Michael P. Toothman

When children are learning a new language, ask them to act out vocabulary words. It’s fun to unleash a child’s inner thespian, of course, but a 2020 study concluded that it also nearly doubles their ability to remember the words months later. Researchers asked 8-year-old students to listen to words in another language and then use their hands and bodies to mimic the words - spreading their arms and pretending to fly, for example, when learning the German word flugzeug, whi...ch means airplane. After two months, these young actors were a remarkable 73 percent more likely to remember the new words than students who had listened without accompanying gestures. It’s a simple reminder that if you want students to remember something, encourage them to learn it in various ways - by drawing it, acting it out, or pairing it with relevant images. #education #language

For many children, typing just doesn’t cut it. In 2012, preliterate children's brain scans revealed crucial reading circuitry flickering to life when kids hand-printed letters and then tried to read them. The effect largely disappeared when the letters were typed or traced. In 2020, researchers studied seventh-graders while they handwrote, drew, and typed words and concluded that handwriting and drawing produced neural tracings indicative of deeper learning.... Whenever self-generated movements are included as a learning strategy, more of the brain gets stimulated, the researchers explain, before echoing the 2012 study: It also appears that the movements related to keyboard typing do not activate these networks the same way that drawing and handwriting do. Should we replace typing with handwriting? No, but science suggests there is still a meaningful place for handwriting in the development of children. #education #learning #teachers

"The quality of a university’s faculty is not solely measured by the number of doctorates they award, nor by the respective institutional ranking of the school at which they research. What college students need more than almost anything else is inspiration." These are 17 of the Most Innovative Courses of the 2019/2020 Academic Year. #education

Teacher bloggers and educators of all subjects have taken to YouTube to share their practices and pedagogies. Here are 15 inspiring and helpful teacher vloggers to follow this year. #education

Parents, if our global health challenge has forced you back into the role of homeschool teacher, you are not alone. There are many resources available to help you - whether you choose to augment your current plan or deviate from the school district altogether. Khan Academy has an extensive catalog of self-paced, interactive, and easy-to-navigate courses developed for the young learner. You get sample daily schedules, parent guides, and tons of support. They supply everything ...you need - including sanity (wine, however, is optional). If math is your weakness, I feel Khan Academy teaches math better than most school systems. So, don't be frustrated with your already overworked teacher (who really didn't sign up for this either). Give Khan Academy a try. Remember, it costs you nothing. #education