Thursday Thoughts: Cool Literacy and Learning Links Round-up

Brain Teaser:
Can you divide a cake in eight pieces with three cuts?    (Find answer below).
                                                                                                                                                                           
Cool Literacy and Learning Links:
Teaching Banned Books During Banned Books Week. While some parents want certain books removed from schools, teachers are remembering the important reasons to keep them in the classroom. Huffington Post, September 25, 2014. 

Read slowly to benefit your brain and cut stress. At least 30 minutes with a book or e-book helps. The Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2014.

Why So Many Kids Can’t Sit Still In School Today. Children are not nearly moving enough, and it is really starting to become a problem. Washington Post.

Thursday Thoughts: Interesting Literacy and Learning Links From the Past Week

BRAIN TEASER:
 
Glance at the picture below. Then stare at it and see what happens. Cool, right?
 

By arranging a series of patterns, images, and colors strategically, or playing with the way an object is lit, the brain can be tricked into seeing something that isn't there. In this case the frontal view of this man’s face can be interpreted in the brain as a profile view instead. Do you see it?

Thursday Thoughts: Great Literacy and Learning Links From the Past Week

BRAIN TEASER:

Play along: Quiz yourself and see if you would choose the healthiest snack available to you- Which School Snacks Meet New Federal Rules?

INTERESTING NEWS AND COOL LINKS:

The Right Approach to Reading Instruction. The student-led approach to reading and writing known as balanced literacy is making a comeback in New York City schools. But critics say students need closer instruction from teachers and more work on phonics and facts. What is the right approach to improving student literacy? New York Times Opinion Pages, July 3, 2014

Could Text Messages to Parents Help Close the “Word Gap”? The program gives parents a digital tap on the shoulder via text messages reminding them to interact with their kids to boost literacy—and close that ever-widening word gap. And, it’s working… New America Ed Central, July 3, 2014.

Not a huge fan of the title, but the tips inside it are worthy of a read. How to Trick Your Kids Into Reading All Summer Long. Don't bother taking away the iPad or setting minimum page counts. Instead, find sneaky ways to leave your children alone with books—and then see what happens. The Atlantic, July 2, 2014.

Thursday Thoughts: cool links and interesting news from this past week

Weekly Brain Challenge:

• Think you have a scientific mind? Take this short quiz put together by Pew Research Center and the Smithsonian Magazine. How does your brain stack up against the rest? http://bit.ly/scienceknowledgequiz

Cool articles on reading, beautiful brains and learning:

• Your Kid’s Brain May Benefit From An Extra Year in Middle School: Repeating eighth grade can give students time to mature academically and developmentally. http://bit.ly/extramiddleschool

• What do Babies Think?, a TED talk by Child Developmental Psychologist, Alison Gopnik is still worth a listen. http://bit.ly/BabiesTED