In this episode, special guest Josh Ward joins the conversation to dive deep into the most influential educational research of 2025. Based on Edutopia’s annual roundup of the year's most significant studies, we break down what the data says about the current state of our classrooms and where education is headed.
From the undeniable impact of cell phone policies on academic performance and peer conflict to the surprising physiological benefits of extended recess, we explore the evidence-based practices that are moving the needle for students and teachers alike.
Key topics discussed in this episode:
The Power of the Pen: Why early handwriting remains a critical foundation for reading success.
Cognitive Load & Math: How notes and annotations help students navigate complex word problems.
The Science of Breaks: The dramatic impact of "microbreaks" on student test scores.
Productive Struggle: Learning when to step back and allow students to build resilience.
AI in Education: The role of ChatGPT and AI in streamlining special education paperwork and its effects on long-term recall.
Relationships Over Rigor: Reaffirming why the human connection remains the most important factor in the classroom.
We wrap up by sharing our thoughts on which of these findings made the biggest impact this year and making our predictions for the trends that will dominate the list in 2026.
Check out the full Edutopia article here: The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2025
justinmoorman@reeducationofschoolspodcast.com
katiethornton@reeducationofschoolspodcast.com
joshward@reeducationofschoolspodcast.com
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