Book: The Beginning Teacher’s Survival Guide

Win-Win Strategies for Success by Dr. Jane Bluestein At the start or your career or at the end of your rope… Get your teaching career off to a winning start—or recharge your passion for your work! The new & revised edition of Dr. Jane Bluestein’s pivotal guide for your teaching career! A great gift for new…

Ways to Reach More Students

Accommodating a variety of learners While these tips were originally developed with regard to classroom environments, they are also relevant to parents (think about how and where kids do homework), and apply to learners of all ages. • Build on student strengths; teach to a variety of intelligences and abilities • Respect different types of…

Synthesis of Research Findings on Homework

by Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller Note from Jane Bluestein: An angry middle school teacher wrote to Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller, asking them to defend the research cited in previous newsletter articles, (two of which are included on this site in the links following this post). Although Moorman and Haller stated that the “burden…

Taking a Stand Against Homework

by Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller You know what’s happening with homework in American education. Simply put, more homework is being assigned than ever before and it is being assigned to younger and younger children. But is it good? More teachers are beginning to think not. Many professional and thoughtful educators across the country are…

Making Homework Work

Building Flexibility into Your Homework Policy Any teacher who has ever given out homework has certainly encountered a student the next day saying, “I don’t have my assignment.” Whether pitiful or indifferent, this admission often places us in the unfortunate position of asking why, which puts us in the even more unfortunate position of having…

Is Your Child’s Homework Worth Doing?

by Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller Note from Jane Bluestein: Here’s another terrific article about Homework for parents and educators. Check out my perspective in a separate article on this topic. Also note, the emphasis (boldface) in this article is my doing. The drive to assign more and more homework to children at younger ages is…

Some Kids Study Better When…

Noticing and accommodating your children’s learning preferences There are several ways to change or maintain our level of alertness and attentiveness. Even if your study habits are different from your children’s, it is possible that they will be able to concentrate and learn by