Written By Joseph Deem Ed.D. The science of writing is built on decades of research from around the world. Writing research shows what works in writing instruction. The science of writing research reveals that structured writing instruction is essential because…
Screen Time Backlash The Growing Tech-lash to School-Based Screentime
Written By Joseph Deem Ed.D. Student screentime is defined as any time spent at school on a virtual device such as a computer, television, or phone. Student screentime is becoming a controversial issue with a backlash (techlash) growing within parent…
Positive effects of Handwriting and “Paper and Pencil” Math
Written By Joseph Deem Ed.D. Recent studies point to the positive learning effects of handwriting over word processing . In the paper titled The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing Giuseppe Marano et al (2025) discovered that typing engages fewer neural…
Dispelling Anti-Achievement Mythology Why Rigorous Standards and Achievement Tests are Essential
Written By Joseph Deem Ed.D. Myth 1 Rigorous standards and achievement tests stifle creativity. Myth 2 Rigorous standards and achievement tests always narrow the curriculum. Myth 3 Rigorous standards and achievement tests inevitably discriminate. A Misguided Trend is…
Many Students Are Not Competent Writers
Written By Joseph Deem Ed.D. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, three-quarters of 12th and 8th graders lack proficiency in writing, and 40 percent of high school juniors who took a recent ACT writing exam lacked the reading…
Why It’s Critical to Ethically Prepare Students for High-Stakes Assessments
Written By Joseph Deem Ed.D. All students face challenges related to test specific processes. These challenges include the ability to employ test specific strategies that allow them to accurately demonstrate their mastery of grade level academic content. Numerous studies indicate…
The relationship between Academic English, English Language development and Standards Plus Lessons
According to recent research (2021) conducted by the Linguistic Minority Research Institute at the University of California, “Learning Academic English is one of the surest, most reliable ways of attaining socio-economic success in the United States today.” As educators, our…
Grade Level Instruction Is Important For All Students
Written By Joseph Deem ED.D. Standards Plus staunchly advocates that schools should provide equal opportunities that ensure all students will learn their current grade-level standards. Students who fall behind should receive appropriate intervention while still learning important grade-level content. However, most…