Latest Articles

Neural Trapping: A Brief Remedial Technique for Students with Memory and Attention-related Learning Disorders
Neural Trapping A Brief Remedial Technique for Students with Memory and Attention-related Learning Disorders. By Robert DePaolo ABSTRACT This article discusses a remedial method applicable prim

New book explains the crisis in the public schools, and how we fix it
I’ve been writing about education more than 25 years. It’s been a fascinating but puzzling journey. So much in education is counterintuitive. We would expect that there are quicker, more pleasant ways to do any task; conversely, there must be slow, inefficient and unsuccessful ways to do everything. It’s the second kind that our elite educators (the ones who run the system) gravitate toward. How can we explain this? It’s almost as if our educators merely pretend to belie

Top 7 Ways to Engage Students in Math
If you are a teacher that is frustrated by a student’s lack of interest in math class, you are not alone. Teachers across the nation, and generations of teachers before them, have struggled with engaging their students in this traditionally dry academic subject.

Breathe and Stretch
December 2008 By Nancy Rowla

Tips for Solving Algebra Word Problems
Many people have trouble with Algebra for various reasons. Perhaps the teacher isn't doing a great job explaining concepts, the textbook is not so great or the student is not doing enough practice. Algebra is quite easy once you get the hang of it. In order to master algebra, you need to have a really good book or a few good books. There are also many resources online that can help you with topics you need extra help with. It is important to do a lot of practice immediately after learning a c

Discussion of a Brain-Based Remedial Approach with ADHD and Executive Function Impairment
DISCUSSION OF A BRAIN-BASED REMEDIAL APROACH WITH ADHD AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IMPAIRMENTS “Overt Self Regulation 101” By Robert DePaolo A quick glance at the evolution of human culture would seem to suggest that new inventions, discoveries and progre

Can We Improve Simple Mental Computational Skills?
Three years ago I tried to pay attention to importance of simple mental calculations for success in school math. Now it must be not only attempt, it must be an appeal to all who worried about the future of mathematical education.

School Choice: A Dilema

The Heart of a Teacher
The Heart of a Teacher

Four of the Most Important Adult Educators
The most famous educators throughout history have had influence far and beyond the teaching of children. Advancements in universal areas including philosophy and politics have been shaped by great teachers, whilst more specific parts of learning such as how adult education can be successfully implemented, or how a curriculum is designed today, have also been influenced by their ideas and methods. What follows is a list of e

Experience and The Autistic Mind
Experience and the Autistic Mind Robert DePaolo In a prior essay, I discussed autism in terms of a brain wave computation process - a neuro-functional “maestro” that normally orchestrates a fluid shift between excitation and inhibition. I thought it might be interesting to extrapolate from that and speculate on the actual experiences of an au

Dot Patterns – a Simple Tool
The Symptom Letter and number reversals are a major handicap for a large number of students. Those reversals make reading, writing and math much more difficult. I have devised a simple but invaluable tool – Dot Patterns – that has an amazing effect on correcting these letter

Multiplication by Two - How to Practice Multiplying with Playing Cards
by Brian Foley If you want to teach a child to multiply by two, one of the easiest ways is to explain that multiplication by two is simply doubling the number. Instead of showing the child endless multiplication tables and multiplication charts, get out a deck of cards and do the following: • Remove the Tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings. You won't need them. • Take a Two of any other suit (say Spades) and place it face up on the table.

Why is Parental Involvement Important in Children's Education?
by Ronnie Phillips Why is parental Involvement Important in Children's Education? Numerous research has been done to conclude that parents who are involved with their children's education are building the foundations for a better educated child. These children will be better adjusted to school which can lead to more education. In addition, parents are sending a message to their children that education is important. In addition, parental involvement is

What is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and how can I apply it at home?
by James Baker The essential meaning of Applied behavior analysis is to consistently observing resulting behavior to determine whether new skills are being taught by a given instruction, request or direction. ABA is primarily applied at school, but it is a proven technique that you can use at home. I work best with real-world examples. Here goes; Dad: Hi Joey! How was school today? Joey: (no response) Dad: Did you ha