Articles written by Barbara Pytel
Showing 1-100 of 341 Articles
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Schools Discontinue Valedictorian Title
Graduation ceremonies are changing in how top students are honored.
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Why Merit Pay for Teachers is not the Answer
Arne Duncan is promoting merit pay as an incentive for teachers to work harder and raise student scores. What are the numerous flaws in this theory?
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The Many Benefits of Recess in Schools
Recess is emerging as a valuable tool consisting of social, emotional, physical, and cognitive benefits. Both students and teachers benefit from recess.
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Pros and Cons of Recess Time in Schools
Recess has been a long-standing tradition in elementary and middle schools. Currently, recess time is being cut to allow for more instruction in math and reading.
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ADHD Medication or More Recess?
Are Ritalin, Focalin, Adderall, Concerta, and Strattera increasing because recess times are decreasing? Research is surfacing to support this hypothesis.
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ELL Students Need Oral-Language Skills
Fluency is now recognized as an essential component to reading and understanding. What are experts saying about it?
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Preschool Controversy – Academics or Play?
Academic work is being pushed to lower grade levels each year. Should preschools abandon play formats and focus on academics?
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H.S. Sports May Not Promote Healthy Behaviors
New research by the American Public Health Association says that the long accepted mantra that sports improve behaviors may no longer be true.
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Tuition Vouchers in Washington D.C. Ending?
The options for equal education in Washington D.C. are ending. Soon, only the rich will be able to afford a private education.
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Eligibility Guidelines Vary from State to State
Not only do eligibility requirements vary from state to state, but they also vary from high school to high school within a state.
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What are Best Indicators of Excellent Teaching?
Just what makes one teacher superior over another? The Gates Foundation is funding research to find the answer to this question.
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Children Feel Parents' Stress Over Finances
The American Psychological Association gives an annual survey. Find out if stress is going up or down this year.
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Fast-Track Diplomas to Cut Dropout Rate
While other states are increasing graduation requirements and frustrating already discouraged high school students, Des Moines decided to condense them.
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Teacher Quality vs. Teaching Programs
Arne Duncan, President Obama's appointed Secretary of Education, states that colleges are not in touch with what schools need today. They need an overhaul and soon.
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Can Catholic Schools Survive?
In the last decade, one out of five Catholic schools closed their doors. Who gets hurt the most when a neighborhood parochial school closes?
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Math Scores in U.S. Hit a Plateau
NAEP, known as the Nation's Report Card, delivers the bad news that math in the U.S. has hit a wall.
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Officials Scrutinize Race to the Top
The Board on Testing and Assessment tells Arne Duncan that assessment criteria are not acceptable. Multiple choice tests are not the best assessment tools.
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Schools Fail the Poor
Students in better neighborhoods get more money per pupil than students living in poverty pockets or remote areas. Funding per student is not equal.
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Who Gets Internet Addicted?
A new study reveals who is most likely to become addicted to the Internet. The results are surprising.
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Teach for America & Traditional Teacher Training
Can a five-week crash course be as effective as a four-year education degree? The reaction from administrators is surprising.
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Spanking Has Negative Effect on Intelligence
The consensus of a team of New Hampshire researchers is to never spank a child under any circumstances.
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See You at the Pole Public School Prayer Event
On the fourth Wednesday of September each year, students gather to pray around a flagpole.
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September 11, 2001 Curriculum
The Sept. 11 Education Trust, in cooperation with educators, has compiled a 9/11 curriculum for middle school and high school students.
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How to Raise Your School's Proficiency Scores
One school has raised scores by an amazing margin. What did it do to raise scores?
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School Uniforms Gaining Popularity
Students are protesting but parents and teachers are smiling. Why are schools embracing the old tradition of school uniforms?
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Free Ivy League Education
The top ranked institutions are making college more affordable than at a public university.
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Arne Duncan's Chicago Success Is Deceptive
Secretary of Education Duncan was nominated because of his great results in Chicago. Research now shows results could have been inaccurate.
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A Nation of Boys At-Risk
Boys are checking out of education. Why are males less successful in school than girls?
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How Important are Children's Names?
While student names help create an identity, are there actual patterns in behavior based on names?
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Michelle Rhee Challenges Public School Teachers
No Child Left Behind has challenged many schools to change. But, under the leadership of Michelle Rhee, Washington D.C. teachers are on the cutting edge of major change.
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Secretary Duncan Issues Warning to Governors
States are cutting spending to balance education budgets but Arne Duncan is warning not to cut budgets and expect the stimulus money to replace it.
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Teachers Who are Paid to Do Nothing
Each year, schools pay millions of dollars for teachers to come to work while they sit in a special room to surf the internet, play cards or watch television. Learn why.
