Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Examining Rural High School Students’ Perceptions Toward And Experiences With The Reading Plus Intervention Program: A Qualitative Case Study, Deshonda Wolfe

Dissertations

Reading is the gateway to all other academic skills and across all disciplines of learning. Content courses at the high school level central focus are on reading to learn core curriculum verses learning to read. However, research shows that if students read significantly behind their typical peers, the reading gap widens throughout high school. Learning is stalled, and access to other contents, curriculums, and instructions becomes limited. To address the reading proficiency gap of high school students struggling to read in grade level, school districts have turned to computer assisted interventions programs, such as Reading Plus, to combat the reading …

Initial Results From An Iterative Program Design For Educating Science Education Leaders, Elizabeth B. Lewis, Elizabeth Hasseler, Rachel Benzoni, Gina S. Matkin, Wendy Smith, Daniel R. Claes, David M. Harwood, L. J. Mcelravy, Dawn Jaramillo

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Slides of a presentation given at the 2025 Annual International NARST Conference (March 23-26, 2025 : National Harbor, Maryland, United States) covering the initial results from an iterative program design for educating science education leaders.

Includes: Introduction, study rationale, grant-funded project and study focus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln National Science Foundation Noyce MTF project objectives, conceptual framework, ACESSES Framework for Equitable Science Learning, literature review overview, methodology, approach, research question, participants, data sources, analytic methods, research instrument, and overview of associated papers.

Text And Sub-Text – Curriculum Structure As Ideology, Mark Kelman

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

Unlocking Ela For All Students With Drama Activities, Natalie Tasillo

Virginia English Journal

Introducing drama activities into ELA classes can spark creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration for all students. They offer inclusive alternatives to traditional ELA activities and support successful learning experiences for all students. Several drama activities that are accessible to many students experiencing challenges are provided with suggestions for how they can benefit ELA classrooms.

Poem: "Meditation On Glass (Or, The Necessity Of English Teachers)", Joseph M. Jablonski

Virginia English Journal

A poem about English Teachers from a street poet.

The Badge He Wore, Kaya L. Klein

Virginia English Journal

"The Badge He Wore" is a poignant reflection on sacrifice, duty, and love. Through vivid imagery, the poem portrays the badge as more than metal—a symbol of a protector’s unyielding promise to serve others. It explores the weight of responsibility, the courage to face fear, and the ultimate act of laying down one’s life for another. The badge becomes a testament to a life of selflessness, a bond with the people it protects, and a legacy of a hero who gave all. This piece honors the humanity behind the badge, reminding us of the cost of true bravery.

Literacy Warriors: Engaging Our Community In The Fight For Literacy, Monica Rene Manns, Diane Saunders

Virginia English Journal

The Literacy Warriors initiative is designed to address the pervasive issue of illiteracy in underserved communities through innovative, community-driven strategies. Rooted in the evidence-based methodologies of Marva Collins and Orton-Gillingham, the program equips community members—referred to as Literacy Warriors—with the skills to teach foundational literacy, including phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Recognizing literacy as a tool for equity, empowerment, and social justice, this initiative emphasizes culturally affirming practices that resonate with the lived experiences of Black and marginalized students. The program also addresses a critical gap: many Literacy Warriors themselves were not taught phonics due to past whole-language initiatives, which …

Volume 73: Issue 1 - Letter From The Editor's Desk, Cinde Wollenberg

Virginia English Journal

No abstract provided.

Finding “Heart, Hope, And Humanity” At The 2024 Ncte Annual Convention, Hermione Dewitt, Ellie Fisher, Zoe Mcdowell, Kaleigh D. Phelps, Liz Shanks, Haley Smiley, Mark A. Lewis, Melanie Shoffner

Virginia English Journal

Six teacher candidates from James Madison University’s secondary ELA teacher education program reflect on their take-aways from the 2024 NCTE Annual Convention through the lens of the convention theme: Heart, Hope, and Humanity.

Call For Submissions: Volume 73: Issue 2

Virginia English Journal

No abstract provided.

