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Practice guides provide practical recommendations for educators to help them address the everyday challenges they face in their classrooms and schools. Developed by a panel of nationally recognized experts, practice guides consist of actionable recommendations, strategies for overcoming potential roadblocks, and an indication of the strength of evidence supporting each recommendation. IES practice guides are subjected to rigorous external peer review.

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Reading/Literacy Math Science Student Behavior Curriculum/Instruction Classroom Management School Organization & Governance

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Pre-Kindergarten Elementary Middle Grades High School Post Secondary

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Administrator Parents and Families Policymaker Researcher School Specialists Students Teachers

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All Practice Guides (Count = 14)

Practice Guide	Release Date
Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for Kindergarten Through 8th Grade (6.06 MB)   This practice guide presents five recommendations intended to help educators improve students’ understanding of fractions. Recommendations include strategies to develop young children’s understanding of early fraction concepts and ideas for helping older children understand the meaning of fractions and the computations involved. The guide also highlights ways to build on students’ existing strategies to solve problems involving ratios, rates, and proportions. More Audience: Administrator, Parents and Families, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Students, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary, Middle Grades Subject Area: Math, Curriculum/Instruction Panel Robert Siegler (Chair) Carnegie Mellon University Thomas Carpenter University of Wisconsin–Madison Francis (Skip) Fennell McDaniel College, Westminster, MD David Geary University of Missouri at Columbia James Lewis University of Nebraska–Lincoln Yukari Okamoto University of California–Santa Barbara Laurie Thompson Elementary Teacher Jonathan Wray Howard County (MD) Public Schools Other Resources: Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Elementary School Math, Middle School Math, High School Math, Early Childhood Education.	September 2010
Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (5.27 MB)   Students who read with understanding at an early age gain access to a broader range of texts, knowledge, and educational opportunities, making early reading comprehension instruction particularly critical. This guide recommends five specific steps that teachers, reading coaches, and principals can take to successfully improve reading comprehension for young readers. More Audience: Administrator, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary Subject Area: Reading/Literacy, Curriculum/Instruction Panel Timothy Shanahan (Chair) University of Chicago Kim Callison Anne Arundel County Public Schools Christine Carriere Chicago Public Schools Nell K. Duke Michigan State University P. David Pearson University of California-Berkeley Christopher Schatschneider The Florida State University and Florida Center for Reading Research Joseph Torgesen The Florida State University and Florida Center for Reading Research Other Resources: Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Adolescent Literacy, Beginning Reading.	September 2010
Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making (1.77 MB)   This guide offers five recommendations to help educators effectively use data to monitor students’ academic progress and evaluate instructional practices. The guide recommends that schools set a clear vision for schoolwide data use, develop a data-driven culture, and make data part of an ongoing cycle of instructional improvement. The guide also recommends teaching students how to use their own data to set learning goals. More Audience: Administrator, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary, Middle Grades, High School Subject Area: Curriculum/Instruction, Classroom Management, School Organization & Governance Panel Laura Hamilton (Chair) RAND Corporation Richard Halverson University of Wisconsin–Madison Sharnell S. Jackson Chicago Public Schools Ellen Mandinach CNA Education Jonathan A. Supovitz University of Pennsylvania Jeffrey C. Wayman The University of Texas at Austin Other Resources: On December 17, 2009, the WWC held an interactive webinar to discuss “Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making.” Access the multimedia presentation. Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Adolescent Literacy, Beginning Reading, Elementary School Math, English Language Learners, Middle School Math, High School Math.	September 2009
Helping Students Navigate the Path to College: What High Schools Can Do (2.01 MB)   Access to higher education remains a challenge for many students who face academic and informational barriers to college entry. This guide targets high schools and school districts, and focuses on effective practices that prepare students academically for college, assist them in completing the steps to college entry, and improve their likelihood of enrolling in college. More Audience: Administrator, Parents and Families, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Teachers Grade Level: High School, Post Secondary Subject Area: Curriculum/Instruction, School Organization & Governance Panel William G. Tierney (Chair) University of Southern California Thomas Bailey Columbia University Jill Constantine Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Neal Finkelstein WestEd Nicole Farmer Hurd National College Advising Corps Other Resources: On October 8, 2009, the WWC held an interactive webinar to discuss “Helping Students Navigate the Path to College: What High Schools Can Do.” Access the multimedia presentation. Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Dropout Prevention.	September 2009
Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement (1.47 MB)   Out-of-school time programs can enhance academic achievement by helping students learn outside the classroom. The five recommendations in this guide are intended to help district and school administrators, out-of-school program providers, and educators design out-of-school time programs that will increase learning for students. The guide also describes the research supporting each recommendation, how to carry out each recommendation, and how to address roadblocks that might arise in implementing them. More Audience: Administrator, Parents and Families, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Students, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary, Middle Grades Subject Area: Student Behavior, Classroom Management, School Organization & Governance Panel Megan Beckett (Chair) RAND Geoffrey Borman University of Wisconsin, Madison Jeffrey Capizzano Teaching Strategies, Inc. Danette Parsley Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) Steven Ross The Johns Hopkins University Allen Schirm Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Jessica Taylor Florida Department of Education	July 2009
Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Response to Intervention (RtI) for Elementary and Middle Schools (2.02 MB)   Taking early action may be key to helping students struggling with mathematics. The eight recommendations in this guide are designed to help teachers, principals, and administrators use Response to Intervention for the early detection, prevention, and support of students struggling with mathematics. More Audience: Administrator, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary, Middle Grades Subject Area: Math, Student Behavior, Curriculum/Instruction, Classroom Management Panel Russell Gersten (Chair) Instructional Research Group Sybilla Beckmann University of Georgia Benjamin Clarke Instructional Research Group Anne Foegen Iowa State University Laurel Marsh Howard County Public School System Jon R. Star Harvard University Bradley Witzel Winthrop University Other Resources: On June 10, 2009, a panel of researchers, policy specialists, and practitioners gathered to discuss their experiences with RtI in math and reading and the recommendations included in this practice guide. Access the multimedia presentation. Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Elementary School Math, Middle School Math, Students with Learning Disabilities.	April 2009
Assisting Students Struggling with Reading: Response to Intervention (RtI) and Multi-Tier Intervention in the Primary Grades (1.32 MB)   This guide offers five specific recommendations to help educators identify struggling readers and implement evidence-based strategies to promote their reading achievement. Teachers and reading specialists can utilize these strategies to implement RtI and multi-tier intervention methods and frameworks at the classroom or school level. Recommendations cover how to screen students for reading problems, design a multi-tier intervention program, adjust instruction to help struggling readers, and monitor student progress. More Audience: Administrator, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary Subject Area: Reading/Literacy, Student Behavior, Curriculum/Instruction, Classroom Management Panel Russell Gersten (Chair) Instructional Research Group Donald Compton Vanderbilt University Carol M. Connor Florida State University Joseph Dimino Instructional Research Group Lana Santoro Instructional Research Group Sylvia Linan-Thompson University of Texas, Austin W. David Tilly Heartland Area Education Agency Other Resources: On June 10, 2009, a panel of researchers, policy specialists, and practitioners gathered to discuss their experiences with RtI in math and reading and the recommendations included in this practice guide. Access the multimedia presentation. Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Beginning Reading, English Language Learners, Students with Learning Disabilities, Early Childhood Education for Children with Disabilities.	February 2009
Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom (1.51 MB)   Designed for elementary school educators and school- and district-level administrators, this guide offers prevention, implementation, and schoolwide strategies that can be used to reduce problematic behavior that interferes with the ability of students to attend to and engage fully in instructional activities. More Audience: Administrator, Parents and Families, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary Subject Area: Student Behavior, Classroom Management Panel Michael Epstein (Chair) University of Nebraska, Lincoln Marc Atkins University of Illinois, Chicago Douglas Cullinan North Carolina State University Krista Kutash University of South Florida Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health Robin Weaver Principal, Harmony Hills Elementary School Other Resources: On March 3, 2010, the WWC held an interactive webinar to discuss the practice guide: Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom. Access the multimedia presentation. Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Character Education.	September 2008
Dropout Prevention (2.06 MB)   Geared toward educators, administrators, and policymakers, this guide provides recommendations that focus on reducing high school dropout rates. Strategies presented include identifying and advocating for at-risk students, implementing programs to improve behavior and social skills, and keeping students engaged in the school environment. More Audience: Administrator, Policymaker, Researcher, Teachers Grade Level: Middle Grades, High School Subject Area: Student Behavior, Classroom Management, School Organization & Governance Panel Mark Dynarski (Chair) Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Linda Clarke City of Houston Brian Cobb Colorado State University Jeremy Finn tate University of New York-Buffalo Russell Rumberger University of California-Santa Barbara Jay Smink National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Other Resources: Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Dropout Prevention, Character Education. Find out more about reducing high school dropout rates at our partner site at our partner site.	August 2008
Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices (1.49 MB)   This guide presents strategies that classroom teachers and specialists can use to increase the reading ability of adolescent students. The recommendations aim to help students gain more from their reading tasks, improve their motivation for and engagement in the learning process, and assist struggling readers who may need intensive and individualized attention. More Audience: Administrator, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Teachers Grade Level: Middle Grades, High School Subject Area: Reading/Literacy, Curriculum/Instruction, School Organization & Governance Panel Michael L. Kamil (Chair) Stanford University Geoffrey D. Borman University of Wisconsin-Madison Janice Dole University of Utah Cathleen C. Kral Boston Public Schools Terry Salinger American Institutes for Research Joseph Torgesen Florida State University Other Resources: Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Adolescent Literacy, Beginning Reading. Learn more about improving adolescent literacy at our partner site at our partner site.	August 2008
Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools (1.32 MB)   This guide identifies practices that can improve the performance of chronically low-performing schools—a process commonly referred to as creating "turnaround schools." The four recommendations in this guide work together to help failing schools make adequate yearly progress. More Audience: Administrator, Policymaker, Researcher Grade Level: Elementary, Middle Grades, High School Subject Area: Reading/Literacy, Student Behavior, Curriculum/Instruction, Classroom Management, School Organization & Governance Panel Rebecca Herman (Chair) American Institutes for Research Priscilla Dawson Trenton Public Schools Thomas Dee Swarthmore College Jay Greene University of Arkansas Rebecca Maynard University of Pennsylvania Sam Redding National Center on Innovation and Improvement Other Resources: Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Dropout Prevention, Character Education. Learn more about improving the performance of chronically low-performing schools at our partner site.	May 2008
Effective Literacy and English Language Instruction for English Learners in the Elementary Grades (1.02 MB)   The target audience for this guide is a broad spectrum of school practitioners such as administrators, curriculum specialists, coaches, staff development specialists and teachers who face the challenge of providing effective literacy instruction for English language learners in the elementary grades. The guide also aims to reach district-level administrators who develop practice and policy options for their schools. More Audience: Administrator, Parents and Families, Policymaker, Researcher, Students, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary Subject Area: Reading/Literacy, Curriculum/Instruction, Classroom Management, School Organization & Governance Panel Russell Gersten (Chair) RG Research Group and University of Oregon Scott K. Baker Pacific Institutes for Research and University of Oregon Penny Collins University of California at Irvine Sylvia Linan-Thompson The University of Texas at Austin Robin Scarcella University of California at Irvine Timothy Shanahan University of Illinois at Chicago Other Resources: Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Beginning Reading, English Language Learners. Find out more about effective literacy instruction for English language learners at our partner site.	December 2007
Encouraging Girls in Math and Science (1.18 MB)   The objective of this guide is to provide teachers with specific recommendations that can be carried out in the classroom without requiring systemic change. Other school personnel having direct contact with students, such as coaches, counselors, and principals, will also find the guide useful. More Audience: Administrator, Parents and Families, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary, Middle Grades, High School Subject Area: Math, Science, Curriculum/Instruction Panel Diane F. Halpern (Chair) Claremont McKenna College Joshua Aronson New York University Nona Reimer John Malcom Elementary School, California; California State University, Fullerton Sandra Simpkins Arizona State University Jon R. Star Harvard University Kathryn Wentzel University of Maryland, College Park Other Resources: Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Elementary School Math, Dropout Prevention, Middle School Math, High School Math. Read more about how to encourage girls in math and science at our partner site.	September 2007
Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning (0.95 MB)   This guide includes a set of concrete actions relating to the use of instructional and study time that are applicable to subjects that demand a great deal of content learning, including social studies, science, and mathematics. The guide was developed with some of the most important principles to emerge from research on learning and memory in mind. More Audience: Administrator, Policymaker, Researcher, School Specialists, Teachers Grade Level: Elementary, Middle Grades, High School Subject Area: Curriculum/Instruction, Classroom Management, School Organization & Governance Panel Harold Pashler (Chair) University of California, San Diego Patrice M. Bain Columbia Middle School, Illinois Brian A. Bottge University of Wisconsin, Madison Arthur Graesser University of Memphis Kenneth Koedinger Carnegie Mellon University Mark McDaniel Washington University in St. Louis Janet Metcalfe Columbia University Other Resources: Read more about specific interventions in topic area(s): Beginning Reading, Middle School Math, Elementary School Math, English Language Learners, Adolescent Literacy, Early Childhood Education for Children with Disabilities, Students with Learning Disabilities, High School Math. Learn more about how to organize instruction to improve student learning here at our partner site.	September 2007