G is for Genes: The Impact of Genetics on Education and Achievement

Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 9
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Part One: In Theory......Page 15
Chapter 1 Genetics, Schools, and Learning......Page 17
The Aims and Assumptions of Education......Page 18
Diverse Opportunities to Draw Out Individual Potential......Page 22
DNA in the Classroom......Page 24
In Summary. . .......Page 25
Chapter 2 How We Know What We Know......Page 28
Twins: A Natural Experiment......Page 29
DNA Sequencing......Page 32
Chapter 3 The 3Rs: Reading, wRiting. . .......Page 36
From DNA to ABC......Page 38
Environmental Influences on Reading Ability......Page 45
Struggling Readers......Page 48
The Genetics of Writing Ability......Page 52
Chapter 4 . . . and 'Rithmetic......Page 56
So, Why are Some People Better at Math than Others?......Page 57
How does Nurture Affect Mathematical Ability?......Page 66
Chapter 5 Physical Education: Who, What, Why, Where, and How?......Page 71
Genes, Sports, and Smoking......Page 76
Obesity, Genes, and Environment......Page 78
The Heritability of Fitness......Page 81
Gym Class Heroes......Page 83
In Summary. . .......Page 88
Chapter 6 Science: A Different Way of Thinking?......Page 92
Differences Between the Sexes......Page 99
In Summary. . .......Page 101
Chapter 7 How do IQ and Motivation Fit In?......Page 103
IQ + Genetics = Controversy (and Name-calling)......Page 109
Self-Confidence and Motivation......Page 112
Improving Confidence and Cognition in the Classroom......Page 114
Chapter 8 Special Educational Needs: Ideas and Inspiration......Page 119
The Expansion of Special Educational Needs......Page 124
Personalized Learning in Action......Page 127
In Summary. . .......Page 128
Chapter 9 "Clones'' in the Classroom......Page 129
Clones in the Classroom......Page 136
Chapter 10 Mind the Gap: Social Status and School Quality......Page 140
Low SES: What Does It Look Like?......Page 143
What Does the Heritability of SES Mean?......Page 147
School Quality......Page 150
Big Idea #1: Achievement and Ability Vary, Partly for Genetic Reasons......Page 155
Big Idea #2: The Abnormal is Normal......Page 156
Big Idea #3: Continuity is Genetic and Change is Environmental......Page 157
Big Idea #5: Environments are Influenced by Genes......Page 158
Big Idea #6: The Environments that Matter Most are Unique to Individuals......Page 159
Big Idea #7: Equality of Opportunity Requires Diversity of Opportunity......Page 160
Part Two: In Practice......Page 161
Chapter 12 Personalization in Practice......Page 163
So, What Can Be Done to Make Teaching and Learning More Personalized?......Page 164
A Good "Mindset'' for Learning......Page 167
Other Ways to Personalize Learning......Page 172
In Summary. . .......Page 173
1. Minimize the Core Curriculum and Test Basic Skills......Page 175
2. Increase Choice......Page 177
3. Forget About Labels......Page 179
4. Teach the Child, As Well As the Class......Page 180
5. Teach Children How To Succeed......Page 182
6. Promote Equal Opportunities from an Early Age as a Foundation for Social Mobility in the Future......Page 184
8. Create a Two Stage PE Program......Page 186
9. Change the Destination......Page 187
10. Train New Teachers in Genetics and Give Them the Tools to Put it Into Practice......Page 189
11. Big Is Beautiful......Page 191
Chapter 14 Education Secretary for a Day......Page 192
Index......Page 203