Avoiding The Dreaded Packet: The Impact Of Guided Notes On Student Confidence And Quality Of Poetic Annotations In An 11th Grade Ap Language And Composition Classroom., Kaleigh D. Phelps

Virginia English Journal

This article presents findings from an action research study conducted in a 11th Grade AP Language and Composition classroom on the impact of guided notes on confidence and quality of student work. The data indicates a substantial need for transfer skills in the English classroom.

Reading The Players: Developing Critical Consumers Of Sports Media, Katie Dredger, Katherin Garland, Crystal L. Beach

Virginia English Journal

Sports media is ubiquitous, and English Language Arts (ELA) teachers can use topics around current sporting activities and events in the classroom to engage readers and to teach skills of critical media literacy. Serving as a primer on critical media literacy, this article, grounded in educational theory, gives practical and easily accessible texts and creative lesson ideas to spark engagement, build community, encourage collaboration and foster achievement in secondary ELA classrooms.

The Experience Of Military Personnel Who Participate In College Programs: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Sunday Lacella Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The focus of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the motivational influences that drove military personnel to participate in college programs while serving in one of the United States military branches, viewed through the lens of expectancy theory. While historical contexts highlight shifts in military education towards broader skill sets beyond combat proficiency, contemporary motivations remain underexplored. The researcher drew from expectancy theory to uncover motivational influences that shaped military members' engagement in higher education. The research addressed the central question: What are the motivational influences that drive military personnel to participate in college programs while serving actively …

The Lived Experiences Of Teachers Teaching High School Students With Learning Disabilities In An Online Learning Environment: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Michael John Ekers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover the shortfalls in professional development and training of online teachers as it pertained to students in high school with learning disabilities receiving their accommodations in an online learning environment in a mid-Atlantic school district. The theory guiding this study was the connectivism theory, introduced by George Siemens, as it described the overall framework for knowing how to learn, which remained the focal point of this study. What have online high school general education and special education teachers experienced in professional development or training to provide accommodations to students with learning …

Curricular Development With Adaptive Leadership In Instructional Design, Juhong Christie Liu Ph.D., Andrea H. Adams

Libraries

This paper presents the implementation of an adaptive leadership framework for instructional design (ID) services that support curricular development and faculty collaboration/consultation. Transitioning from a passive responsive norm to the advocacy of intentional design, one instructional design department examined the processes, experiences, and phased outcomes of adaptive leadership. The results include proactive anticipation of ID projects and consultations for emerging technologies and pedagogies, clearly articulating and fulfilling ID recruitment and talent management needs with sustainability, adapting decision-making processes for partnership and project cycles, and promoting transparency for accountability. The efforts of ID services in supporting faculty and curricular development have …

Towards Active Learning Practice: A Theory To Practice-Led Model. Part 1: Principles Of Student-Centred Learning, Strutts Psyridis

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This monograph explores Active Learning as a student-centred pedagogical model that bridges theory and practice in screen education. It examines constructivist approaches, metacognition, and situated learning, arguing for performative, embodied teaching methods. The paper highlights tensions between traditional instruction and experiential learning, proposing adaptable frameworks for enhancing engagement, autonomy, and transferable skills.

Towards Active Learning Practice: A Theory To Practice-Led Model. Part 3: Engagement, Motivation And Classroom Management, Strutts Psyridis

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

Part 3 of this continuing series on Active Learning examines engagement, motivation, and classroom management within active learning environments, arguing that meaningful engagement is performative, designed, and context-dependent. Drawing on creative industries, intrinsic motivation theory, flipped classroom models, and digital pedagogies, it proposes that effective teaching integrates facilitation, structure, and adaptive strategies to sustain learner agency, participation, and deep learning.

