Over the weekend, I bumped into the same three words – “sense of purpose” — everywhere I went. I read about new research showing that people with a sense of purpose are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, even if their brains develop all of the signatures tangles and plaques. A sense of purpose is also…
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It’s cool when learning applies to life
Last week, Jessica, one of my seniors in AP Macro, sent me an email boldly titled: “THE BIG SHORT WAS SO GOOD.” In it, she explained that she had rented The Big Short from Red Box on my suggestion, and she was proud that she was able to make sense of it. The movie explains…
Read MoreMy journalism chapter is ending… and I’m ready
After 20 years, my run as a student newspaper adviser has come to an end. No more helping students craft editorials on sensitive topics, like transgender bathrooms, bullying and discipline policies. No more showing student editors how to gently communicate honest feedback to new, easily discouraged reporters. No more lying awake in bed wondering if…
Read MoreBored? Yes, it’s a problem
There’s a running joke in my family about a niece who, as a young child, complained that she was “bored” whenever she was tired, hungry, angry, or dissatisfied for any reason. On one memorable car ride, when she forgot to wear her hat and wasn’t allowed to go back and get it, she whined loudly…
Read MoreLet them laugh (at least a little)
“I love subbing for your classes. Your classroom has such a great culture; you must be doing something right.” A colleague who has filled in for me six times this spring (so far) gave me this unexpected compliment today, when we crossed paths in the early morning copy room. It was a great start to…
Read MoreSmall effort, big impact
Earlier this semester, in her regular economics class at Tartan High School, teacher Lori Raebel enlisted three students to act as workers in a brief simulation. In the lesson, each worker can pick one unit of carrots, but they can pick different amounts of apples — one, three or five units — depending on their…
Read MoreYou can’t spread your wings on a multiple choice test
One of the best parts of teaching is watching your students surpass what you’ve taught them. It’s like running next to your 4-year-old holding onto the bike, then finally letting go and watching them ride off, confidently, alone. We usually don’t experience this in a traditional classroom, when students are just listening, reading and repeating…
Read MoreThe power of assertiveness
When I was a high school senior, my Presbyterian church youth group took a “college caravan” trip to Michigan. As soon as we had all piled into the “Rev-mobile” – yes, we called it that – our youth pastor Jay Groat announced it would be an “assertiveness training” weekend. You want to change seats? No…
Read MoreEven a great lecture isn’t good enough
What’s one thing you could do tomorrow that would definitely engage more students? That’s easy. Inject your lesson with more opportunities to participate. It sounds too simple to be true — how could asking a question, giving a formative quiz, or allowing five minutes to think/pair/share really make any difference? And doesn’t everyone already do…
Read MoreCompetition is powerful, so use it with care
Nearly 30 years ago, Alfie Kohn made his case against competition. “It’s always unnecessary and inappropriate at school, at play and at home,” he wrote, citing studies that show children learn better when they work together. Kohn argued that competition makes children anxious and humiliates the losers, with no clear benefit to the winners. In…
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MARTHA RUSH 