This paper proposes a synthesis of the science of learning into a "model" teachers can follow and apply right away in their classrooms. Recent studies in neuroscience show that that our brains appear to actively and purposefully forget most of what we learn--continually clearing out old and unneeded memories to allow us to focus on more…

In this policy brief, we use the case of California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) to provide policy makers and educators guidance on how to involve the public in goal setting and resource distribution decisions. We provide clarity around who is and is not participating, why, and what broader lessons we can draw for implementing federal…

Give your students the tools they need to motivate themselves with tips from award-winning educator Larry Ferlazzo. A comprehensive outline of common classroom challenges, this book presents immediately applicable steps and lesson plans for all middle and high school teachers looking to help students motivate themselves. With coverage of…

"Career Interests and Education Choices: It's My Plan!" will help students discover their interests and abilities. By learning about themselves, "It's My Plan!" will help students match their characteristics to career options and postsecondary education choices. "It's My Plan!" has four lessons: (1) Getting to Know Yourself; (2) Determine a Career…

State history can connect to the lives of immigrant children. By discovering history's humanizing narratives, students can become more engaged with the curriculum and more appreciative of their roles as state, national, and global citizens. In Texas, students study state history in the fourth and seventh grades. Considering the continual increase…

Increasing the scientific literacy of Australians has become an educational priority in recent times. The "Science State--Smart State" initiative of the Queensland Government involves an action plan for improving science education that includes a Science for Life action. A desired outcome is for an increased understanding of the natural…

Faced with doing research, students are often hesitant. Most graduate students have never conducted extensive research, having few qualifications or little technical skills. This article focuses on helping students acquire research interests, understanding and skills by using an experiential research group model. The purpose of this article is to…

Too often, looking at middle school math classrooms through the eyes of the students reveals a monotonous routine with no clear application to life outside of school. In this article, the author suggests a few strategies for putting the life back into middle school mathematics: (1) mix it up by changing the physical environment and classwork…

In order for teachers to create child-centered and emergent curriculum for their classrooms it is important for them to observe children to discover their interests and then develop investigations around these interests by using the enthusiasm, knowledge, and curiosity of the other children in the classroom. It is equally as important to allow…

Students obtain much misinformation from TV and movies. Teachers can use the analysis of science fiction to correct misconceptions about biology and spur students' interests in the subject. Suggestions for discussions and assignments based on literary-quality science fiction works are included.

As more and more children are being diagnosed with Asperger syndrome (AS), more parents are wondering what the future will be like for their child. Because of the challenges faced by youth with AS, it is important for parents and teachers to work together to guide high school students with AS through a successful transition to the adult world.…

In his experiences as a prekindergarten teacher, this author was struck by a simple revelation that has informed and guided his teaching practice. He discovered that the things he enjoyed teaching most were almost always connected to his own passions and values. He found that during fascinating, teachable moments the most novel thing happened: He…

By definition, success in college means fulfilling academic requirements, but nonacademic factors also matter, since they can influence student performance and persistence in college. Nonacademic factors includes: (1) individual psychosocial factors, such as motivation (e.g., academic self-discipline, commitment to school) and self-regulation…

What would prompt a primary school teacher in late career and from the Australian cultural mainstream to become interested in the societies and cultures of Asia and then to expand that interest into a personal and professional life focus? Through a life history approach, this paper recounts a teacher's journey from childhood, to becoming and…

This report describes one preservice teacher's development of mathematics instruction during her student-teaching internship in a kindergarten classroom at a low-performing, urban elementary school. A framework of social strategies was used to describe the student teacher's use of strategic compromise as a way to deal with competing pressures and…