Peers and Pedagogy

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

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

Part null

The Daily Write

Strategies to help students engage in daily writing practice

02/14/18, Dr. Deborah Glaser

Part 3

Adding Fun to Your Phonics Block

Incorporating strategies to make phonics time the best time of day

02/02/18, Christina Cotter

Part null

The Digital Coaching Menu: Four Reasons Why You Need One

Providing teachers with content-focused options for coaching support

01/25/18, Kenny McKee

Part null

Understanding vocabulary standards: Building students’ skills

Differentiation between the vocabulary standards in the Reading and Language Strands

01/22/18, Vincent Segalini , Melissa Beck

Part 2

Using Curriculum to Send Essential Messages to Students

How Wit & Wisdom Supports English Language Learners

01/19/18, Sarah Webb

Part 2

Supporting Our Youngest Readers: Teaching the Skills of Reading

Why using decodable readers can be powerful

01/12/18, Carey Swanson

Part 1

Inside Implementation of Wit and Wisdom

Bringing complex content and instruction into a high-needs school district

01/04/18, Sarah Webb

Part null

Materials Alignment Quick Check

Introducing a new evidence catcher to facilitate instructional materials decisions

12/27/17, Meredith Liben, Susan Pimentel

Part null

Three APPS to Support Students with Special Needs

Helping All Kids Grapple with Grade-Level Content

12/21/17, Dr. Bryan Drost

Part null

Most-Read Articles of 2017

12/15/17, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Creating Student Empowerment Through Your Garden-Variety Graphic Organizer

How I use graphic organizers in my classroom to promote student independence

11/30/17, Alison Killy

Part null

A Five-Course Meal Complete with Strategies for Assessment

Concrete strategies to help classroom educators get involved with assessment design

11/21/17, Bryan Drost

Part null

The Many Positive Uses for Assessment

Three ways to use assessment for good

11/15/17, Rob Woodworth

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

Part null

Don’t be afraid to ask…

Advice for where to ask--and find answers--to your education questions

11/05/17, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Designing Effective Homework

Best practices for creating homework that raises student achievement

10/13/17, Claire Rivero

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

Part null

Instead of…Try This

Avoid common pitfalls in the ELA classroom with these strategies

10/03/17, Andrea Raines

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

Part null

Assessing Grammar and Language Convention Skills

New guidance explains how to assess writing skills through embedded-error passages and multiple-choice items

09/18/17, Laura Hansen, Katie Keown

Part null

Creating a Feedback Culture

Using effective feedback to help students master their learning goals

09/13/17, Andrea Raines

Part null

Blended Learning: The Station Rotation Model

Find out how a blended learning station-focused model can help you differentiate instruction and give ALL students the support they need to tackle grade-level work

09/06/17, Susan Hitt

Part null

There has got to be a better way to do this! How to start an interdisciplinary PLC.

Insights on the value of interdisciplinary PLCs and how to create one in your school

09/01/17, Mary Burt

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

Part 2

Looking At and Learning From Student Work, Part Two: Now What?

An 8th grade teacher models the process of using writing analysis checklists to make plans for future writing instruction

08/17/17, Joey Hawkins

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

Part null

State of Our Classrooms: Instructional Materials

Findings from a 2017 survey about instructional materials usage among educators

08/07/17, Janelle Fann

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

Part null

Digital Book Baskets for High School Classrooms

Students create their own high-interest text sets to build knowledge

07/11/17, Mena Dedmon

Part 1

Looking at, and Learning from, Student Writing

An introduction to the Vermont Writing Collaborative's Writing Checklists

06/26/17, Joey Hawkins

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

Part null

“We’re the best. Just trust us!”

Finding unbiased information about instructional materials.

05/30/17, Janelle Fann

Part null

Adapting an ELA Curriculum for Standards-Based Learning

05/11/17, Cassie Mense

Reading to Learn

Strategies to build a love of learning through content-rich nonfiction

05/04/17, Carey Swanson

Part null

Q&A – Supporting Fluency in K-12 Classrooms

Practical suggestions for focusing on reading fluency

05/01/17, Lorraine Griffith

Part null

What Really Counts When We Teach?

What should we look for in powerful classrooms?

04/18/17, Alan Schoenfeld

Part null

Five Places for Trusted Resource Recommendations

Amid the sea of free online materials and digital applications, here are five places we’d start our search.

03/30/17, Student Achievement Partners

Limiting “Teacher Talk,” Increasing Student Work!