Oregon’S Journey Creating Social And Emotional Learning Standards For Educator Preparation Programs, Deirdre Hon, Kristin Rush, Lina Darwich, Julie Sauve, Lauren Vega O'Neil

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper summarizes Oregon’s creation and implementation of Standards in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for Educator Preparation programs (EPPs) in response to the House Bill 2166 passed in 2021. Initial steps included gaining an understanding of current practices and new teachers’ perspectives on preparation they received in SEL. The Educator Preparation SEL Survey revealed that EPP courses largely emphasized the Learning Context and Student SEL, but not Teacher SEL in their programming. Findings from the New Teacher SEL Survey indicated that while many new teachers felt prepared to create inclusive and positive learning environments, half felt unprepared to deliver …

Field Notes In Professional Development: Science Of Reading (Sor), Bob Gallagher

Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education

In this Field Notes, Bob Gallagher—a seasoned educator whose journey spans classroom teaching in Buffalo Public Schools, shaping professional growth at Sweet Home Schools, steering curriculum as Assistant Superintendent at Niagara Wheatfield Schools, and now mentoring future teachers at Buffalo State University—casts a seasoned eye on the Science of Reading (SoR). Likening its hype to a library book or movie trailer that overpromises and underdelivers, he questions the SoR’s claim that phonics-first unlocks reading for all. Teachers, he finds, are split: some cheer progress, others hesitate, untrained or unconvinced. Reviewing *Fact-Checking the Science of Reading* (2024) by Tierney and Pearson, …

Construct Validity, Test-Retest Reliability, And Inter-Rater Objectivity Of The Swimming Competence Assessment Scale (Scas), Jon Sundan, Håvard Lorås, Monika Haga

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This study aimed to investigate the construct validity, test-retest reliability, and inter-rater reliability of a newly developed and comprehensive instrument for assessment of children’s swimming competence. The Swimming Competence Assessment Scale (SCAS) consists of six consecutive test items (entry, swim on front, surface dive, float, swim on back and exit) that aligns with the Norwegian curricular standard of swimming competence. The exploratory factor analysis retained a unidimensional model, supporting one underlaying statistical dimension with acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.79). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between test and retest ranged from .84 to .98, and .97 for the total score. Strong …

"Feel For The Water": What Is It, Really?, Robert Keig Stallman, Kristine De Martelaer

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The phrase, 'feel for the water,' is commonly used. But what does it really mean? The traditional idea of this 'feel' focuses on the sensation of touch and use of the hands to produce propulsion. But what about water resistance? Mastering a feel for how to reduce resistance is equally important as the unique relationship between aquatic propulsion and resistance is of great importance. While being in the water, the effects of gravity and buoyancy also need to be perceived by the learner and taught by the instructor. Reflection on the effects on propulsion-resistance and gravity-buoyancy requires relevant exercises to …

Water Orientation Skills And Basic Safety And Swimming Skills Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kelle L. Murphy, Min Liu

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning is the leading cause of death among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study examined water orientation (i.e., comfort level), water safety, and beginning swimming skills of individuals with ASD of ages ranging from 3 to 13 years using the Aquatic Orientation Checklist (AOC) (Kilian et al., 1984). Data were collected during consecutive Fall and Spring semesters. A total of 23 children (n = 15 boys; n = 8 girls) volunteered for the study. Lessons were conducted twice a week for 10 weeks continuously and each lesson was 45 minutes in length. Overall, the swimming program had …

In This Issue 14:4, Stephen J. Langendorfer Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

In This Issue 14:4

The Perceived Benefits Of And Barriers To Open-Water Swimming: A Mixed-Methods Examination, David Elliott Ph.D, Mark A. Christie Ph.D

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This study set out to determine the perceived benefits of, and barriers to, open-water swimming (OWS). Adopting a mixed-methods approach, six hundred and sixty-five open-water swimmers responded to an online survey consisting of the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (EBBS) and a series of open-ended questions. Data from the EBBS revealed the strongest perceived benefits to be ‘Psychological Outlook’ and ‘Life Enhancement.’ In terms of barriers, those presented in the EBBS received low ratings with only ‘Physical Exertion’ considered as being somewhat problematic. Content analysis performed on the open-ended responses showed social aspects, mental well-being, and connection to nature as …

