Achievement gaps exist along the lines of race, gender, sexuality, social class, and ability status from elementary school to graduate school in the United States. Instructors can help reduce achievement gaps by adopting practices that have been shown to promote the success of students from marginalized groups, so-called "inclusive teaching…

This book explains seven critical steps to improve children's writing. Though seemingly 'natural', writing proves devilishly difficult for far too many school pupils and closing this gap can have a lasting impact on their academic and life success. With the goal of giving every teacher the knowledge and skill to teach writing with confidence, it…

The adoption of equitable and inclusive teaching strategies in the undergraduate chemistry classroom is essential if equity gaps are to be minimized. Reducing these gaps will foster a diverse talent pool of future chemists to propel creativity and innovation. To cultivate an equitable and inclusive environment, instructors must engage in ongoing…

Too many deaf and hard of hearing students often do not show age-appropriate academic achievement, and schools have copious data on how deaf and hard of hearing students--especially those of color or those with additional disabilities--are not performing. One way that teachers can improve individual performance is through the use of formative…

Students with disabilities consistently underperform on academic achievement tests. In part, this is due to teachers being underprepared to provide the evidence-based instruction needed to help students with disabilities succeed. Historically, professional development (PD) has been provided to educators yielding disappointing results. In this…

This book chronicles the challenges, truths, and lessons of teaching and leading in a traditional high school today: the bureaucratic red tape, the fight for inclusivity, the mental health and safety concerns, and the urgent need for teacher support and wellness. From active shooter drills to digital distractions, from closing achievement gaps to…

While adolescent foundational skills interventions can be critical levers for reading improvement, district leaders, teachers, and researchers must make complex decisions about how to evaluate their effectiveness in context. In this discussion article, we explore three issues and tensions we experienced during a 2-year research-practice…

A persistent achievement gap for English learners (ELs) has prompted educators to search for contributing factors and pedagogical solutions. Research by Bruce Torff and Audrey Figueroa Murphy shows teachers' beliefs about rigor of curriculum may contribute to the problem; teachers supported less rigorous curriculum for ELs, evincing a "rigor…

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a plethora of problems globally for school boards, administrators, and teachers of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM). From the beginning of 2020, marginalized students--those who live in low-socioeconomic environments or come from traditionally underrepresented communities or…

The purpose of this article is to describe the learnings of primary school teachers in rural Guatemala as a result of an action research experience. This experience took place in the context of the "Basic Education Quality and Transitions" activity, or BEQT, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an adult noncredit program in the California Community College system partnered with Ease Learning to help convert face-to-face courses to an online modality. Subsequent data revealed a misalignment in the courses' Student Learning Outcomes and Instructional Objectives which became a barrier to student success. Wile's…

The changing racial and ethnic demographics in the United States school-age population is a defining phenomenon of its educational system. Classrooms across the country are a microcosm of the expanding cultural diversity in society. This growing demographic of students of color extends to students in low-incidence disability groups: deaf or hard…

A distinguishing feature of English learners (ELs) centers on coming from homes in which a language other than or in addition to English is used, but bilingualism itself is not a risk factor for low academic achievement. Yet in the United States, ELs' reading achievement continues to lag behind that of their English-proficient peers. In this…

In the thoroughly revised second edition of "Start Where You Are, But Don't Stay There," H. Richard Milner IV addresses the knowledge and insights required on the part of teachers and school leaders to serve students of color. Milner focuses on a crucial issue in teacher training and professional education: the need to prepare teachers…

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has reported that boys all over the world underperform their female peers at school. This trend creates problems for this generation of males and could also pose unforeseen consequences for the next generation. A review of journals, magazines, and other media outlets uncovered a…