A study of the largest urban school districts in the United States found that students take an average of 112 standardized tests between pre-kindergarten and 12th grade. While some students excel at test-taking, others can get stressed out. A Washington Post study found high schoolers spend almost three hours a night studying. Experts say the right environment is key to homework strategies as students go back to school this fall. “Students need to learn in…
For a few weeks in the spring of 2016, nearly all the eighth grade students at a small public school affiliated with Columbia University agreed to stay late after school to study math. They were preparing for a critical test, the New York State’s Regents examination in algebra. Half of the kids came from families that lived below the poverty line in Harlem and upper Manhattan. They attended a selective middle school and were advanced…
Cognitive scientists argue that testing improves learning. They call it “practice retrieval” or “test-enhanced learning.” In layman’s language, that means that the brain learns new information and skills by being forced to recall them periodically. Remembering consolidates information and helps the brain form long-term memories. Of course, practice quizzes are not the only way to accomplish this, but it’s easy and efficient in a classroom. Several meta-analyses, which summarize the evidence from many studies, have…
The school day is already long, and many children are not getting enough sleep. Add in extra after-school activities, and it’s easy to understand why shutting off their brain is often their number one priority. Some children find it more difficult than others to crack a book open when they get home; even children who find the time to sit down and study may struggle with using this time well. Watching your child struggle with…
You’ve signed up for classes, you’ve learned your way around the virtual course system — and now, you’ve got to make sure you survive all the way to graduation. Laptop or paper notes? Highlighter or flashcards? And does music help while studying? Here’s how to take better notes and study so that you remember what you’ve learned — without getting crushed by college stress. Plus: what to do if you do feel crushed. There is…
It’s that time of year again—it’s back to school season, and about time to start off another school year! While a new outfit or set of school supplies can definitely help get you off to a good start, so can a fresh perspective. August is a great time for students to evaluate their performance from the previous year, explore new ways to overcome challenges, and come up with a plan to stay on track for…
Daniel Willingham is a University of Virginia psychologist who frequently engages in pop culture battles armed with academic research and study tips. Research evidence shows that we all learn through a variety of ways: visually, aurally and kinesthetically. For years, he has complained that teachers aren’t heeding research and study tips about reading instruction, and that many educators are misguided when it comes to teaching critical thinking. Now, Willingham has shifted his focus from teachers…
It’s no surprise that loud, unwanted sounds can be disruptive and even damaging to ears. However, even background noise like the air conditioning running, the refrigerator humming and delivery vans idling outside can be cause for concern. According to Nina Kraus, a neurobiology professor at Northwestern University who studies sound, ongoing noises that people claim to “tune out” are unlikely to harm ears, but they can still have a profound effect on the brain. Repeated…
