Question: Do we need standardized tests in education? Yes, we do. No, we don't. Do too. Do not. This is not a savvy argument. Get briefed. 3 4 Steven Pinker writes that the Ivy League needs the SAT in their admissions. (Is it me, or is his article teeming with SAT vocabulary words?) 5 Educators say they want parent involvement in schools. But, after an open house, have you muttered, “Parent involvement? More like parent compliance." Yet, if you dare to tread, are you helicoptering? 1 2 Anya Kamenetz’s article on the end of the neighborhood school is a must-read. It tells the story of New Orleans' all-charter school district. Parents need to know about this. 6 Two of our Influencers are in this roundup. Heard about Bill Gates' Big History class? This article makes the point about his influence. 7 Politico named E.D. Hirsch number eight of their 50 top thinkers. 8 Don't miss Neil deGrasse Tyson explaining the science behind locating Krypton, Superman’s home planet. It's *@*WOW! 9
Parenting
1 Back-to-School Message: Stop Helicoptering, Start Teaching Self Control - Ellen Galinsky, HuffPost
2 The Parent Trapped: Parent Involvement Redefined - Cathy Buyrn, The Daily Riff
Playing with Children: How to Make It Fun for You and Them - Peter Gray, Psychology Today
No More Homework: A Growing Movement - Sarah Boesveld, National Post
Keeping Children Back a Year Doesn't Help Them Read Better - Paul Thomas, The Conversation
9 Tips on How to Be a Good College Parent - Amy Joyce, Washington Post
Learning
Why Flunking Exams is Actually a Good Thing - Benedict Carey, New York Times
Why Walking Helps Us Think - Ferris Jabr, The New Yorker
Training the Brain to Love Broccoli - Julie Beck, The Atlantic
'Grit' May Not Spur Creative Success, Scholars Say - Sarah D. Sparks, Education Week
On Mindsets: How to Get Students Motivated to Work Harder - T. Toch & S. Headden, The Atlantic
Teaching Children Empathy - Jessica Lahey, New York Times
Education
3 Here's Why We don't Need Standardized Tests - Greg Jouriles, Education Week
4 In Defense of the SAT - Adrian Wooldridge, New Republic
5 The Ivy League is Broken and Only Standardized Tests Can Fix It - Steven Pinker, New Republic
Why Do Americans Love to Blame Teachers? - Noah Berlatsky, The Atlantic
The Most Important Figure in School Reform We Never Talk About - Dana Goldstein, Slate
6 The End of Neighborhood Schools - Anya Kamenetz, NPR
Inside the Mammoth Backlash to Common Core - Tim Murphy, Mother Jones
Debunking the Myth: School Summer Vacation Doesn't Have Agrarian Roots. - Weber & De Melker, PBS
7 So Bill Gates Has This Idea for a History Class - Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times
8 For Telling Us What We Don't Know, David Coleman/E.D. Hirsch - Peg Tyre, Politico
Resources
9 Neil deGrasse Tyson on Finding Krypton [6:53 min video] - Khan Academy
How to Grow a Tiny Forest Anywhere [4:22 min video] - Shubhendu Sharma, TED
How to Teach Math with Legos - Katie Lepi, Edudemic
Quiz: Guess Where People Are From Based on Their Accent - Nikhil Sonnad, Quartz
Watch 1000 Years of European Borders Change in 3 Minutes - Viral Forest
The Science of Your Brain on Alcohol [2:14 min video] - Brain Pickings
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