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To address chronically low primary school completion rates and the disconnect between learners' skills at the end of primary school and the skills learners need to thrive in secondary school identified in many low- and middle-income countries, more investment is needed to improve the quality of teaching and learning in upper primary grades. Accordingly, we provide guidelines for improving five components of upper primary education: (1) In-service teacher professional development and pre-service preparation to improve and enhance teacher quality; (2) a focus on mathematics, literacy, and core content-area subjects; (3) assessment for learning; (4) high-quality teaching and learning materials; and (5) positive school climates. We provide foundational guiding principles and recommendations for intervention design and implementation for each component. Additionally, we discuss and propose how to structure and design pre-service teacher preparation and in-service teacher training and ongoing support, fortified by materials design and assessment, to help teachers determine where learners are in developmental progressions, move learners towards mastery, and differentiate and support learners who have fallen behind. We provide additional suggestions for integrating a whole-school climate curriculum, social-emotional learning, and school related gender-based violence prevention strategies to address the internal and societal changes learners often face as they enter upper primary.

The World Health Organization and World Bank (2011) estimate that there are more than 1 billion people with disabilities in the world. To address this population's diverse needs, the United Nations drafted their Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2006. Article 24 (Education) of the CRPD requires ratifying countries to develop an inclusive education system to address the educational needs of students with disabilities alongside their peers without disabilities. Despite substantive improvements and movement toward inclusive education, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to struggle with accurately identifying and supporting students with disabilities, including knowing how to effectively screen, evaluate, and qualify students for additional services (Hayes, Dombrowski, Shefcyk, & Bulat, 2018a). These challenges stem from the lack of policies, practices, and qualified staff related to screening and identification. As a result, many students with less-apparent disabilities--such as children with learning disabilities--remain unidentified and do not receive the academic supports they need to succeed in school (Friend & Bursuck, 2012). This guide attempts to address the lack of appropriate, useful disability screening and identification systems and services as countries look to educate all students in inclusive settings. Specifically, this guide introduces viable options for screening and identification related to vision, hearing, and learning disabilities in inclusive classrooms in LMICs. It also provides guidance on how LMICs can transition from an assessment-center model toward a school-based identification model that better serves an inclusive education system.

Learning disabilities are among the most common disabilities experienced in childhood and adulthood. Although identifying learning disabilities in a school setting is a complex process, it is particularly challenging in low- and middle-income countries that lack the appropriate resources, tools, and supports. This guide provides an introduction to learning disabilities and describes the processes and practices that are necessary for the identification process. It also describes a phased approach that countries can use to assess their current screening and evaluation services, as well as determine the steps needed to develop, strengthen, and build systems that support students with learning disabilities. This guide also provides intervention recommendations that teachers and school administrators can implement at each phase of system development. Although this guide primarily addresses learning disabilities, the practices, processes, and systems described may be also used to improve the identification of other disabilities commonly encountered in schools. [This guide is a complimentary resource to "School and Classroom Disabilities Inclusion Guide for Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Occasional Paper. RTI Press Publication OP-0031-1701" (ED582357) and "Disabilities Inclusive Education Systems and Policies Guide for Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Occasional Paper. RTI Press Publication OP-0043-1707" (ED581498).]

Over the past decade, RTI International has pursued the goal of quality, inclusive, differentiated early grade literacy instruction in nearly 30 early grade reading or early grade literacy programs in low- and middle-income (LMI) countries. Across our diverse portfolio, we have supported Ministries of Education (Ministries) in diverse contexts in their development and implementation of research-based early grade literacy programs and have learned important lessons based on our experience working with Ministries to design, develop, and implement early grade literacy programs. This paper describes the core elements that we have found to improve early grade literacy instruction and learner outcomes: the approach to teaching (Teach), the availability of quality, relevant learner materials (Text), the effective use of instructional time (Time), the use of formative assessment to guide instruction (Test), and provision of instruction in the most effective language (Tongue). This paper focuses on the acquisition of literacy in alphabetic and alphasyllabic languages in the early primary years (most typically, academic levels 1 through 3) and the kinds of exposures, instruction, and support learners need to become fully literate. These are the elements of a literacy program that can be taught, that should be present in teaching and learning materials and in teacher trainings, and that relate specifically to what happens in a classroom. Many more factors contribute to literacy acquisition. However, we focus on the core elements in this paper to delve deeper and facilitate a richer discussion about these components. No one-size-fits-all approach to the development and implementation of literacy programs exists; the local context and constraints of any implementation can require adaptation and adjustments. In many cases, the fully diversified approach to early grade literacy instruction described in the classroom scenario has not yet been achieved. However, we hope that this compilation of lessons learned and best practices achieved through our experiences will help to further the efforts of all to provide high-quality, effective literacy instruction to all learners, particularly those in LMI countries.

