This study explains in part earlier research on how stress at a young age shapes you in the long term.

I’ve discussed this theme on this blog several times (e.g., here and here). This new study tries to look inside the brain to explain the mechanisms, at least in part. From the press release: Mass General Brigham investigators have linked difficult early life experiences with reduced quality and quantity of the white matter communication highways throughout the adolescent brain.… Read More This study explains in part earlier research on how stress at a young age shapes you in the long term.

PedroLeave a comment

Music Training Has Benefits, but Recognizing Emotions Isn’t One of Them

I recently stumbled across an interesting study via Dan Willingham, who always manages to point out insightful research on education and psychology. This particular study caught my eye because it revisits the persistent myth we discussed in our book, More Urban Myths about Learning and Education: the seductive but questionable idea of a kind of… Read More Music Training Has Benefits, but Recognizing Emotions Isn’t One of Them

PedroLeave a comment

From ‘Pygmalion’ to Practice: Why Teacher Expectations Still Matter

Sometimes, you read something that feels both nostalgic and painfully relevant. That’s exactly how I felt reading the reflection article by Thomas L. Good, one of the pioneers in research on teacher expectations and their effects on students. His look back on over 50 years of research radiates a love for the profession—and frustration that… Read More From ‘Pygmalion’ to Practice: Why Teacher Expectations Still Matter

Pedro1 Comment

Funny on Sunday: May I Offer Some Feedback?

PedroLeave a comment

Fluency Isn’t Only About Speed—It’s About Familiar Phrases

If you’ve ever tried to sound fluent in another language, you’ve probably focused on the obvious things: fewer pauses, smoother sentences, and a decent accent. But what actually makes a listener think you’re fluent? According to a new study by Takizawa and Suzuki (2025), it’s not just about speed or avoiding “uhm” and “ehh.” It… Read More Fluency Isn’t Only About Speed—It’s About Familiar Phrases

PedroLeave a comment

The ABCs of student engagement: What research reveals about its dimensions and impact (Best Evidence in Brief)

Pedro1 Comment

Do smaller classes work in special education?

Through Best Evidence in Brief, I came across a systematic review that immediately intrigued me because of a twist on an old discussion. Researchers from the Danish VIVE Institute went looking for the effect of small class sizes in special education ( The effects of small class sizes on students’ academic achievement, socioemotional development and well-being in special… Read More Do smaller classes work in special education?

PedroLeave a comment

How a good question can get students thinking about language

What happens when, as a teacher, you ask what a text means and how that meaning is created? In a recent study, Ruth Newman looked at classroom conversations in English classes in which students talk about the language in texts. It is about ‘the subject’ or ‘the message’ and how a writer uses language to create a particular effect.… Read More How a good question can get students thinking about language

PedroLeave a comment

The economic consequences of how you feel at your job

Sometimes, money isn’t just enough… From the press release: Sometimes at work, it’s not just a case of the Mondays. The level of dissatisfaction employees have with their job can last beyond the start of the week. New University of Georgia research has found that employers and policymakers might want to start paying attention because… Read More The economic consequences of how you feel at your job

PedroLeave a comment

Funny on Sunday: one of my favourite cartoon figures asks to remain calm

PedroLeave a comment