'magnifying glass' photo (c) 2005, Tall Chris - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

I often write about research studies from various fields and how they can be applied to the classroom. I write individual posts about ones that I think are especially significant, and will continue to do so. However, so many studies are published that it’s hard to keep up. So I’ve started writing a “round-up” of some of them each week or every other week as a regular feature.

By the way, you might also be interested in My Best Posts On New Research Studies In 2017 – So Far.

Here are some new useful studies (and related resources):

This Is What Happens to Your Brain When You Read Poetry is from The Science of Us. I’m adding it to The Best World Poetry Day Resources – Help Me Find More.

New Study Shows the Impact of PBL on Student Achievement is from Edutopia. I’m adding it to The Best Sites For Cooperative Learning Ideas.

What Does Research Say Adolescent Readers Need? is from Lucy Calkins. I’m adding it to The Best Resources Documenting The Effectiveness of Free Voluntary Reading.

Want To Teach Your Kids Self-Control? Ask A Cameroonian Farmer is from NPR. I’m adding it to Best Posts About Helping Students Develop Their Capacity For Self-Control.

I’ve shared a number of posts and thoughts about Brain “Priming” In The Classroom. An example of brain priming is acting on studies that showed students did better on standardized tests if they either had to do some “sentence scrambles” that had positive messages or if they just wrote what they thought a scientist did in his/her life. There are important ethical issues related to taking those sorts of action. It was thought that telling people ahead of time that you were going to “prime” their brain by doing something in order to influence their action would negate the impact. However, more recent students have shown that you can get the same results even if you tell people ahead of time what you are doing. Another study just came out with the same conclusion, though related to medicine. It found that even if even if you tell people they are receiving a placebo, they tend to feel better.

I know that some educators are critical of using sarcasm in the classroom, but I use it a lot.  However, I’ve also seen teachers who have “weaponized” sarcasm, and that can obviously be damaging.  Done in the context of strong and caring relationships, I’ve found sarcasm to be helpful in creating a fun atmosphere.  Now, a study has found that using sarcasm can promote creativity in others.  I’m adding this info to The Best Sources Of Advice On Helping Students Strengthen & Develop Their Creativity.

Sacrificing sleep to get top grades doesn’t work, study finds is from The Telegraph. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Helping Teens Learn About The Importance Of Sleep.

Why school should start later for teens is a TED Talk. I’m adding it to the same list.