Having a disability can be one of the most marginalizing factors in a child's life. In education, finding ways to meet the learning needs of students with disabilities can be challenging, especially in schools, districts, regions, and countries with severely limited resources. Inclusive education--which fully engages all students, including students with disabilities or other learning challenges, in quality education--has proven particularly effective in helping all students learn, even while challenges to implementing inclusive education systems remain. This guide provides suggestions for developing inclusive education systems and policies, especially for low- and middle-income countries that are moving from a segregated system toward an inclusive system of education. We specifically address the needs of countries with limited resources for implementing inclusive education. However, our strategies and recommendations can be equally useful in other contexts where inclusive education practices have not yet been adopted. Two appendices are included.

Having a disability can be one of the most marginalizing factors in a child's life. In education, finding ways to meet the learning needs of children with disabilities can be challenging, especially in schools, districts, regions, and countries with severely limited resources. Inclusive education--which fully engages all children in quality education, including children with various types of disabilities or other learning challenges--has proven particularly effective in helping all children learn, including those with disabilities. This guide provides strategies and recommendations for developing inclusive classrooms and schools. We specifically address the needs of Sub-Saharan African countries, which lack the resources for implementing inclusive education. However, our strategies and recommendations can be equally useful in other contexts where inclusive education practices have not yet been adopted.

Explains how conic sections can be approximated by paper-folding activities and proves why they work. (Author/NB)

Describes how undergraduate secondary English education majors in a course on teaching writing defined and created the multigenre research paper, researching a topic and then writing a number of pieces that integrated and interpreted their findings. Notes students' enthusiasm, creativity and ownership; shows two student papers; and describes using the multigenre research paper in a high school class. (SR)

Describes an instructional approach to teach students the importance of recycling and motivate them to recycle. Explains the history of papermaking and the process of paper making. (YDS)

Describes how to use paper analogies as models to illustrate various concepts in biology, human anatomy, and physiology classes. Models include biochemical paper models, protein papergrams, a paper model of early brain development, and a 3-D paper model of a eukaryotic cell. (AIM)

This activity on making recycled paper includes background information, implementation directions, equipment and supply lists, drawings, and forms for students to use as they complete the activity. It may be used to develop a new curriculum or be integrated into an existing one. (JOW)

Argues that effective history instruction requires students to think about content rather than merely reproduce it. Contends that this can be achieved best through peer interaction based on student research papers that require students to state opinions or positions. Provides an assignment example and a evaluation handout. (CFR)

Explains the objectives of an interdisciplinary elective course for middle school students in which the scientific principles, artistic processes, cultural aspects, and environmental concerns of papermaking are integrated. (DDR)

Discusses the Gawdy Papers, a mostly unpublished collection of family papers in the British Library consisting of over 5000 documents that cover a large period in the history of modern business writing (1509-c. 1750). Notes that they are extremely helpful in formulating tentative theories about the history of business writing. (SG)

Notes that a difficulty with the multigenre paper assignment is that educators assume that students are familiar enough with the various genres to write skillfully in the genres they select. Suggests that multigenre assignments can be improved by changing forms and format; changing perspectives; and changing boundaries. Concludes that multigenre papers thus provide the opportunity for students to develop expressive and poetic language. (PM)

Toilet paper (TP) composition and physical characteristics were used to model scientific investigations that combined several "National Science Education Standards." Experiments with TP permitted the integration of TP history, societal change resulting from invention, mathematics (including geometry and statistics), germ theory, and personal hygiene practices, along with microbiology techniques.

