How-to-Study Blog » Research http://www.how-to-study.com/blog Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:30:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Too Much Texting? http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/48/too-much-texting http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/48/too-much-texting#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 16:18:15 +0000 admin http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/?p=48 The Nielsen Company recently reported that American teenagers send and receive an average of 80 text messages a day.  This is more than double the average just one year ago.  It is not unusual to find that some teenagers send and receive hundreds of text messages a day- one every few minutes.  That many of the text messages are sent or received late at night adds to the existing concern regarding sleep deprivation among this population.

Physicians and psychologists are particularly worried about adverse effects of excessive texting such as anxiety, distraction in school, and falling grades. There is even concern about possible permanent damage to the thumbs.

Texting is a natural part of life today.  When done in moderation and at appropriate times, texting offers teenagers companionship and connectedness.  But things seem to be getting out of hand (no pun intended). Have you found this to be a problem with your students or children?  Any suggestions for what to do about this problem are most welcome.

]]> http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/48/too-much-texting/feed 0 An Inner School Model http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/42/an-inner-school-model http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/42/an-inner-school-model#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 17:30:20 +0000 admin http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/?p=42 In his New York Times column of May 8th, David Brooks described the outcomes of a study of the charter schools operated by the Harlem Children’s Zone.  The study (conducted by Harvard economists) compared students in these schools to students throughout New York City.  The researchers found “enormous” achievement gains.  The gains were statistically higher than gains reported for conventional approaches such as Head Start, raising teacher pay, and reducing class size.  The Harlem Children’s Zone schools eliminated the achievement gap between its black students and the city average for white students. 

The basic theory of the Harlem Children’s Zone schools is that by the time middle-class students enter middle school, they have internalized models in their heads of what they can achieve, how to control their impulses, and how to work hard.  In contrast, many students from low-income homes lack these internalized models.  Working from this premise, the Harlem Children’s Zones schools created a disciplined, orderly, and demanding milieu to help these students inculcate middle-class values.  Meticulous attention is paid to behavior and attitudes.  Students are even taught such basic social skills as looking at the person who is talking to them, and how to shake hands in a conventional manner.  The schools are academically rigorous and college-focused.

How do you feel about this approach?  Are you bothered by the emphasis on middle-class values?  We, just as Brooks and the researchers, are encouraged by the elimination of the racial achievement gap. Please weigh in with your thoughts.

]]> http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/42/an-inner-school-model/feed 0 Pressure in Kindergarten http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/38/pressure-in-kindergarten http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/38/pressure-in-kindergarten#comments Mon, 04 May 2009 20:14:38 +0000 admin http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/?p=38 The Alliance for Childhood recently surveyed 254 kindergarten teachers in New York and Los Angeles.  The study found that children in kindergarten spent two to three hours a day being instructed and tested in math and reading.  They spent less than 30 minutes playing.  Edward Miller, a coauthor of the report, stated that “Play at age 5 is of great importance not just to intellectual but emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual development.”  He went on to say that young children develop higher-level learning, language and social skills, and empathy through their play. He also pointed out that play reduces their stress.

We couldn’t agree with Miller more.  Our recollection of kindergarten is one of a lot of fun and many opportunities for socialization.  In this child-friendly environment, we acquired all of the prerequisites for formal learning, which didn’t begin until somewhere in first grade.  There is a great deal of research that children not exposed to formal instruction in kindergarten (and preschool) quickly catch up in reading and math skills to those children who do have early formal instruction.

Let’s not take childhood away from young children.  What do you think?

]]> http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/38/pressure-in-kindergarten/feed 2 Recess is Important http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/12/recess-is-important http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/12/recess-is-important#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:03:54 +0000 admin http://www.how-to-study.com/blog/?p=12 recess

Researchers have recently found that recess helps solve behavioral problems in class. Analysis of data on 11,000 third graders showed that students who had at least 15 minutes of daily recess scored better on teachers’ behavioral ratings than students who did not.

It certainly appears that students at this grade level need the opportunity for a break from the classroom routine, during which time they can release energy and interact socially. This finding certainly speaks against punishing misbehaving students by keeping them inside during recess. It also speaks against a disturbing trend in which new schools are being built without adequate outdoor space for students.

Do you think this finding extends to older students?  Let us know your thoughts and experiences regarding recess. 

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