Education, Dr. Devon, More

HOW WELL ARE WE EDUCATING OUR KIDS? Based on U.S. student scores on the 2018 PISA test (Program for International Student Assessment), the answer depends on what you look at. For example, U.S. students ranked higher in the latest test, but that was scores in other countries slipped. Overall, U.S. scores showed little change. Check it out for yourself at Education Dive or at The New York Times, which takes a somewhat alarmist view of the results, eg, “it’s really time to rethink the entire drift of policy reform because it just isn’t working.”

REACTION TO PISA IN AUSTRALIA. Our friends down under noted that PISA scores there fell most among students who are more advantaged and higher achievers. Partly to address performance concerns, the state of New South Wales will implement a policy to identify and serve students of high capability — specifically including twice-exceptional students. Read more.

IS EDUCATION A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT? A federal judge will hear arguments today in a Rhode Island case where the issue is whether the state is providing an education that “adequately prepares students to participate as informed citizens in civic life.” The case follows others in the U.S. on similar issues, for example a case in Detroit. The eventual goal: to get the Supreme Court to rule exactly what students can expect from an education. Read more.

DR. DEVON. Psychologist Devon MacEachron has posted another “mythbusters” blog entry questioning conventional wisdom in parenting on the topic of team sports for kids. She lists benefits and potential disadvantages to team sport participation, and offers suggestions for getting the benefits even if your child is not “sporty.” Find the blog. (And we’ll bet that Dr. Devon might appreciate suggestions for future mythbusters columns.)

NEUROFEEDBACK, ATTENTION. “Having trouble paying attention? MIT neuroscientists may have a solution for you: Turn down your alpha brain waves. In a new study, the researchers found that people can enhance their attention by controlling their own alpha brain waves based on neurofeedback they receive as they perform a particular task.” Read more at SciTechDaily.com.

GIFTED AND DISTRACTIBLE. The December edition of this newsletter includes Julie Skolnick’s blog, article pointers, and resources from With Understanding Comes Calm. Find the newsletter.

EVENT. Webinar on December 11, “The Importance of Universal Design in Online Learning,” by D2L and Education Dive. More information.

Teacher Gift

If holiday gifts are appropriate at your child’s school, consider a gift that will help teachers best serve your 2e child: the booklet Understanding Your Twice-Exceptional Student from our Spotlight on 2e series. It’s concise, well-written, and affordable. Find out more.