Wayside Tutoring

The struggle is real...

I know movement helps me learn better and more deeply. How about you?
https://www.edutopia.org/visual-essay/the-power-of-multimodal-learning-in-5-charts?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Q12026&fbclid=IwY2xjawPze5VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFYbkxiR3kzZXRnNlk4RzN4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmDA3HoBOAk92PSXckgKlDc6Ri6OJwsye-6KnN3i3FdkTv1dLctC6UwrIu7x_aem_FrCZmkoHME6y8U9i0JSV6w

The Power of Multimodal Learning (in 5 Charts) When students engage multiple senses to learn—drawing or acting out a concept, for example—they’re more likely to remember and develop a deeper understanding of the material, a large body of research shows.

We learned them with rote memorization and drill, drill, drill. Does it still work?

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-decreased-practice-time-plays-into-historic-math-declines

'Now, a growing number of researchers, school leaders, and educators are calling attention to research-based solutions to combat slippage in math, including the crucial role that adequate practice time plays in student performance. “They are considered dirty words, but drill and practice, and explicit instruction on how to procedurally solve math problems, are evidence-based strategies that work,” said SUNY University at Albany math researcher Ben Solomon.'

Should More Time Be Spent Learning Math Facts? As schools nationwide contend with declining math scores, some districts are dedicating more time to the practice of foundational skills.

Isn't this a great idea?

I really enjoy staying current on the latest research related to education and effective teaching. This post by Edutopia highlights the 10 most significant education studies (in their judgment) of the past year. Some of it is intuitive, some surprising, and all of it actionable.
Whether you're an educator, a parent, or someone with an interest in the next generation, you'll find something interesting here. Happy reading!
https://www.edutopia.org/visual-essay/the-10-most-significant-education-studies-of-2025?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Q42025&utm_id=Q4+2025&utm_content=feature&fbclid=IwY2xjawOfCfxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeC2akPwmig0Oy1nJ5A5w-OM0ggUOekNB1cgilBGnBNNZefLc6Hre4sft_VxA_aem_0pihs0DaAZU7LElatfjoYg

The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2025 We’re back with our roundup of the most insightful studies of the year, from the power of brain breaks to groundbreaking research on AI, cell phones, and handwriting in the classroom.

When I was a classroom teacher, I regularly shared logic puzzles and riddles with my students to build their critical thinking and questioning skills (they're great brain breaks, too). It was a highlight of the day, and many students brought the riddles home to share with families, stumping them sometimes, too! Here's the classic puzzle that I always used to kick off the year on the first day:

A woman was pushing her car until she reached a hotel. She stopped there and immediately realized she was bankrupt. Why? What happened?

Drop your best guesses in the comments section! Feel free to ask yes or no questions, but no looking up the answer! You've got to put the clues together yourself. And yes, this could happen in real life...good luck!

Ok, the secret is out...Most my tutoring sessions are just spending time sharing bars of dark chocolate and comparing their flavor profiles. Hey, it builds descriptive vocabulary!

While there may be some truth to the claims of positive benefits for the brain, overall, I'm just grateful to be able to spend time with some amazing students this year. Cheers, and keep sending those dark chocolate bars! 😃

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I love tutoring at Goodnow Library! Every week they have some new, engaging activity. This week, it's the Standing Escape Room Puzzles upstairs that look amazing! I saw a family there yesterday trying to figure it out for almost an hour. What fun! Good job to everyone involved in setting this up!
Let me know if you were able to solve one or more of them!

Sure, we think we know how important quality math instruction is and why student achievement matters. But, are higher student math scores indicative of higher earnings later on as adults? One recent report affirms that they are, for all kinds of children. Let's get mathing!

Study: Math Scores Matter More for Adult Earnings Than Reading, Health Factors An Urban Institute study underscores the need for better math instruction starting in the early grades.

Are we teaching reading comprehension with an eye to enabling students to generalize their learning to future, difficult texts? See what Tim Shanahan has to say about the most effective ways to teach students comprehension:

6 Things Teachers Must Know: Are We Teaching Reading Right? | Shanahan on Literacy Are We Teaching Reading Comprehension? Part II – 6 Things Every Teacher Should Know | Shanahan on Literacy reveals key insights. Find out what they are!