Parent Cortical Mass

PCM's Top Articles of the Week

This week was all about Rhee, Michelle Rhee, one of PCM's Top 10 Influencers. Watch the PBS special on this warrior reformer and hear prominent stories about her eating a bee in front of class, firing a principal on TV, and maneuvering cheating scandals. ● The same time this program aired, Rhee’s organization, Students First, released a report card on each state, grading how well the state’s ed policy aligned with her organization's goals. Eleven states flunked. ● This week Bill Gates’ foundation published the results of their 3 year study on measuring teacher effectiveness. ● Discover why language dancing might start before age 0. ● Are you serious about snow forts? Meet your peeps.

Parenting

Smarter Ways to Discipline Children - Andrea Petersen, Wall Street Journal

Does Confidence Really Breed Success? - William Kremer, BBC

Acts of Kindness: Key to Kids' Happiness - Marilyn Price-Mitchell, Ph.D., Psychology Today

Young Kids and Technology at Home - Douglas Rushkoff, Edutopia

The Curse of the Herd - Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., Psychology Today

Paid Family Leave: Can We Change the Debate to Include Everyone? - Lisa Belkin, Huff Post

Learning

How the Memory Works in Learning - Dr. Judy Willis, TeachThought

Babies Learn Mother's Vowels in the Womb - Molly McElroy, Futurity

Basic Arithmetic Skills Linked to PSAT Math Success - Science Daily

The Best and Worst Learning Techniques - Annie Murphy Paul, Time

Is Technology Rewiring Young People's Brains? - Gopnik, Willingham, Carr, The Brilliant Report

Education

The Education of Michelle Rhee - Frontline, PBS

Reading the Tea Leaves on the Future of Ed Policy - Jeffrey R. Henig, EdWeek

Rhee's StudentsFirst Gives States a 'Report Card' on Ed Policy - Matthew Yglesias, Slate

Bill Gates: We've Figured Out What Makes a Good Teacher - Lyndsey Layton, Wash Post

Pre-K for Everyone? - Fawn Johnson, Education Experts Blog, NationalJournal

5 Key Questions About the Common Core - Yong Zhao, Washington Post

Don't They Teach That in Schools? - Matthew Hunter,goodbyemisterhunter.com

Why America's Kids Need New Science Ed Standards - Michael Wysession, Scientific American

Resources

How to Make an Indestructible Snow Fort - Tim Maly, Wired

Microsoft Explains How to Use Parental Controls for Windows 8 - Devon Glenn, SocialTimes

Talking Friends Superstar, Ubooly (Review) - Bonnie Cha, AllThingsD

Teaching Preschoolers with Team Umizoomi Math - Nell Wulfhart, Smatoos

12 BEST Children's Educational Apps of 2012 - Teachers With Apps

Have You Read Daniel Pink's Book, Drive ?

What are the effective ways for parents to motivate children? In Drive, popular business writer Daniel Pink digests decades of research on motivation and exposes the chasm between what science knows and how the world actually operates.

Drive is essential reading for the career-minded and all parents. It's number two on PCM's Top 10 Books for Parents. But if you don't have time to read the book, this RSA animation on a 10 minute talk given by Daniel Pink will update your motivation toolkit. It has over 9.7 million views to recommend it.

 

 

PCM's Top Articles of the Week

This week we present a slew of topics to increase your cortical mass. Find information on kindness and popularity, allergies and bullying, screen time, tinkering, and Russia’s adoption ban. ● Have you heard about Unschooling, the movement promoting a DIY college education? Two op-eds below will familiarize you with the pros and cons. ● Watch a 7 minute interview of Howard Gardner, one of the world’s great minds on learning, education, work, and ethics. ● How many IQ tests does it take to screw in a light bulb? (Hint: > 1) Learn more about PCM's Top 10 Learning Concepts, the 10,000 Hour Rule and Flow. ● Have you watched the Math Doodle video with over a million views?

Parenting

Mom Gives Son a Christmas iPhone, With 18-Point Contract - Sam Laird, Mashable

Why Parents Should Play Video Games with Their Kids - Erik Kain, Forbes

Kindness Boosts Student Popularity, Study Shows - Sarah D. Sparks, Education Week

Science Confirms the Obvious: Kids with Allergies Get Bullied -Colin Lecher, PopSci

Putting Kids on a "Screen Time Diet" - Maurice Elias, Edutopia

Growth of 'Hacker Scouting,' More Kids Learn to Tinker - Jon Kalish, NPR

Russia's Adoption Ban Plays Politics with Most Vulnerable - KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times

Learning

IQ Tests 'Do Not Reflect Intelligence' - Nick Collins, The Telegraph

Like Math? Thank Your Motivation, Not Your IQ - Tia Ghose, NBC News

Recess 'Crucial' for Kids, Pediatricians' Group Says - Dan Childs, ABC News

9 Stubborn Brain Myths That Just Won't Die, Debunked by Science - Adam Dachis, Lifehacker

The Secret of Your Success? 10,000 Hours - Melanie McDonagh, London Evening Standard

The Key to Making Anything Interesting - Annie Murphy Paul, The Brilliant Report

Education

Education is the Work of Teachers, Not Hackers - Leon Wieseltier, The New Republic

Here's Why We'll Seriously Consider Alternatives to Higher Ed - Dale Stephens, Venture Beat

6 Big Developments in Education in 2012 - Julie Heath, PolicyMic

5 Most Extraordinary Things to Happen in Education in 2012 - Nikhil Goyal, Good

DREAMers, MOOCs, and Charter Schools: The Coming Year - Emily Richmond, The Atlantic

Howard Gardner: Digital Tech and a Well-Rounded Education - Whitney Burke, DML Central

Gifted Students Have 'Special Needs,' Too - Chester Finn, The Atlantic

Resources

The Voyage of Ulysses, Book App (Ages 9-12) - Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

The Grimms' Tales Turn 200, (Book Review) - Nora Caplan-Bricker, The New Republic

New App, ChoreMonster, Makes Kids Beg for Chores - Rebecca Grant, Venture Beat

Doodling in Math Class: Connecting Dots - Vihart, YouTube