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 [...]
Children across all age groups are struggling with reading—be it fourth graders who can barely sound out words, or incoming college freshmen who can’t finish their assigned readings. Reports have indicated that literacy rates have dropped significantly. Various factors have contributed to the crisis, with the pandemic exacerbating some of its effects. Let’s take a closer look at what data shows, what’s happening [...]
What is a Student Literary Magazine? Firstly, it is crucial to establish what exactly a student-run literary magazine is and what role it can play in students’ lives. In participating in creative writing through a literary magazine, students can learn the value in expressing their authentic voice and build a community as a result.[1] Additionally, there are specific guidelines within these magazines that [...]
Since the pandemic, the demand for alternative modes of education has risen, with many parents choosing to homeschool their children for more freedom, opt for private schools for supposed higher quality education, or try to find ways to improve already existing systems. A growing number of parents, however, are choosing to find or join “microschools,” which many refer to as the sweet spot [...]
Shakespeare’s Importance in Learning There are many elements of traditional learning that can be fostered in the engagement with Shakespeare’s works, such as reinforcing student responsibility, encouraging discussions presented by students, and reflecting tasks in real-world scenarios.[1] These foundational aspects are demonstrated across all subjects of academic environments, including English classrooms and their implementation of classics such as Shakespeare into students’ curricula. These [...]
What Does It Mean to Integrate Arts Education? Does It Benefit Students? Arts education refers to the activities outside of a student’s regular curriculum, including visual arts, music, instrumental music, theatre, etc. Specifically, studies are showing the positive outcomes in arts integration and intentionally aligning learning in arts within all other subjects.[1] In support of this integration, fine arts programs are stressing the [...]