A team of teachers share strategies to increase student ownership in literacy

03/26/17, Tori Filler

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

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

Part null

What Do They Actually Know?

Using mini-assessments to break free of the norm

01/23/17, Rob Woodworth

Part null

The Essential Elements of an ELA Curriculum

Standards co-author Susan Pimentel explains how the elements of a high-quality ELA program contribute to student learning. She pinpoints where many current programs are missing the mark.

01/19/17, Susan Pimentel

Part null

How to Create Book Baskets

Designing book baskets to boost motivation, enthusiasm and engagement

01/13/17, MJ D’Amelio

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

Part null

Most-Read Articles of 2016

12/21/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Pinterest: A Useful Tool for the Educator’s Toolbox

Learn how educators can use Pinterest to identify and collect high-quality instructional resources

12/19/16, Nicole Nelson

Part null

Strategies to Support Learners Who Are Below Grade Level

An experienced educator introduces different support methods to allow struggling students to engage with grade-level materials.

12/08/16, Bryan Drost

Part null

Taking Ownership over Assessments – A Case Study in Kentucky

Assessments should align to good standards-based instruction. Instruction shouldn’t align to a bad assessment.

12/06/16, Jenni Aberli

Part null

Building a New Curriculum from Existing Materials

Public Prep Charter Schools created a new curriculum based on their teachers’ recommendations. Can you?

12/01/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Introduction to EdReports

Identifying excellence in instructional materials

11/28/16, Mia Peterson

Part null

Getting to Know Mini-Assessments

Learn about free, high-quality mini-assessments for math and literacy.

11/23/16, Astrid Fossum, Laura Hansen

Part null

Planning for Argument Writing

Learn how to plan effective argument writing instruction

11/22/16, Joey Hawkins

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

Part null

Which text set approach is right for you?

Compare the features of popular text set sources

11/02/16, Shannon Garrison

Part 2

Building Reading Fluency

Four classroom strategies that can help build fluent readers

10/28/16, David Liben, David D. Paige

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

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

Part null

Training Materials for the ELA/Literacy IMET

New training modules on the IMET’s Non-Negotiables and Alignment Criteria

10/12/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Four APPS to Redefine Your Language Arts Curriculum

Focusing on building a student-centered classroom through digital applications

10/05/16, Bryan Drost

Part null

Supplementing Your Curriculum with Knowledge-Building Text Sets

Discover why text sets work and how to use them to build student knowledge

09/30/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Assessment Item Alignment Modules

Learn how examining assessment items can be a source of professional development and deepen your understanding of the Shifts

09/19/16, Shelbi Cole, Katie Keown

Part 2

Adapting Journeys Common Core

A veteran Journeys user shares recommendations to improve basal lessons and better support teachers and students.

09/07/16, Karen Vogelsang

Part 2

Piloting New Curriculum Options with Educators

Learn about OUSD’s piloting process and find out what teachers thought of three popular ELA/literacy programs

09/01/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Lessons from the Fordham Assessment Review

One of the reviewers explains how the assessment review was conducted and what the findings mean for educators and students.

08/23/16, Amy Youngblood

Part null

Supporting All Learners with Complex Texts

Strategies to scaffold instruction of Standards-aligned, complex texts

08/17/16, Carey Swanson

Part null

Sitting Beside the Learner: The ‘Me’ in Assessments

Common Core-aligned assessments must capitalize on teacher-student relationships

08/15/16, Bryan Drost

Part 1

Designing a Review Driven by Local Needs

How the Oakland Unified School District designed a teacher-centered materials review selection process

07/27/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part 4

A Recommendation to Fellow Publishers

The President of Core Knowledge challenges fellow publishers to complete an alignment rubric

06/23/16, Linda Bevilacqua,

Part 5

Unlocking the Power of Aligned Materials

How the Louisiana DOE is developing PD and looking for connections to help all districts maximize the impact of standards-aligned materials

06/14/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part 4

What to Do When Curricular Materials for ELLs Are Not Available

Where to look for additional ELL resources to support Common Core-aligned lessons

