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Is Michelle Obama’s girls education program coming to an end?
Bambi Majumdar EducationThere have been conflicting reports about the ending of Michelle Obama's girls education program. The start of this month saw a Trump administration memo announcing the end of the "Let Girls Learn" program. The backlash was swift and fierce. Within a week, the government announced that it is not going to stop or make any changes to the program.
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What LD families need from teachers and schools
Susan Winebrenner EducationTeaching and parenting students with learning difficulties is extremely complex and sometimes very frustrating for all parties concerned. For the students, the challenge is not to lose confidence in their abilities to learn successfully. The parents and teachers, meanwhile, struggle with the issue of knowing how to give help the "Goldilocks" way — not too little, not too much, but just right.
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Fidget spinners: Useful therapy tool or distracting toy?
Tammy Gibson EducationA new toy trend is literally spinning its way through schools and social media. Surprisingly, it's not a high-tech gadget — it's a colorful piece of plastic called a fidget spinner. These toys are the latest craze, but are they actually doing what they're marketed for?
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The importance of semantics in ESL instruction
Douglas Magrath EducationIn a recent article, I discussed the importance of phonetics for ESL instructors. But instructors can also benefit from an understanding of semantics — the study of meaning. Linguistic semantics has been defined as the study of how languages organize and express meanings.
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Giving students what they need most
Pamela Hill EducationWhat do students with learning disabilities need the most from their special educator? While many individualized skills and interventions are needed, there is one skill all students need from their special educator: the ability to problem-solve.
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What educators need to know about concussions
Brian Stack EducationIt can happen in an instant, from something as simple as a fall or a collision in a recreational setting, to a more significant event such as an automobile crash. These events can cause a concussion, a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that results when a bump, blow or jolt to the head causes the brain to move back and forth.
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Digital discovery: Online scavenger hunt for exploring amazing America
Debra Josephson Abrams EducationOne of the great joys of being an English Language Fellow is working with Access students, "talented 13-20-year-olds from economically disadvantaged sectors" who earn scholarships to study English in "after-school and intensive sessions." The English Access Microscholarship Program "gives participants English skills that may lead to better jobs and educational prospects. Participants also gain the ability to compete for and participate in future exchanges and study in the United States." The Access Program is worldwide; at the recent annual TESOL convention, I met those working with Access programs in India and Nicaragua.
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Are gifted education practices appropriate for all students?
Susan Winebrenner EducationAfter delivering workshops on teaching gifted kids, I am often asked by participants, "Wouldn't these teaching tips and interventions for gifted students be helpful for other students in my class? I can think of several who would respond positively to some of the opportunities you have been describing."
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Anxiety skyrockets as IEP season arrives
Howard Margolis EducationFor many parents, anxiety is skyrocketing. They fear the worst. It's IEP season. Past experiences have taught them to expect a bitter struggle, followed by feelings of powerlessness, despondence and anger.
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Why schools need to increase cybersecurity education
Bambi Majumdar EducationThe last 12 months have been a study in fake news, ransomware, hacking, allegations of media manipulation and malicious interference in public and private lives — all via the Internet. In such a scenario, it is quite understandable that parents and school administrators are worried about cybersecurity in schools.
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