Louisiana State University (LSU) received an Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant to implement its Introduction to Computational Thinking (ICT) course from fall 2019 through spring 2023. ICT is a yearlong course that builds skills in problem solving, programming, and mathematics (algebra and geometry) and is intended to improve…

This study investigated teachers' perceptions of the nature of support, or lack thereof, while teaching deaf students with additional disabilities (DSAD). A total of forty teachers, from five schools in four states in the United States, participated in the study. A content analysis of written responses to four open-ended questions, using a…

Much research has noted the misalignment between kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) academic standards and curriculum materials used in classrooms. Many states and education organizations have been pushing for greater use of standards-aligned curriculum, especially during the past several years. In this report, the authors share results…

Current state standards set an ambitious vision for English language arts (ELA) and demand much of teachers: They are expected to engage students in close readings of complex, grade-level texts, which in turn requires students to comprehend texts, follow authors' development of ideas, interpret words and phrases, and analyze structure. Yet most…

If a "curriculum" -- a set of instructional materials intended as a comprehensive course of study for a particular subject and grade level -- is well-aligned with state standards, it can help teachers deliver instruction that leads to students' mastery of those standards. However, most research suggests that curricula, in themselves, are…

Since March 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed unprecedented stresses on the public education system in the United States. At every level, from the U.S. Department of Education down through local districts and individual schools, the pandemic has presented formidable challenges. Many of these challenges have been…

This study explored whether presenting grammar instruction within the context of reading and writing would improve writing skills. The participating schools were using a traditional grammar instruction in which grammar lessons were predominately taught using worksheets and were presented separately from other reading and writing activities. This…

In this paper, we report on teachers' use of curricula and other instructional resources to address Common Core State Standards (CCSS), as well as how use of instructional materials is related to instructional practice. We draw on data from the American Teacher Panel, a nationally representative sample of teachers who periodically provide…

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among memory aging knowledge and memory self-appraisal in college students and community-dwelling older adults. Participants completed the Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire ([KMAQ] Cherry, Brigman, Hawley, & Reese, 2003) and the Memory Functioning Questionnaire ([MFQ] Gilewski,…

The following profiles address how the state departments of education are supporting local educators in classroom implementation of the states' new college- and career-readiness standards by providing (or facilitating the development of) aligned instructional resources and materials. These resources and materials are supplementary supports that…

This study examined the effects of children's pre-kindergarten literacy environments away from home on their knowledge of print-related concepts. Data were collected at eight sites in Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana--either day care centers with no established curriculum or formal instruction, or classrooms with adopted curricula within…

A study was conducted in Louisiana to ascertain trends in business communication subject matter that could lead to improved methods of teaching business communication while simultaneously providing greater relevance to today's business world. A limited-choice response scale was completed by 20 business communication educators; 10 who were…

The requirement of the state of Louisiana that teaching certificates be renewed for all state teachers led to the development of the System for Teaching and Learning Assessment and Review (STAR), an on-the-job teacher evaluation process. This study examines the relationship between student perceptions of their classroom environment and teacher…

The curriculum guide for office occupations is one of five guides written and field tested in a project to develop statewide articulated competency-based curricula in selected vocational education programs. For each of the 32 job titles listed in the guide, the overall goal, specific tasks, and performance objectives and criterion-referenced…

This study evaluated the effects of using the Edmark Reading Program, Level 1, to develop sight-word vocabulary in first graders at risk for reading failure. This program is a highly structured approach based on providing explicit, direct instruction that is intensive, focused, and not of brief duration. The 62 students receiving the intervention…