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Category Archives: L&B Blog

A closeup of two hands holding fidget spinners out toward each other

Do Fidget Spinners Help Children with ADHD?

Good news: cognitive science research can be SPECTACULARLY useful in guiding and informing teachers. Less…



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Bored Male Student Listens Lecture at the University. Tired, Exhausted and Overworked Young Male Holds His Head.

Attention Contagion in the “Real World”: Plato was Right!

I’m always grateful to have research guidance for my classroom work, but I have to…



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Several middle school students eagerly raise their hands to answer questions

Retrieval Practice “In the Wild”: Lots of Good News

Last year at this time, I summarized an ENORMOUS meta-analysis about retrieval practice. The reassuring…



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Graphic Disorganizers; or, When Should Teachers Decorate Handouts?

Recent research has raised questions about classroom decoration. In this post, our blogger wonders about…



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Stressed teacher sitting in front of a white board with comlex mathematical equations on it

Overwhelmed Teachers: The Working-Memory Story

We spend A LOT of time working to prevent student working memory overload. In this…



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A woman doing yoga on the beach at sunset; rocks and the ocean visible in the background

Summer Plans: How Best to Use the Next Few Weeks...

Our blogger is on vacation. While he’s away, this post — which first appeared in…



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A closeup of four hands holding out single puzzle pieces, trying to see how to put them together well.

The Jigsaw Advantage: Should Students Puzzle It Out? [Repost]

This post got a LOT of attention when our blogger first wrote it back in…



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“Students Simply Cannot Improve”: Handwritten Notes vs. Laptop Notes

I disagree with the title of this blog post. I believe students CAN improve at…



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Elementary school students sit on a carpet and listen to a story from their teacher.

A Skeptic Converted? The Benefits of Narrative

Let’s imagine that I tell you about a cool new research finding: singing helps students learn!…



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Small toddler sitting on the bed with special effects from ipad

The Rare Slam Dunk? Blue Light Before Bed

I spend A LOT of time on this blog debunking “research-based” certainties. No, handwriting isn’t…



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