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Research -- StepUp to Learn

How Important Are Genetics in Learning?

How Important Are Genetics in Learning?

Researchers have found that genetics significantly affect learning abilities. That's not to say, however, that academic achievement is entirely pre-determined. Learning environment does have an important effect on test scores, and possibly even more so in some cases.

 

Posted in Language, Mathematics, Movement & Exercise, Reading Skills

Rethinking Gifted Education

Rethinking Gifted Education

Gifted education is a broad term to describe programs and practices used in the education of students who demonstrate exceptional abilities to learn or reason. Currently, more than 3 million students are enrolled in gifted programs nationwide. But gifted programs may not be the best learning environment for some students, according to a new study. 
Posted in Language, Mathematics, Reading Skills, School Readiness

Write-To-Read: Improve Reading Skills With Purposeful Writing

Write-To-Read: Improve Reading Skills With Purposeful Writing

Early childhood is a crucial time for children’s reading and writing development. Children who lag behind in the early years usually encounter considerable difficulties throughout their academic careers. A recent study tested an exploratory write-to-read method in first grade classrooms as an alternative reading program.
Posted in Education, Handwriting, Neuroscience, Reading Skills, School Readiness, Technology

Are You Better With Numbers or Words?

Are You Better With Numbers or Words?

We usually think of math and reading skills as two distinct abilities; you’re either good with numbers or words. A new study may debunk this notion that our brains are either adept at math or reading.
Posted in Education, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Reading Skills

Learning to Read Today: Emojis, Photos, and More

Learning to Read Today: Emojis, Photos, and More

Technology dominates every aspect of our lives: how we work, how we live and how we communicate. A recent study in the Journal of Early Childhood Research examines our communication and looks at how it is affecting children learning to read.
Posted in Education, Engagement, Reading Skills, Technology

Kindergarteners and iPads: Sharing is Key

Kindergarteners and iPads: Sharing is Key

To give children iPads in school, or not – that is the question. The ‘correct’ answer to this question still remains a bit of a mystery. The use of iPads in the classroom has caused a political uproar in some school districts.
Posted in Education, Reading Skills, Technology

Early Literacy: How Parent Involvement Has Evolved

Early Literacy: How Parent Involvement Has Evolved

A recent study published in the Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, investigates how families have supported their children’s early literacy and how this support has evolved over the past century.
Posted in Education, Neuroscience, Reading Skills

Moving for Math

Moving for Math

A classroom full of children waving their arms up and down, jumping, and tapping to the beat may sound like a gym class, but these movement exercises are actually designed for the classroom to help children learn math and writing.
Posted in Engagement, Handwriting, Mathematics, Movement & Exercise, Neuroscience, Reading Skills, Technology

Distracted Now, Pay Later

Distracted Now, Pay Later

Children experience many phases and changes during their school years, and its tempting to think they will grow out of most of their difficult phases. But a new study shows that children with early attention problems are at risk for worse academic outcomes in high school.
Posted in Education, Handwriting, Mathematics, Reading Skills

Boys and Girls Learning to Read: It's A Mixed Bag

Boys and Girls Learning to Read: It's A Mixed Bag

Experienced teachers know that students learn in different ways and often take different paths to get to the same learning outcome. According to a recent study, such differences are especially prevalent when boys and girls are learning to read. In fact, international research shows that in all age groups, girls outperform boys on measures of reading. This new study on gender differences aims to understand why this gender based performance gap exists and to gain insight into how it can be reduced.
Posted in Reading Skills

Toddler Tantrums? Tame Them With Talk

Toddler Tantrums? Tame Them With Talk

Angry outbursts like temper tantrums are common among toddlers, but by the time children enter school, they’re expected to have more self-control. In a longitudinal study published in Child Development, researchers  sought to determine whether developing language skills relates to developing anger control.
Posted in Language, Reading Skills

ADHD in Kids: Attention, Motivation, And More

ADHD in Kids: Attention, Motivation, And More

A recent study published in The Journal of Neuroscience used brain imaging to characterize the brain networks of young adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) compared to a group without it. The results showed that the frontal, temporal, and occipital cortices were abnormally connected within the brain of individuals with ADHD. The findings also revealed a deficit in both emotional/motivational and attentional/perceptual control systems in ADHD.
Posted in Attention, Mathematics, Reading Skills