“The advantages of paper-based reading, especially for informational or expository text, are incredibly strong, and we see similar patterns with handwritten notetaking… Educators should consider using physical textbooks and notebooks whenever possible. If schools changed nothing else except shifting reading and note-taking back to paper, they would likely see rapid and meaningful improvements in how students think and learn.” ~ Jared Cooney Horvath, neuroscientist
One: Excluded from the Obama/Arne Duncan 2010 Common Core Standards, cursive writing instruction is now required in 25 states, with Pennsylvania now jumping on board, too.
Two: Data from the Rand Corporation finds that…
** 90% of English Language Arts teachers assigned at least one full book during the 2024-25 school year
** 66% said they’d planned on assigning one to 4 books.
** Teachers of low-income, disabled, or minority students assigned fewer books.
** 24% assigned 5 books
** 9% assigned none.
Three: It took a University of Oregon study to tell us that, while 4-day school weeks remain popular in many districts, “increased hours in the classroom are generally tied to improved student achievement.” Surprise, surprise!
Four: A recent study of math teachers found that:
** 44% said they feel pressured to improve middle school math performance, as did…
** 48% of high school teachers,
** 50% of upper elementary teachers, and
** 34% of lower elementary teachers.
Five: Michigan is the latest of 31 states to participate in President Trump’s school choice program, allowing taxpayers to claim “dollar-for-dollar tax credits” up to $1,700 to organizations that award scholarships to K-12 students to attend private schools.
Six: According to a recent EdWeek Research Center survey of 596 teachers and district leaders:
** 70% said cellphone limits have had a positive impact.
** At least 37 states and D.C. require that districts ban cellphones in schools.
** 64% of the teachers said the rules are consistently enforced.
** 36% of the teachers said the rules are not consistently enforced.
** 20% of the district leaders said the rules are not consistently enforced.
Seven: A recent Center for Democracy & Technology survey of 460 6th to 12th grade teachers found that:
** 59% believes their students use generative AI for school purposes.
** 83% said they’ve used Chat GPT and the like for personal and school purposes, up 32% since last year.
**80% said their schools have policies in place outlining where generative AI tools are either allowed or banned, and have been trained on said policies.
** 75% said they’d been asked for their input on said policies.
** 28% said they’d received guidance on how to handle a student using Chat GPT.
** 37% said they’d been given guidance on detecting student use of generative AI.
** 78% said their school sanctions the use of AI detection tools.
And now comes this: Education Week‘s Elizabeth Heubeck, in “Who’s Responsible for Toilet Training: Schools or Families?” reports that:
** “In the 1950s, most children mastered toilet training shortly after turning 2.
** “By the 2000s, the average American child could handle bathroom business independently just after reaching 3.
** “Now, early educators report that some otherwise typically developing children are coming to kindergarten wearing pull-ups or diapers.”
And that’s the way it is nowadays…
~ With thanks, Carol
