Research and Reflections Archives - Achieve the Core Aligned Materials

Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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2019 Blog Contest

Creating Equity in the Classroom

11/18/19, Student Achievement Partners

Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources

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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

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Striving for Foundational Excellence

Country Heights' Journey Through Foundational Skills Instruction

10/22/19, Shiryl McAdams, Allie Lindow

Research and Reflections

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The Magical World of Twitter

How Twitter Changed the Way I Learn

09/10/19, Amy Youngblood

Research and Reflections

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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

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Professional Learning is Personal

Learning Requires Trust, Especially for Teachers

08/09/19, Carrie Rosebrock

Research and Reflections, Tools and Resources

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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A Switch to Standards-Based Learning

How the standards can support instruction and feedback

04/04/19, Karen Hernandez

Research and Reflections

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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The Many Positive Uses for Assessment

Three ways to use assessment for good

11/15/17, Rob Woodworth

Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections

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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

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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

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Designing Effective Homework

Best practices for creating homework that raises student achievement

10/13/17, Claire Rivero

Classroom Strategies, Materials Adaptation, Research and Reflections

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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“We’re the best. Just trust us!”

Finding unbiased information about instructional materials.

05/30/17, Janelle Fann

Research and Reflections

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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What Do They Actually Know?

Using mini-assessments to break free of the norm

01/23/17, Rob Woodworth

Classroom Strategies, Research and Reflections

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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

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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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