Part 1 of this article can be read at: Washington K–12 Education Needs a Return to Basics A 2026 Policy Proposal for Academic Mastery, Knowledge and Career Readiness THE PROBLEM Washington has adopted successive education reforms while academic performance remains a concern. The central question should be simple: Are students leaving school with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed? A modern K–12 system should not choose between basic academic knowledge and 21st-century competencies. Students need both. THE PROPOSAL Establish a statewide K–12 Return to Basics and Core Competencies Initiative built on one principle: Knowledge → Skills → Competency → … [Read more...]
Washington K–12 Education Needs a Return to Basics
Part 2 of this series can be read at: Washington K–12 Return to Basics and Core Competencies – A Reform Plan For more than two decades, American education has accumulated reform after reform: standards-based education, testing reform, personalized learning, social-emotional learning, project-based learning, competency-based education, technology integration and, most recently, artificial intelligence. Many of these ideas have merit. The problem is that reform has too often been additive. We keep adding new objectives without removing old ones or asking the most basic question: Are students actually learning what they need to know? Washington should begin answering that question with … [Read more...]
Some old-school ideas that worked
From an article at https://1819news.com/culture/jeff-minick-some-old-school-ideas-that-worked Recently I bumbled into the 1962 Spotlight, the yearbook for Boonville High School in Piedmont, N.C. I was in fifth grade that year, and the elementary school, which was on the same property and ran from first through eighth grade, was included in the album. My perusal left me a bit thunderstruck thanks to the differences between then and now. Integration and Consolidation Schools in the South were still segregated that year. Boonville’s black school was no more than a mile or two from ours. Desegregation would begin within three years. Schools in Yadkin County were not yet … [Read more...]
How the laptop revolution destroyed public education
A guest editorial published at The Blaze. Click this link to go to the website: https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/how-the-laptop-revolution-destroyed-public-education?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dlvr.it_fb_conservative-review&tpcc=social_fb-post The Chromebook turned class into a constant battle with distraction, and students learned to game the system faster than schools could patch it. A recent Fortune magazine article made waves with a grim admission: After more than $30 billion spent flooding classrooms with laptops and tablets, standardized scores keep sliding. Worse, neuroscientists now link more classroom screen time to lower … [Read more...]
Mississippi ‘miracle’ catapults 4th-grade reading scores from bottom into top 10 by getting back to phonics
From The Blaze by Joseph MacKinnon Mississippi has a winning approach to childhood literacy that other jurisdictions might want to adopt. In 2013, Mississippi ranked 49th out of the 50 U.S. states in grade four reading achievement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress — the largest continuing national assessment of American students' knowledge and capability in math, reading, science, and writing. In what has repeatedly been dubbed a "miracle," the state made its way up the list — to 29th in 2019 and then 10 spots higher to ninth place nationally for reading scores last year. According to the NAEP, black students in Mississippi ranked third nationally … [Read more...]
The Secret to Making School Breaks Fun, Restful, and Surprisingly Educational
Today's article from our friend Emily at MightyMoms.. School breaks give kids time to rest while giving parents a chance to spark curiosity beyond the classroom. The challenge is keeping learning active without it feeling like homework. Blending fun activities, light structure, and opportunities like language learning helps children stay engaged and grow in ways that feel natural and enjoyable. The Gist School breaks don’t have to mean learning breaks. Use curiosity-driven activities, flexible routines, and supportive tools to keep your child’s mind active and confident while still having fun. Learning Support Strategies at a Glance Focus Area Practical … [Read more...]
How to Find Success When Going Back to School as an Adult
Today's article comes to us from Emily at Mightymom's. Education never ends. Today she talks about adults returning to school. Returning to school as an adult can be both thrilling and intimidating. Between managing work, family, and personal commitments, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. But with the right strategy, tools, and mindset, adult learners often thrive — bringing life experience, motivation, and focus that younger students may not yet have developed. Success as an adult learner comes down to preparation, time management, digital organization, and mindset. Start with clear goals, create a sustainable routine, use tech tools to stay organized, build a support system, … [Read more...]
Stop the Struggle: How Parents Can Make Homework Time Smoother
From our friend Emily Graham at Mightymom's Evenings shouldn’t feel like a battleground. But for many parents, homework time—especially when it involves tricky subjects like language learning—brings tension, frustration, and exhaustion for everyone involved. The goal isn’t to become a substitute teacher or suddenly fluent in Spanish. It’s to create an atmosphere where your child can move forward with clarity, confidence, and calm. That starts with adjusting the environment, your involvement, and your expectations. Here’s how to do it—step by step. Keep it Predictable, Not Perfect Children focus better when they know what’s coming. Set a time every day when homework begins—even … [Read more...]
Kids can learn to code?
A parent shared information about children learning to code rather than just playing games. Thanks to Katalina! Hi - As a parent, I’m always looking for meaningful learning experiences for my child. Like many kids, mine was spending too much time on video games, until I found this guide: https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/safest-coding-sites-for-kids/. It helped them discover safe, fun platforms for learning to code (safely), and instead of just playing games, they started creating them! It’s been incredible to see their confidence grow. Since I thought this guide might be a valuable addition. Would you consider sharing it? Maybe … [Read more...]
Screen vs. Paper: Which One Boosts Reading Comprehension?
Today's article is from Oxford Learning: https://oxfordlearning.com/screen-vs-paper-which-one-boosts-reading-comprehension/ In today’s digital world, reading on screens has become the norm—but is it the best way for students to learn? Neuroscience research suggests that reading comprehension, not just what we read, plays a crucial role in comprehension, retention, and overall academic success. When we swap pages for pixels, we’re changing the way our brains process information. For students, this can make a significant difference in their ability to absorb and retain what they read. The Print Advantage: What Science Says Studies show that reading print books leads to better reading … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 9
- Next Page »