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A ken for kenning: Identifying and creating imaginative language
Debra Josephson Abrams EducationFor those who read the poetic epic "Beowulf" in excerpts or in its entirety, you'll remember the many kennings in the text. According to the British Library, a third of "Beowulf" is kennings. Kennings are types of figurative and metaphorical compound terms created using mixed imagery, with etymology in Old English, Old Norse and German. Bone-house (body) and whale-road (ocean) are two of the most famous kennings, both from "Beowulf."
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What’s the best reading program for my struggling child?
Howard Margolis EducationParents often ask me, "What's the best reading program for my child? He struggles with reading. It's awful." Unfortunately, this question can't be answered. Why? Programs do not teach reading — teachers do.
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The play debate: Shouldn’t preschoolers work more at school?
Sheilamary Koch EducationPlay embodies a plethora of activities that activate the child's growth on multiple levels — physical, neurological, emotional, intellectual — all simultaneously. The important role each type of play has in the development of a preschool-aged child was addressed in my previous article.
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The debate over NARCAN in our schools
Brian Stack EducationIt is a familiar story that is plaguing America's communities, with a familiar headline that appears to repeat itself over and over again: "Young person dies of apparent drug overdose." The American Society of Addiction Medicine reports that opioids — the class of drugs that include the illicit drug heroin as well as prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine and fentanyl — are the root cause for a spike in drug overdose deaths in recent years. Of the more than 47,000 lethal drug overdoses in 2014, more than 29,000 were caused by opioids.
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Charter schools are still needed in K-12 education
Bambi Majumdar EducationNever has the debate about charter schools been more prominent than now, when even presidential candidates are pushing the "school of choice" agenda. Proponents say charter schools will help bring about much needed educational reforms — and fast.
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How do we concentrate? New insights into the brain
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareFormer President George H.W. Bush's "Decade of the Brain" has come and gone, but many mysteries remain. And scientists continue to help the world better understand the brain's role in both health and behavior. For example, research has shown it takes one part of the brain to start concentrating and another to be distracted. Our brains pay attention in one of two ways — either willfully, which is goal oriented; or reflexive, which may be in response to sensory information (think bright lights or loud noises).
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Increasing our focus on general academic vocabulary
Erick Herrmann EducationThere has been much discussion around the topic of academic language instruction for English learners, and for all students. The discussion has revolved around the need to teach students the language of academia, the language of college and career readiness, and language needed to be successful in our ever-changing society.
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ITT Tech hangs nursing students out to dry
Joan Spitrey Healthcare AdministrationOn Sep. 6, ITT Technical Institute announced to its students that it would discontinue operations effective immediately due to new unfulfilled requirements placed on them by the U.S. Department of Education. With this announcement, tens of thousands of students at more than 130 campuses in 39 states found themselves stalled in their educational pursuits.
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The play debate: Do preschoolers need more free time?
Sheilamary Koch EducationGrowing concern about preschool and kindergarten students being ready for the academic rigors they'll face in primary is leading some schools to shift the focus away from activities seen as less fundamental. This frequently translates into reduced time for recess, free play or creative arts; and a larger portion of the school day spent seated in direct instruction.
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Understanding international students: Classroom applications
Douglas Magrath EducationThere are many benefits for instructors who have an understanding of their learners' cultures as well as their own culture. For example, a teacher's comments may be misunderstood because of the different ways teachers communicate in L1 cultures.
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