The early returns on distance learning in Connecticut schools range from “it’s a joke”, to “it took me a half-hour”, to “this was super easy but I didn’t learn much.” Let me be clear that Connecticut educators are heroically battling a Black Swan event. This is not their fault. They are doing the best they […]
Read MoreShoreline CT schools are going to a distance-learning format next week. I have been teaching online college classes for 20 years. So while I am a “fan” compared to most, I also know the following: Distance learning is an entirely suitable replacement for what I call “check the box” education. Busy work – those homework […]
Read MoreBegin Early When it comes to writing college essays, starting early is key. The best college essays–the ones that really stand out–take time to write. Unfortunately, many high school seniors realize this too late. They procrastinate and end up with a rushed essay that doesn’t reflect their best efforts or selves. The typical CT student […]
Read MoreWe all need time to process the surreal impact of the Coronavirus. After we grapple with reconfiguring our daily lives, we will then be faced with the notion that “life goes on.” Parents will need to earn money and children will need to learn. We suffer over even the appearance of profiting from a crisis, […]
Read MoreOver the next two weeks–and possibly longer–CT students will have a lot of time on their hands. They’ll need and want purposeful activities to fill the hours previously jammed with homework, sports, after-school activities, and socializing. But, these weeks out of school don’t have to be an educational wasteland. Learning can continue even though schools […]
Read MoreSchool closings will have several effects. The big positive: limiting the spread of coronavirus. The big negatives: children will not be leaning material that they will be expected to know – at some point – and that will create a foundational challenge. Boredom, lack of purposefulness, increased social media/video games/texting drama are additional negatives. I’ll […]
Read MoreI have been teaching online courses since 2001 through Connecticut’s college distance learning program. Online learning is effective for what I’ll call “check the box” learning. There is no difference between writing papers and doing homework assignments online or in person. Basic mastery is possible for most subjects. But even as an early proponent of […]
Read MorePunctuation matters more than you might think on the SAT. Especially now with the combined writing and language score, students who aim for top schools and need near-perfect SAT scores should invest some time brushing up on their knowledge of essential punctuation rules, including comma usage, the difference between colons and semi-colons, and the purpose of dashes.
Read MoreThese days, if you’re a good writer, you’ve almost certainly future-proofed your career, according to Forbes writer Greta Solomon. The ability to write well “is one of the best ways to remain consistently employable,” says Solomon. Especially in a global economy (“How Mastering Writing Skills Can Future-Proof Your Career,” Forbes, Aug. 9, 2018). Here, […]
Read MoreCan you spot the error in the following sentence? “She couldn’t believe the amount of people waiting in line at Dairy Queen.” If you can’t find anything wrong, you’re not alone! This sentence should read, “number of people” not “amount of people.” Amount vs Number Although “amount” and “number” both refer to quantity, […]
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