Parent Cortical Mass

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

We’ve all heard stories of parents standing in line for extreme amounts of time to register their kid for a popular school. “Waiting for Kindergarten,” by Gerard Sychay, is a gritty telling of the what, why and how of that experience. Reading it will leave you mildly inspired and less dumb. 1 Explore two of our top ten learning concepts in articles this week--one on the growth mindset and another on practice and the 10,000 Hour Rule. 2 3 Build your parent background knowledge! Be prepared for one of childhood's FAQ’s: How did the turtle get its shell? 4

Parenting

What 'Inside Out' Gets Right About the Brain - Amy Ellis Nutt, Washington Post

Why Teens Are Moody and Impulsive, a Neuroscientist Explains - Carolyn Gregoire, HuffPost

As Teens Push Away, What Can Parents Do to Support Them - Deborah Farmer Kris, Mind/Shift

When Parents Compare Siblings, the Results Can Show on Report Cards - KJ Dell'Antonia, NYT

As Siblings Learn How to Resolve Conflict, Parents Pick Up Tips - EurekAlert

7 Crucial Ways To Raise Good And 'Caring' Children: Harvard Study - Amy Packham, HuffPost

1 I Slept Outside for 16 Days to Enroll My Son in Kindergarten - Gerard Sychay, Medium

Learning

2 Don't Call Kids "Smart" - James Hamblin, The Atlantic

3 True Motivation Inspires Practice - Stahlmann & Hagaman, Herald Tribune

How a Newborn Baby Sees You - ScienceDaily

Green Spaces In Schools Improve Children's Memory And Attention - Carolyn Gregoire, HuffPost

Education

Why Does a College Degree Cost So Much? - John W. Schoen, CNBC

'Blended Learning' Emerges as a Leading Trend in Education Tech - Nichole Dobo, Hechinger Report

Do Video Games Inspire Violent Behavior? - Greg Toppo, Scientific American

You Draw It: How Family Income Predicts Kids' College Chances - Aisch, Cox, Quealy, NYT

What the Media Got Wrong About Our 'Sesame Street' Study - Kearney & Levine, New Republic

New Federal Focus on Building Skills for Success - Laura Bornfreund, EdCentral

Resources

4 How the Turtle Got Its Shell - Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post

Why Looking at the Light Makes Us Sneeze - Jason G Goldman, BBC

5 Conversations to Have with Your Kids After Inside Out - Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media

20 Questions Every Parent Should Ask Teachers - Terry Hick, TeachThought

10 Books for Middle Schoolers to Read Over the Summer - Sandie Angulo Chen, 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!

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

Have you heard of Goodhart’s Law? No? Then, how about “gaming the system,” which is what Goodhart’s Law describes? Eduardo Porter’s article, on the controversial issue of evaluating teachers with student test scores, describes how this law comes into play. It’s smart, and it will make you smarter. 1 This week Fareed Zakaria writes that America’s obsession with STEM learning is “dangerously" narrow. Consider his reasons why learning humanities is as important to America’s excellence as learning science and math. 2 How can we encourage an ethic of excellence in students? Dr. Dan Nicholls takes up this question with educators but his article is great reading for parents, too. (HT to Doug Lemov.) You’ll learn about deliberate practice and the growth mindset, 2 of our top 10 learning concepts. 3 Have your kids asked, “Why do I have scary dreams?” Read this delightful article at Fatherly, and be prepared for those dreamy questions. 4

Parenting

Time for Kids: Study Says Quality Trumps Quantity - Brigid Schulte, Washington Post

Go Ahead, Help Your Child Apply to College - Randye Hoder, New York Times

More Evidence For Benefits of Breastfeeding - The Economist

Children Spend 6 Hours or More a Day on Screens - Jane Wakefield, BBC News

How Grandparents Shaped Human Evolution - Rachel Caspari, Scientific American

Definitive Guide To Raising Your Kid With A Sense Of Humor - Joe Matarese, Fatherly

Learning

Why Kids Need to Move, Touch and Experience to Learn - Katrina Schwartz, Mind/Shift

Debunking the Myth of the 10,000 Hour Rule - Maria Popova, BrainPickings

Resilience: Why Some Children Can Thrive Despite Adversity - B. Walsh, Harvard Graduate School of Ed

