The buzz this week is about “parent talk,” which is #6 of PCM's Top 10 Learning Concepts. We call it “language dancing,” the term used by the researchers who discovered the 30 million word gap. The Clinton Global Initiative launched a new organization with the mission to have all parents understand and act on this significant research. ● This week read about the lifelong work of PCM's Top 10 Influencer E.D. Hirsch Jr., whose ideas are foundational to today’s common core education policy. Influencers Diane Ravitch and Bill Gates are also featured this week. ● Parents, you don’t want to get flummoxed by the high stakes testing debate, so read Ezekiel Emanuel’s New Republic article on the “testing effect.” ● When you hear foreign languages spoken, do you try to guess what language it is? Have I got a game for you.
Parenting
Is "Parent Talk" Enough to close the School Readiness Divide? - Sara Neufeld, Hechinger Report
The Key to Smarter Kids: Talking to Them the Right Way - Annie Murphy Paul, Creativity Post
Research Suggests Redshirting May Be Harmful - Clare McCann, New American Foundation
Toward a More Productive Conversation About Homework - Richard Walker, The Atlantic
What Teachers Want You To Know - Eric Sheninger, USA Today
Is Texting Good for Adolescents? - Stephen J. Dubner, Freaknomics
My Daughter's High School Search is Killing Me. What About Her? - C. Lloyd, GreatSchools
Trophy Madness: When Adults Infiltrate Play - Richard Rende, Red Hot Parenting
The New Stupid: Parents - C. J. Westerberg, The Daily Riff
Learning
The Research on Tracking and Math Self-Concept - Daniel Willingham, Science & Education Blog
Finding the Beauty in Math - Holly Korbey, Mind/Shift
How Lifelong Learning Starts Before Preschool - J. Richard Gentry, Psychology Today
Angela Duckworth: Why Grit, Not IQ, Predicts Success - Maria Popova, Brain Pickings
Mind Wandering: A New Personal Intelligence Perspective - Scott B. Kaufman, Scientific American
Education
E.D. Hirsch Sees His Education Theories Taking Hold - Al Baker, New York Times
Q&A with Bill Gates [54 min Video] - David Rubenstein & Bill Gates, YouTube
The Closing of Diane Ravitch's Mind - Sol Stern, City Journal
The Push for Universal Pre-K - Nancy Folbre, New York Times
Tests Make Kids Smarter. Let's Give Them More - Ezekiel Emanuel, New Republic
SAT Results For 2013 Show Low Rates of College Preparedness - Joy Resmovits, Huff Post
Trade Transparency & Accountability Today for Better Tests Tomorrow - Anne Hyslop, NAF
Students are 'Hacking' Their School Issued iPads: Good for Them - Audrey Watters, The Atlantic
What High Scoring Nations do Right in Math, Reading, & Science - Catherine Gewertz, Ed Week
Why Tough Teachers Get Good Results - Joanne Lipman, Wall Street Journal
Hillary Clinton Pushes For Early Education in Campaign - Joy Resmovits, Huff Post
Resources
Parents Choice 2013 Award Winners: AUDIO - Parents Choice
Children's Books with Single Parents - Mia Wenjen, Pragmatic Mom
20 Must-have Toys for the 2013 Holiday Season - Erin Lane, BabyCenter
Series: Great Tabletop Games for Video Gamers - Dan "Shoe" Hsu, Venture Beat
ClickN KIDS Table Breaks $100 Barrier, - Warren Buckleitner, Children's Technology Review
The Great Language Game - GreatLanguageGame.com
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