Sunday, August 1, 2010

Pitt study among those to find poverty impacts function #Education News.org #edu

EducationNews.org
EducationNews Today

Pitt study among those to find poverty impacts function
8.1.10 - Peter Gianaros of the University of Pittsburgh is researching the effect of poverty on the developing brain using brain imaging. A classic public service ad showed a man holding an egg and saying, "This is your brain," and then dropping its contents into a sizzling frying pan and saying, "This is your brain on drugs."

The sound of bubbles bursting: Student gains on state test vanished into thin air
8.1.10 - Diane Ravitch - Every year for the past four years, the New York State Education Department has announced dramatic test score gains. And every year, it turns out they were misrepresenting reality. This year, New Yorkers got an accurate accounting of student performance, and it was sobering....

Julia Steiny: When rules open doors and anti-social students engage
8.1.10 - This is the first of two columns about lessons learned at "alternative schools" for troubled youth in Pennsylvania. The Lansdale School, in Montgomery County, is a remodeled commercial space, supplemented by a couple of portable classrooms - no frills. ...

$200 Textbook vs. Free. You Do the Math.
8.1.10 - Scott G. McNealy, with his 12-year-old son, Dakota. Mr. McNealy is trying to bring open-source textbooks to classrooms, from kindergarten to high school. Two founders of Sun Microsystems have created two nonprofits to bring open-source textbooks to kindergarten through high school classes. ...

Commentaries

Are we losing the magic; Do we really need highly motivated, innovative and resourceful teachers in today's classroom?
8.1.10 - Charles P. Brickman, NBCT - In the not too distant past highly motivated, innovative and resourceful teachers were especially appreciated and valued for their ability to bring the "magic" to the classroom. The "magic" of course, was the ability to motivate students to learn through innovative and resourceful applications of curriculum and subject matter that met the academic and learner readiness needs of their students.

Five Questions Every Parent Should Ask
8.1.10 - On this week's Dropout Nation Podcast, RiShawn Biddle offers advice to parents and other caregivers on how to improve education for their children through a few simple questions.