This article describes a comprehensive framework (iDISC) for the close reading of informational texts for elementary students that may need additional language, social, memory, or behavioral supports. The article introduces concrete tools that are used before, during, and after close reading, including cue-cards, language stems, discussion…

In primary science education, inquiry-based science instruction stands out as an optimal learning environment for fostering domain-specific content and procedural knowledge. Recognizing the effectiveness of different forms of teacher guidance, there is an ongoing debate about the planning of high (structured inquiry) and low (guided inquiry)…

Informational texts present complex content using language that is simultaneously technical, abstract, dense, and authoritative. This article describes practical strategies to support teachers in using informational picture books to prepare upper elementary school students for navigating the complex language demands necessitated by expository…

How to develop students' computational thinking (CT) is an important topic faced by academics and front-line teachers. However, the solution of programming problems requires paying attention to every detail of the problem and building a solution to the problem step by step, and for beginners, they often get stuck when one of these aspects goes…

Block-based visual programming tools are widely used in elementary education. Nonetheless, these tools alone may not ensure the spontaneous and efficient acquisition of concepts and skills in computational thinking (CT). Using mind mapping as a form of scaffolding to facilitate the visualization of abstract thinking processes may enhance the…

Making connections between children's existing means of expression (play, art, and movement) and the intricacies of print is a necessary and time-honored approach to writing instruction in the early years of school, yet, after kindergarten, one that is easily overlooked. In this article, we examine an approach to writing instruction for…

In the context of globalization, adapting to modern educational needs and adopting innovative teaching methods have become increasingly crucial, particularly in the field of children's aesthetic education. This study explores the integration of scaffolding instruction and AI-driven diffusion models in children's aesthetic education, with a special…

In today's era of high stakes testing, increased expectations for student achievement, and demands for schools to prepare students for life beyond public educations, schools are feeling the pressure to improve reading comprehension and proficiency levels for all learners. This includes students who come from economically challenged backgrounds and…

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a prominent topic in K-12 education recently. However, pedagogical design has remained a major challenge, especially among young learners. Guided by the Zone of Proximal Development theory and AI education research literature, this design-based study proposes an analogy-based pedagogical approach to…

Seven children ages five through nine engaged with two graduate student teachers after school in a university-based literacy lab. Based on a home interest survey, the essential question, "What is movement?" was explored. The children generated further questions, read a variety of texts, and wrote about their experiences. The teachers…

Children's use of appropriate techniques for remembering and the effectiveness of deliberate strategies improve throughout elementary school. However, relatively little is known about the contextual factors that may play a role in the development of these skills as children enter formal school. Building upon findings from the mother-child…

Children's use of appropriate techniques for remembering and the effectiveness of deliberate strategies improve throughout elementary school. However, relatively little is known about the contextual factors that may play a role in the development of these skills as children enter formal school. Building upon findings from the mother-child…

Current literature indicates the significance of embodied scaffoldings in enhancing the effectiveness of interactive learning technologies for STEM conceptual learning and relevant cognitive skill development. However, there is limited research on pedagogical approaches for integrating mixed embodied scaffoldings in learning with interactive…

Argumentation scaffolding can be used to enhance the formulation of logical arguments as well as the performance of such arguments. This study presents a web-based synchronized scientific argumentation environment integrated with prompt scaffolding to support simulation-based physics learning for elementary school students. To investigate the…

Digital media literacy education has become shared responsibility of all educators, school-based initiatives are considered to be a crucial component of digital media literacy education. This 10-week intervention study explores the effects of digital media literacy (DML) course on students' digital media literacy. The participants were 58 fifth…