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Get It Done by Ayelet Fishbach

Over the last few months, I have been working with a student who is retaking…

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

Overwhelmed Teachers: The Working-Memory Story

If I could pick one topic from cognitive science for ALL TEACHERS to study, that…

Thief peering around the corner of a wall at painting he might steal from a museum

Reframing Motivation: Urgent vs. Interesting

You are walking through a museum after closing time, peering into room after room. You…

Young children sit on the floor eagerly listening to a teacher, off camera

Help Me Understand: Narrative Is Better than Exposition

I’m straight-up asking for some guidance here. Here’s the story… “Psychologically Privileged” For many years…

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Feedback Before Grades? Research and Practice…

The plan sounds so simple: Students practice a new skill. Teachers give them feedback. Using…

bright kids

Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less by Ellen Braaten

In Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less: How to Rekindle Your Child’s Motivation, Ellen Braaten…

mathematics professor solving complex equations on a blackboard

Which Is Better: “Desirable Difficulty” or “Productive Struggle”?

The obvious answer to my question is: “what a silly question.” After all, the two…

The cover of Walkthru: a bright yellow and white cover, with a drawing of two teachers thinking and talking together

“Comprehensive and Manageable”: Walkthrus Has It All

Teachers who want to rely on cognitive science to improve our teaching have SO MANY…

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How to Change Students’ Minds? Create Surprise…

Sometimes teaching is challenging. And sometimes, it’s REALLY challenging. For instance: Because I’m an English…

Headshot of author and teacher Beth Hawks

Guest Post: “My Learning and the Brain Story”

Beth Hawks has taught science for 25 years. She now serves as the science department…