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Achieve The Core

Where aligned instructional materials and practice meet

Classroom Strategies

About the topic

Explore classroom guidance, techniques, and activities to help you meet the needs of ALL students.

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most recent articles

Why Re-Humanize Assessment?

What We Pay Attention to Matters

Meeting the Needs of Every Student No Matter What

Tools and Resources

About the topic

Discover new tools and materials to integrate into you instruction.

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most recent articles

Top Posts of 2020

Meeting the Needs of Every Student No Matter What

Small Pivots to Access Complex Text Across the Curriculum

Materials Adaptation

About the topic

Find instructions and recommendations on how to adapt your existing materials to better align to college- and career-ready standards.

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most recent articles

Which Types of Content Are Key in Content-Focused Professional Learning in Mathematics?

Teacher working at a laptop

Which Types of Content Are Key in Content-Focused Professional Learning in ELA/Literacy?

Mistakes Tell Us What Students Are Ready to Learn

Standards-Alignment Information

About the topic

Learn what it means for instructional materials and assessment to be aligned to college- and career-ready standards.

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most recent articles

What to Consider if You’re Adopting a New ELA/Literacy Curriculum

Not Your Mom’s Professional Development

Reaching New Heights

Research and Reflections

About the topic

Delve into new research and perspectives on instructional materials and practice.

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most recent articles

Group of students talking.

Building a Culture of Advocacy

Students reading and taking notes

Knowledge-Building Model Lessons for Middle and High School

What Principles Must Underlie Successful Personalized Learning?

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Classroom Strategies

About the topic

Explore classroom guidance, techniques, and activities to help you meet the needs of ALL students.

See all posts

most recent articles

Why Re-Humanize Assessment?

What We Pay Attention to Matters

Meeting the Needs of Every Student No Matter What

Tools and Resources

About the topic

Discover new tools and materials to integrate into you instruction.

See all posts

most recent articles

Top Posts of 2020

Meeting the Needs of Every Student No Matter What

Small Pivots to Access Complex Text Across the Curriculum

Materials Adaptation

About the topic

Find instructions and recommendations on how to adapt your existing materials to better align to college- and career-ready standards.

See all posts

most recent articles

Which Types of Content Are Key in Content-Focused Professional Learning in Mathematics?

Teacher working at a laptop

Which Types of Content Are Key in Content-Focused Professional Learning in ELA/Literacy?

Mistakes Tell Us What Students Are Ready to Learn

Standards-Alignment Information

About the topic

Learn what it means for instructional materials and assessment to be aligned to college- and career-ready standards.

See all posts

most recent articles

What to Consider if You’re Adopting a New ELA/Literacy Curriculum

Not Your Mom’s Professional Development

Reaching New Heights

Research and Reflections

About the topic

Delve into new research and perspectives on instructional materials and practice.

See all posts

most recent articles

Group of students talking.

Building a Culture of Advocacy

Students reading and taking notes

Knowledge-Building Model Lessons for Middle and High School

What Principles Must Underlie Successful Personalized Learning?

Achieve The Core

Research and Reflections

Delve into new research and perspectives on instructional materials and practice.

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Group of students talking.
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Building a Culture of Advocacy

Building a culture of advocacy is a continuous effort
10/23/20, Dr. Janice K. Wyatt-Ross
Students reading and taking notes
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Knowledge-Building Model Lessons for Middle and High School

Rethinking how we define “text” to engage older students and accelerate learning
10/16/20, Jenni Aberli, Lauren Trahan
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part 2

What Principles Must Underlie Successful Personalized Learning?

What educators should consider when selecting or using personalized learning approaches to accelerate literacy outcomes
10/09/20, Meredith Liben, Tanji Reed Marshall, Ph.D., Susan Pimentel
Research and Reflections
Part 1

Is it Possible to Use Personalized Learning to Accelerate Students’ Literacy Outcomes in the Time of COVID?

Examining the research base
10/06/20, Meredith Liben, Tanji Reed Marshall, Susan Pimentel
Math teacher explains online lesson to students
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Two Facts: We Are Better Together, And We Can Do Hard Things

Exploring what it means to be “good at math"
09/18/20, Brian Dean
Group discussion among adult professionals
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

How Honestly Willing Are We to Create Equitable Opportunities and Experiences for All Students?

Transforming education by leading teachers to empower students
08/06/20, Carrie Rosebrock
Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Growing Your Craft, Virtually!

