Collage imagery by Rob Donnelly, Lois de Silva, and Hannah Bogenreuther, for Edutopia
Student Wellness
While rising rates of teen mental health issues can’t be pinned to a single root cause, a 2023 study surfaced a compelling connection to the decline in childhood independence.
Research
A 2023 study revealed that while learning, the brains of students and teachers looked remarkably similar.
Research
A 2023 research review shows that when picture books are integrated into math lessons, student performance—and engagement—can see a sizable boost.
Brain-Based Learning
Research shows that distractions, confusing material, or an overwhelming amount of information can tax a student’s working memory.
Special Education
New research confirms that the best way to serve students with disabilities is in general ed—not siloed in special education classrooms.
Literacy
Although schools have been prioritizing discrete skills in reading instruction for years, education writer Natalie Wexler says building rich background knowledge could lead to more successful readers.
Brain-Based Learning
Brain scans reveal crucial reading circuitry flickering to life when young readers print letters and then read them. The effect largely disappears when letters are typed or traced.
Play & Recess
During breaks, it turns out, the brain works overtime. New research illuminates what kinds of breaks benefit learners the most.
Critical Thinking
Organizational drawings—concept maps and sketchnotes, for example—help students see gaps in their learning while boosting comprehension by fourfold.
Collaborative Learning
This classic group learning strategy can help students communicate, collaborate, and empathize with one another
Brain-Based Learning
To boost long-term retention, research shows that retrieval practice—like using quizzes and flash cards—and spacing learning sessions over time can make a dramatic difference.
Teacher Wellness
When teachers never get to unplug, their physical and mental health suffers. But school leaders can—and should—push back against always-on culture.
Diversity
Has the recent uptick in diverse characters in children’s literature translated into authentic representation? One team of researchers used artificial intelligence to investigate.
Literacy
Integrating whole-body movements into learning the alphabet improves students’ recollection of letter-sound pairings and hard-to-learn sounds.
Student Wellness
A 2020 study reminds us that educational equity does not begin and end at the schoolhouse door.