Grades 2-5
Bringing Toys to School
August 1, 2013
This issue of TP4K examines the complex issue of bringing toys to school.
Television Time
July 22, 2013
This issue of TP4K examines the benefits and disadvantages related to kids watching television.
FYI for Kids- Magazine articles for second grade through fifth grade
April 2, 2013
A collection of engaging and high-quality magazine articles designed to enhance the Common Core classroom’s reading repertoire.
Ban on Junk Food in Schools
January 8, 2013
This issue of TP4K examines the use of school bans in order to teach students about health and nutrition.
Ban on Plastic Bags
December 5, 2012
This issue of TP4K examines the costs and benefits of using plastic bags.
Heavy Backpacks
October 6, 2011
Backpacks are useful for carrying school supplies. A student can fill their backpack with books, notebooks, pens, pencils, and other things a student may need at school. The question asked in this Talking Points for Kids is: Can a backpack be too full, or too heavy?
Living in Zoos
June 30, 2011
A day at a zoo can be quite memorable for the zoo visitors. But what about the animals that live at the zoo?
Homework
May 25, 2011
Did you know students didn’t always have homework? Before the 1950’s teachers didn’t assign homework to elementary school kids. This is no longer the case now. In a 2008 survey, “77% students regardless of grade level, spend at least 30 minutes doing homework on a typical school day, while 45% reported spending at least an hour.” (MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: The Homework Experience, 2008). The question we ask in this TPFK is “Does homework help students learn? Are students getting the right amount of homework?”
Music in Schools
January 24, 2011
The question at the heart of this booklet is whether time should be alloted during the school time for music education. Music is an important part of our lives, but how important is music education compared to language arts, math, science and social science?
Exercise in School
January 24, 2011
It is a given that students, everyone, should exercise during the day. But with all that schools are trying to accomplish in the school day, should time be set aside for PE?
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