The hottest Education Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

Mathematical Maturity in Elementary School

Kids Who Love Math • 419 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🚌 Education Mathematics Teaching Methods Curriculum Development Learning Strategies Child development
  1. Mathematical maturity starts with curiosity, connection, and persistence. Kids need to explore math by asking questions and playing with ideas to develop a deeper understanding.
  2. There are four stages of mathematical maturity: Exposure, Pattern Recognition, Internalization, and Creative Mastery. Each stage helps kids build their confidence and skills in math.
  3. It's important to normalize getting stuck and encourage kids to embrace challenges. Learning is about asking better questions and exploring different ways to solve problems, not just getting the right answers.

Survival Illustrated: We're at 90 Pages

OK Doomer • 141 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🚌 Education Gardening Food Preservation Emergency Prep Renewable Energy Homesteading
  1. A 90-page PDF of the project is now available with new sections like seed saving and pest management, and the layout has been formalized in InDesign to improve appearance and make printing easier.
  2. The author is moving into sanitation and plans to add more detail on additional crops and batteries, and they’re asking readers for suggestions and typo reports.
  3. They’re planning a ~150-page micro-guide for print by spring covering planting, foraging, rain harvesting, food storage and preservation, emergency sanitation, and basic solar setups, and may release updated print editions annually with an optional dedication page for supporters.

Tormented by an Urn

rachaelmeager • 535 implied HN points • 04 Jun 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Mathematics Statistics Philosophy
  1. The Polya urn model, though simple at first glance, reveals the complexity of statistics and emphasizes the importance of understanding problems deeply before attempting to solve them.
  2. Teaching and learning in math are not just about facts; they require creativity and passion to engage students, much like how poets perceive deeper meanings in their art.
  3. There is a strong connection between the arts and sciences, where both disciplines can benefit from understanding each other, and students should learn foundational concepts in both to grasp the complexities of the world.

What is Plagiarism?

Classical Wisdom • 1552 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🚌 Education Academic Integrity Philosophy History
  1. Plagiarism is a serious issue in academia and has led to high-profile scandals.
  2. The concept of plagiarism has ancient roots, dating back to Roman times.
  3. The debate over plagiarism raises questions about originality and the balance between forming our own ideas and drawing inspiration from others.
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Why are tech people suddenly so into homeschooling?

Cloud Irregular • 3400 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🚌 Education Homeschooling Child development Parenting
  1. More tech parents are choosing to homeschool their kids. They see it as a way to give their children a better, more tailored education.
  2. Many homeschooling parents want to 'opt out' of average society. They think that keeping their kids away from regular school and its challenges can help them succeed.
  3. Homeschooling can help kids learn valuable skills, but it might also lead to issues with social connection and resilience. It's important for kids to experience challenges to grow.

Do You Listen Well?

Classical Wisdom • 2555 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🚌 Education Listening Philosophy Ancient Wisdom Learning Process Personal Development
  1. Listening well is an important skill in any interaction, whether with family, friends, or strangers.
  2. Plutarch highlighted the different types of listeners, including selective listeners, disapproving listeners, and over-confident listeners.
  3. Plutarch emphasized that learning is a collaborative process between the speaker and the listener, requiring active participation and critical thinking from both parties.

Calling All Future Newsletter Superstars: “Substack School” Opens Its Doors

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 1139 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🚌 Education Online Learning Writing Skills Content creation Community Building
  1. Substack School is a new resource for anyone wanting to start or improve their newsletter. It's designed to help you connect with your audience and built a loyal subscriber base.
  2. The school offers tutorials on the basics of Substack, along with tips from successful writers. You'll learn how to craft great content and keep readers engaged.
  3. Joining Substack School lets you be part of a community where you can share ideas and experiences with others who are also excited about newsletters.

