In one sense, the national conversation about what it will take to make sure all children become strong readers has been wildly successful: States are passing legislation supporting evidence-based teaching approaches, and school districts are rushing to supply training. Publishers are under pressure to drop older materials. And for the first time in years, an instructional issue—reading—is…
The ability to provide differentiated instruction to students of varying abilities and backgrounds is a challenging task for many educators in under-resourced schools. In many cases, students in these schools are part of overcrowded classrooms with more students reading and writing below grade level. This requires teachers to provide differentiated instruction to students who have…
Abstract: The use of chatGPT and other automated writing tools has sparked a debate on cheating in academia. This paper proposes the reintroduction of Blue Books as a solution to this issue. Blue Books, traditionally used for handwritten exams, can also be employed for assignments requiring critical thinking and writing skills. By assigning Blue Book…
Reading and writing are closely related skills that rely on many of the same cognitive processes. When you read, you are using your brain to process and interpret written language, and when you write, you are using your brain to generate and express written language. There is evidence to suggest that reading can have a…
Writer’s block is a common experience that can be frustrating and demoralizing for writers. It refers to a difficulty or inability to produce written material, even when there is a desire to do so. While the exact cause of writer’s block is not well understood, it is thought to involve a combination of cognitive, emotional,…
Motivation plays a significant role in the writing process, as it can influence how much effort and persistence an individual puts into their writing and how motivated they are to complete a writing task. High levels of motivation can lead to better writing performance, as individuals are more likely to put in the necessary effort…
One aspect of the science of writing is the study of the cognitive processes involved in writing, such as planning, organizing, drafting, and revising. These processes are supported by brain function and can be influenced by factors such as motivation, attention, and working memory. Understanding and implementing these steps in the writing process are essential…
In late summer, the educator and writer Mike Rose died of a spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage at his home in Santa Monica; he was seventy-seven. I learned of his death in the pitiless way that one often does in 2021: from a friend’s Facebook post. The news came as a great shock. Sure, Mike had a few years…
Increasing the vocabulary knowledge of young adolescent and adolescent students has been a focal point of educational research and many teacher professional development initiatives. Yet many teachers continue to use traditional, but generally ineffective, methods of classroom-based vocabulary instruction. Synthesizing the literature around the general topics of vocabulary instruction, classroom discourse, and teacher talk, this…
Kids these days are losing their ability to learn skills. Why? Because they’re always looking for instant gratification. These days, people would rather get a quick fix from a video game or social media than take the time to learn something new. However, by doing so, they’re not developing the patience or persistence needed to…