A new PISA test topped education news the last few weeks. It tested the general problem-solving skills of students around the world. America’s students rank poorly on international math and language tests. So, policy wonks wonder how the U.S. economy continues to dominate. Could America’s students be better problem-solvers than subject matter test-takers? Not so much, according to the test's results. Is America’s mediocre performance on global achievement tests a harbinger of national decline? That idea is at the heart of education reform. ● Confused about common core math standards? Jessica Lahey’s article explains the difference between curriculum and common core. Read it and enjoy the clarity! ● Does listening to curt repartee inform you? Then, the words this week from Influencers Arne Duncan, Diane Ravitch and Michelle Rhee will do the trick. ● Have you spent a fortune on legos, or plan to? There’s a startup for you.
Parenting
Confusing Math Homework? Don't Blame the Common Core - Jessica Lahey, The Atlantic
Should Parents Opt Out of School Testing? - Room for Debate, New York Times
Why I Opted my Child Out -Not of Tests, But of Test Prep - Matthew Levey, Chalkbeat
Protect Your Kids From Failure - Alfie Kohn, The Atlantic
Our Mothers Were Right: Hard Work Pays Off - Marilyn Achiron, OECD Education Today
Is Parental Involvement in Homework a Bad Thing? - Samatha Stainburn, Education Week
Is College Really Harder to Get Into Than It Used to Be? - Jocaba Urist, The Atlantic
The Drugging of the American Boy - Ryan D'Agostino, Esquire
This is Not Your Father's STEM Job - Jessica Lahey, The Atlantic
Learning
Parents Teaching Reading at Home: Why It Might Not Seem Worth It - Daniel Willingham, RCE
Research on Children and Math: Underestimated and Unchallenged - Annie Murphy Paul, NYT
The Impact of Creativity on the Brain - Judy Willis, TeachThought
Common Misconceptions About Focus - Daniel Goleman, Mindful.org
The Science of Memory (and 4 Uncommon Ways to Enhance It) - Belle Beth Cooper, The Next Web
The Need for Variety in Learning - Jonathan Wai, Mind/shift
Education
The Two Tracks of School Reform - Michael Petrilli & Chester Finn, Education Next
Understanding the Propaganda Campaign Against Public Education - Diane Ravitch, BillMoyers.com
And the World's Best Problem Solvers Are... - Joy Resmovits, Huffington Post
The Brainy Questions on Finland's Only High Stakes Standardized Test -Pasi Sahlberg, Wash Post
4 Reasons Common Core Critics Should Reconsider - Joshua Bleiberg, Hechinger Report
Trying to Close a Knowledge Gap, Word by Word - Motoko Rich, New York Times
Do School Boards Actually Matter? - Rick Hess, Education Week
Arne Duncan Defends Against Criticisms from Left and Right - Judy Woodruff, PBS
My Favorite Arne Duncan Line: What's Yours? - Diane Ravitch, Diane Ravitch's Blog
Opting Out of Standardized Tests? Wrong Answer - Michelle Rhee, Washington Post
Michelle Rhee Still Doesn't Get It - Valerie Strauss, Washington Post
Literacy Is Knowledge - Robert Pondiscio, City Journal
Resources
9 Novels Both Girls and Boys Can Love - KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times
Neurocomic: A Graphic Novel About How the Brain Works - Maria Popova, Brain Pickings
Monument Valley Is a Legend in the Making - Darrell Etherington, TechCrunch
6 Questions Critical Thinkers Ask: A Poster - Education Technology and Mobile Learning
This Startup Rents Legos - John Koetsier, Venture Beat
50 Great Books for Parents and Teachers - Katie Lepi, Edudemic
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