teachers and discusses how and why teacher quality should be measured. Danielson, who has crafted a teacher-evaluation system being replicated across the country, also talks about the work under way to implement evaluation systems in many states and districts. New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (02/15)
8. States consider holding back students who lack reading proficiency
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
Legislative measures are being considered in at least four states to allow schools to retain students who are not proficient in reading by third grade. Critics of the proposals say retaining students increases their odds of dropping out, while supporters say promoting students who are struggling is not the answer. "We know it's hard on a child's self-esteem to be held back, but it's even harder on self-esteem to be illiterate," said Linda Fandel, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad's special assistant on education. Wall Street Journal, The (02/13)
9. Student math achievement gets boost from Denver turnaround plan
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 17, 2012
A turnaround plan at a number of Denver schools has led to an increase in student achievement in math, with 30% of students improving by as much as a grade level in the subject since the program was implemented in August. As part of the program, students have been receiving daily one-hour math lessons and working with tutors. Students also are given interim assessments and some are asked to write about what they are learning in math, a practice that educators say helps reveal students' learning styles. Denver Post, The (02/17)
10. Va. district uses creativity, problem-solving to teach math
ASCD SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
A Virginia school district is using a student-centered approach to teaching math, in which students use problem-solving and reasoning to complete problems. The changes -- introduced to help students prepare for new Standards of Learning math tests -- are in place in elementary and middle schools. The teaching strategy also requires students to explain how they arrived at their answers. News Leader (Staunton, Va.), The (02/11)
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