An Interview With Oscar About College in Ireland

Design Mom • 1434 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🚌 Education College International Languages Courses
  1. Oscar chose to study in Ireland to do his coursework in English and be closer to his family in the EU.
  2. In his university in Ireland, students have to pick specific Courses when applying instead of declaring a major later on.
  3. American universities start with general education classes, while in Oscar's university, students apply directly to their preferred Course from a list.

Two of Your Predictions for 2024 and Why They Are Probably Not Correct

Mathworlds • 1375 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🚌 Education EdTech Generative AI Predictions
  1. Generative AI tools may not eliminate 90% of teachers' administrative tasks by 2024 according to a teacher survey.
  2. AI tutors evolving to become great is another prediction for 2024, but their widespread success remains uncertain.
  3. It's crucial for edtech developers to create tools that truly meet the practical needs of teachers and students, as indicated by survey results.

Quick Advice on Writing Essays

Niko McCarty • 399 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🚌 Education Writing Research Teaching Essays Literacy
  1. Start your essay with a focused idea. Make sure it's specific enough to explore and not too broad.
  2. Outline your essay and list the questions you want to answer. This helps you stay organized and focused on what you need to research.
  3. Research answers to your questions one at a time, then compile your findings into a structured essay. This makes writing easier and clearer.

Systemic Racism at Brown?

Glenn Loury • 4106 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
🚌 Education Race Public Policy Inequality
  1. A controversy at Brown University surrounding systemic racism sparked a debate on freedom of expression.
  2. Glenn Loury, a black conservative economist, argues against claims of systemic racism at Brown and presents his scholarly contributions.
  3. Loury emphasizes the need to address racial inequality without undermining academic freedom.

How Math Textbooks Are Written (and How to Choose One)

Kids Who Love Math • 335 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Textbooks Learning Teaching Methods Parenting
  1. Choose math books written by passionate individuals. These authors really care about making math enjoyable and understandable for kids.
  2. Avoid textbooks written by committees because they often lack clarity and focus. They try to cover too many topics and can make learning feel overwhelming.
  3. Look for books that prioritize deep thinking and problem-solving. The right book should inspire a love for math and be well-structured for motivated learners.

🚀 FP! Week In Review, Briefly #14

Faster, Please! • 274 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🚌 Education AI Learning Pedagogy Technology Instruction
  1. AI can be a great tool for learning, but we need to be careful how we use it. If schools just add AI to their old ways of teaching, it might lead to shallow learning instead of deeper thinking.
  2. Using technology in classrooms should not mean just giving kids devices without guidance. Schools should teach students how to think critically rather than distracting them with screens.
  3. Some teachers are going back to simple methods, like writing and discussions, to help kids engage more deeply. The goal is to use AI to boost thinking skills, not just for quick answers.

Protests and Civil Disobedience in Totalitarian Regimes and in Democracies

Heterodox STEM • 227 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🚌 Education Higher education Academic Freedom Student activism Free speech University Governance
  1. Protests under totalitarian regimes are often the only way to expose injustice and carry severe personal risk, while in democracies protest is protected but should be exercised without disrupting core civic and institutional processes.
  2. The 2024 campus protests were described as deliberately disruptive and at times intimidating or violent, with vandalism and little accountability for participants and insufficient enforcement by university administrations.
  3. Universities should protect learning and research by enforcing clear time, place, and manner rules, applying consistent, content-neutral sanctions for violations, and educating students in democratic civic engagement to avoid outside intervention.

Keys to understanding: Video Q&A

The Bell Ringer • 179 implied HN points • 12 Jul 24
🚌 Education Teaching Methods Learning theories Education & Policy Curriculum design
  1. Teaching methods can vary greatly, and it's important to recognize these differences to improve learning experiences.
  2. Understanding the reasons behind different teaching styles can help educators connect better with their students.
  3. By exploring teaching fundamentals, both teachers and students can enhance their interactions and overall educational outcomes.

