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the roundup

Doing homework according to a timer can cut down on battles.Jamie Wilson

The best of the web on education from kindergarten to postsecondary, as chosen daily by Globe and Mail education editor Simona Chiose.

Teachers, do you have time for one phone call?

Too often teachers call parents only when they have bad news to report. Calling home with positive comments, especially for disruptive students, can make much more of an impact on learning. Some parents, writes one teacher, would respond that hers was the only positive phone call they had ever received. And it only took three minutes.

Youth vote for Obama drops

Young voters were almost as engaged in this year's U.S. election as in 2008, but 6 per cent of voters aged 18 to 29 switched their votes away from President Obama. Unlike the rest of the electorate whose participation rate dropped several points, younger voters have not grown bored with casting a ballot with almost half turning up on Tuesday, about the same as in 2008.

No winners in homework battle

Most parents believe in the value of doing homework but struggle to fit it into their kids' schedules. In response to the stress, some families in this podcast talk about just giving up on doing anything school-related once the dismissal bell rings, while others have adopted a timer method.

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