06/01/16, Diane Staehr Fenner

Part 3

How Core Knowledge Supports CCSS-Aligned Instruction

Core Knowledge's approach to literacy instruction

05/25/16, Linda Bevilacqua

Part 3

CCSS-Aligned Materials for ELL Students

Where to Find High-Quality Curricular Materials for ELLs in the Public Domain

05/11/16, Diane Staehr Fenner

Part 2

Criteria for Curricular Materials Labeled as Appropriate for ELLs

How to determine whether instructional materials support ELL's needs

05/05/16, Diane Staehr Fenner

Part 2

Designing a New ELA Curriculum

How Core Knowledge is different than other curriculum options

05/03/16, Linda Bevilacqua

Part 1

The Shifts and ELLs

An ELL expert explains what the Common Core means for teachers of English language learners

04/28/16, Diane Staehr Fenner

Part 1

Common Confusions about CCSS-Aligned ELA Materials

Core Knowledge's Linda Bevilacqua explains where purchasers can improve their CCSS understanding to make better decisions

04/22/16, Linda Bevilacqua

Part null

Customizing the IMET PD Training for a Local Setting

A training leader explains how she customized the IMET PD training to better match the professional learning needs of her district’s educators.

04/15/16, Casey Monahan

Part 1

A Teacher’s Thoughts on the Core Knowledge Language Arts Curriculum

First grade teacher, Adrienne Williams, describes the strengths and challenges of Core Knowledge Language Arts.

04/07/16, Adrienne Williams

Part 9

Creating a Conducive Environment for Teachers to Adapt Materials

An administrator’s guide to promoting teacher innovation

02/26/16, Andrew Davis

Part null

Why We’re Choosing Instructional Materials Blindly

A Brookings Institution report explains how much we DON’T know about instructional materials in use in today’s classrooms.

02/05/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part 7

Using Complex Texts with All Readers

A reading interventionist explains the strategies she uses to help struggling readers benefit from complex texts.

01/27/16, Katherine Linnehan

Part null

Decision-Making that Matters: 10 Ways Teachers Can Impact Curricular Decisions

A high school English teacher shares 10 ways classroom teachers can influence curriculum

01/20/16, Lauren Trahan

Part null

Top Five Ways to Improve Your Basal Reading Program

If you’re not satisfied with your current basal reading program, here are five things you can do to improve it.

01/11/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Choosing Wisely: A Strategic Approach to Curriculum in Duval County

An interview with Dr. Nikolai P. Vitti, Superintendent of Duval County Public Schools

12/21/15

Part null

A Publisher’s View on the Changing Instructional Materials Landscape

An interview with Anne Schreiber, Senior VP of Learning Strategies, Renaissance Learning

12/14/15, Anne Schreiber

Part 5

Creating Full-Course Open Educational Resources (OER)

The K-12 OER Collaborative plans to create a year-long open educational resources curriculum.

12/03/15, Karl Nelson, Jennifer Wolfe

Part 6

Outcomes of the Adaptation Process

New case studies share a look at the process of adapting math and ELA materials

11/13/15, Stacy Wetcher

Part 5

Adapting Basal-Based Literacy Programs

A team of 4th grade educators adapted a Pearson Reading Street lesson to better serve their students and enhance CCSS alignment

11/12/15, Rachel Etienne

Part null

Including Tier 2 Vocabulary Instruction in Curricular Materials

Building tier 2 vocabulary is critical to comprehending texts across content areas, yet it often receives insufficient attention in existing curriculum options. What can teachers do to fill the gap?

11/05/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Call for Common Core-Aligned Units

Achieve and SAP are looking for instructional materials aligned to the CCSS to address weaknesses in existing materials

10/15/15, Cristina Marks, Jeremy Thomas

Part null

The EQuIP Review Process and Rubric

Achieve created a rubric and review process to facilitate peer reviews

10/08/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part 4

K-12 OER Collaborative’s Request for Proposals

Learn how the Collaborative is planning on creating and vetting materials.

09/30/15, Karl Nelson, Jennifer Wolfe

Part 3

Working Together to Create Open Educational Resources

The K-12 OER Collaborative is working to create Common Core-aligned resources

09/25/15, Karl Nelson, Jennifer Wolfe

Part 3

What Needs to Change in Instructional Materials: ELA

A panel of experts pinpointed the biggest problems with today’s ELA/literacy materials

09/15/15, Rachel Etienne

Part null

Six Instructional Materials Articles You Should Be Reading

Keep up-to-date with the latest media coverage of instructional materials

09/11/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

IMET Evolution: ELA/Literacy

An SAP literacy specialist explains how small changes to the IMET can have a big impact on users

09/02/15, Meredith Liben

Part 1

An Introduction to the Adapting Materials Project

The challenging, yet rewarding process of adapting instructional materials

08/20/15, Stacy Wetcher

Part 4

Publishing Review Results

Why Louisiana chose to share all its curricular reviews online and where you can see the findings

08/13/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Traditional Reviews vs. the IMET

What are the differences between a traditional review and an IMET review? A teacher who’s done both explains.

