Response to Intervention (RtI) has become a common support system for students; yet, no universal RtI model exists, especially for mathematics and specifically at the secondary level. This article focuses on a specific model for delivering Tier 2 mathematics supports and services at the secondary level: math labs. Evidence--based and…

Interventions often require multiple decisions to improve outcomes for every student. Whether the decision to implement a practice, tailor an existing protocol, or change approaches, these decisions should be based on individual variables and outcomes via a sequence of treatment. To develop adaptive interventions that have sufficient evidence to…

The purpose of this article is to introduce a collaborative online international exchange unit for physical education called CULTURE (Cultural Unit of Learning To Understand, Respect, and Empathize). The cultural unit occurred in the Fall of 2019 between an elementary school in New Jersey, U.S., and two elementary schools near Tokyo, Japan.

Recent years have seen a growing interest in intelligent game-based learning environments featuring virtual agents. A key challenge posed by incorporating virtual agents in game-based learning environments is dynamically determining the dialogue moves they should make in order to best support students' problem solving. This paper presents a…

Middle school is a crucial transition period for students as they move from concrete to algebraic ways of thinking. This article describes a sequence of instruction geared toward helping prospective middle school instructors teach the topic of percentages.

A group of teachers at Clifford Smart Middle School in Michigan's Walled Lake Consolidated School District have broken free from traditional grading in order to embrace a more meaningful grading practice. Using standards-based grading practices, they believe their grading now accurately communicates to students and parents the student's mastery…

The purpose of this article is to share a learning-cycle sequence of lessons designed to convey the particulate nature of matter through use of physical models and analogical thinking. This activity was adapted from Conceptual Chemistry, a long-running professional development program for teachers of grades 4-9. Conceptual Chemistry's approach is…

This article gives a general overview of an alternative instructional sequence that can be used to teach integer concepts and operations. The sequence follows three heuristics from Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) that encourage curricula to be reinforced with real-world applications (financial net worth): move students gradually, yet…

The Metacognitive Teaching Framework (MTF) is explained from the initial teacher-directed think-aloud through to students' independent use of cognitive strategies. The four stages of the MTF are described and tips for implementation are offered. Using questioning as an example, the authors work through what this looks like from stage 1 through…

One model that can help middle school educators provide an effective system of instruction and early intervention is response to intervention (RTI). RTI is a schoolwide process that integrates instruction, intervention, and assessment. The alignment of instruction, assessment, and interventions promotes a stronger, more cohesive program of…