The Perfect Amount of Homework for Teens - Melissa Dahl, Science of Us

Your Brain Learns New Words As Pictures So You Can Read Faster - Stav Ziv, Newsweek

Education

1 Grading Teachers by Students Test Scores - Eduardo Porter, New York Times

2 Why America's Obsession with STEM Education is Dangerous - Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post

Is Improving Schools All About Money? - Room for Debate, New York Times

What? Maybe Student Engagement and Motivation Don't Matter? - Mikhail Zinshteyn, Atlantic

4 Student Data Privacy Issues Adults Should Be Aware Of - Anya Kamenetz, Mind/Shift

Tests Aren't the Answer: Here’s How We Spark Curiosity - Susan Engel, Salon

Should High Schoolers Be Required to Pass the US Citizenship Test? - Robert Pondiscio, US News

3 How Do We Ignite the Ethic of Excellence in Students - Dr. Dan Nicholls, Dan Nicholls Blog

Resources

4 Want to Know How to Explain Dreams to Kids? - Dr. E. Pace-Schott, Fatherly

5 Tips for Baby Conversations - Gwen Dewar, PhD, Urban Child Institute

Epic NonFiction Books for Kids - Melissa Taylor, Imagination Soup

How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally: Video - Alice Currah, PBS Parents

10 Best Apps That Encourage Real-World Play and Exploration - Stuart Dredge, Guardian

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 & Education, for Parents

Did you notice the buzz last week about Pi Day? If ever you wanted to know why mathematicians get all mystical about Pi, here’s your chance. Steven Strogatz relates Pi to pulsing hearts, orbiting planets, and the breathing of a baby. Really. Start reading now. 2 The smartest article this week is by Janet Napolitano. She addresses the “college is in crisis” theme that has momentum. In her article, there’s no hype--just facts, analysis, and a clear statement of the issues. 3 New research published this week caused a google trend spike in the use of the word “narcissism.” There are two contradictory theories about how kids grow up narcissistic. Update your knowledge about self-esteem, entitlement, parental warmth, and over-valuing. 1 For some hilarity, check out the Google AutoComplete Family Feud Game! 4

Parenting

1 How Not to Raise a Narcissist - Rebecca Jacobson, PBS Newshour

Millennials Spank Their Kids Just as Much as Their Parents Did - Scott Clement, Washington Post

We Live in an Age of Irrational Parenting - Jennifer Senior, Science of Us

How to Survive the College Admissions Madness - Frank Bruni, New York Times

Despite Progress, Women Bear Heavier Load Than Men in Work-Life Balance - K. Parker, Pew Research

Couples Want to Lean In Together, But Employers Need to Change - Nanette Fondas, Weekly Wonk

Learning

10,000 Hours of Practice Doesn't Guarantee You'll Be an Expert - Fiona Macdonald, Science Alert

The Teenage Brain: Spock Vs. Captain Kirk - Cory Turner, nprEd

How to Get Kids to Read Independently - Valerie Strauss, Washington Post

Education

2 Why Pi Matters - Steven Strogatz, The New Yorker

Why Do American Students Have So Little Power - Amanda Ripley, The Atlantic

College for a New Age - Joe Nocera, New York Times

3 Higher Education Isn’t in Crisis - Janet Napolitano, Washington Post

The Power of Social and Emotional Skills - Andreas Schleicher, Huffington Post

What NCLB Did and Did Not Accomplish as Revealed in Test Scores - Monty Neill, Washington Post

High School Students Across the U.S. Are Fighting for Their Rights - Rebecca Nathanson, Rolling Stone

Despite Opt-Outs, PARCC Testing Numbers Soar - Allie Bidwell, US News

The Numbers Add Up To This: Less And Less Opportunity For Poor Kids - Marilyn Geewax, NPR

How to Ensure and Improve Teacher Quality - Hanushek, Ripley, Henderson..., Room for Debate, NYT

Resources

4 This Game Turns Google Autocomplete Into A Game Of Family Feud - Greg Kumparak, TechCrunch

The Best Card Games for Kids - Melissa Taylor, Imagination Soup

15 Ways People Greet Each Other Around the World - Kathleen Wong, Mashable

50 Top Online Learning Sites - Best College Reviews

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!