Achieve the Core’s webinars can help your K-12 staff grow and reflect!
06/19/20, Tika Epstein
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Why Teaching Justice Through Reading & Writing Cannot Wait

How teachers can enact change and combat racism through purposeful discussions and literary curricula
06/14/20, Yvonne Thompson
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

You Have a List of Culturally Diverse Texts. Now What?

Guidance on facilitating classroom lessons and discussions that push student thinking
06/11/20, Keenan W. Lee, M. Ed
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Digital Coaching Menus Bring the Professional Learning Principles To Life

Designing effective coaching sessions that reflect teacher needs
05/14/20, Kenny McKee
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

What to Consider if You’re Adopting a New ELA/Literacy Curriculum

Recommendations for how to search for a new ELA/literacy program
04/03/20, Student Achievement Partners
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

Not Your Mom’s Professional Development

What needs to change in professional learning design
03/06/20, Rachel Etienne
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Designing for Equity (Teachers as Designers)

Helping folks who care about equity do equity.
02/27/20, Dr. Christine Ortiz
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Finding the Courage to Teach Texts Outside Your Comfort Zone (2019 Blog Competition Finalist)

Teaching texts that honor difference and inspire challenging conversations
02/21/20, Rhiannon Hartman Dunn
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Creating a Culture of Shared Norms and High Expectations in Your Classroom (2019 Blog Competition Finalist)

How to create a culture that facilitates powerful learning for ALL learners
02/21/20, Matthew Shea
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Say “Author” (2019 Blog Competition Finalist)

Strategies for including all learners in discussions about complex text
02/21/20, Shannon Hahne
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

How Does Education Research Relate to My Practice?

Is your reading program working? What can you do to improve it?
02/14/20, Tori Filler, Carey Swanson
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

My Experience with Teachers College Units of Study

A veteran teacher explains the strengths and weakness of the program based on her experience
02/06/20, MJ D’Amelio
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Tidying Up

Instructional Routines for Whole-Class Reading and Writing
01/22/20, Jon Gustafson
Classroom Strategies, Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

Top Posts of 2019

Read the most popular posts of the year!
12/12/19, Student Achievement Partners
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

For the Love of Learning

How a focus on building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction can enrich ELA instruction and engage learners
12/08/19, Carey Swanson
Classroom Strategies, Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

2019 Blog Contest

Creating Equity in the Classroom
11/18/19, Student Achievement Partners
Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

A New Way to Consider Cognitive Demand in ELA Assessments

A Framework for Text Complexity in ELA and Reading
11/08/19, Katie Keown
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Striving for Foundational Excellence

Country Heights' Journey Through Foundational Skills Instruction
10/22/19, Shiryl McAdams, Allie Lindow
Research and Reflections
Part null

The Magical World of Twitter

How Twitter Changed the Way I Learn
09/10/19, Amy Youngblood
Research and Reflections
Part null

Professional Learning Design 101

How to Craft a Meaningful Professional Learning Experience for a Room Full of Strangers
08/16/19, Carrie Rosebrock
Research and Reflections
Part null

Professional Learning is Personal

Learning Requires Trust, Especially for Teachers
08/09/19, Carrie Rosebrock
Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Quality Instructional Materials or Quality Professional Learning Opportunities for Teachers?

Support for educators serving English Learners
07/26/19, Renae Skarin
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Strong Materials in the Hands of Great Teachers

A year of school visits highlights what makes curriculum work
07/07/19, Barbara Davidson, Susan Pimentel
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

On Curriculum: How Pinterest and TpT Exacerbate Inequity

The danger of fragmented materials and the power of a cohesive, knowledge-building ELA curriculum
06/26/19, Jon Gustafson
Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Designing a Holistic Learning Experience

Why school communities must integrate social, emotional, and academic considerations into instructional planning
06/19/19, Rachel Etienne
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

On Your Side to Beat the Summer Slide

Ways to Partner with Your Local Public Library
05/24/19, Jenci Spradlin
Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Social Emotional Learning and Academic Content: A Natural Pairing

Reflections on how best practices for social emotional learning (SEL) and academic instruction are mutually supportive
05/21/19, Astrid Fossum
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

Connecting the Dots

Making a Match Between Assessment Texts and Materials in ELA
05/10/19, Katie Keown, Laura Hansen, Carey Swanson
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

A Switch to Standards-Based Learning

How the standards can support instruction and feedback
04/04/19, Karen Hernandez
Research and Reflections
Part null

