This is one of the best examples of classical education I've seen. It is often difficult to find descriptions to clarify classical education's distinction and promise - this one does both. The quotation is a bit lengthy (so is my commentary) but it's worth it. In his excellent book about Christian classical education, co-author Ravi Scott Jain … Continue reading How To Read (And Understand!) Einstein
How To Build Sturdy Children
Researchers have begun to explore an idea generations of humans have known through experience: resilience is a key component of a good character and, therefore, a good life. Yet as "Free-Range Parenting" author Lenore Skenazy has documented in detail, as children's lives have grown increasingly safe and comfortable, they've also grown more emotionally fragile. On … Continue reading How To Build Sturdy Children
How Overscheduling And Overprotecting Affects Child Development
When my daughter was a young toddler, I constantly chased after her trying to make sure she was "safe." I baby-proofed every inch of my house -- and grandma's. I was her shadow when she walked, just in case she stumbled. With my ever-present pack of wipes, I sanitized every eating surface we came into … Continue reading How Overscheduling And Overprotecting Affects Child Development
What Outdoor Free Play Does For Children
When given the opportunity to play on their own, children demonstrate greater levels of confidence and improved social skills. There are also wider community benefits of independent play, such as closer neighborhood relations, a stronger sense of community, and less fear of crime (Shaw et al. 2013). Children also get to have rest away from … Continue reading What Outdoor Free Play Does For Children
Cognitive Researchers: ‘Learning Styles’ Like Auditory, Visual, And Kinesthetic Are Bunk
For some time cognitive research has consistently found that the teaching fad of prescribing a variety of "learning styles" to students based on various senses -- visual, auditory, and kinesthetic are the most prominent -- is hogwash. But many teachers are still using these methods, largely because they are instructed to by institutions that should know … Continue reading Cognitive Researchers: ‘Learning Styles’ Like Auditory, Visual, And Kinesthetic Are Bunk
Average Human Attention Span Has Declined To 8 Seconds — Worse Than A Goldfish’s
A new book that's come out has people talking: It's called "Irresistible," by Adam Alter, a professor of marketing and psychology at New York University's Stern School of Business. The book describes how the screens and programs most Americans use daily are designed, like gambling machines, to addict you. After all, that's how tech designers … Continue reading Average Human Attention Span Has Declined To 8 Seconds — Worse Than A Goldfish’s
How Bad Math Instruction Makes Kids More Emotional And Less Rational
Barry Garelick is a long-time math instruction analyst and current middle-school math teacher. For years he has done yeoman's work carefully analyzing Common Core math and showing precisely how it affects students, down to the level of individual math problems, approaches, and specific mandates. He recently responded to criticism of some of his work discussing … Continue reading How Bad Math Instruction Makes Kids More Emotional And Less Rational
New Study Suggests Good Humanities Instruction Increases Math Knowledge, Too
University of Virginia cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham discusses some interesting results from a new study that finds good English teachers improved students' learning in math. First, ELA [English literature] teachers may, on average, provide a bigger boost to what are usually called non-cognitive skills: self-regulation, persistence, seeing oneself as belonging in school, and so on. … Continue reading New Study Suggests Good Humanities Instruction Increases Math Knowledge, Too
Maslow Got It Backwards
Classical Christian education promises not only distinctive methodology but also a different understanding of the ends of human life. I recently heard Andrew Kern, in a discussion of Homer, say something that hits squarely in the center of this distinction: We don’t have an ultimate craving for survival, for power, for practicality, for utility. We … Continue reading Maslow Got It Backwards
‘To Teach A Child To Memorize What Does Not Have Meaning Is Insane’
"Like it or not, our children are growing up in this culture. They are moving into the future away from us, just as we moved into the future away from our parents. Our children cannot live in our time. They live in their own time, but the more tied to the past they are in … Continue reading ‘To Teach A Child To Memorize What Does Not Have Meaning Is Insane’
Redeemer Classical School 