Education

In Topeka, Kan., the library is the second favorite place for teens to hang out. “We’re sort of kicked out at the mall,” they tell David Lee King, the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library’s digital branch and services manager. As a result, the building, particularly the new media area and gaming room, are a little noisier than your average library. But King, a former DJ and assistant recording engineer, and now an author, blogger and librarian thought leader, takes pride in all the bustle. “Not too many people can say, ‘Yeah, teenagers think that the library’s cool.’”

This week findingEducation sat down with Patrick Sweeney, a fifth-grade teacher at Boones Ferry Primary School in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District of Oregon. Sweeney teaches all subjects in his mixed-level, self-contained classroom. How does he keep 27 students with different ability levels engaged and excited about learning while covering the necessary curriculum?

Many people are rediscovering the benefits of board games, while teachers are incorporating board games into lesson plans.

Diane Sieber, a University of Colorado professor, found that students who use laptops in class average 11 percent worse on tests than their peers.

Ninety thousand years ago early humans first ventured out of Africa. Today, humans inhabit virtually every corner of the world. Take a look at the journey humanity has taken across continents through the ages, and connect with interactive resources for exploring the history of human migration.

With Facebook supplanting grief counselors as an outlet for grieving teens, schools need to participate in the process.

Some educators are using the arts and humanities to enhance their teaching of math. 

Critics are revisiting Dylan’s fabled "Blood on the Tracks," while teachers and students discover its significance as a literary learning tool.

An Illinois high school English teacher was recognized for incorporating newspapers into her lesson plans, highlighting the medium’s continued importance in education.

Students living in some poor rural areas of the U.S. face distinct challenges when applying to top tier colleges and universities, and may be overlooked by recruiters.

Several studies have tried to determine whether online media actually fosters creativity and improves writing skills.

A new project called “One Book, One Twitter” aims to have the world read a book together and discuss it online, exciting librarians and perhaps enticing hesitant readers to pick up a book.

School officials in New Jersey say social networks are a menace to students and promote cyber bullying. Others say social networks can be a positive way for students to connect and build an online presence.

The end of summer is a study in trade-offs: book time replaces pool time; loungewear is swapped for school-wear; and strict schedules oust free time in a blatant reminder that the summer’s over. Start off on the right foot with the following resources for organizing, communicating and planning, during your child’s return to the classroom.

A Web site for adult learners is part of a growing chorus of support for continuing education and online learning in the recession. 

Based on the theory that quality teachers are the solution to low-performing students, a school has lured the country’s best with high pay. Did it live up to the hype in its first year?

The first installment of the serial “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” appeared in a periodical on June 5, 1851. The serial’s popularity was so immense that it was published as a book the following year. A groundbreaking abolitionist work, the book also popularized several inaccurate and offensive black stereotypes.

A comparison of Shakespeare’s English to a modern student’s text message conversation shows few resemblances, but this isn’t the first time English has undergone radical evolution.

Back-to-school time is a great time to spotlight all the impressive digital library collections that exist, whether they’re from independent organizations, universities, established public libraries or elsewhere.

The charter school movement is threatened by the failures of a few, but improvements could have implications for education across the United States, some officials contend.

With the advent of the writing portion of the SAT, schools have put more emphasis on writing skills. But are they actually being taught, and what happens when students reach college?

A U.K. program introduces elementary school kids to various careers and encourages them to tap into their interests and talents, which may be crucial to success later on.

Proponents of some early childhood programs believe structured play can help children learn “self-regulation,” a skill that may increase future academic success. Some critics, however, consider it destructive to police children’s playtime.

A report found that schools offering the most arts education had the highest graduation rates. How can parents and teachers stimulate and nurture creativity before high school?

JiJi, an animated computer penguin, is helping elementary school children improve their math scores, showing how technology can play a positive role in education.

Classrooms around the country are being updated to become technological havens for students, but some wonder whether technology is a real necessity for education.

The reading curriculum in the U.S. has been criticized for emphasizing a standard list of classics, and for catering too heavily to female readers. What are some practical solutions?

Although technology has been a blessing for those with visual impairments, the abundance of audio and digital technology has made reading Braille a rare skill.

The British Pop Art Movement gained a fresh energy when David Hockney emerged on the scene. He’s both a controversial and highly influential figure, known particularly for his versatility, and for being one of the most popular British artists of the 20th century.

For kids who might get bored over summer vacation, volunteering might be just the thing. A study by the Corporation for National and Community Service found that in 2004, 15.5 million kids between the ages of 12 and 18 volunteered more than 1.3 billion hours. If you’re a busy parent or teacher, or a student looking for ways to get involved, try the resources we’ve found, which include kid-specific volunteer opportunities and tips for getting kids motivated.