Parent Cortical Mass

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Parent Cortical Mass' weekly article roundup will return after Labor Day. Enjoy the last of these warm summer days!

Week's Best Articles on Learning and Education, for Parents

Do you wonder if the pressure to achieve academically is killing the joy of learning? Then do not miss this excerpt from Jessica Lahey’s new book, The Gift of Failure. 1 You’ve heard the argument that because we can google anything, students no longer need to “remember” what they learn. They just need to learn how to think. Get savvier about this argument by reading Daniel Willingham’s article on the two components of intelligence. (In fact, google “Daniel Willingham” and learn more!) 2 How is a score of “proficient” determined in common core tests? It’s complicated. Get informed about the science and art of cut scores, and the politics, too. 3 Protecting the privacy of student data is indispensable work for today’s parents. Find out what Common Sense Media is doing. 4 Last week we said that talking to your kids about Tor was as tricky as talking to your kids about sex. We take that back. 5

Parenting

1 Pressure to Achieve Academically Is a Crime Against Learning - Jessica Lahey, The Atlantic

How Parents' Math Anxiety Can Impact Children's Math Achievement - EurekAlert

Teenagers Leading Happy, Connected Lives Online - KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times

6 Takeaways about Teen Friendships in the Digital Age - Monica Anderson, PewResearchCenter

Bringing Paternity Leave Into the Mainstream - Ron Lieber, New York Times

The Practice of “Paleo Parenting” - Regan Penaluna, Nautius

Learning

2 When Knowledge Is Unforgettable - Daniel Willingham, The Atlantic

Why We Think We're So Much Smarter Than We Really Are - Susan Greenfield, PhD, Psychology Today

Read, Don't Just Talk, To Your Kids. Here's Why. - Nathan Collins, Pacific Standard

Brain Scans Show Why Reading to Kids Is Good for Them - Amy Norton, HealthDay

Education

Teacher Shortages Spur a Nationwide Hiring Scramble (Credentials Optional) - Motoko Rich, NYT

Can We Interest You in Teaching? - Frank Bruni, New York Times

The Tricky Appeal of the "National Teacher Shortage" - Alexander Russo, Washington Monthly

3 New Tests Push Schools To Redefine 'Good Enough' - Cory Turner, nprEd

4 How Safe is Your Kids' Digital Data at School? - CBS News

High Schoolers And Snooze Buttons: A Public Health Crisis? - Claudio Sanchez, nprEd

Why Financial Aid Might Make College More Expensive - Libby Nelson, Vox

Resources

5 Talking to Kids About Sex - Melissa Taylor, Imagination Soup

Best Resources For Learning About the Perseid Meteor Shower - Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day

What to Read Next: Back-to-School Books for Aug 2015 - Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media

‘Sesame Street’ to Air First on HBO for Next 5 Seasons - Emily Steel, NYT

Read a few articles each week, and gain parent cortical mass! If you enjoy our weekly article roundup, please email it to a friend, or share on social media. Thank you!

Week's Best Articles on Learning and Education, for Parents

Silly dads, you are vindicated. Putting that chicken on your head really does help your kids get smarter! 1 Confused by that growing list of “non-cognitive” learning factors, like character traits, PERMA, grit, and mindsets? This is a good week to get clarity on these education buzzwords. 3 6 Math is in the spotlight this week—common core math and preschool math. 4 5 And if you’re looking for a way to brush up on your high school math, there are many online options. Here’s just one. 9 Forever, a parent’s job has been about protecting their kids. But today’s parents stand on the front line of the internet. It’s essential for you to get knowledgeable about privacy and cybersecurity. For generations parents thought it was tricky talking to kids about sex. Now you have to have a conversation about Tor, too. 2 7 8

Parenting

1 Want to Boost Your Toddler's Development? Put a Toy Chicken on Your Head - Science Daily

2 Trusting Parents to Make Smart Choices on Student Data - Jules Polonetsky, The Hill

3 Which Character Strengths Are Most Predictive of Well-Being? - S. B. Kaufman, Scientific American

New Study Shows Parents Misjudge Children’s Happiness - Janice Wood, PsychCentral

Reviews on Recent Parenting Books: Get Out and Play - Julianne Smith, Library Journal

Millennial Dads vs. Work-Family Policies - Claire Cain Miller, New York Times

Learning

Researchers Find That Frequent Tests Can Boost Learning - Annie Murphy Paul, Scientific American

Memory Problems? Go Climb a Tree. - Kurzweil News

A Good Night's Rest Helps Us Remember Things During the Day - Kathleen Lees, ScienceWorldRpt

Talent Sometimes is Better Than Practice, Brain Reveals - Catherine Griffin, ScienceWorldReport

Education

4 Parents Are Getting Schooled by Common Core Math - Alia Wong, The Atlantic

5 Preschoolers Can Do More Math Than We Might Think - John Higgins, Seattle Times

6 “Grit,” “Mindsets,” and “Stereotype Threat”: a Primer - Mikhail Zinshteyn, The Atlantic

The Myth of the Overstressed American Teen - Robert Pondiscio, US News

What’s the Point of Education if Google Can Tell Us Anything? - Ibrar Bhatt, The Conversation

What Classrooms Can Learn From Informal Learning - Terry Heick, TeachThought

How Conservatives Forced Changes to AP US History to be More "Pro-American" - Libby Nelson, Vox

The Continuing Reality of Segregated Schools - Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times

Resources

7 What Are the Deep Web and the Dark Web? - Common Sense Media

8 Back-to-School Cybersecurity: 7 Things College Students Should Do - Jason Glassberg, HuffPost

9 Brush Up on High School Maths with UNSW Online Course - Tim Dodd, Australian Financial Review

Great Audiobooks for Kids - Common Sense Media

Read a few articles each week, and gain parent cortical mass! If you enjoy our weekly article roundup, please email it to a friend, or share on social media. Thank you!