On Earning Trust: The Case for the Social Sciences

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 199 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
🚌 Education Higher education Pedagogy Curriculum Research Methods Social Sciences Epistemology Technology Use
  1. Universities must earn public trust by being institutionally trustworthy: fix internal monocultures and focus teaching on real, demonstrable skills that give students access to useful knowledge.
  2. The true ‘super‑intelligence’ is the five‑millennia corpus of human ideas, and modern text‑processing systems are valuable mainly as translators or front ends to curated knowledge rather than infallible oracles.
  3. Education should train people to connect to, interpret, and extend the collective human mind by teaching durable methods, literacies, Popperian testability, and epistemic humility while updating practical skills for new media.

How to Write Headlines That Drive More Clicks — Interview with Derek Hughes

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 799 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🚌 Education Writing Skills Content creation Online Learning Personal Development
  1. Your headline is really important; it's the first thing people see and can make them want to read more.
  2. Many people only read the headline and skip the rest, so making it catchy is key to getting clicks.
  3. Practicing writing headlines and getting feedback can help you improve and attract more readers.

Should elementary and secondary teachers "flip" their classroom?

The Science of Learning • 279 implied HN points • 15 Jun 24
🚌 Education Learning theories Classroom Management
  1. Flipped classrooms ask students to learn material at home, which can allow more time for hands-on activities in class. But this may only help if teachers usually give long lectures.
  2. Not all studies agree that flipping classes is better. Many results vary, and sometimes it's just about how much time students spend learning, not the flipping method itself.
  3. There can be challenges like students missing out if they don't do the pre-class work, or if they lack resources at home. Good learning is really about mixing new content with active learning in a clear way.

Is Internal Reform of Academia Possible?

Unsafe Science • 183 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
🚌 Education Higher Ed Academic Freedom Curriculum Research Integrity Campus politics University Governance
  1. Academia is seriously skewed by left-wing ideological capture that affects theory, methods, hiring, teaching, funding, and publishing. That bias leads to censorship, politicized journals, and distorted scholarship.
  2. Many insiders block reform through denial, deflection, and a ‘now is not the time’ or ‘can’t do’ mentality, and some reformers weaken efforts by worrying about optics or jargon instead of acting. Common excuses include claiming reform is a right-wing plot, minimizing the problem, or endlessly debating terms.
  3. Internal reform is possible but difficult and requires sustained, practical action like working groups, viewpoint-diversity initiatives, and firm pushback against obstructionary rhetoric. Progress will be slow and needs a mix of patient inside efforts, outside pressure, and educating skeptics with evidence.

Events Schedule

Classical Wisdom • 1179 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🚌 Education Philosophy Events
  1. Wednesday's live discussion on Plagiarism starts at 2:00pm EST.
  2. Exciting upcoming events on different topics like Marcus Aurelius and Philosophy for Children.
  3. Register in advance to receive event recordings even if you can't join live.

How American Educators Are Conning Kids

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2411 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🚌 Education Student Performance Teaching Methods
  1. American students are falling behind in education, yet standards are being lowered instead of improved. This approach might make everyone feel better, but it doesn't help kids succeed.
  2. Experts agree that the U.S. education system is not world-class and needs major improvements. It's important for a superpower to provide high-quality education.
  3. The perception is that educators are not being honest about students' abilities, similar to saying everyone is a great swimmer even when many are struggling. This could harm students in the long run.

Reading, Writing, and Racism: The Three R’s of Philly Public Schools

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1270 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Pedagogy History Social Issues Public Policy
  1. Philadelphia's public schools have a history curriculum that encourages students to think critically about oppression. This may simplify complex historical events into a clear 'oppressed versus oppressor' narrative.
  2. One part of the curriculum asks students to consider what it takes to overthrow oppression, but it doesn't explore all the details from the historical period it covers.
  3. Teachers have some freedom to choose whether or not to follow this curriculum, but the existence of such a framework raises concerns about how history is being taught in schools.

