Curriculum: Page 4

Literacy/Reading/Language Arts

How Tennessee’s largest school system is stepping up its literacy work

Chalkbeat Tennessee

Superintendent Marie Feagins is embracing a “back to basics” approach to reading instruction as Memphis-Shelby County Schools seeks to improve student test results that rank near the bottom statewide and nationally.

A student engages in a reading exercise at a 2023 summer learning camp at John P. Freeman Optional School in Memphis, Tennessee. State test results for English language arts remain stubbornly low for Memphis-Shelby County Schools. (Andrea Morales / For Chalkbeat)

Hawaii school uses mobile classroom to make STEM learning more accessible

Kalani High School teacher and students helped build the portable Innovation Station.

Students talk to the media inside the Innovation Station, a mobile STEM lab.

Becoming a STEM teacher: Why every classroom needs a STEM mindset

Empowering both teachers and students to see the world as a place of endless inquiry and innovation.

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Bringing STEM learning to underrepresented students

Urban districts take steps to make connections to career fields.

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Policy and Legislation

Nebraska Education Department awarded $55 million federal grant to improve student literacy

Award recipients must use funds to support evidence-based practices, strategies and interventions to address reading gaps.

Brian Maher, Nebraska’s education commissioner, reads a book to a group of mostly 3-year-olds Monday as he and others launched a statewide project to boost reading skills of pre-kindergarteners. The kickoff was at an Educare of Omaha at Indian Hill, 3110 W St., on Oct. 30, 2023. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

Building a collaborative STEM teaching community for your district

Peer-driven PD, mentorship, and collaborative lesson planning can enhance teaching and learning while better supporting educators.

Jason McKenna is V.P. of Global Educational Strategy for VEX Robotics and author of “What STEM Can Do for Your Classroom: Improving Student Problem Solving, Collaboration, and Engagement, Grade K-6.'

Literacy/Reading/Language Arts

Detroit Public Schools to pay some high school students to attend literacy interventions

Chalkbeat Detroit

High school students who are two or more grade levels behind in reading will receive cash gift cards as an incentive to attend after-school tutoring sessions.

Why this Texas district plans to enroll all eighth graders into Algebra 1

El Paso Matters

El Paso plans to go beyond the state's requirements, hoping to give more students the opportunity to take calculus in high school.

During the 2022-23 school year all of the top performing middle schools in Algebra 1 throughout El Paso had 92% to 98% of its students enrolled in the class.

Literacy/Reading/Language Arts

To boost reading scores, Maryland district takes curriculum out of teachers' hands

Cecil County Public Schools

Superintendent’s View: Ensuring a quick pivot to high-quality curriculum lasts over the long term.

A fifth-grade class in Elkton, Maryland discusses their reasons for selecting certain books as top picks for the school year. (Courtesy of the Knowledge Matters Campaign)

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