Teachable Moments

It’s common knowledge that the pandemic had a lasting impact on students across the country. While much attention has been given to academic setbacks, another equally important issue is the loss of social and emotional coping skills. 

Since the pandemic, chronic absenteeism has skyrocketed across the country. 

This summer, families will be visiting colleges with their high schoolers, but with so much available online, is the campus tour still important?

Experts say "summer brain drain" for students can be avoided with a simple tech detox.

For many students nationwide, summer means a break from the classroom. However, students in year-round or balanced calendar schools have a series of shorter breaks throughout the year.

Teachers are getting ready to pack up their classrooms for the summer, but many will not return in the fall. 

This summer, many students are spending their days at the beach instead of the classroom. While soaking up the sun can boost our vitamin D, exposure to ultraviolet light can damage our skin. 

More than 124 million children across the world are considered obese. Childhood obesity leads to poor mental and physical health outcomes and sets them up for a lifelong trajectory of poor health. Visit SouthCarolinaPublicRadio.org/teachable for more segments and full transcripts.

While face masks, social distancing, and Zoom classes have largely vanished, the pandemic's negative impact on student learning may be with us for years to come. Visit SouthCarolinaPublicRadio.org/teachable for more segments and full transcripts.

Earlier this year, Florida banned the use of cell phones in public schools during class time. Proponents say the law reduces disruptions, but many parents are concerned about reaching their children during emergencies. Visit SouthCarolinaPublicRadio.org/teachable for more segments and full transcripts.

With Daylight Saving in the rearview mirror, many people are asking why we continue with this bi-annual ritual. My colleague Cindy Mae, a professor of psychology, co-authored a study that looked at how your chronotype plays a critical role in how we think. Visit SouthCarolinaPublicRadio.org/teachable for more segments and full transcripts.

What was the last time you wrote a letter or took notes in cursive? Some people haven't written in cursive since middle school and question its relevance in the classroom today. Visit SouthCarolinaPublicRadio.org/teachable for more segments and full transcripts.

The mental health of adolescents remains a serious and growing problem. In 2021, 42% of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless, up from 26% in 2009. Visit SouthCarolinaPublicRadio.org/teachable for more segments and full transcripts.

The debate over homework and whether it improves academic success elicits many opinions. Visit SouthCarolinaPublicRadio.org/teachable for more segments and full transcripts.