Teaching and Learning
Editor’s Note
Articles on this page zero in on nitty-gritty issues of teaching and learning. What are the stumbling blocks in teaching fractions? How can we use instructional time more effectively? What are the stages of vocabulary development, and what are the most effective ways to help students learn new words? How can new technology make learning and teaching more exciting? And what can we do to make sure our students are prepared for the demands of life in the 21st century?
How to elicit algebraic thinking in students before eighth grade
By LAURA PAPPANO
It’s Crazy Hair Day at Marshall Elementary School in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood—which is perfect, because Tufts University researcher Bárbara Brizuela has brought a hat. Continue
Limited research spurs experimentation with staffing
By STEPHEN SAWCHUK
In a world filled with terms like “value-added” and “adequate yearly progress,” many parents still rely on a far simpler data point to assess a school’s quality: the number of students in the classroom. Continue
Controversial online recovery programs speed the path to graduation
By ANDREW BROWNSTEIN
The lessons in John Rice’s English III class at Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C., are as varied as the music wafting from his students’ headphones. Continue
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