The weekly review

Austin Kleon • 3437 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🚌 Education Productivity Self-reflection Time management Personal Growth Creativity
  1. Scheduling a regular time for a weekly review helps you reflect on what you've done and plan what you want to do next. It’s about taking a moment to think and organize your thoughts.
  2. Using a method that works for you, like making mind maps or lists, can make your review more effective. Visualizing your tasks can help you see connections and prioritize better.
  3. A private weekly review can lead to clearer mind and focus for the upcoming week. It allows you to 'clear your psychic decks' so you can enjoy your time off without distractions.

DEI Is Destroying My University

Reality's Last Stand • 1965 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🚌 Education Academia Ideology Diversity Professional development Teaching
  1. The author expresses concerns about DEI initiatives impacting academic freedom and professional standing in universities.
  2. The author discusses the pressure to conform to diversity requirements in academic curricula, leading to challenges in maintaining academic integrity.
  3. The author highlights instances of intolerant behavior and ideological conflict in academia related to DEI measures.

🏫⤴ Why every student should study the history of progress

Faster, Please! • 1005 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🚌 Education Curriculum History Technology Progress
  1. Students should learn about the history of progress to understand the inventions that shaped our world. This knowledge helps them see how innovation impacts daily life.
  2. A new class on the history of progress would include important inventions, like the spinning jenny and the internet. Learning this history can help students make sense of modern challenges.
  3. Understanding technology isn't just about gadgets; it's about knowing how society works. This knowledge helps people appreciate advances that improve our lives, like medicine and sanitation.

A Missing Textbook Diagram

Bet On It • 166 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🚌 Education Economics Public Policy Pedagogy Textbooks Curriculum
  1. A simple diagram that maps benefits against costs would be a handy teaching tool for intro and intermediate economics and public policy classes. It makes tradeoffs easy to see at a glance.
  2. Adding extreme categories like “Sky High” benefits and “Rock Bottom” costs shows why some policies remain sensible even when critics point to large costs — very large benefits can outweigh high costs.
  3. The idea is intuitive and practical and, despite parallels in business teaching, feels like a fresh, useful addition that textbooks should include.

First, Do Not Suck: A Video Presentation on Which Writing Advice to Take (and Which Not To) for Subscribers

Freddie deBoer • 2908 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🚌 Education Writing Skills Teaching Methods Literary Analysis Content creation Pedagogy
  1. Not all writing advice is helpful; some common tips can actually hinder writers. It's important to find advice that really benefits your style and needs.
  2. Tools like pronouns and the passive voice can be useful in writing, contrary to popular belief. Embracing different writing styles can enhance your work.
  3. Improving as a writer involves a lot of practice and feedback. It's normal to struggle with gaining an audience or making money, even if you see your writing getting better.

Where have the International Math Olympiad Gold Medallists Ended Up? Part One of Three

Neeloy’s Substack • 119 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🚌 Education Mathematics Competitions Career Paths Data Analysis
  1. Many International Math Olympiad gold medalists end up pursuing careers in different fields, not just in finance or academia. It's interesting to see how their paths vary after such early success.
  2. Data collection on these medalists shows a clear trend where China dominates in terms of gold medals, with a majority of their students achieving this top honor. This highlights the competitive environment in math education in that country.
  3. The dataset used to track these medalists has its limitations, particularly due to language and cultural barriers in finding information. However, the findings still provide valuable insights into the outcomes of these talented individuals.

How my son got in to Duke

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 599 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
🚌 Education Homeschooling Writing AI writing
  1. Focus on self-directed learning and unique experiences rather than typical benchmarks like SAT scores.
  2. When writing, be specific and share personal experiences to create content that AI cannot replicate.
  3. Homeschooling can give students the opportunity to stand out in college applications by being remarkable and avoiding common educational norms.

On Life 2: Hạ chuẩn

Many One Percents • 1100 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🚌 Education Life Expectations
  1. The post is in Vietnamese and talks about managing expectations in life.
  2. There is an image included in the post showing the sunrise at Ta Chi Nhu in 2021.
  3. People can subscribe for a 7-day free trial to read the full post and access the archives.