Describes a modified version of the Paper River exercise that appeared in the spring 1999 journal issue. Illustrates the application of the Coase theorem for solving an externality problem. Indicates students share a single productive resource and work in groups rather than pairs as they did in the earlier version. (JEH)

Uses the PowerPoint program instead of paper in student projects. Describes the background and procedure for project implementation. Presents students' written comments on the project and discusses the challenges of incorporating multimedia into the earth science curriculum. (YDS)

Offers perspectives from a first-year English teacher and from a veteran English teacher on how to deal with the extraordinary amount of paper and paperwork heaped upon teachers and on the importance of the topic of curriculum and curriculum strategies. Argues that teacher preparation programs need to implement courses to train teachers to work with curriculum and provide organizational strategies. (SR)

Presents a paper-folding method to develop a class repertoire of construction methods for the ellipse, hyperbola, and parabola using straws, rulers, dental floss, paper circles, and other household items. Uses the Geometer's Sketchpad software to complement the paper-folding process. (MKR)

Discusses what researchers say about science assessment and the need for an assessment that evaluates students on their ability to demonstrate the scientific process in a meaningful, hands-on fashion. Creates a wide-scale, performance-based assessment tool for elementary science. Provides example task questions and rubrics. (ASK)

Discusses the long running debate on teaching evolution in public schools. Recommends using the 5E teaching cycle of engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate to show that scientific concepts and theories can be fundamental. (Contains 20 references.) (YDS)

Presents a classroom simulation in which one firm pollutes the water used by another. Includes a detailed outline and discussion of the preparations and materials required, and the procedure for running the simulation. Argues that students learn how property rights provide a market solution to pollution costs. (DSK)

Equipped with string and paper models, students are able to illustrate the processes of meiosis. (ZWH)

Presents an argument for using dot paper rather than geoboards at postelementary levels to study perimeter, area, congruence, similarity, and other geometric ideas. Emphasizes need for students to be active learners. (GW)

Addresses pitfalls in using the Internet for undergraduate research, including: increased ability to commit plagiarism and academic fraud; difficulties sorting valid, useful information from inaccurate or misleading sources; difficulties searching the Internet; growing confusion between reality and virtual reality; and lack of context for much information on the Internet. (DSK)

Describes a course for talented high school students that focuses on DNA science and technology. Employs Cold Spring Harbor's DNA Science laboratory manual. Engages students in performing sickle-cell anemia and thalassemia tests in rabbits. (DDR)

Investigates HyperCard as a tool for assessment in science education and determines whether or not a HyperCard assessment instrument could differentiate between expert and novice student performance on balancing stoichiometric equations in science education. (ZWH)

Describes a method for teaching students how to write about literature that asks students to produce numerous "parts" in one large project. Provides a basic outline and explanation of the assigned tasks. (HB)

Describes the way one English teacher designed a course by asking students to compare articles on the same topic from different newspapers. Claims that teaching such forms of textual analysis is highly motivating and pedagogically useful. (HB)

Describes the Bajema strategy for teaching meiosis and how it is used in the general genetics course at Ball State University and can be used to identify students who have misconceptions of meiosis that can interfere with their learning the basics of Mendelian inheritance. (Contains 11 references.) (MDH)

One set of ideas at the core of the National Science Education Standards (NSES) Science and Technology Standards is that of engaging middle school students in activities that help them develop their understandings of technological design. More precisely, students should be able to identify appropriate problems for technological design, design a solution or product, implement a proposed design, evaluate completed technological designs or products, and communicate the process of technological design. This article describes a simple yet effective classroom activity that can help students achieve many of these learning goals. The activity, called Paper Towers, offers a challenging and engaging way to introduce students to the central tenets of technological design. This type of lesson helps students build a more complete understanding of the meaning of science and technology as put forward by the NSES--and students have fun in the process. (Contains 2 figures and 3 online resources.)

