What is Multicultural Literature? Culture is everything—it’s how we define ourselves and perceive the world in our own, idiosyncratic ways, and it’s an essential part of one’s identity during childhood. It’s also during the first three years of childhood[1] when one’s foundations for literacy is laid in place, as well as the development of their self-concept including a sense of their own culture [...]
Dual enrollment programs, much like many other sectors of education, are growing exponentially with nearly 2.5 million high schoolers having taken a course in the 2022-2023 academic year.[1] As the price of higher education increases, for many students they are a way to reduce the cost of getting a four-year degree by earning credits while still in high school. But how do these [...]
Small class sizes or low student-teacher ratios are frequently touted as a plus or an attractive aspect of higher education institutions. This is because with the smaller class sizes there is more time and space for professors to connect with students and for students to get additional attention if needed. However, the majority of K-12 classrooms across the country cannot say the same. [...]
Its Intended Purpose It’s important first to establish the initial purpose of homework when considering whether it does or does not benefit students. Homework itself can be defined as “tasks assigned to students by school teachers that are meant to be carried out during nonschool hours."[1] These tasks allow students to extend their learning outside the classroom, though this does not include activities [...]
We have covered a few different educational paths for children—microschools, homeschooling, etc. However, these usually centered on complete structural changes to the way children are taught. Though, year-round schooling mostly affects the pacing and schedule of learning. Year-round schooling, also known as a “balanced calendar,” refers to the distribution of the typical 180 school days being spread out evenly over a 12-month period [...]
Early childhood education—or ECE—refers to pre-kindergarten programs that prepare children for grade school. They differ from typical daycare and other afterschool or childcare programs in their structure, activities, tracking, and goals for the children in their care. These programs often have lesson plans and certified instructors taking care of and teaching children the basics of life. Instead of free play, nap time and meal [...]
Book clubs are an effective way to foster a love for reading in people of all ages, but they can be particularly helpful in promoting literacy within children and teenagers. They can have a variety of benefits for students, from encouraging the act of picking up a book, to motivating quieter individuals in finding a community that brings them out of their shell. [...]
As daunting as learning a second language may feel—after all, you have to learn grammar, pronunciation, and even some culture among other things to really effectively communicate—the struggle of doing so pays off eventually. Forget bragging about being bilingual or multilingual! Learning a second language comes with a variety of benefits, ranging from having a higher paying job to improving cognitive skills. Acquiring [...]
Why is the Crisis Happening? As evident through the extensive lack of teachers and/or people wanting to become educators, the teacher shortage of K-12 classrooms has been steadily rising. Schools, communities, and present teachers are attempting to create solutions to the various problems associated. But, why exactly is there a shortage, and what factors have been influencing this decline in recent years? Experts [...]
With every new admissions cycle, colleges continue to receive record breaking numbers of applications. This is no surprise, as the need for a college education becomes essential in landing a job in the current market. But with this growing demand, colleges and universities are accepting more students than they have room for, putting a new kind of strain on already stressed freshmans and [...]