Blog
Read what we think about the latest innovations, research, and trends in the publishing industry. Be sure to check out local fun facts, too!
An Extreme Makeover for No Child Left Behind?
The current administration has said it’s time for broad changes in the No Child Left Behind law implemented in 2001. While the administration is proposing “sweeping changes”, they are not planning to abandon the primary commitments to closing the gap… Read MoreKnitting and Nintendo
Busy, busy, busy. That’s how my friends and family describe me so it wasn’t a big surprise when I announced that along with my business, dance classes, the gym, volunteer work and a handful of little projects, I was also… Read MoreHunger Games
I just finished reading the first book in Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games trilogy. In this futuristic society, North America is now known as Panem and consists of a controlling government and 12 districts that each year, in punishment for their… Read MoreIs Social Networking Bad for Grades?
Is social networking harming students’ grades? The quick answer might be yes, because it distracts students from studying. And in fact, a 2009 study at The Ohio State University found that students who admitted logging onto Facebook several times a… Read MoreGreat (and Early) Expectations in Math
“For much of the last century, educators and many scientists believed that children could not learn math at all before the age of five, that their brains simply were not ready.” When I read this in a recent New York… Read MoreMary-Kate Bourn joins PSG as Director of Translation and Technology!
Publishing Solutions Group is very pleased to announce that Mary-Kate Bourn has joined PSG as Director of Translation and Technology. Mary-Kate has a rich background in publishing that includes more than 20 years managing projects, personnel, resources, and data. She… Read MoreNew 21st Century Skills Guide
I was reading eSchool News recently and ran across an article that said the new 21st Century skills guide is available. It hasn’t been updated for six years, so it might be worth getting a copy to scan to see… Read MoreStrong Leaders in Schools
We have seen notable examples of leadership lately - some strong and effective, others misdirected and damaging. All agree that strong leadership is needed to help the U.S. out of its economic troubles, so we search for the best political… Read MoreClassroom Response Clickers
Classroom response systems (CRS), otherwise known as “clickers”, are gaining popularity in the K-12 market place. When they first hit the market, the higher ed space was targeted and textbook publishers bundled the clickers with individual textbooks. Now, these systems… Read MoreSome Good News From Detroit
With a tough economy to blame, the news from Detroit isn’t very good lately. From high unemployment, factories closing, and a high crime rate, this Michigan city gives its young people little to hope for. But there is a bright… Read MoreThe National Common Core Standards Initiative Is In The News Again
Ohio State education officials have committed to following the National Core Standards for English and Math for grades K-12. This means that Ohio will not be releasing its own draft standards as planned for November but will wait until the… Read MoreIdentifying Dropouts Before They Drop Out
While government agencies and school administrators focus on standards, AYP, accountability, and other urgent issues in education, an often overlooked segment of students is receiving some welcome attention. The proposed federal budget for 2010 has assigned $50 million to be… Read MoreEducation 3.0: Taking Teaching and Learning to the Next Level
e-School News recently reported how schools in New Orleans are coming back in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Not only are the school buildings new, but the technology and means of teaching and learning are new. Working closely… Read MoreState Adoptions and Learning Village
It’s starting to get busy again with the state adoptions for next year. This year is slipping away and Florida is advising publishers to have Science samples ready to ship the first week in May. These have to be final… Read MoreKindling a Flame for Reading?
Electronic books are a hot topics these days, with owners of e-books like the Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook claiming they’re reading more because of the ease with which they can purchase and read books. Many who read… Read MoreBuilding Kindness Through Kindness Grants
“A small and seemingly insignificant article caught my eye recently. Amid the bickering, impolite outbursts, and near-violent protests that have filled our news, sports, and entertainment stories over the past several months, I noticed a puzzling headline: “Up to $15,000… Read MoreDo Tests Tell Us How Teachers Teach?
Legislatures in New York, California and some other states have enacted laws that limit, to one degree or another, the use of student achievement data in teacher performance evaluations. Last year New York’s Legislature prohibited the use of student test… Read MoreTechnology Product in the Classroom
“I have always been interested in technology product in the classroom. As a former developmental editor, I was knee-deep in editing accounting software and made it a practice to get in “over my head” on the programming end of things.… Read MoreAs State Revenues Decrease, Class Size Increases
The dip in the U.S. economy is having an effect on class sizes. As state revenues go down, the number of students in an average classroom is going up. As a result, classrooms across the country will be more crowded… Read MoreAdvanced Placement Courses
Advanced Placement courses are on the rise in American schools. There are 37 courses in 22 subjects sponsored by the College Board being offered in high schools around the country as well as internationally. More than 450,000 students passed at… Read MoreThe “10-Minute Rule”
Parents are making their voices heard regarding the amount of homework their children are bringing home each day. Many school officials are starting to listen. How much is too much? A Duke University psychology professor says students should have 10… Read MoreDisabilities Accessible Content
Have you noticed lately that many school district web sites are now committed to making content accessible to all, including those with disabilities? These school systems are sensitive to their audiences and are setting positive examples of the importance of… Read MoreThe Continuing Debate of “free content”
Free digital content continues to create discussion in the educational community. Educators, governors, and others think that if it is delivered on line, it should be free or cheap. However, those of us in the publishing industry know that the… Read MorePSG Reads: Boston Public Schools Outreach
June 2008: PSG completes 2008 PSG READS volunteer initiative to benefit our South End community. With PSG’s experience in developing K–12 reading and language arts materials and our staff’s love of literature, a reading program was an obvious choice and… Read MoreHow Language Shapes Our Thoughts
Lera Boroditsky, a psychologist at Stanford University, believes that the language we speak determines the way we perceive the world. When the Viaduct de Millau opened in the south of France in 2004, it was the tallest bridge in the… Read MoreLearning Management Systems
Learning Management Systems (LMS) are making their way into the K-12 space. It has been a long journey, but learning management systems are now gaining popularity in K-12 schools around the country. These systems were originally created for virtual learning.… Read MoreNational Education Standards?
There is a movement afoot to create national education standards in language arts and math. This effort, called the Common Core State Standards initiative, will be “research based and internationally benchmarked to top performing countries”, according to its supporters, which… Read MoreCommon Core State Standards
Recently, The Council of Chief State School Officers and The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices committed states to a process to develop and adopt a common core of state standards for English language arts and mathematics for K-12.… Read MoreProposed Funding for Online Education
President Barack Obama is proposing a multibillion-dollar investment in the nation’s community colleges , a $12 billion effort over ten years to help the two-year institutions reach, teach, and train more people for “the jobs of the future.” Some of… Read MoreAffiliations
- Initiative for a Competitive Inner City
- Inner City Entrepreneurs
- South End Business Alliance
- Bookbuilders of Boston
- Nat'l Association of Women Business Owners
- Association of Educational Publishers
- Association of American Publishers
- Internat'l Reading Association
- Nat'l Council of Teachers of English
- Nat'l Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- Nat'l Science Teacher's Association
- Nat'l Council for the Social Studies
- Massachusetts SOMWBA
Fun Fact
The first Dunkin Donuts was opened in Quincy, MA.
Testimonial
"From the first stage of the sales and specification process, to the final stage of delivery and invoicing, PSG delivers. We always know what to expect, know where our project is in its development timeline, and know that PSG will ask the intelligent questions necessary to deliver work that meets the needs and expectations of our customers."