A Card Game Boosts Social And Academic Skills

A Card Game Boosts Social And Academic Skills

Bridge, a card game with seemingly complex rules to those who don't play, is becoming the game of choice in classrooms.  A recent article in the New York Times article points to ridge as being as intellectually stimulating as chess, but with an added social component.  Whereas chess is a two person game, bridge can be played with four persons at a time, and variations of the game can accomodate any number of even players. The game has even drawn the support of the likes of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, who donated $1 million back in 2005 to promote bridge in schools. With terms like "tricks" and "dummy", bridge is a game that combi ... Read More About A Card Game Boosts Social And Academic Skills

AP Classes Go Online

AP Classes Go Online

Despite strict budget cuts, interest in Advanced Placement (AP) classes at high schools has skyrocketed, and students are now taking AP classes online, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. Online classes and digital classrooms have been gaining popularity for quite some time. But, digitizing AP programs is a fairly recent trend. The AP program has been booming lately, as students look to get a head start on college classes and credit. Taking an AP class can also improve a student’s chances of getting into a better college and can cut tuition expenses. About 90% of colleges give high school students college credit for pas ... Read More About AP Classes Go Online

Why College Student Debt Is Growing

Why College Student Debt Is Growing

There is now more accumulated student loan debt than accumulated credit card debt for the first time in the United States, according to an article in the New York Times. Accumulated student loan debt will likely reach a trillion dollars this year, as more students are enrolling in colleges and borrowing government dollars. However, economists argue that this is actually a good sign and could boost the economy as students pay back loans with interest. They believe that it’s a healthy investment that will lead to higher earnings, unlike credit card debt, which only hurts consumers’ budgets, giving them less disposable income to put ... Read More About Why College Student Debt Is Growing

Another Pre Pre SAT Test

Another Pre Pre SAT Test

The College Board, the creators of the SAT, introduced a junior version of the exam for eighth graders in 2010 called the ReadiStep, according to an article in the New York Times. The ReadiStep is a two-hour test and has questions written in the same style as the PSAT and the SAT. The test is scored 2-8 for each section, similar to the 20-80 score range on the PSAT and SAT. Nearly 250,000 students have already taken this test in the fall of 2010, most of whom are in Texas because the state education department offered to cover the test’s $8 charge for every student as part of a larger college-readiness program. The College Board ... Read More About Another Pre Pre SAT Test

Should Schools Teach Character

Should Schools Teach Character

America’s schools are having a difficult time simply teaching students how to be proficient in reading, math and science. That’s why many schools completely ignore teaching basic character skills. Most schools do not effectively teach behavioral skills and proper attitudes/manners like cooperating, being on time, making eye-contact, speaking persuasively, etc, argues Jay Mathews in an article in the Washington Post. Some schools are trying to incorporate these basic skills into education, a practice known as character education; however, many schools are still ignoring them. Very few schools have actually made progress in charact ... Read More About Should Schools Teach Character