Evaluation Of Online Information On The Cold Shock Response To Accidental Immersion In Cold Water, Adam Wilson, Heather Massey, Clare M. Eglin

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Many of the UK open water accidental deaths have been attributed to the initial responses to cold water immersion (CWI) collectively known as the cold shock response (CSR). The aim of this study was to analyse the publicly available internet information on CWI and CSR for accuracy and quality compared to the ‘gold standard’ published, peer-reviewed research. Seventy-eight webpages which provided information in English on unexpected CWI and CSR were evaluated. Webpages were accessible, widely available, and had appropriate readability scores. Webpage accuracy was suboptimal including only presenting on average 10 (range 3-16) CSR components out of 19. Quality of …

A Preventionist Framework For Reducing Drowning: A Case For Parenting Interventions, Miriam G. Clark, Linda Quan, Patricia Chamberlain

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning is preventable but still claims the lives of over 300,000 people worldwide every year. The purpose of this theoretical review paper is threefold: 1) discuss the theoretical framework for a multi-faceted system of prevention; 2) discuss the importance of parenting, a crucial area where current drowning prevention research is falling short in this multi-faceted approach; and 3) discuss how evidence-based practices from psychosocial parenting research could be used to create drowning prevention interventions that support parents to implement water safety practices in their families. Practical ideas for integrating psychosocial parent interventions with drowning prevention knowledge are discussed. Such interventions …

Supporting Local-Food Businesses To Conduct E-Commerce During Covid-19 Through Remote Student Internships, Angel Cruz, Barry Nash, Daniel Holloman, Joyce Yao

Journal of Extension

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global lockdowns changed the way food was accessed and prepared. These changes at the consumer level impacted farms and fisheries of all types and sizes. To compensate for the loss of larger markets and restaurant revenue, small-scale food producers pivoted to direct marketing to remain viable during the pandemic. However, not all businesses and producers had the time, skills or flexibility needed for a direct marketing business model. To support producers, the North Carolina Local Food Council developed a new internship program: Remote Internship to Support Enterprises (RISE) for Local Foods. The …

Mapping Food-Energy-Water Nexus Education In K-12 Settings: A Systematic Review Of Practices, Kyungsun Lee, Hui Hui Wang, Shondricka Burrell, Neil A. Knobloch, Rudan Wang

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

This systematic review examines the current state of Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus education in K-12 settings, following PRISMA-P guidelines. By analyzing peer-reviewed literature published before 2024, this study investigates how FEW Nexus concepts are implemented in K-12 education, focusing on systems thinking approaches and integrated knowledge areas. Initial database searching identified 693 articles, which are currently under review for inclusion. This analysis will provide insights into effective practices for integrating FEW Nexus concepts in K-12 education

Teaching Disciplinary Ways Of Knowing Using Stem In Afnr, Elizabeth E. Ogar, Neil A. Knobloch, Hui-Hui Wang

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

This study explores the integration of STEM in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) education through a course designed to teach disciplinary ways of knowing such as scientific inquiry, engineering design, mathematical modeling, and agroecosystem thinking. The course prepares upper-level undergraduate and graduate students to design and implement STEM-integrated mini-units in both formal and nonformal settings. Emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and real-world applications, the course encourages critical thinking and problem-solving in addressing global challenges like food security and sustainability. The outcomes include enhanced pedagogical skills, real-world STEM application, and increased student engagement, preparing learners for careers in STEM-related fields.

Learning Food Supply Chains Through Generative Ai – Tips, Techniques, And Student Perceptions, Subbu Kumarappan, Urmila Pal Chaudhuri

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

The classroom pedagogies are evolving significantly with Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). The students in a Food Supply Chains class completed a project for various agricultural products describing 12 factors and 7 supply chain principles. They reflected on the use of GenAI and how it impacted their knowledge and critical thinking skills. The students scored GenAI high on ‘relevancy, diverse topics, significance, and sufficiency;' the repeated use of GenAI for food supply chains enabled them recognize the importance of sustainability and ESG factors in the management of natural resources. There were differences in students use and benefits with GenAI use.