Research and Best Practices
The largest in-depth study of school leadership to date, this report gathers and analyzes quantitative data confirming that education leadership has a strong impact on student achievement, as measured by student test scores. The study shows that leadership makes its mark largely by strengthening a school’s “professional community” – an environment where teachers work together to improve classroom instruction. It also finds that rapid turnover of principals reduces student achievement. In addition, the study shows that although the.....
Reading Resources
Bringing Literacy Strategies into Content Instruction
This document provides research-based guidance on academic literacy instruction in the content areas, specifically focusing on the effective use of text in content areas. It reviews the research evidence about content-area literacy instruction for adolescents and suggests ways teachers can use content-area texts to enable students to understand the vocabulary and concepts they contain. This document also provides a brief synopsis of working with adult learners and the most promising professional development practices identified in research......
Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices
For the purposes of this website, these recommendations have been merged into four practices: Vocabulary Instruction; Comprehension Strategies; Engaging Text Discussion; and Intensive Intervention. This Practice Guide was developed by an expert panel convened by the Institute of Education Sciences. It is designed to address challenges in improving literacy levels in middle and high school and providing interventions for struggling adolescent readers. The Practice Guide offers a set of five research-based recommendations. A summary of the.....
Instructional Models and Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners [K-12]
This publication offers educators and policy-makers guidance on research-based strategies that have been effective in instructing English Language learners (ELLs). Regardless of the model that school districts select, teachers--especially those who have not been trained to work with ELLs--need help to determine the most effective strategies to accelerate student learning and maximize instructional time. This document outlines key contextual factors that decision-makers should take into account when making instructional choices for ELLs,.....
Instructional Models and Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners [K-12]
This publication offers educators and policy-makers guidance on research-based strategies that have been effective in instructing English Language learners (ELLs). Regardless of the model that school districts select, teachers--especially those who have not been trained to work with ELLs--need help to determine the most effective strategies to accelerate student learning and maximize instructional time. This document outlines key contextual factors that decision-makers should take into account when making instructional choices for ELLs,.....
Intervention Report on three Voyager Reading Programs by the What Works Clearinghouse
What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is releasing an Intervention Report on three Voyager Reading Programs. The three programs are Voyager Passport, a supplemental reading intervention system for students in grades K-5, Voyager Passport Reading Journeys, a reading intervention program designed for adolescents who struggle with reading, and Voyager Universal Literacy System, a K-3 reading program. The Clearinghouse examined the research on these Voyager reading programs for students with learning disabilities and identified 44 studies that were.....
WWC Intervention Report on the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS) Program
WWC Intervention Report on the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS) program that is designed to teach students the skills they need to decode words and to identify individual sounds and blends in words. The Clearinghouse reviewed 31 studies that investigated the effects of LiPS on students with learning disabilities. One study that falls within the scope of the Students with Learning Disabilities review protocol meets What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards. Based on this study, the WWC found LiPS to have potentially positive.....
Literacy Instruction in the Content Areas: Getting to the Core of Middle and High School Improvement
This report from the Alliance for Excellent Education contends that content teachers at the middle and secondary levels should engage their students in literacy training through integrated reading and writing activities that teach students how to recognize the particular conventions specific to the different subjects. The report concludes with practical policy goals to foster a greater integration of literacy training and content matter.
Effective Strategies That Boost Reading Comprehension
This multimedia overview highlights key research findings and specific practice implications for comprehension strategy instruction. (5:26 min)
Big Ideas in Beginning Reading
This website is designed to provide information, technology, and resources to teachers, administrators, and parents across the country.
Big Ideas in Beginning Reading focuses on the five BIG IDEAS of early literacy:
* Phonemic Awareness
* Alphabetic Principle
* Accuracy and Fluency with text
* Vocabulary
* Comprehension
The website includes definitions and descriptions of the research and theories behind each of the big ideas, describes how to assess the big ideas, and provides information on how to teach the.....
Moving Research into Classrooms: Hillsboro, Oregon School District’s Plan for Multi-tiered Literacy Instruction K-12
This is a Power Pt. of the Hillsboro, Oregon S.D.'s K-12 Plan for Literacy Instruction. Some educators may find it a useful resource as they develop their own K-12 Literacy Plans.
Enhancing Academic Literacy of ELLs in Science and Social Studies Classrooms
This is a presentation from the first of a series of 90-minute webinars designed to provide an opportunity to engage with national experts in an interactive learning process centered on adolescent literacy best practices used in traditional content-area classrooms in grades 4-12. It includes an overview of two experimental studies aimed at boosting the academic achievement of older English learners.
Sustaining Reading First
The resources in this link provide a conceptual framework on sustainability, tools for assessing readiness to sustain, and briefs on specific topics related to sustaining evidence based reading instruction.
Defining High School Literacy Issues
High school literacy is key to a high school student's overall prospects for success. Out of a student’s ability to read comes the capacity to graduate and the opportunity to gain access to the workplace and/or post-secondary education.
The tie between graduation rates and literacy rates is evident when we look at the reading skills of those students who fail to finish high school. The National Assessment of Adult Literacy reports that 19% of students that dropout are only able to perform at basic or below-basic levels when presented.....
The Center On Instruction Catalog
The Center On Instruction catalog is an excellent collection of scientifically based research and information on K-12 instruction in reading, math, science, special education, and English language learning. Part of the Comprehensive Center network, the Center on Instruction is one of five content centers serving as resources for the 16 regional U.S. Department of Education Comprehensive Centers. ACC will be happy to download, copy and mail to.....
Teaching Literacy in English to K-5 English Learners
Use this multimedia overview to learn the importance of teaching English learners to read in English while they are developing oral proficiency, and how this helps them increase vocabulary, speak in English, and learn other subject-matter content. See how the five recommended practices fit together to create a full research-based solution for schools, teachers, and students. (6:05 min)
Alaska Formative Assessment Resources (EED)
