This qualitative study examined the amount of time that fourth and fifth grade teachers devoted to literacy instruction within the time allotted to them within the daily literacy block. Prior research of the literacy block focused largely on primary grades (Allington, McGill-Franzen et a1.,2010; Cunningham & Allington, 2003; Morrow, 1992);…

Recently, community meetings on the importance of "time to teach" were held at 13 sites across the state of North Carolina, and 2,400 surveys were completed by teachers, parents, and other citizens. This paper presents findings of that study and identifies specific practices that can increase the effective use of school time for teaching…

State board of education members across the country cite four essential tasks of state boards in improving school quality: (1) improving teacher quality, (2) raising academic standards, (3) improving school leadership and management, and (4) promoting effective use of school time. To combat the drain of talent from the teaching profession and to…