Presents a discovery lesson in which students investigate the limit of angle measures formed by repeatedly folding a strip of paper. (KHR)

Proposes a hybrid grading system for composition papers which combines numbers and letters (thus providing some objectivity while preserving flexibility) that awards points on a sliding scale (with substantial rewards for content and readability and more limited rewards for mechanics and format) and that helps students see how their papers were graded. (SR)

Suggestions provided to college students preparing to write a library research paper are presented. They address topic preparation and research, use of sources, information-gathering procedures, organization of the paper's content, and presentation of references. (MSE)

Comments on the Society for College Science Teachers position paper on introductory college-level science courses and encourages two-year college science faculty to respond. (PR)

Contains responses to SCST "Position Paper" on teaching introductory-level college science courses. (ZWH)

Presents one way to use an organized approach to investigation in order to compare and contrast different paper towel brands for their absorption capabilities. Uses investigation procedures rather than formal experimentation procedures due to the nature of the investigation. (Author/MM)

Describes a mathematics activity using square pads of notepaper and sticky notes to do simple paper folding in order to increase students' understanding of fractions. (ASK)

Analyzing literary materials to discern relationships between sociological variables is an established mode of scholarly inquiry which can easily be used in the instruction of sociology. A step-by-step method for writing a sociological book review is outlined and discussed. (RM)

A whole-class exercise used in college composition classes to demonstrate the writing process is described. The class works together to produce a collaborative paper, in rough draft, in one hour. Steps used to produce it include specification of topic, discussion of purpose and audience, prewriting for ideas, development of thesis and outline, writing, and critiquing. (MSE)

Discusses an activity using lined paper and rulers to discover and prove the triangle proportionality theorem. (MKR)

Research agendas help statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS) teams and their states align SLDS work with state strategic goals and policy priorities, plan and prioritize research projects, and respond to data requests from researchers. This brief describes key steps and considerations for communicating and carrying out a research agenda that an SLDS can support, including (1) developing a vision for successfully implementing the agenda; (2) making the vision a reality by identifying and prioritizing strategies to address implementation challenges; (3) creating an action plan for implementation; and (4) communicating with research agenda stakeholders. The brief also discusses how to ensure that the research agenda is sustainable over time. The guidance in this brief is intended for states that have already developed a research agenda but have not taken steps to implement it. [This brief is a product of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) Grant Program. Contributors include Kathy Gosa and Carla Howe.]

An inexpensive and equipment free approach to teaching the technical aspects of DNA sequencing. The activity described requires an instructor with a familiarity of DNA sequencing technology but provides a straight forward method of teaching the technical aspects of sequencing in the absence of expensive sequencing equipment. The final sequence analysis can be used as a springboard to a number of activities including literature reviews and writing projects. (Contains 2 figures.)

Shows various methods of folding and cutting 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 9-, and 11-pointed stars. Discusses the geometry underlying each method. (MKR/SW)

Describes a group of teachers who worked with multigenre possibilities as an alternative to traditional research papers, while trying to teach some principles of research. Details how the students were offered three options: a screenplay, a multi-genre paper, or a monologue. Outlines the successes and failures of each project. (PM)

Notes the problem of Net-based plagiarism in student papers. Describes a solution that turns the tables by using the Internet: TurnItIn.com, an Internet scanner that annotates/marks unattributed material in student papers and compiles a report for the teacher overnight. (SR)

Describes a multigenre research paper assignment noting how the teacher guided the students with ideas and encouragement. Presents individual students' experiences with the multigenre projects. Discusses the instructor's political agenda, which was based on equality, empathy, and optimism. Concludes that a multigenre research paper takes more time and energy, it is more personal, and it makes students think harder. (SG)

Reports on classroom experiments with replacing standard student report-style papers with more expressive, explorational writing assignments. Outlines how course readings are used as the basis for a paper that takes the form of a series of letters or postcards to an imaginary or real person. Provides examples from student projects. (DSK)

Describes the Notable American Project, which focuses on the First Ladies and other notable people in the United States for students in grades 8-12. Explains that students select their subjects and then write biographical research papers, create historical posters, and present first-person speeches in costumes. Offers handouts. (CMK)