Students bring more to class than we can see - habits, preferences, and patterns that quietly shape how they think. A new study suggests even something as simple as a playlist might reveal more than we expect.

This week’s research looks at what music might tell us about student thinking. And this week’s Tech Tool makes it easier to help students understand the world they’re already talking about.

You’re about to become an even better teacher in the next 8 minutes.

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And now back to making you an even better teacher 👇️ 

TECH TOOL

The News, Made Classroom-Ready

Every week (these days), something big happens in the world - and somehow, students already know about it. The problem is we’re expected to explain it, guide discussion, and keep things age-appropriate and without bias… all before first period.

The Solution:  Picture News

Picture News delivers a weekly news pack straight to your inbox, built for classrooms and assemblies. Each pack includes a current news story, discussion questions, and ready-to-use slides, all adapted for different age groups—from early years to secondary.

What makes it useful is the structure. Complex topics are broken into simple, clear talking points that help students understand what’s happening and why it matters. 

It also encourages critical thinking by prompting students to consider different viewpoints, not just absorb headlines.

Is This For YOUR Classroom?

Picture News is designed with UK schools in mind, so some examples or language may need tweaking for Canadian or U.S. classrooms. That said, the global focus - and optional international settings - still make it highly usable, especially for big world events.

Strategies That Work:

1. Weekly Current Events Routine: Start one lesson each week with the provided story to build consistent awareness.

2. Assembly Made Easy: Use the included slides to run a meaningful assembly without extra prep.

3. Perspective Builder: Have students discuss different viewpoints to develop critical thinking.

While not free, Picture News is actually quite affordable, especially for their school license (age-dependent but expect a few hundred dollars per year for the school).

Talking about the real world shouldn’t feel this hard. Picture News makes those conversations a whole lot easier - and a lot more thoughtful.

🚀 Noteworthy News

👉️ Wild: These teens tried to break their screen addiction—what happened next surprised them.

👉️ Uncomfortable: Teaching AI changed how I think—and not entirely for the better.

👉️ High-stakes: Classrooms are tackling war and global crises—but the goal isn’t what you think.

BRAINY BIT

Your Playlist Might Say More Than You Think

Students love music. Headphones on. World off.

But what if those playlists are quietly saying something about how students think?

TLDR: In a study of 185 participants tracked over 5 months, researchers used smartphone data to analyze real music listening habits. They found small but measurable links between music behavior and cognitive ability. The biggest insight? Lyrics mattered more than sound.

The Study: Music vs. Cognitive Ability

Researchers collected real-world music data from smartphones, tracking what people listened to, how long, and how often over several months. Songs were analyzed using data tools to break down both audio features (tempo, energy) and lyrics (types of words and themes).

Participants also completed a 20-question cognitive ability test on their phones, measuring reasoning, knowledge, and problem-solving. The goal: see if everyday music habits could predict thinking ability.

The Results:

Here’s what they found: music is not a strong predictor of intelligence, but the lyrics are.

But there were patterns.

Lyrics-based preferences mattered most. Participants listening to sadder, emotional music showed stronger cognitive ability (where are our former emo-kids at?). These listeners tended to be more reflective.

Students who listened longer or engaged with certain types of lyrical content showed slightly higher cognitive scores.

In YOUR Classroom:

Students’ everyday habits (like music) can hint at how they engage with thinking, not just what they know.

Here’s how these results can impact your classroom this week:

Strategies That Work:

1. Use music for analysis: Turn songs into texts—lyrics can build inference, theme, and critical thinking skills.

2. Connect learning to playlists: Let students link topics to music they already care about.

3. Teach intentional listening: Help students reflect on when music helps focus—and when it quietly distracts.

Music won’t replace a test.

But it might offer a small window into how students think - and how we can reach them better.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

We would LOVE to hear from you!

Reply to this email, or send us a message on Instagram! We’re here to walk with you in these crazy times!

Part of what makes The PEN Weekly community so special is the fact that our readers are teachers from around the world! We’re not going to lie, we think that’s pretty darn cool!

We’ll see you again on Monday 🍎

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