Teach Effectively!

The US What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) announced the availability of three additional intervention reports. In none of the three cases was there sufficient evidence to permit the WWC to draw conclusions about the benefits of the practices.

Breakthrough to Literacy is a curriculum for students in preschool through third grade that introduces them to a book-a-week throughout the year. The book serves as a focal point for classroom activities with whole group and small group instruction. The curriculum also offers independent learning activities, including computer-based instruction, that allow students to progress at their own pace. Read the WWC’s Breakthrough to Literacy intervention report at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/reports/early_ed/btl/.

Mathematics in Context is a middle school mathematics curriculum for grades 5 through 8. The curriculum teaches students to explore the relationships among different domains of mathematics (such as algebra and geometry) and to develop strategies for reasoning through problems, encouraging students to collaborate on problem solving. The WWC’s Mathematics in Context intervention report is available at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/reports/middle_math/math_context/.

The New Century High Schools Initiative is a program designed to improve large, underperforming high schools by transforming them into small schools with links to community organizations. The schools choose a curriculum that has a theme or career focus, such as engineering, health science, or theater. Each school partners with a community organization that can participate in curriculum development, school management, after-school activities, or other operational aspects of the school. To read the WWC’s intervention report on the New Century High Schools Initiative go to http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/reports/dropout/new_century/.