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Game Predicts Kindergarten Achievement
This may sound rather strange but many clients are lining up for this game that could help students get interventions quicker in education.
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Small School Success Causes Problems
With the improvement of some smaller schools in New York City, larger schools are complaining. How could one school's success be another school's failure?
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How to Fix America's Schools
American education is losing momentum to other countries. How can this declining situation be fixed?
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Sleep and Children's Health
New studies show that the amount of sleep and when sleep occurs make a difference.
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Sonia Sotomayor and Her Impact on Schools
Past decisions are a likely indicator of future decisions. How has Sonia Sotomayor ruled in school cases in the past?
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Fine Arts Change the Brain
Has the focus on math and reading under NCLB actually hurt learning?
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Bullying and Theft Continue in Schools
Victimization at school continues to be a large problem with lasting effects.
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Obama's Change in Education is Materializing
Candidate Obama made promises to change education while running for president. The unions that endorsed him may not be pleased. He promised change. He's making changes.
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Get Pregnant as Teen, Get Fat?
Girls are more likely to be heavy if they bear children in teen years. Waiting to have children later in life is less likely to result in obesity.
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Gardner's Eight Intelligences
Binet may have begun IQ testing, but Howard Gardner has taken it to a much higher level.
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History of IQ Tests
Testing for intelligence began growing in popularity in France. Psychologist Alfred Binet was hired by the French government to develop a test.
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Boys Need Nurturing and Purpose
Society perceives boys as strong and not needing as much emotional support as girls. Michael Gurian states this is not true.
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Science Education Needs an Overhaul
Students are losing interest in science because it is not relevant to them. Memorizing facts is not enough.
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How Stress Affects the Brain
A Yale study shows a correlation to childhood stress and depression later in life. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can actually shrink brain cells.
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Dropout Rates in Midwest
The Midwest has traditionally been solid in education but dropout rates are increasing in the Heartland.
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How Verbal and Visual Learners Process Data
Twenty-five students sitting a classroom are not processing information in the same manner. The brain is translating information differently in each person.
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The Effects of Popularity
Whether someone is popular, or believes himself to be popular, has an effect on success in school and life.
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Free Online College
No tuition, no professors, and no college buildings. If a college degree is free, can it have any value?
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Washington D.C. Teachers Paid Up to $135,000?
It is a fact of life that teachers are underpaid. Those entering the field of education do not plan on ever being wealthy.
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Saving Money with Dual Credit Classes
Many high school students have experienced AP classes, International Baccalaureate and dual enrollment. This year, more are opting for dual credit than ever before.
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Formal Assessments vs. Clickers
Electronic clickers are a new, swift and efficient method to check for understanding in a classroom.
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Minorities Lag Behind Whites in School
Middle schools are offering honors high school classes but few minority students sign up for them.
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Why Finland is First in Education
While the U.S. may be attempting to enact No Child Left Behind, Finland has already accomplished this goal. What can the U.S. learn from Finland?
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Why Are College Costs Rising?
The assumption is made that tuition costs are increasing each year because the cost of education is on the rise. The Delta Cost Project states otherwise.
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Childhood Depression Linked to Academic Success
Researchers at University of Missouri-Columbia have linked depression with poor academic skills in elementary school.
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How to Organize a Classroom
7th grade math and social studies teacher, Cossondra George, has some organizational tips she's learned from 20 years of teaching in Newberry, Michigan.
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SAT and Colleges Disagree On Score Choice
Should students be able to take the SAT, put a hold on scores until they know results, and choose which scores to release to colleges?
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Algebra Taught in First Grade
If high school students are struggling to pass Algebra, why is Lebanon, Oregon teaching this concept in first grade?
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Who Is Arne Duncan?
What do we know about Arne Duncan and why did Barack Obama select him for Secretary of Education?
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Cyber Bullying Is Now Illegal
13-year-old Megan Meier's death has changed how legal experts see cyber bullying. It is no longer considered a teen-age prank. It is now a crime.
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College May Cost Much More in 2009-2010
The recent financial crisis will have an effect on retirement portfolios but will also affect the affordability of college for students.
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How To Increase Learning
There are some things that parents can do at home with their child to increase learning.
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How To Reduce Cheerleading Injuries
While routines are growing in complexity and also becoming more dangerous, no one is keeping track of just how many injuries are occurring.
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Bound Books Are Better
Don't throw out those textbooks and library books yet. Researchers have found that technology is not always better.
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Denver School Eliminates Grade Levels
Next year, Westminster will try something that has never been tried in the Lower 48 states-no grade levels. The curriculum will be totally driven by state standards.
