The hottest Teaching Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Education Topics

2 Questions for You

The American Peasant • 2555 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Skills Workshops Customer Relations
  1. Asking clear questions helps start conversations better. It allows you to understand what someone really needs right away.
  2. Understanding students' goals in classes helps tailor the teaching approach. This way, you can mix in production techniques or focus on traditional methods based on their interests.
  3. Using direct questions in any interaction makes communication smoother. It helps you get to the point without unnecessary details.

5 Ways to Stop AI Cheating

The Honest Broker • 34143 implied HN points • 28 May 25
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Cheating Technology Tradition
  1. AI cheating is a big problem in schools right now, and many believe it's worsening fast. Students often use AI tools to do their work instead of learning.
  2. An old-fashioned education style, like the one at Oxford, could help stop AI cheating. This system relies heavily on handwritten work and face-to-face discussions with teachers.
  3. The Oxford method is tough and demanding, encouraging real understanding and preventing cheating. If used more widely, it could ensure students truly learn and earn their degrees.

The way of poetry

Silentium • 399 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
📚 Literature Poetry Contemplation Creative Writing Spirituality Teaching
  1. The practice of poetry can invite us into moments of silence and stillness. It helps us reflect and connect with our deeper selves.
  2. One-on-one sessions and courses can enhance this experience, as they provide tailored guidance and support in exploring poetry and mindfulness.
  3. Meditations and recorded teachings can be valuable tools to return to when we need reminders to slow down and find peace in our busy lives.

The BIG GUIDE to teaching LITTLE PEOPLE how to sound out words

The Intrinsic Perspective • 7162 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🚌 Education Teaching Parenting Literacy Child development Learning methods
  1. Teaching kids to read can be done much faster at home than in traditional schools. A few minutes of one-on-one tutoring each day can help them start reading within a year.
  2. Many current reading methods are too complicated for young kids. It’s better to make learning fun and game-like instead of following strict rules and lessons.
  3. The process of teaching reading should begin with simple sounds and slowly progress to full sentences, focusing on what interests the child. This makes reading enjoyable and engaging.
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My Next Decision Making Class is Launching on November 18th!

Thinking in Bets • 138 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Courses Skills Workshops
  1. A decision-making class starts on November 18th and will run for three weeks with live zoom sessions. It’s designed to help people make better decisions using a structured process.
  2. You'll learn what makes decision-making hard, like cognitive biases, and how to work better as a team when making choices.
  3. The course includes interactive sessions and projects, and past students found it transformative and beneficial for both personal and career growth.

My Class About Causal Inference

By Reason Alone • 42 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Causal Inference Social Sciences Mathematics
  1. Teaching causal inference helps students understand the relationship between cause and effect in social sciences. It's important to make complex ideas relatable to engage younger audiences.
  2. Using visual aids, like graphs, can enhance understanding of complicated topics, especially in a classroom setting. Students can connect better with the material when it’s presented visually.
  3. Recommended readings and real-world examples, like the draft lottery, can spark curiosity in students. Sharing interesting studies can help them see the relevance of these concepts in everyday life.

My School Experimented with ‘Education Equity.’ It Failed.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1381 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🚌 Education Equity Teaching Learning STEM
  1. Mixing high-achieving and low-performing students in the same classes didn't work as intended. It led to negative outcomes for students who were doing well.
  2. The idea behind the 'multilevel classrooms' was to help students transition easily between different levels of difficulty. However, it was challenging to teach when students had very different skill levels.
  3. Though the mixed-class approach had some success in certain subjects, it struggled in STEM and language classes where a strong foundation is needed. Teachers found it hard to meet everyone's needs.

I don't like ice-breakers

Soaring Twenties • 100 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Social Skills Courses Personal Development
  1. Ice-breakers often feel pointless and waste time during meetings or courses. People usually don't get to know each other better through these activities.
  2. Sharing personal stories can be uncomfortable for many, especially if they're private. It might feel better to focus on course-related topics instead.
  3. Instead of typical ice-breakers, it might be better to discuss why everyone is there. This helps people connect meaningfully and saves time.

