Many students have been exposed to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in most schools. While STEM in public high schools, public middle schools, STEM-specific schools, and charter elementary schools have been researched often, the literature concerning STEM in public elementary school classrooms to promote learning is scarce. The…

"Math Expressions" is a curriculum for students in prekindergarten through sixth grade that aims to build students' conceptual understanding of mathematics and to develop fluency in mathematical problem solving and computation. The curriculum encourages student learning of mathematics through real-world situations, visual supports such…

The 2011 Professional Development Schools National Conference recognized Rice Creek Elementary School for its outstanding collaborative accomplishments with the University of South Carolina, naming it as a recipient of the National Association for Professional Development School's Award for Exemplary Professional Development School Achievement.…

In order to better understand literacy coaches' impact on teachers, the authors analyzed interviews with 35 teachers who participated in a statewide professional development effort, the South Carolina Reading Initiative. For 3 years, literacy coaches facilitated bimonthly study groups for teachers and spent 4 days a week in teachers' classrooms…

In education, the need to improve student achievement has been a focus of concern for several decades. Research has identified the teacher as being a powerful influence in the classroom and directly instrumental in how well students learn. The establishment of a link between teacher learning and student achievement indicates the importance of…

The 2009 Professional Development Schools National Conference recognized the professional development school relationship between North Springs Elementary School and the University of South Carolina for its outstanding collaborative accomplishments, naming it one of the three recipients of the first-ever National Association for Professional…

The field of literacy education has long been concerned with the question of how to help classroom teachers improve their practices so that students will improve as readers. Although there is consensus on what characterizes effective professional development, the reading research on which this consensus is based most often is small scale and…

Current literature reveals that induction for beginning principals is often poorly planned or nonexistent. The purpose of this research, which examined induction practices for 112 randomly selected first-year elementary principals in Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina, was to study current induction programs, determine beginning principals'…

A longitudinal investigation of the ways policymakers and practitioners in California, Michigan, and South Carolina view curricular reform in elementary mathematics and literacy instruction shows the complexities involved in "updating" teachers' professional development. Curriculum standards and frameworks are no substitute for the…

In 2003, the Mathematics and Science Unit of the South Carolina Department of Education developed the Mathematics and Science Coaching Initiative. The model--one coach, one school, one content area--requires participating schools to commit to a three-year partnership. The three-year commitment ensures sufficient time for coaching to become an…

This newsletter reports on the activities of Equipped for the Future (EFF), which is a National Institute for Literacy initiative. EFF helps Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients build the skills needed to balance work and home and make a successful transition to work. The article "EFF Frames Family Literacy Programs"…

Developed as a multi-county effort, this project sought to design model career education programs involving: (1) Elementary Orientation, (2) Work Experience, (3) Intensive Teaching, (4) Curriculum Development for Underachievers, and (5) Placement and Followup. In addition to improving and evaluating vocational education at the 11th and 12th grade…

Presented are aspects of program planning and administration as developed by Opportunity for Advanced Student Involvement in Studies, a summer program for 450 gifted students (grades 1-8) of the Charleston, SC public schools. (BB)

From original data at age 13 years on 386 North American females, statistics are presented for 10 somatic variables. Findings are compared with those of other studies. (Author/SB)

Describes an exemplary project in career education in South Carolina. (GB)