Early identification and instruction aimed at addressing potential reading difficulties is the key to preventing prolonged difficulties in learning to read and ensuring that all students are reading with proficiency by the end of third grade. Tier 1 core reading curricula needs to be: (a) evidence based, (b) systematic and structured, (c)…

The decades-long and contentious debate over how students are taught to read centers around the role that phonics and alphabetic code-related skills have in reading instruction. Some claim that these skills are not prioritized in most elementary classrooms because teacher education programs do not adequately prepare preservice teachers (PSTs) to…

This study aimed to explore instructional practices used to teach words with irregular spelling patterns by Spanish-speaking teachers in 2nd and 3rd grade of elementary school. A sample of 320 teachers from Guatemala, Ecuador, and Spain answered an online survey, which included the Spelling Instructional Practices Scale. Item Response Theory and…

Introductory courses are known to significantly influence students' perceptions of a discipline. However, little is known about how accounting is introduced to novice students in secondary education. This study investigates the pedagogical approaches teachers adopt when introducing accounting for the first time. Drawing on in-depth interviews with…

This study explored the similarities between the philosophies and techniques used by select high school athletic coaches and select elementary reading teachers. The study shows parallels between the psychology behind coaching methodology within high school athletics and differentiated instruction within the elementary reading classroom. The…

Abstract Lego construction ability is associated with a variety of spatial skills and mathematical outcomes. However, it is unknown whether these relations are causal. We aimed to establish the causal impact of Lego construction training on: Lego construction ability; a broad range of spatial skills; and on mathematical outcomes in 7-9-year-olds.…

Elementary music educators use a variety of strategies in classroom instruction. The purpose of this case study was to explore student perceptions of Curwen hand signs, a common instructional strategy in elementary music classrooms. Second- and third-grade students reported various challenges, benefits, and influential factors surrounding hand…

This study examined the impact of targeted literacy coaching in the area of phonological awareness on teacher knowledge and confidence, instructional methods, and student outcomes. Three interviews, three coaching sessions, and three classroom observations were conducted with five teacher participants, ranging from grades kindergarten through…

The current study examined the potentially changing relations of vocabulary knowledge and attentional control with word reading and spelling from Grade 2 to Grade 4. Spelling was scored using a conventional correctness score and an alternative nonbinary scoring method that reflects the degree of correctness (i.e., text distance). A total of 165…

Distributed practice is often cited as a best practice for instruction, although research on the application of spaced practice to schools is limited. The impact of practice distributed across days and the impact of practice distributed within sessions were examined. Second and third grade participants (n = 88) were randomly assigned to practice…

In the U.S., the EL student population in public schools continues to grow and it raises the question on how to effectively instruct and prepare these students to achieve academic proficiency. The purpose of this quantitative study is to determine if and to what extent there is a quantitative link between gains from 2nd to 3rd grade where the…

Response to Intervention (RtI) implementation has been an issue at a local school district in the United States for several years. Teachers have reported lack of resources and training on the RtI process and minimal support from administration, which have impeded their understanding of the intervention. As a result, students who are receiving RtI…

Elasticity, the capacity for students to explore or investigate their own questions of interest during or after teacher-directed events in the classroom, is highly beneficial for students in terms of their retention and deeper understanding of the content. An elastic environment is child-centered and inquiry-based. An inelastic environment…

The purpose of this study was to measure the level of knowledge (recall), understanding (ability to explain) and attitudes toward learning specified Bible doctrines in two treatment groups of elementary Korean children. Group one was taught using traditional (lecture- and discussion-based) methodologies only. Group two was taught using both…

We investigated whether congruent action while reading informational texts about physics improves science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) vocabulary learning and reading comprehension. Second- and third-grade Spanish-speaking children (N = 216) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions implementing forms of Embodied-Action or…