What wonderful articles this week! Scan the list and see what piques your interest. But, let me point out the 5 ‘best’ ones. ● No. 1 by a length is the story on Bill Gates and the common core. Everything you need to know to get current is in this well-written, cleverly-charted, video-embedded article by Lyndsey Layton of the Washington Post. Parents wield power on this hot issue which is now having an impact on state-wide politics. ● Parents are an “unexpected political force” concerning student data privacy, too. So, read Stephanie Simon’s Big Brother: Meet the Parents to stay informed. ● Maria Konnikova’s intriguing feature on handwriting has important information about writing and learning. ● For researched-backed tips on an age-old parenting challenge, check out Matt Richtel’s column on the best way to persuade kids to eat their veges . ● Are you weary of hearing that everybody needs to learn to code? Then Gary Marcus' and Ernest Davis' essay is for you. Procrastination could pay off within a decade. ● Haven’t yet found a good Father’s Day gift? Check out the super cool toys and tools suggested below!
Parenting
Big Brother: Meet the Parents - Stephanie Simon, Politico
Are 'Tiger Moms' Better Than Cool Moms? - Julia Ryan, The Atlantic
Don't Call Them Mr. Mom: Dads at Home With Kids Because They Want to be - Brigid Schulte, WP
'Slenderman' Opens Conversation About Internet Safety - WTOP
Nagging Not Necessary to Fight Summer Learning Loss - Heather Staker, Austin American Statesman
5 Reasons to Stop Distracting Toddlers (& What to do Instead) - Janet Lansbury, Elevating Child Care
In Pitching Veggies to Kids, Less Is More - Matt Richtel, New York Times
What Apple's WWDC 2014 Actually Means for Kids Apps - Kidscreen
Learning
What's Lost as Handwriting Fades - Maria Konnikova, New York Times
Bare Walls & Poor Learning? Trouble with the Latest Headlines - D. Willingham, RealClearEducation
Learning Doesn't Progress the Way You Think - Annie Murphy Paul, Time
Math Anxiety: How to Help Students Reduce It - D.T. Willingham and Sian Beilock, AFT.org
The Dangers of 'Brain'-Speak - Anna North, New York Times
Sleep After Learning Strengthens Brain Cell Connections, Enhances Memory - Neuroscience News
Education
How Bill Gates Pulled Off the Swift Common Core Revolution - Lyndsey Layton, Washington Post
Has the World Gone Crazy Over Common Core? - Trymaine Lee, MSNBC
Let's Have an Honest Conversation About Accountability - Kati Haycock & Russlynn Ali, HuffPost
Correcting a Harmful Misuse of Students' Test Scores - W. James Popham, Ed Week
Student Success Depends on Testing & Accountability - Patricia Levesque, Excellence in Education
New ACT Will Assess Test-Takers for 'Job Readiness' - Danielle Wiener-Bronner, The Wire
To AP or Not To AP? - Michael K. Block & Q. Mark Reford, Education Next
The Impact of the "Summer Slide" - Amy Hansen, StateImpact
Do We Really Need to Learn to Code? - Gary Marcus & Ernest Davis, The New Yorker
Resources
Top 10 Toys and Tools for Father's Day - Forbes
LEGO to Produce Female Scientist Minifigure Set - Maia Weinstock, Scientific American
7 iPad Apps for Outdoor Adventures - Monica Burns, edutopia
Roblox is Gaming's Quiet Giant, and It's Getting Bigger - Jeffrey Grubb, VentureBeat
Minecraft Creator Has a New Game, Cliffhorse - Cassandra Khaw, The Verge
6 Great Online Games for Summer Learning - Almetria Vaba, Mind/Shift
10 Digital Summer Projects for Parents and Kids - Marti Weston, A Platform for Good
3 Awesome Games That Help Kids Make Games - Tanner Higgin, Mind/Shift
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