Background: Over the past three decades, researchers have increasingly advocated for pedagogical practices that privilege exploration, collaboration, problem-solving, and hands-on projects in K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.). Many researchers have studied the efficacy of these instructional practices, but there has…

The teaching competencies of science teachers significantly influence students' science academic achievement. It shapes the students' understanding of complex science concepts and their ability to excel in scientific exploration, ultimately nurturing their scientific literacy. This study assessed the teaching competencies influencing the teaching…

Departmentalized instruction, in which teachers specialize in one or more core subjects and instruct multiple groups of students in a day, has become increasingly prominent in elementary schools. Using 8 years of data from Massachusetts and a difference-in-differences design, we estimate the effects of departmentalization on student achievement.…

Our research aims to examine the effectiveness of introducing social robots as educational technology within authentic classroom activities without modifying them to be designed for a robot. We chose as test subject the fifth-grade curricular topic "The role of technology and its impact on society", meeting the critical stage of moral…

When elementary schools integrate literacy and science instruction, they create rich learning environments that allow students to develop an understanding of science ideas while improving their reading, writing, and speaking skills at the same time. Neither subject takes a back seat. Literacy instruction supports science and science instruction…

Teacher expectations not only relate positively to student achievement, but also to student beliefs such as their self-concept. Nevertheless, most studies focus on the relations with student achievement, followed by studies on beliefs. Beliefs are a significant determinant of academic success and can include student self-concept or emotions, such…

Currently, primary and secondary school education quality is a major source of concern for educators. A significant number of factors, such as the development of scientific and technological progress, technological innovations, and digitalization, affect the quality of education. In recent years, teachers have come to believe that the textbook…

The public education system in the United States has a racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse population that is rapidly increasing in diversity with the ongoing rise of diverse immigrants, as reported in 2019 by the National Center for Education Statistics, which projected 55% students of color enrollment by 2027. In contrast, there has…

A student's socioeconomic status (SES) has a significant relation to their academic achievement. Much of this work has explored this in math and reading, but less is known about how SES relates to science achievement, particularly in the early grades. Using quantile regression with nationally representative data, we explored this relation in…

Early mathematics achievement is a strong predictor of later mathematics achievement, and student competence in fractions and division may be the strongest predictor of success in secondary-level algebra. We used a multisite cluster-randomized trial to estimate the impact of a mathematics teacher professional development (PD) program on student…

Unfortunately, the role of school leadership in fostering school improvement in non-Western countries, especially African countries, is relatively little discussed. The present study sheds light on the contextual role of instructional leadership (IL) and transformational leadership (TL) in promoting the Ethiopian School Improvement Program (SIP),…

Principals' transitions have often given rise to problems, challenges, and upset for teachers and principals alike. Studies on principal succession and educational change question the effectiveness of regular, rapid, and predictable transitions of principals, a strategy used at the district level, especially during turbulent times. This revolving…

The impact of academically selective schools on children's learning achievement has received global attention for decades. Despite the persistence of early-age selection in many countries, evidence of its impacts is mixed. This study analysed national achievement data covering 149,072 secondary school students and examined whether academically…

Many students at the Valley View Primary School (pseudonym) in the Caribbean are not performing according to numeracy and literacy standards on national tests. Administration and teachers wanted to know why changes to formative assessment practices are not increasing students' achievement levels. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elicit salient information from K-5 teachers regarding their perceptions of in-school play. Play is not goal-focused and can be structured or unstructured, includes high or low physical activity, or utilizes gross or fine motor skills, and children participate in play for enjoyment. Method: K-5 teachers (n…