Several middle school students eagerly raise their hands to answer questions

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

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: September 1, 2024

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

A colorful bar graph, showing 20%, 40%, 60%,etc.

Graphic Disorganizers; or, When Should Teachers Decorate Handouts?

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: August 25, 2024

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

endoftrauma

The End of Trauma by George Bonanno

Erik Jahner, PhD
by: Erik Jahner, PhD
Posted on: August 22, 2024

When faced with extreme adversity—like violent incidents or life-threatening situations—we often assume that trauma is…

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

Overwhelmed Teachers: The Working-Memory Story

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: August 18, 2024

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

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...

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: August 10, 2024

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

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]

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: August 2, 2024

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

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

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: July 28, 2024

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

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

A Skeptic Converted? The Benefits of Narrative

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: July 21, 2024

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

TG

Visual Thinking by Temple Grandin

Erik Jahner, PhD
by: Erik Jahner, PhD
Posted on: July 18, 2024

Many of us think with words, solving problems and imagining scenarios by coding information verbally….

Small toddler sitting on the bed with special effects from ipad

The Rare Slam Dunk? Blue Light Before Bed

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: July 14, 2024

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