Can student reading groups backfire?
Separating students into reading groups based on their abilities may be doing more harm than good, according to a recent study. Northwestern University research fellow Marshall Jean followed 12,000 young students and found that the students who had been placed in the lowest reading-level group in kindergarten did not catch up to peers in the highest level.
Full Story: Education Week (tiered subscription model)
How is the 4-day school week working?
Teacher and student attendance improved at a New Mexico school after it switched to a four-day week last year, a move that has been implemented by about 40% of the state’s school districts. Former teacher and current state Senator Howie Morales is concerned about the effect a shorter week may have on student achievement and has backed a moratorium on new schools adopting the practice until they know more about its effect.
Full Story: PBS
PBL boosts scores in social studies, reading
Students in Michigan who followed a project-based learning curriculum had higher scores in social studies and reading than their peers who did not, according to a study by researchers from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Nell Duke, a lead author of the study, said, “This study shows that a well-designed project-based curriculum might be more effective than traditional instruction.”
Full Story: The Hechinger Report
BARR model credited with gains for 9th-graders
The Building Assets, Reducing Risks program has been credited with improving many types of schools since it was started by a school counselor in Minneapolis in 1999. The BARR model targets ninth-grade students by prioritizing their strengths and building a web of strong relationships around them to keep them on track.
Full Story: The Hechinger Report
Study: Growth mindset combats academic stress
Students who have a growth mindset are more likely to consider poor academic performance as a temporary setback that can be overcome, according to a recent study. Hae Yeon Lee, the study’s lead author, looked at students’ reactions to transitioning to high school by tracking their levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Full Story: Edutopia online
Audrey Altmann is an editorial assistant at SmartBrief.
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