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Cheating in High School is Growing
Character Counts is a national program promoting honesty and character. How do today's high school students fare in the honesty and ethics departments?
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Yawning Cools Brain
On a hot day, students have trouble focusing and begin to yawn in a classroom. Did the teacher prepare a boring lesson? Possibly, but not necessarily.
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Army Preparatory High School Successful
How many students pass the GED at Fort Jackson, S.C., the Army's largest training base? 99%!!
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Latest Bill Gates Education Initiative
Bill and Melinda Gates are now focusing on higher education, teacher quality, research, and performance-based pay.
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Pros and Cons of Same-Sex Classrooms
Many schools are separating boys from girls in middle school. Some praise the project and others express concerns and even condemn the action.
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Warning Signs Predicting Teen Pregnancy
The Centers for Disease Control lists several factors that make some girls more susceptible to having sexual relations and getting pregnant.
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20,000 Milwaukee Students Use Vouchers
Milwaukee is an example of what can happen when people are given a true choice. Will this success story continue?
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How To Improve Long-Term Memory
Two psychologists discovered how spacing study sessions improves memory.
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Early Graduations Encouraged To Defeat Boredom
Three states are encouraging students to graduate early from high school as a motivation to work harder while in school.
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Five Ways to Kill Learning
Current school structures actually decrease chances for success in children and should be eliminated from schools.
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Bullies, Parents and Bystanders
In a bullying situation, most people think there are two key players on the scene. The bully comes to mind and the target. However, there are more important players.
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What Are Various Forms of Bullying?
Students caught "bullying" often respond, "I was just messing around." How are messing around and bullying different?
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Why Do Schools Have Bullies?
Human beings crave love and acceptance. They want to be a part of a close unit. That is usually found in a family.
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Harvard Study Confirms Value of Music
Many studies have hit the front page recently on the value of playing a musical instrument. This is just more confirmation that music should be strongly encouraged.
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Is Upper Level Math Necessary?
Students are told that they must work hard to achieve success in math in high school because math will be needed in the real world. Is this really true?
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Food Allergies Increasing in Children
Why are childhood food allergies up 18%? The CDC is reviewing this new information.
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Suicide Among Young Children
The numbers are small but, yes, 7-year-olds are capable of killing themselves and do.
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Easy Classroom Interventions
What can teachers do for a student that is not eligible for an IEP but is in danger of failing a concept or class? There are many small interventions that may work.
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Is A College Degree Worth It?
With the financial crisis of Oct. 2008, it may now be more difficult to get federal and private student loans. Should students proceed with a college education?
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The Rosemond Behavior Modification Plan
John Rosemond has proposed a simple plan to aid classroom teachers in extinguishing inappropriate behaviors like blurting out and keepings hands to self.
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8th Grade Algebra May Be Too Much for Many
While California is mandating all 8th graders take Algebra, many are wondering if all students are capable of this rigorous class.
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Full-Service Schools in the Future
Schools are taking a larger role with social, emotional and academic needs of children. What does the school of the near future look like?
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Popularity and Success
What happens to the Queen Bees and Prince Charmings after high school? The answer may just surprise you.
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Mystery Motivator
What can you try when you're at your wits end? When you think you've already done everything to extinguish a behavior and nothing works?
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Too Little or Too Much Sleep Harmful
If teens sleep less than seven hours, they may develop high blood pressure. If women sleep nine hours or more, they may be at risk for a stroke.
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Teachers Should Talk Slower
Ray Hull, audiology professor at Wichita State, thinks teachers would reach students better if they slowed down their speaking. Don't speak louder -- speak slower.
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School Fuel Budget Crises
School will be starting in less than a month in many states. What effect will this have on bus transportation, heating the school and the hot lunch programs?
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NEA Supports Obama
The National Education Association has voted to endorse the Democratic candidate since 1976. But, this year it was with much less fanfare.
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Undiagnosed Diseases Among U.S. Poor
Physicians in the U.S. frequently overlook tropical diseases states the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. Parasites are sources of many childhood diseases.
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Punishment Does Not Equal Discipline
Bradley Hospital psychologists explain the difference between punishment and discipline and tell why punishment doesn't work.
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Amplified Classrooms
Nearly 250,000 schools have amplified classrooms so every student can focus on the lesson and not strain to hear the teacher over the ventilation system and other noises.
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Teacher Shortage Raises Salaries
The long predicted teacher shortage is finally coming to fruition in Texas. The Dallas area is seeing salaries spiking and perks increasing.
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AAUW Study Says No Boys Crisis
The American Association of University Women, which promotes women's issues, says the boys' crisis is a myth. Read the evidence.
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