Research and Reflections Archives - Achieve the Core Aligned Materials

Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources

Every Student Can Learn

Confronting entrenched beliefs about student ability

04/09/21, Kimberly Sarfde

Research and Reflections

Part 3

Redesigning Our Principles

Equitably and unapologetically

04/02/21, Rahel Fesseha, Tara Martinez, Carey Swanson

Research and Reflections

Dual Immersion Instruction: The Promise of Equitable, Effective Instruction for English Learners

Research points to the benefits of dual immersion instruction

03/31/21, Kimberly Sarfde

Research and Reflections

Part 2

Shifting Our Work and Narrowing Our Focus

Designing at the margins

03/26/21, Jennie Beltramini, Tori Filler

Research and Reflections

What the Data Can’t Tell Us

Concerns about summative assessment in a pandemic year

03/25/21, Katie Keown, Astrid Fossum, Jun Li, John Young

Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections

Textbooks: Who Needs Them?

03/19/21, Devin Evans

Research and Reflections

Dismantling Academic Tracking in Mathematics

03/10/21, Shelbi Cole

Research and Reflections

Transforming Literacy Instruction

An opportunity to equitably accelerate students’ literacy development

03/03/21, Amy Briggs

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

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

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

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, Chrissy 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

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