I’m Passionate About Curriculum Because I’m Passionate About Pedagogy

01/14/19, Jana Beth Francis
Classroom Strategies, Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

Top Blog Posts of 2018

Here are our top 25 most-visited posts of 2018.
12/20/18, Student Achievement Partners
Research and Reflections
Part null

We’re Bullish on Bookworms

A reflection on the free Bookworms ELA curriculum for K-5
12/10/18, David Liben, Meredith Liben, Sue Pimentel
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Effective Reading Instruction

Why a text-centered approach, instead of a strategies-based approach, is more effective
11/16/18, Meredith Liben, Sue Pimentel
Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Observing Reading Foundational Skills Instruction

Introducing a new tool to observe the components of foundational skills instruction
10/23/18, Carey Swanson
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part 1

Addressing Common Challenges with Student Writing

Why aren’t students successful writers and what can teachers do to help?
10/09/18, Zackory Kirk
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

Doing Better: Aligned Instructional Practice

An overview of the Instructional Practice Guide suite of tools
09/19/18, Destiny Eldridge, April Pforts
Research and Reflections
Part null

Making the Connection Between Materials and Instruction

Why instructional practice should be at the heart of all instructional materials decisions
08/20/18, Sandra Alberti
Research and Reflections
Part null

Seeing College- and Career-Ready Standards through Instruction

Exploring the updates to the Instructional Practice Guide
08/15/18, Lisa Goldschmidt
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Creating and Sequencing Text-Dependent Questions to Support English Language Learners

Strategic selection and organization of questions can be a scaffold that helps English learners grapple with highly complex questions.
08/01/18, Claire Rivero
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

Considering Reading Instruction with the End in Mind

Meet students not only where they are, but also where they're going.
07/30/18, Carey Swanson
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part 4

Re-Teaching Doesn’t Always Mean Repeating

Consider alternative ways to re-teach when students struggle with new content
06/12/18, Kristi Gettelman
Research and Reflections
Part null

Illuminating Interims

What makes a good interim assessment program?
06/07/18, Laura Hansen
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part 1

To Write or Not to Write. There is No Question!

The benefits of integrating reading and writing practice
05/07/18, Dr. Deborah Glaser
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

The Role of Educators in Summative Assessment: The Life Cycle of a Question

An inside look at the development of summative assessments
05/02/18, Laura Hansen
Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Compelling Digital Lessons for English Learners

How to use the free WriteReader app to support English Language Learners
04/17/18, Astrid Emily Francis
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part 4

How much time do you need to create a foundation for literacy?

One coach’s reflection on increasing the foundational skills block
03/21/18, Lauren Hurley Wilson
Research and Reflections
Part null

5 Concerns about Inquiry-Based Learning–Answered

A high school math teacher addresses concerns about inquiry-based learning and shares how it benefits students.
03/14/18, Lane Walker
Research and Reflections
Part null

A Visit to Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary School

Though this literacy program uses leveled readers, it focuses on building knowledge through topic-based units and ensures students are not limited to a single reading level
02/28/18, Barbara Davidson, David Liben
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Welding Literacy into Scientific Instruction

An experienced educator provides a literacy protocol for interpreting scientific complex texts.
02/20/18, Leslie Annette Birdon
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part 3

How to Select Math Intervention Content

How do you diagnose the root causes of grade-level math struggles, and design targeted interventions to address them?
02/09/18, Astrid Fossum
Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections
Part 2

Using Curriculum to Send Essential Messages to Students

How Wit & Wisdom Supports English Language Learners
01/19/18, Sarah Webb
Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part 2

Supporting Our Youngest Readers: Teaching the Skills of Reading

Why using decodable readers can be powerful
01/12/18, Carey Swanson
Classroom Strategies, Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Three APPS to Support Students with Special Needs

Helping All Kids Grapple with Grade-Level Content
12/21/17, Dr. Bryan Drost
Classroom Strategies, Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

Most-Read Articles of 2017

12/15/17, Student Achievement Partners
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part 2

Addressing unfinished learning in the context of grade-level work

Not all unfinished learning should be treated the same way
12/06/17, Christina Allison
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Emerging Effects from CCSS

A high school math teacher shares examples of student progress following CCSS implementation
11/27/17, Lane Walker
Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

The Many Positive Uses for Assessment

Three ways to use assessment for good
11/15/17, Rob Woodworth
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

