The Answer Sheet: July 4, 2010 - July 10, 2010

College students hitting books less, study shows

Add this to the common lament that things aren’t the same as they used to be: College students are apparently not studying anywhere nearly as much as they used to.

By Valerie Strauss  | July 9, 2010; 10:11 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  College Life, Research  | Tags:  college life, how much do college students study, how much do students study?, leisure college, research on studying, students studying less, study hours decline, studying and college  
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The problem with linking phys ed to academics

Sure, physical education has been linked to academic achievement. But why should it be? Isn't being physically fit a goal unto itself?

By Valerie Strauss  | July 9, 2010; 6:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (6)
Categories:  Guest Bloggers, Health  | Tags:  benefits of physical education, guest bloggers, health, pe and academics, physical education, physical education and academics, physical education and test scores, sean slade, teaching to the whole child, the whole child  
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Studies question Arizona’s policy on English learners

Nine new studies released today show how poorly English learners are faring in Arizona.

By Valerie Strauss  | July 8, 2010; 2:51 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (17)
Categories:  English language learners, Research  | Tags:  arizona and english language learners, arizona education policies, civil rights project at ucla, civil rights projects, new studies on arizona  
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Ravitch on teachers and her critics

Education historian Diane Ravitch brings down the house at a teachers convention and answers her critics.

By Valerie Strauss  | July 8, 2010; 12:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (12)
Categories:  Diane Ravitch, No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, Teachers  | Tags:  charter schools and research, death and life of great american school system, diane ravitch, ed week and ravitch, national education association and convention, nea convention, ravitch and nea, ravitch and teachers, ravitch and video, teachers convention  
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A tradeoff worth making for schools

A former longtime aide for Rep. David Obey disputes that Obey is "carrying water" for teachers unions by seeking a cut in Race to the Top to save teachers jobs.

By Valerie Strauss  | July 7, 2010; 3:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (12)
Categories:  Education Secretary Duncan, Guest Bloggers, No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top  | Tags:  cutting race to the top, legislation on teachers jobs, no child left behind, obey and teachers, obey and teachers bill, race to the top, saving teachers jobs, scott lilly  
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The value of arts education: A video

Here is a 14-minute film that does a great job detailing the impact of arts education on the development of children’s cognitive, artistic, social and psychological development.

By Valerie Strauss  | July 7, 2010; 9:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  Arts Education  | Tags:  andrew swaine, arts education, arts/learning, derek ledoux, effects of arts education, importance of arts education, kennedy center and arts video, value of arts education  
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Learning math with Sherlock Holmes

Teacher Sharon Jacoby’s students are having so much fun learning math in summer school that it makes you wonder why teachers can’t do this from September through June.

By Valerie Strauss  | July 7, 2010; 6:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  Learning, Math  | Tags:  interesting courses, learning math, math and sherlock holmes, summer school, summer school classes, thinking like sherlock holmes  
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Senators' logic for fighting cuts to Race to Top flawed

A letter that 13 senators wrote in opposition to proposed cuts to three of President Obama’s main education programs has some flawed reasoning.

By Valerie Strauss  | July 6, 2010; 12:31 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (14)
Categories:  No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top  | Tags:  bayh letter, cutting race to the top, duncan and race to the top, legislation and teachers, legislation to save teachers jobs, obey and education bill, obey and teachers, race to the top and second round, race to the top and winners, race to the top applications, race to the top criteria  
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What Gandhi would think about “The Lottery”

Educator Sam Chaltain writes about why he felt like he had been "punched in the gut" after watching "The Lottery."

By Valerie Strauss  | July 6, 2010; 11:27 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (7)
Categories:  Charter schools, Guest Bloggers, Sam Chaltain  | Tags:  charter schools, gandhi and buber, harlem success academy, harlem success academy and film, martin buber, sam chaltain, the lottery, the lottery and film  
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Ravitch's 'modest' vision for school reform

Education historian Diane Ravitch answers her critics and provides a "modest" vision for school reform.

By Valerie Strauss  | July 6, 2010; 6:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (12)
Categories:  Diane Ravitch  | Tags:  bridging differences, death and life of great american school system, diane ravitch, ford foundation, michael edwards and small change, new york city public school parents blog, ravitch and new book, ravitch's book, stphen koss  
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Is technology changing our brains? -- Willingham

Cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham looks at the effects of technology on kids and, for that matter, everybody else.

By Valerie Strauss  | July 5, 2010; 6:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (11)
Categories:  Daniel Willingham, Guest Bloggers, Technology  | Tags:  cognitive science, daniel willingham, effects of technology, how technology affects kids, how technology affects students, is technology changing our brains, steven pinker and cognition, technology and brains, technology and cognition, technology and students, technology in the classroom  
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Fun July 4 facts: Food, flags, fireworks, etc.

Where can you find Freedom and Liberty? How many Washingtons, Adams and Jeffersons would you need to feed if they all came to your barbecue? And where did those hot dogs and potato chips come from anyway?

By Valerie Strauss  | July 4, 2010; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  History  | Tags:  barbecue, facts about july 4, fireworks, fireworks and china, fireworks and experts, flag imports, fun facts and july 4, independence day facts, july 4 barbecue, potatoes and idaho, potatoes and washington state, u.s. population, u.s. population in 1776, watermelon production  
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