Play-based learning has been proven to be an effective method of learning in early childhood education, particularly kindergarten; Nevertheless, increasing emphasis on academics and assessments has had a detrimental effect on students' social-emotional learning (SEL) and learning development (LD).The problem addressed in this study was that play…

Many Career and technical education (CTE) teachers concern themselves with the practical application of skills in their course content. Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have increased the emphasis on disciplinary literacy in courses making every teacher a literacy teacher requiring every teacher to teach students to be literate in their content…

We studied how the distal policy mechanisms of curricular aims and objectives articulated in official curriculum documents influenced classroom instruction, and the factors that were associated with the enactment of those curricular aims and objectives. The study was set in the U.S. context, where there is an ambitious effort to transform…

This study takes advantage of natural variation in alignment and accountability to analyze educator sensemaking of a complex policy environment. It describes how educators in two large, high-accountability districts in New York and Florida made sense of multiple policy changes, including new standards, curriculum, assessments, and teacher…

The Common Core State Standards have driven an awareness for college and career readiness in schools today. This effort has brought to light the role text complexity plays in the classroom and the importance of students being exposed to complex text. Educators' understanding of complex text and their expectations when choosing text is…

Renee Hobbs argues that schools must teach students how propaganda works so that they can better understand the messages they see around them. In an interview with Kappan editor Rafael Heller, she describes how propaganda -- and instruction about it -- has evolved over time. Although there have been periods where it was discussed extensively in…

Over 60 years of conflicting messaging about the usefulness and impact of grammar on writing has guided instructional practice in K-12 classrooms across the country. In Florida, like many other states, reading scores have continued to decline despite multiple efforts to identify the root causes of learning deficiencies. Even though research…

Summative assessment data are rarely adapted into instructional decision making. In this project, teachers and researchers work together to identify how teachers use diagnostic data (students' development of common core standards). We analysed students' responses to trimester tests that teachers and researchers modified together using cognitive…

A problem exists at the local site that classroom practices are not adequately preparing English language learners (ELLs) for academic success in the area of mathematics, and since the implementation of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M), there has been a lack of progress in mathematics proficiency for ELLs. The purpose of…

In this article, the authors unveil the Trade Book Inquiry Design Model (IDM) blueprint. Anchored in a compelling question inspired by a trade book, the new blueprint is broken into two instructional blocks: "Reading and Comprehension" and "Living Social Studies." The inquiry template is designed to be instructionally efficient…

Teachers across the United States have implemented the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in math since their release in 2010. These standards were created for all students, both in general education and special education settings; yet, the findings of this study showed one set of standards for every student does not make every student…

The following designed-based implementation research (DBIR) study explores the impacts of a research-practice partnership (RPP) on two fifth grade ELA teachers and the researcher as they engaged with the designing and implementation of two critical literacy pedagogy (CLP) units through the adaptation of mandated New York State Common Core (NYSCC)…

A major influence on mathematics teachers' instruction is their beliefs. However, teachers' instructional practices do not always neatly align with their beliefs because of factors perceived as constraints. The purpose of this article is to introduce a new approach for examining the relationship between teachers' beliefs and practices, an approach…

Teacher evaluation policies have been central to policy efforts to enhance teaching quality. At the same time, ambitious mathematics instruction has been emphasized by teacher education programs as well as by the Common Core State Standards. Drawing on observation and survey data from early-career teachers, this study examines how teachers'…

A continuing priority in education has focused on preparing students for postacademic success. The adoption of the Common Core State Standards Initiative prompted educational leaders to focus on preparing students to be "college and career ready." Definitions, perceptions, and efforts to improve college and career readiness vary widely.…