3 Steps to Engage Students in Research Writing

A high school teacher shares concrete suggestions for sparking curiosity and stimulating quality research questions
11/09/17, Hattie Maguire
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Four Best Practices for the Math Classroom

A math teacher shares lessons learned and alternative strategies he's discovered during his teaching career
10/24/17, Jeff Crayton
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Designing Effective Homework

Best practices for creating homework that raises student achievement
10/13/17, Claire Rivero
Classroom Strategies, Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections
Part null

High-impact strategies for teaching writing with evidence at the high school level

An interdisciplinary PLC develops common strategies and rubrics to support student writing.
10/11/17, Mary Burt
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Instead of…Try This

Avoid common pitfalls in the ELA classroom with these strategies
10/03/17, Andrea Raines
Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

The Instructional Practice Toolkit: An Introduction

Learn how the Instructional Practice Toolkit can help teachers make connections between planning, instruction, and student outcomes.
09/22/17, Rachel Etienne
Research and Reflections
Part null

Supporting Excellence: Real Support for Teachers Starts With the District’s Curriculum

A new framework for developing and implementing clear district-wide support for teaching and learning
08/24/17, Ricki Price-Baugh
Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part null

Piloting the Instructional Practice Toolkit

Two curriculum specialists who piloted the professional learning resource share their experience
08/21/17, Kim Schoenau, Aubree Short
Research and Reflections
Part null

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals as an Educator

See how using this goal-setting structure can help you achieve content-focused goals during the school year
08/11/17, Susan Hitt
Research and Reflections
Part null

Building Teacher Confidence through Content-Infused PD

Working with teachers to improve their understanding and use of curricular materials
08/03/17, Andrea Raines
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

I have an assessment dream: Leading to conquer the big, bad ELA test

A curriculum director explains how to help educators see the potential of aligned assessment
05/31/17, Bryan Drost
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

“We’re the best. Just trust us!”

Finding unbiased information about instructional materials.
05/30/17, Janelle Fann
Research and Reflections
Part null

8 Questions About High School Math and STEM

A high school algebra teacher shares her thoughts on high school math myths and misconceptions
05/16/17, Lane Walker
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Limiting “Teacher Talk,” Increasing Student Work!

A team of teachers share strategies to increase student ownership in literacy
04/24/17, Tori Filler
Research and Reflections
Part null

What Really Counts When We Teach?

What should we look for in powerful classrooms?
04/18/17, Alan Schoenfeld
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

STEM Integration in Algebra: A Bridge to Opportunity

Relating mathematical thought processes to those in 21st Century careers
04/04/17, Lane Walker
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part 1

At the Foundation of Foundational Skills: Structured Phonics

Learn how structured phonics instruction is critical to literacy development and a necessary part of an ELA curriculum
03/17/17, Carey Swanson
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

Forming a United Whole – The Coherence Map

A K-12 STEM District Supervisor Explains How He Used the Coherence Map to Improve His District's Math Curriculum
03/13/17, Joshua Zagorski
Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information
Part null

The Wild West of Open Literacy Materials

Identifying and using high-quality, ELA Open Educational Resources successfully
02/21/17, Sarah Tierney, Tracey Waters
Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections
Part null

Lessons Learned after Teaching without a Textbook

A high school teacher explores the lessons learned after moving away from a textbook-based curriculum.
02/14/17, Bob Janes
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

What Do They Actually Know?

Using mini-assessments to break free of the norm
01/23/17, Rob Woodworth
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections
Part null

Designing Classroom Libraries that Build Knowledge, Vocabulary, and Engagement

The benefits of topic-based independent reading on student motivation
01/05/17, Carey Swanson
Classroom Strategies, Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

Most-Read Articles of 2016

12/21/16, Student Achievement Partners
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part 3

Determining Reading Fluency

Learn how to determine a student’s current reading fluency level and pinpoint problems impeding students from becoming fluent readers
11/09/16, David Liben, David D. Paige
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part 2

Building Reading Fluency

Four classroom strategies that can help build fluent readers
10/28/16, David Liben, David D. Paige
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources
Part 1

What is Reading Fluency?

Literacy experts David Liben and David Paige explain the characteristics of reading fluency
10/21/16, David Liben, David D. Paige
Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections, Standards-Alignment Information, Tools and Resources
Part null

Introduction to Argument Writing

A long-time middle school teacher and writing expert explains how to design strong writing instruction
10/14/16, Joey Hawkins

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