A Quick Thank You to my Students
My students are awesome…and they create a great environment for me to teach.
The Myth of Passive Learning
Does passive learning exist? Does it create a false sense of learning?
In Defense of Lecture in the Classroom
Lecture shouldn’t be purged from the modern classroom. Read to find out why it’s still central in my classroom.
Common Sayings in the Classroom
What phrases do you say frequently in your classroom?
Assumptions about Learning in the Classroom
How does assumption of learning affect the classroom?
How can teachers and students work to avoid assuming in the classroom?
Engagement in the Classroom
What does engagement look like in the classroom?
2 Evidence-Based Learning Strategies
The following article originally featured on Edutopia January 23, 2018 at the following link: https://www.edutopia.org/article/2-evidence-based-learning-strategies Spaced and retrieval practice help students
A Discussion about Learning in the Classroom
A discussion with students about learning and knowing when we’ve learned.
A More Concrete Classroom
How can the use of concrete examples increase retention of material in the classroom?
Simple Activity to Prepare Homework in the Classroom
I’ve written a bit about this before…homework. It isn’t a bad word. I see it discussed often on edutwitter. While
Less is More: Simple Formative Assessment Strategies in the Classroom
Simple formative assessment activities to improve the classroom and student learning.
Cognitive Load Theory and Applications in the Classroom
This article discusses the basics of cognitive load theory and how I apply this theory in my classroom.
The Pyramid of Myth
This article discusses the myth of the learning pyramid; providing anecdotes and research to dispel the myth.
A Review of Optimizing Learning in College: Tips from Cognitive Psychology
A review/summarization of a journal article that discusses how we learn and how students should study successfully.
Effective Debate in Edchats
I’ve been on the blogging scene for just over a year. Due to my beliefs on what education should look
Why Isn’t researchED More Popular in the US…Yet?
“ ‘I didn’t come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you
365 Days As A Blogger
Exactly one year ago today, my first ever blog article was published by the wonderful researchers/educators, The Learning Scientists. Since
Easy Application of Spaced Practice in the Classroom
I’ve written at length about many learning strategies (dual coding and retrieval practice, for example) that positively impact our student’s
A Day at researchED NYC
I recently returned from my first researchED experience in Brooklyn; perhaps you saw the hashtag #rEDNY17 floating around twitter lately.
Homework Isn’t A Bad Word
How can homework be appropriately used to increase retention of material and foster proper study habits in students?
Assessment Isn’t A Bad Word
Earlier today on twitter, Tom Bennett (@tombennett71) launched a small thread on assessment. You can check it out here. Essentially,
Color Coding Recall Attempts to Assess Learning
Due to Hurricane Irma, I have not seen my students in four days. We are right in the middle of
Dear Students, You’re Not #1.
Dear Students, Please read carefully and completely before passing judgement. You’re not the #1 priority in my life. That
But…We Do Learn from People We Don’t Like
The following post first featured on the American Psychological Association’s Psych Learning Curve on August 28, 2017: http://psychlearningcurve.org/learn-from-people-we-dont-like/ In a
Student Assessment of Learning in the Classroom
In my AP Psychology classroom, most of my students are great at memorizing facts and regurgitating them on quizzes/tests. I
Taking Control of Your Professional Development with Research – Post 3
Post 3 – Reading the Research The first two posts in this series introduce its purpose and address where to
Taking Control of Your Professional Development with Research – Post 2
Post 2 – Finding the Research As I stated in Post 1, the purpose of this series is to empower
Taking Control of Your Professional Development with Research
Post 1 – Introduction This is the introduction to a compendium meant to empower the classroom teacher to take control
Advice for New Teachers in the Classroom
Dear New Teacher, Congratulations on your new job and commitment to the future of the world…a bit dramatic, but whatever.
Learning Myths vs. Learning Facts
*The following article originally posted on the American Psychological Association’s Psych Learning Curve website on July 17, 2017: http://psychlearningcurve.org/learning-myths-vs-learning-facts/ Unless
The Value of Simplicity in the Classroom
One of the most flattering compliments I’ve ever received, in reference to my teaching, came in December of 2006. I
Inspiring Student Buy-In with Retrieval Practice or Channelling Your Inner Knowledge Warrior
Disclaimer: I am not asserting the brain should be worked out like other muscles of the body. Thank you. When discussing
Back to the Future of Education
I try to make it a habit to participate in edchats whenever possible for two reasons: It helps me to
Cultivating Compassion in the Classroom…and Everywhere Else
I’m not going to lie, I’m hesitant to write this article. Why? Well…I don’t really follow the fads of teaching.
In Defense of the Curator
In the not too distant past, on Edutwitter, there was a discussion of ResearchEd. Of course, like all things education,
Disconnect in the Classroom
Today, on twitter, I found myself reading through a somewhat comical conversation among a few edu-twitterers/teachers/researchers concerning the compiling of
A Reply to Anya Kamenetz and nprEd
In one of your latest articles, “4 Things We Don’t Know About AP Tests”, you discuss some of the unknowns
11 Life Lessons to End the Term
*The following letter was written to one of my AP Government classes a few years ago. A few edits have
Defending the Non-Negotiable in the Classroom
I promise, I was out of my desk to pick up someone’s pencil that fell off their desk. There I
Promoting Metacognition with Retrieval Practice in Five Steps
Let me put all the cards out on the table: I am a big believer in using researched/proven learning strategies
On My Soapbox
We’re covering developmental psychology in class…you know, from womb to tomb. When introducing the unit, I pose the following questions
To the Student Sleeping in My Class
I’m not going to lower the standard. You will be expected to finish everything your classmates complete; with the same
The Teaching Method Doesn’t Define the Classroom
Teacher A: Tell me about your class. Me: Well, I use mainly direct instruction and really focus on learning strategies
Dual Coding in the Classroom
Let me begin by saying that dual coding, or at least my initial understanding of this learning strategy, is completely
Retrieval Practice in the High School Classroom
One of the largest gaps in my students’ learning that I encounter regularly is a lack of study/learning skills. I
Are Our Teaching Methods Hindering Our Learners?
As I begin a new semester, part of the unwritten curriculum that I attempt to instill in my students
Ignorance Isn’t Bliss — It’s Bias
*The following article first appeared as a guest post on The Learning Scientists blog on January 3, 2017. As schools begin another
Potential Positive and Negative Effects of Similarities in the Classroom
One of the most important aspects of teaching is the relationships formed with the students. The saying “students don’t care
7 Reasons Introduction to Psychology Courses Provide the Best School Environment for Learning
Let me begin by apologizing. If you are a teacher of any other discipline, I’m sorry. By saying that psychology
The Positive Effects of Blogging on Teachers
Much consideration has been given to the effects of blogging in education. Usually; though, the research considers blogging from the
Defeating Bias in the Classroom: Lessons Learned from the Army
We all fight biases. Some are learned through interactions with peers and family; others are more intuitive and somewhat
Harnessing the Power of Uncertainty in the Classroom
How can teachers use student uncertainty in the classroom to maximize learning?
The Elusive Effect of Font Disfluency on Problem Solving
By Blake Harvard Blake Harvard is a high school AP Psychology teacher at James Clemens High School in Madison, AL.