Minutes a Day—Mastery for a Lifetime!
As my profile states, I am a Cleveland Indians fan. Inhabitants of Northeast Ohio understand what that means. You see, we have witnessed a lot of exciting baseball in our town, and we have come REALLY close to winning it ALL. But it’s been 70 years since we’ve won a World Series. My 88-year-old mother […]
For some, the countdown is over, and for others it is nearing the end. It’s time for summer reading! A wonderful source for reading ideas is your local library. I can’t imagine a public library without a summer reading program, so check out the one nearest you. Your library website may have suggestions for books […]
On a recent episode of ABC’s “The Middle” Frankie finds a bag of unfinished and long overdue thank you notes under her son, Axl’s, bed. Horrified by her discovery, she issues her ultimatum. As long as he is living in her house, he is to finish the notes! Yes, it’s comedy, but in the end, […]
It’s hard to go a week without hearing or reading some reference in the news about the positive effect of gratitude on our well-being. Or maybe I am just tuned in to reading articles that focus on this subject because I find the research so fascinating. (Hence, the topic of this blog.) In January 2018, […]
Why Should Preschoolers Use Retrieval Practice? In many ways, preschoolers are just like all other learners. They acquire skills incrementally, build upon prior knowledge, and solve problems through trial-and-error. They rely on memory for learning. Like other learners, preschoolers benefit from a strategy called retrieval practice. Retrieval practice is calling to mind (retrieving) what has […]
A recent trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios had me thinking back to my first Harry Potter memory and the treasure trove of descriptive language found in the series. Do you have an early Harry Potter memory? Mine was the summer of ‘99. I heard Oprah Winfrey talking about a […]
Part 3: Help Students Understand the Benefits of Distributed Practice and Retrieval Practice In the last two blogs, we looked at distributed practice and retrieval practice—and why combining them is an effective way to increase long-term retention. Use this lesson to explain the strategies and help your students use them more. Just to review, retrieval […]
Too often, women scientists labored under the shadow of men, but that was only partially true in the case of Caroline Lucretia Hershel, our Women’s History Month spotlighted scientist. Caroline was born on March 16, 1750 in Hanover, Germany. Her father, a talented musician, encouraged all his children to study music, as well as math […]
It’s February, when teachers everywhere turn to thoughts of… presidents. I, being no different, made sure to attend the updated and recently reopened Hall of Presidents attraction during my recent trip to Disney World. The video portion of the presentation appears on a panoramic screen. It tells how the Founding Fathers had a new idea […]
It happens every four years. The magic and thrill of the Winter Olympics is why I can put my life on hold for two weeks to watch athletes with amazing skills and compelling backstories compete at the top of their sport! The Olympics have always had a hold over my heart. Most students will be […]