Credit: Jamesboy Nuchaikong/Shutterstock) Ah, adolescence. A time of change, of navigating awkward social situations, figuring out who you are, maybe holding down that first job or focusing on extracurriculars — all while juggling the demands of school. And for most teens, managing all of this happens on too little sleep. To […]
If they ask, tell them the truth. www.shutterstock.com Ah yes, December. Christmas trees and decorations are popping up in shop windows, the weather is warming up, and the school holiday period looms. This may be exciting or distressing, depending on your relationship with your family. Not everyone celebrates Christmas. But, […]
Pursuit of passions requires time for play and self-directed education. By Peter Gray Ph.D. Freedom to Learn This post is a somewhat modified version of the transcript of a TEDx talkI delivered in May, 2018. Follow your passions. That’s what almost every commencement speaker says to the new graduates. It’s almost cruel. If all you’ve […]
Writing for pleasure improves long-term learning outcomes in a range of areas, including maths and science. www.shutterstock.com NAPLAN results indicate a decline in students’ ability to write. Outcomes in literacy, including writing, affect student achievement across multiple subject areas (including maths and science). There is a clear link between students being engaged with writing and […]
It makes sense for children in the early stages of learning to read to be given decodable books. www.shutterstock.com A child’s early experiences with books both at home and later in school have the potential to significantly affect future reading performance. Parents play a key role in building oral language and literacy […]
As we look to improve the reading outcomes of our young children, more music education in our preschools and primary schools could be the answer. www.shutterstock.com Neuroscience has found a clear relationship between music and language acquisition. Put simply, learning music in the early years of schooling can help children […]
Possum Magic again, are you for real kid?! from www.shutterstock.com We often hear about the benefits of reading storybooks at bedtime for promoting vocabulary, early literacy skills, and a good relationship with your child. But the experts haven’t been in your home, and your child requests the same book every single night, sometimes […]
By Idzie Desmarais In every collection of unschooling skeptics I’ve come across–such as that found in the comments section any time unschooling is covered in a major outlet–you’ll always find the question of why people can’t just unschool part time. Why does it have to be a full-time gig? Can’t children just […]
It takes effort and imagination, but the benefits are many. from www.shutterstock.com Contrary to the belief we Aussies are a nature-loving outdoor nation, research suggestswe’re spending less and less time outdoors. This worrying trend is also becoming increasingly apparent in our educational settings. I have devoted the majority of my teaching and […]
Moral growth is promoted when we allow little ones to act on their instincts. By Peter Gray Ph.D. Freedom to Learn commons An all-too-common belief in our culture —often held implicitly rather than explicitly — is that babies come into the world as either asocial (the “blank slate” belief) or antisocial (the “original sin” […]