Going back almost 90 years, the hard left wanted to use the public schools as a way to change the world.

Roughly in 1921, sight-words were forced into the public schools, and we've had nothing but decline ever since. (The professors knew it would flop thanks to Dr. Samuel Orton's research.)

Now, we have reached a stage of general bewilderment. The Education Establishment cannot tell the truth about anything that it does. They want dumbing down. Can they say…

Guided Reading and Text Challenge

Tim Shanahan

Blast from the Past: This posting originally appeared on August 30, 2015 and reposted August 19, 2023. Issues about whether students should be taught at grade level or instructional level continue to plague the field of reading education. Since this first posted,…

Is Digital Text a Good Idea for Reading Instruction?

Tim Shanahan

Teacher question: I’ve heard that having students read digital texts is a bad idea, but our school has purchased tablets for everybody and wants us to use these for much of our instruction. What say you? Good idea or bad idea?

Shanahan responds:

Generally, research has found that digital books are read…

Knowledge or Comprehension Strategies--What Should We Teach?

Tim Shanahan

Teacher question:

Are we supposed to teach reading strategies or not? I keep coming across contradictory information. Some writers say the research supports strategy teaching and some say that we should teach background information instead. I respect your opinion. What do you think?

Shanahan…

The Dim Bulb

The Occasional Musings of an Educator

by Michael Keany

#29 - June 24, 2023

The brain is capable of performing 10 quadrillion (that’s 10 to the 16th)…

This Is How To Overcome Anger: 5 Powerful Secrets From Research

Eric Barker

Anger is natural and normal. That doesn’t mean it’s usually the best option and chronic anger can be a threat to your health. Anger may not always have a good purpose but it definitely has consequences. And when we let it get out of hand it can be a roller coaster ride that ruins relationships and destroys happiness, just like alcoholism or social media.

What we need to learn is…

Children in public schools are often

miserable and don't learn much.

We can so do much better.

Principles and Proposals by…

The Dim Bulb

The Occasional Musings of an Educator

by Michael Keany

#28 - June 9, 2023

The brain is capable of performing 10 quadrillion (that’s 10 to the 16th)…

A father used to say to his children when they were young: —When you all reach the age of 12 I will tell you the secret of life. One day when the oldest turned 12, he anxiously asked his father what was the secret of life. The father replied that he was going to tell him, but that he should not reveal it to his brothers.…

Is ADHD a Disability or a Difference?

• May 25, 2023
• Cynthia Hammer
• ADHD, …