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 McREL: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, delivering research and practical guidance to educators
 
 


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  Bryan Goodwin
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  Phone: 303.632.5602
  Fax: 303.337.3005


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2008 News

Archived stories
2007        2006        2005        2004

October 10

Preschool Program Focused on Executive-Function Skills Provokes Scholarly Debate
Education Week

Researchers are debating the effectiveness of the Tools of the Mind curriculum, co-developed by McREL Principal Researcher Elena Bodrova. The curriculum was not accepted into the What Works Clearinghouse because the benefits specific to oral language were no greater than other highly effective programs. Researchers point out, however, that the academic outcomes for students using the curriculum are as high or slightly higher than those using other programs, and that the social and emotional benefits (not considered by the What Works Clearinghouse) are clearly better.

September 15

Training Young Brains to Behave
The New York Times

A 2007 study of Tools of the Mind—an early-childhood curriculum co-developed by McREL Principal Researcher Elena Bodrova to improve executive function in young children—found that students taught with Tools of the Mind outperformed their peers, and that the benefits can last for years.

September

Whole Childhood: The Prime Sustainability Issue of Our Time
Vision Magazine

Vision Magazine quotes McREL's early childhood expert, Elena Bodrova, in an article about the importance of play in developing executive function in young children. Bodrova points out that children are having a harder time self-regulating, a critical component of higher executive functions, than they did 60 years ago.

August 28

Former Edison principal Kay Frunzi joins McREL's leadership team
McREL

Former elementary school principal and teacher Kay Frunzi has joined McREL as a consulting associate on the leadership team.

August

Education Decisions: Where's the Evidence and Research Base?
T.H.E. Journal

A recent article discussing the importance of using the right research to make decisions affecting education policies quotes McREL's A Policymaker’s Primer on Education Research: How To Understand, Evaluate & Use It, which points out that "Without access to information from research about education practices, policymakers are more likely to make decisions that are ineffective or even harmful."

August

Make it Count
T.H.E. Journal

A recent article discussing ways to maximize a school or district's return on investment for technology purchases lists McREL as one of the most common and most reliable sources for cutting-edge research.

August 6

McREL hosts Web presentation on Antarctic meteorite expedition
McREL

On August 8, McREL will host an interactive live Web cast featuring a presentation by scientist Lucy McFadden, co-investigator of NASA’s Dawn Mission and a member of the National Science Foundation (NSF) team who went to Antarctica in 2007 to search for meteorites.

August 6

Former principal joins McREL's leadership team
McREL

Melvin J. Sussman, an educator with more than 35 years experience as a teacher and administrator, has joined McREL as a principal consultant on the leadership team.

July 23

Supe's On
BrandonInfo.com (Brandon, S.D.)

The School Administrators of South Dakota and the South Dakota Department of Education are bringing McREL's Balanced Leadership Academy to Brandon Valley School District superintendents.

July 7

Report finds few students access supplemental services
REL Central at McREL

A new report released by REL Central at McREL found only 11 percent of students eligible for supplemental educational services in the seven-state region served by the laboratory are actually receiving them.

July 4

Knappa schools want laptops in hands of all students
The Daily Astorian (Astoria, Ore.)

For several years, the Knappa School District in Oregon has been integrating technology into classrooms and training teachers to use it effectively with help from McREL. Now, the district is ready to embark on an ambitious plan to provide computers to every student.

June 30

McREL’s new EdThoughts supports mathematics reform for all
McREL

McREL has published a second edition of EdThoughts: What We Know About Mathematics Teaching and Learning, updated to address the state of mathematics education today and offer guidance for improving student achievement in the future.

June 26

The Land of Make Believe
HearSay with Cathy Lewis (WHRO radio, Norfolk, Va.)

McREL Principal Researcher Elena Bodrova is interviewed by WHRO's Cathy Lewis about the importance of imaginative play in early childhood development.

June 24

For Christie, learning is more than child’s play
Arizona State University

ASU professor James Christie, co-author of McGraw-Hill’s "Doors to Discovery" play-based literacy curriculum, is working with McREL researcher Kim Atwill to evaluate the long-term impacts of the curriculum on student achievement.

June 16

Sioux Falls schools put new stock in old thinking
Sioux Falls Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Sioux Falls is placing more emphasis than ever before on teaching students "21st Century Skills." The article quotes McREL Senior Director Howard Pitler, who points out that the new skills, such as the ability to collaborate and think on their feet, are aligned with the job market's expectations of new employees.

June 10

McREL Communications & Web teams earn creative awards
McREL

The McREL Communications and Web teams have earned four awards from the Hermes Creative Awards and the Communicator Awards.

June 8

Upper Dauphin students take leap into nanotechnology
Republican Herald (Pottsville, Pa.)

