Stephen Merrill
edutopia
San Francisco, CA, United States
Contact Stephen
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Stephen:
The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2022
In our annual ritual, we pored over hundreds of educational studies and pulled out the most impactful—from a new study on the sneaky power of sketchnotes, to research that linked relationships and rigor. → Read More
For New Teachers, 6 Principles to Remember This Year
It won’t be easy, but if you prepare for turbulence and set reasonable goals, you’ll stay calmer and make progress in all the right places. → Read More
The Research on Life-Changing Teaching
What really moves the needle for educators, and by extension their students? → Read More
6 Small but Mighty Ways to Make Your Students Feel Important
Hundreds of brilliant educators weighed in with tactics to make kids feel like important members of the school community. We distilled the best advice. → Read More
The Importance of Student Choice Across All Grade Levels
When students get to make decisions about their learning, it can be powerfully motivating. → Read More
7 Things Teachers Say to Create a Supportive Classroom
The things teachers say can cut deeply or build a lasting foundation for success. Here are seven teacher-tested expressions to try this year. → Read More
The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2020
We reviewed hundreds of educational studies in 2020 and then highlighted 10 of the most significant—covering topics from virtual learning to the reading wars and the decline of standardized tests. → Read More
Schools Are Opening Worldwide, Providing a Model for the U.S.
Children are returning to school in countries that are weeks—or months—ahead of the U.S. in battling Covid-19. Here’s how it’s happening. → Read More
For Teachers, Risking Failure to Improve Practice
One teacher insists that failure isn’t an endpoint; it’s an opportunity for learning and improvement. → Read More
How-To: The Jigsaw Method, Revisited
An excellent video on an older, cooperative learning strategy that researchers say remains highly effective. → Read More
The Best (Free) Posters of STEM Women
Our periodically updated list of beautiful, free posters—along with a few good reasons why you should display them in your classroom. → Read More
Should You Use “At-Risk” to Describe Students?
Professor Ivory Toldson says you shouldn’t—here’s why. → Read More
Allowing Test Retakes—Without Getting Gamed
Hundreds of teachers discussed the best ways to guide students toward mastery—without being taken advantage of. → Read More
Decoding the Teenage Brain (in 3 Charts)
New technologies are shedding light on what really makes adolescents tick—and providing clues on how we might reach them better. → Read More
Flexible Classrooms: Research Is Scarce, But Promising
An ambitious study of 153 classrooms in the United Kingdom provides the best evidence that flexible spaces can boost academic performance. → Read More
The Future of Coding in Schools
Mitch Resnick, one of the creators of Scratch, on why he thinks coding should be taught in all schools—it's not the reason you’d expect. → Read More
7 Outstanding K–8 Flexible Classrooms
K–8 educators from across the country give you a peek at their classrooms—and explain how they managed the transformations. → Read More
Anatomy of School Bullying
Understanding the hot spots within schools is essential to putting a stop to student bullying. → Read More