Bringing the science of learning to parent night

The Bell Ringer • 79 implied HN points • 23 Aug 24
🚌 Education Parenting Teaching Learning Literacy Child development
  1. Many teachers believe that parents are not involved enough in their children's education. They feel that more engagement from families could lead to better support for students.
  2. Parents want to learn how to help their kids succeed in school, especially through understanding learning science. This can strengthen the partnership between parents and teachers.
  3. Schools are starting to share effective learning strategies with parents, like metacognition and retrieval practices, which can help kids study better and improve their overall learning experience.

The School Bell Rings: Time for Class

Musings on Markets • 1778 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Finance Curriculum Professional development
  1. Learning finance can be accessible! You don’t need a fancy background, just some curiosity and a bit of effort.
  2. Understanding the basics, like how money flows in businesses and what financial terms mean, is super important. It sets you up for success in finance classes.
  3. There are different ways to learn. You can choose free online classes or paid ones, depending on what fits your time and budget best.

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.

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.

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.

Michael D. Smith's False Prophecy for Higher Education

The Recovering Academic • 554 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Teaching Online Learning
  1. Higher education is facing challenges of scarcity in access, instruction, and credentials, leading to market power exploitation by institutions.
  2. The proposed shift towards digital education may widen the class divide in higher education rather than solving existing problems.
  3. The current trend in education, as proposed by Michael D. Smith, risks devaluing PhDs and academic jobs, leading to a potential collapse of the system.

What does 'equity' mean?

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 140 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🚌 Education Equity Learning Teaching Curriculum Access
  1. Schools may prevent advanced students from excelling in their subjects because it is deemed unfair to those who are struggling. This can limit the potential of talented students.
  2. The concept of 'equity' can sometimes be used to excuse practices that are not truly fair or effective. Instead, it can lead to a situation where everyone is held back instead of finding ways to help those who need support.
  3. In professional settings, like medical interviews, virtual options are defended as equitable, but this can make the process less serious and impersonal. The focus should be on genuine fairness instead of just using equity as an excuse.

American Economic History: Introduction

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 253 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🚌 Education History Economics Teaching Analysis Data science
  1. The course will focus on American economic history without trying to create a single, simple story. Instead, it will look at different themes and questions week by week.
  2. An important question will be whether America is exceptional and in what ways. This can help us better understand history and economics.
  3. Students will not only learn about historical events but also get a taste of data science to analyze economic models and improve their analytical skills.

Are Great Teachers Born or Made?

Mathworlds • 550 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🚌 Education Teaching AI
  1. Research suggests emergency-hired teachers during COVID may not differ significantly from traditionally licensed teachers.
  2. Education is complex and difficult to measure, making it challenging to understand teacher influence on student learning.
  3. Great teachers may be born, but good teachers can be made through diverse experiences and supportive tools.

I Didn't Teach the "I Have a Dream" Speech

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 537 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🚌 Education Teaching History Equality Civil Rights Social Issues
  1. Dr. King's 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' is an important text to study, offering a different perspective than his 'I Have a Dream' speech.
  2. Dr. King's legacy and messages have been whitewashed; it's crucial to revisit his work with fresh eyes to truly understand his stance against racism.
  3. In light of current challenges like book bans and whitewashing of history, it becomes even more critical to engage with Dr. King's radical ideas to push for change.

Chutes, ladders, and Markov chains

A Piece of the Pi: mathematics explained • 72 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🚌 Education Mathematics Statistics Game Theory Probability Teaching
  1. The game of Chutes and Ladders is a fun example of a Markov chain. It shows how the next move depends only on where you are now, not on how you got there.
  2. There are different types of game boards, some allow for winning while others can trap players forever. Ultimately winnable boards guarantee that a player can reach the end if they keep playing.
  3. On average, players need about 39 spins to win the game, and surprisingly, most random boards created will still offer a winning chance.

This week in the science of learning, August 25, 2024

The Bell Ringer • 19 implied HN points • 25 Aug 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Pedagogy Research Curriculum
  1. Teaching reading is a mix of art and science. Teachers need to use research but also rely on their own experience to help students learn.
  2. Meaningful knowledge helps students connect what they learn to related ideas. This makes learning more useful and encourages deeper understanding.
  3. Building strong relationships between teachers and parents can help support students. Parents should talk to their kids about learning and current events to strengthen this connection.

