James C. Kaufman, a psychologist whose research focuses on creativity, hypothesizes that the power of tarot cards to jumpstart creativity lies in their ability to stimulate “associational thinking.” That’s what happens when the brain tries to synthesize multiple distinct inputs, forming associations between ideas that, at first, seem unrelated.

A new study of the educational needs of students who are native users of American Sign Language (ASL) shows glaring disparities in their treatment by the U.S Department of Education. The article, “If you use ASL, should you study ESL? Limitations of a modality-b(i)ased policy”, by Elena Koulidobrova (Central Connecticut State University), Marlon Kunze (Gallaudet University) and Hannah Dostal (University of Connecticut), will be published in the June, 2018 issue of the scholarly journal Language

Ronald Beghetto is interviewed about his new book, “What If?”

Dr. Yvonne Condell, who taught biology at M State, Fergus Falls, in the early 1960s, was honored June 23 with a humanitarian and philanthropic award from MSUM, where she was a long-time faculty member after leaving Fergus Falls.

Greenwich Public Schools’ (GPS) world languages program coordinator Viviana Conner has accepted a position with the Hartford Public Schools as the executive director for elementary and middle school grades, effective July 13.

Morgaen Donaldson, a professor at the University of Connecticut, said the initial buy-in followed by pushback isn’t surprising, pointing to her own research in New Haven. To some, aspects of the initiative “might be worth endorsing at an abstract level,” she said. “But then when the rubber hit the road … people started to resist.”

Eastern Middle School (EMS) Principal Ralph F. Mayo was unanimously named Interim Superintendent of Schools, effective July 28, the Greenwich Board of Education announced. Mayo was selected during a special meeting of the board and will replace exiting Superintendent Dr. Jill Gildea.

When Amanda Powell was in eighth grade in Bridgeport her yearbook picture had a space marked “future plans.” Powell’s said “teacher” and that’s just what she became. Now Powell, who started her teaching career at Bloomfield High School seven years ago, can add “teacher of the year.”

In a nutshell, PBIS is an approach to addressing student behavior, a sort of scaffolding upon which teachers and administrators build practices to prevent problems and provide the right help for kids who need it. “We focus on the social and emotional success of kids but we do it in the context of academic success,” George Sugai told a packed auditorium at Southwest High School earlier this week.

Neag School alumna Kristina Wallace has been named associate principal of Naugatuck High School.