08/12/15, Julie Spykerman

Part null

Teachers Create Lessons and Adaptations to Strengthen ELA Learning

Common Core-aligned resources for popular read-alouds, basal stories, and anthology selections

08/06/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part 3

ELA in the Common Core Classroom

A North Carolina literacy coach explains what the CCSS ELA Shifts mean for classroom materials

07/31/15, Tanji Reed Marshall

Part null

Building a Review Team that Represents Students and Supports Teachers

How Milwaukee built a review team that reflected the needs of the teachers and students

07/24/15, Tracy Stevenson-Olson

Part 2

Open Educational Resources in Action

Washington's work to identify OER and put them to use in classrooms

07/17/15, Barbara Soots

Part 1

Introduction to Open Educational Resources

What are OER? Where can you find them? How should you use them?

07/09/15, Barbara Soots

Part null

Lament of a Review Team Member

Conducting a review was harder than expected, but it illuminated how critical this information is for publishers

07/07/15, Silas Kulkarni

Part null

Introduction to the Publishers’ Criteria for ELA/Literacy

Sue Pimentel, one of the lead writers of the Common Core, introduces the Publishers’ Criteria

07/02/15, Susan Pimentel

Part 3

Working with Publishers

How Louisiana communicated its alignment concerns to publishers

06/30/15,

Part null

Using What You Have

An introduction to supplementing and adapting instructional materials

06/26/15,

Part null

Reviewing Is a Journey and the Benefits Aren’t What We’d Expected

Educators from Granite Falls uncovered benefits to reviewing that they hadn’t anticipated

06/16/15, Karin Manns

Part null

How Reviewing Materials Changed My Classroom Practice

A teacher explains the unexpected connection she uncovered between materials reviews and the classroom

06/05/15, Tresa Watson

Part null

When to Use the IMET

When is the right time to use the IMET? Whether you’re purchasing, supplementing, designing, or simply building capacity, the IMET can help.

05/28/15, Catherine Schmidt

Part null

Should We Bother with Other People’s Reviews?

As instructional materials reviews are made public, how should states and districts use that information?

05/20/15, Lisa Goldschmidt

Part null

Building the Right Review Team

Today’s review teams will function differently than review teams of the past, requiring new skills and experience

05/15/15, Nancy Gannon

Part 2

Conducting a State-Centered Curriculum Review

Selecting and training the review team

05/13/15,

Part null

Top 5 Tips for Building and Training Your Review Team

Advice on selecting and training strong review teams

05/07/15, Amy Weber-Salgo

Part null

What My District Gained From Collaboration

Even when districts approach materials review processes from different perspectives – and with different objectives – collaboration provides important benefits

05/05/15, Julie Spykerman

Part 1

Knowing the Common Core = Knowing the Shifts

The Shifts are a powerful frame to help drive understanding of the Common Core

05/01/15, Sandra Alberti

Part null

If You’re Not Purchasing, Should You Still Review?

Even though many districts are not in a position to purchase new materials in the short-term, training reviewers now is a smart long-term investment

04/28/15, Nancy Gannon

Part null

Working Toward Alignment

Welcome to Aligned, a publication dedicated to the conversation about Common Core-aligned instructional materials

04/14/15,

Part null

Searching for Aligned Materials Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely

Breaking district and state lines in the journey toward finding Common Core-aligned materials

04/13/15, Nancy Gannon

Part 1

New Standards, New Approach to Reviews

Details Louisiana's instructional materials review process

04/10/15,

Part null

Instructional Materials Evaluation Tool (IMET)

Designed by some of the lead writers of the Common Core, the IMET is a free tool that states and districts are using to evaluate the alignment of instructional materials to the Common Core

04/10/15,

Part null

Why We Chose this Work

One district leader explains how joining the Instructional Materials Task Force offered an opportunity for collaboration, professional development and deeper clarity on the Standards

04/10/15, Karin Manns

About the topic

most recent articles

About the topic

most recent articles

About the topic

most recent articles

About the topic

most recent articles

About the topic

most recent articles

Featured Article

Latest Posts