Students in a pilot program in Upper Dauphin Area (Pa.) High School are using materials produced by McREL to learn about nanotechnology, a relatively new area of science that is already benefiting everyday life.

April 17

McREL publishes "road map" for systematic vocabulary instruction
McREL

This 20-page booklet offers research-based principles to guide effective vocabulary instruction and strategies for translating the research into classroom practice.

March 22

Children gain skills during imaginative play
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)

Today's children focus so intently on the toys they own, they often fail to develop executive functions such as memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-regulation. McREL Principal Researcher Elena Bodrova suggests activities that can help stimulate the development of executive functions in young children.

March 19

McREL presentations at the National Science Teachers Association National Conference in Boston
McREL

McREL consultants Sarah LaBounty, John Ristvey, and Anne Tweed will present at the upcoming 2008 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Conference March 27–30 in Boston, Mas.

March 17

McREL to present at American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting in New York
McREL

McREL researchers Helen Apthorp, Kim Atwill, Sha Balizet, Andrea Beesley, Elena Bodrova, Tedra Clark, Jenna VanBerschot, and Bruce Randel will present at the upcoming 2008 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting March 24–28 in New York, N.Y.

March 11

McREL awarded federal grant to develop instructional framework for visually impaired students
McREL

In collaboration with Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, McREL will begin work on a three-year study, Visualizing Science with Adapted Curriculum Enhancements (ACE), through a $1.5 million Mathematics and Science Special Education Goal 2 Research Grant, offered by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences.

March 10

McREL at the ASCD Annual Conference, March 15–17 in New Orleans
McREL

McREL will be presenting four sessions at the upcoming ASCD annual conference March 15–17 in New Orleans, La. Visit us in the exhibit hall (Booths 263 and 265) for free McREL publications, to ask questions of McREL presenters, or to speak with us about working at McREL.

March 2

SCHOOLS IN FLUX: City of Tonawanda's turnover has some parents concerned
Tonawanda News (North Tonawanda, N.Y.)

As the Tonawanda City School District struggles with high turnover, parents and school leaders are working to stabilize leadership positions in the district, citing McREL's research on the positive impact of superintendent tenure on student achievement.

February 28

Case methodology helps principals become more effective leaders, reports McREL
McREL

The latest issue of McREL Insights, titled From Knowledge to Wisdom: Using Case Methodology to Develop Effective Leaders, examines the importance and impact of using case methodology to develop effective school leaders.

February 27

Teachers willing to use technology
North Platte Telegraph

McREL Lead Consultant Elizabeth Hubbell presented the results of a recent technology audit to the North Platte Board of Education in February. One of the key findings from the audit was that many teachers were willing to integrate technology into their classrooms, but were struggling to update their learning environments to align with their teaching practices.

February 26

Profiles of Success: Eight Colorado Schools That Are Closing The Achievement Gap
Donnell-Kay Foundation

A recent report from the Donnell-Kay Foundation found that the achievement gap between rich and poor students in Colorado has more to do with the expectations placed on different groups of students than on their financial status. This report cites findings from McREL's study, High-Needs Schools - What Does it take to beat the odds?.

February 22

The Evolution of Play
National Public Radio

Over the past few decades, the way children play has changed dramatically. Throughout most of history, play helped children develop their "executive functions" to help them learn and grow. Now, however, play focuses on activities that don't stimulate this mental development. McREL Principal Researcher Elena Bodrova points out that today's children have much more difficulty with self-regulation (one of many executive functions) than children did 60 years ago.

February 22

'TV Junkie' Used as Classroom Anti-Drug Tool
ABC News

TV Junkie: Faces of Addiction, part of an HBO documentary series on addiction, has been released as an educationally-enhanced DVD with educational content contributed by McREL. The DVD has been well-received by both educational institutions and police forces in educating Americans on the effects of addiction.

February 18

Cyber learning
The Augusta Chronicle

The Georgia Virtual Academy is an online, self-paced school for more than 2,500 Georgia students in grades K–8. McREL president and CEO, Dr. Tim Waters, comments that this type of model may become more prevalent in schools of the future.

February 9

USD 501 board sees Singer as long-term hire
The Topeka Capital-Journal

As the school board for Topeka's Unified School District 501 finalizes contract negotiations with their next superintendent, they are looking for a long-term commitment. The school board is hoping Kevin Singer will remain in the district for a long time, citing McREL's research linking superintendent tenure to improved student achievement.

January 26

SPEAKOUT: Benefits of early education many
Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colo.)

McREL Principal Researcher Elena Bodrova and Vice President of Research & Evaluation Jean Williams responded to a December 8 column, which suggested that all-day kindergarten and high-quality preschool programs would likely be costly and ineffective. Bodrova and Williams acknowledge research which suggests the benefits of quality early-education may diminish over time, but point out that, when combined with high-quality primary education, the benefits last well into middle-age.