Where exactly is the ‘funny bone’ and what part of our brain does it control? Of course, there is no physiological funny bone, and yet the reference to it reminds us of the fun and good humor of childhood playtime. Yet, research shows that humor cannot be dismissed when associated with how it affects learning. […]

The people who build the classroom culture are the students. Whether technology is part of the environment or not, the students play the leading role in shaping their own learning experiences. That’s why social and emotional skills are so vital from the earliest days of education. By ensuring these skills are in place, students have […]

Mentoring is not a new concept. In fact, its origin goes back hundreds of years.  But its value has taken on new impetus in both education and the workplace over the last few decades. A mentor is generally thought of as a person who takes special interest in guiding another person in developing particular skills […]

Learning to effectively speak and communicate is one of the most fundamental things children need to master. From an early age children want to be heard, doing what they must to get noticed and have a voice. At Yorktown, we are student centered and encourage the kids to have a voice, helping them to refine […]

Once upon a time in the not too distant past, teachers were almost solely responsible for the dissemination of information to their classes. Fast forward to the classroom of 2017 and we see the impact of innovation in a more student-centric learning environment. Innovative methods give educators a broader canvas for teaching and empower students […]

Have you ever wondered why sitting at a desk in the classroom is still considered the accepted norm? Who said that sitting rigidly upright at your desk is even the best posture for learning? No wonder kids wiggle so much. It’s very uncomfortable, especially when they’re expected to sit still, listen, focus and learn.  Wouldn’t […]

Do students learn the value of collaboration in traditional classrooms? Do they leave the class taking with them more than just a mark? Have they learned the value of one another? Have they learned how to effectively collaborate? Sadly, the answer is probably not.  What is it that makes the difference in a learning environment […]

The idea that social-emotional growth and academic improvement are equally important and that learning occurs through social interaction is the result of what’s known as the Responsive Classroom.  It’s an approach that promotes pro-social behaviors. Studies in the concept of Responsive Classroom have proven to raise academic achievement, improve teacher-student interactions, and promote high quality […]

What students want most in a learning environment is the freedom to socially interact with other students of various age groups, ethnicities and cultures. And providing this real collaboration is not an easy task – if you want to do it well. While it may seem that real collaboration should happen intuitively, that’s far from […]

Believe it or not, we are all born with creative ability. Think about your childhood when you probably had the most fun. You might have been in the middle of creating something amazing that other people thought was wacky or weird. But that didn’t stop your drive to create. Inventing, imagining, creating and having fun […]