Should a Workshop Be a Safe Space?

The Recovering Academic • 534 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
🚌 Education Teaching Writing Workshops Learning College
  1. Workshops should be places of respect where the focus is on the work itself, not personal attacks or fears.
  2. Creating in a workshop may not always be comfortable, but it should be a space of caring and deep respect for the work.
  3. Balancing belief in the work and constructive doubt can help writers grow without falling into extremes of pure praise or relentless criticism.

How to get more male teachers

Of Boys and Men • 95 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🚌 Education Teaching Policy Workforce Gender Employment
  1. There is a significant drop in the number of male teachers, especially in secondary schools, where their share has fallen from 48% to 36%. This means fewer male role models in middle and high schools.
  2. Many men enter teaching later in life, often switching from other careers. About 25% of male teachers come from different professions, indicating a need for easier pathways into education.
  3. Men are more likely to leave teaching for other careers or further education compared to women. This suggests that improving job satisfaction and financial benefits could help retain more male teachers in the field.

Hospitals, BA.2.86, schools, Twitter, teaching

Logging the World • 637 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19 Mental health Teaching
  1. COVID optimism might be on the rise based on recent data trends like the BA.2.86 growth rates and hospital investigations.
  2. Studies show a concerning decline in mental health among school children during the pandemic, indicating the need for better support.
  3. Personal experiences such as being locked out of social media and starting a large teaching session can affect one's daily routine.

The Dragon Every Math Teacher Has to Slay Eventually

Mathworlds • 569 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🚌 Education Teaching Mathematics
  1. Students often feel worse about math class compared to other subjects because of the pressure to only have one correct answer for each question.
  2. Math should be taught as a creative discipline that embraces human subjectivity, not just a set of memorized steps.
  3. Teachers can help students deconstruct the idea of one right way to do math by introducing activities that show multiple paths lead to the same solution.

AI Does Not Fit the Shape of Schooling

Mathworlds • 550 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🚌 Education AI Teaching Learning EdTech Curriculum
  1. Schooling has a multidimensional shape with various purposes like cognitive development and social development.
  2. AI models need to align with the full visions for learning, beyond what AI can currently model well.
  3. In classroom settings, AI may have potential for teacher support and professional development, but may not fit within the primary vehicle for student learning.

Unlocked: Teaching math with John Mighton

The Bell Ringer • 79 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Curriculum Assessment Pedagogy
  1. John Mighton emphasizes the importance of understanding math concepts rather than just memorizing formulas. This helps students develop deeper problem-solving skills.
  2. Focusing on problem-solving in math education encourages critical thinking and creativity in students.
  3. Teaching math should be about making connections and understanding rather than just practicing procedures. This approach can make learning more enjoyable.

Teaching math with John Mighton

The Bell Ringer • 99 implied HN points • 10 May 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Mathematics Pedagogy Curriculum
  1. Kids can get confused easily when we push them too hard with complex ideas. It's important to teach in a way that builds understanding step by step.
  2. Real learning happens when we focus on what students can grasp, not just on covering a lot of content. It's better to let them understand the basics well.
  3. Using evidence from research helps improve how we teach math. This can help solve the ongoing debates about the best ways to learn math.

Correction! Go Ahead and Follow Your Passion

The Flawed Yogi Report • 99 implied HN points • 09 May 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Passion Yoga Teaching Support
  1. Following your passion can be incredibly exciting and liberating, leading to personal growth and bravery.
  2. Pursuing your passion may not be easy, but it can ease suffering and bring positive experiences.
  3. Passions can lead you to gain more knowledge than expected, and they allow you to contribute meaningfully to your corner of the universe.

Private thread: Are Profpreneurs Good for Students?

The Recovering Academic • 197 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Teaching
  1. Professors in higher education may allocate teaching resources in a way that doesn't prioritize student demand, which can impact the quality of education.
  2. There can be a disconnect between faculty expertise and student interest in niche subjects, leading to limited access for students.
  3. The current system may not provide enough incentives for professors to focus on delivering a quality education to their students.