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EDUCATION BUZZ BLOG

During the summer, when many of you were taking a well-deserved break, you may have missed the release of the Nation's Report Card by the National Center for Education Studies (NCES).

The report card has been tracking student achievement in reading and math since 1971, focusing on three age groups (9, 13, and 17) and three major demographic groups (White, Black, and Hispanic).

So how do the students of 2005 compare to the late boomers of 1971? With one exception, every single long-term trend is positive. All the age groups are better at math, and both the 9-year-olds and the 13-year-olds are better readers than the students
of 1971.

The one exception to the positive trend seemingly occurs with the 17-year-olds, but even that might be misleading, because Black and Hispanic 17-year-olds did see dramatic increases in reading skills since 1971, while the White 17-year-olds remained relatively constant. The overall statistic in this case does not reflect the gains made by two out of three demographic groups because the percentages of the students in each group have changed (see Simpson's Paradox).

Combine this new study with the evidence that 1) IQ scores are significantly higher than they were 30 years ago, 2) SAT math scores are at an all-time high, and 3) today's students are likely more skilled at things like multitasking and mastering new technologies that are increasingly important in the workplace but probably underrepresented on today's standardized tests. Add all that together and you start to sense that the students of 2005 are doing quite well when compared to the students of 1971.

So if you're a teacher or a student, give yourself a pat on the back. You're doing well!

Special thanks to Edward Cossette from our ExploreLearning group for this insightful blog entry from the Buzz.

WHAT'S NEW @ SIRS

Our product development team is constantly reviewing customer feedback and making changes to our learning resources to meet your needs. Several updates to our SIRS family of products were recently completed and we wanted to bring them to your
attention.

More Political Cartoons in Discoverer - As we told you last month, SIRS Discoverer now provides political cartoons geared for the younger researcher, from noteworthy sources including Junior Scholastic, Scholastic News, and Weekly Reader.

Students can learn how to read and decipher political cartoons, as well as understand the writing devices employed in them (satire, irony, metaphor, etc.). Visit the following new additions to learn more:

These Prices Are Out of This World!

Democracy 101

Capitalism--Just Do It?

Double Talk?

Political Cartoon: Immigration Quotas

Sudan in the Shadows

Current Events  - Our editorial team updates our SIRS products every day with new articles and resources. Here's a short list of the timeliest and most topical articles added to your product this month. Publication dates may vary due to the editorial selection process.

Spacecraft Blasts Off to Gather Mars Data

Hunger Crisis in Niger

Japanese House-Sitter Robot Hits Stores

Muslim-American Leaders Intensify Youth Outreach Initiatives

A Makeover for White Bread

Animal Art on Display

Dinosaur Youngsters

Unknown Species Found in Arctic Ocean

Monopoly Celebrates 70th Anniversary

Suggested Research Topics - Tens of thousands of students mine SIRS resources for the latest information on the leading issues of the day. To help maximize their research time, our Suggested Research Topics feature offers instant access to relevant articles and resources on many of the most popular research subjects.

Here's this month's list of hot topics and timely issues in Discoverer:

Caffeine
Cloning Animals
Global Warming
Iraq
Ocelots
Phillis Wheatley
Stepfamilies
Synesthesia
Tennis

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

September is Childhood Cancer Month. Building awareness of this disease and other diseases that affect children is an appropriate research activity for your students because they may be experiencing these diseases themselves or know someone else who is. This research activity may also build risk awareness and help in the prevention of some of these diseases.

Click the Health & Human Body Browse Subject Tree icon. There are three topics/subtopics listed on childhood diseases: Cancer, Child Development, and Kids Speak Out.

Teachers should assign a variety of subtopics that include types of childhood cancers and other diseases that affect children. Brief oral reports are an excellent way for students to learn from each other and to build essential writing and presentation skills.