Category Archives: increasing student achievement

Lack of Emphasis On Reading, Writing Impedes College Student Learning, Study Says

A new book, “Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses,” says many students are not learning anything in U.S. colleges. “Courses, oftentimes, are not rigorous enough to help students develop their analytical and critical thinking skills,” say the authors. Student … Continue reading

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Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

The essay Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior recently published in the Wall Street Journal has garnered a lot of attention “Can a regimen of no play-dates, no TV, no computer games and hours of music practice create happy kids? And … Continue reading

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New Teaching Tips for the Writing Process

The web-based editions of the Punch process writing programs were introduced more than two years ago. In that time, many instructors and students have shared with us best practices for using them.  Based on their input we’ve posted new teaching tips … Continue reading

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Improving Mothers’ Reading Skills May Be Best Way to Boost Children’s Achievement

Programs to boost the academic achievement of children from low-income neighborhoods would be more successful if they simultaneously taught reading skills to parents, according to a new large scale research study.

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Next Generation Learning Grant Priorities

The Gates Foundation is preparing to fund Next Generation Learning Challenges, a program to help students prepare to work at college level through innovative technologies. The first request for proposals was released this month. Proposals need to address several challenge … Continue reading

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Can Innovation Improve College Readiness?

Can innovation help community colleges to produce an additional 5 million graduates, a 50 percent increase, by 2020?  This was one of the goals discussed by President Obama and educators at the White House Community College Summit earlier this month.

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Surprising Study Habits That Work

Common theories and advice for studying can be a disserve to students according to the recent article “Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits.”

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Literacy Improvement in the New Economy

As businesses and schools adjust to a slower economy, debate is growing about the need, willingness, and ability to help adults sustain and develop their literacy skills. A recent article in the Calgary Herald highlights different sides of the issue.

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Will Common Standards Improve U.S. Schools?

Twenty-six states have now adopted the Common Core standards in English language arts and math developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, and all but two states have expressed interest in following suit. … Continue reading

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Summer Tutoring Ideas

According to the National Summer Learning Association, all students experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities over the summer.

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