This policy report by ACT discusses the importance of early learning, the components of a strong preschool and elementary school education, and barriers to strengthening early learning. Additionally, the report draws from the ACT Core Practice Framework to describe how school and district leaders can provide support for improving classroom practices. The report concludes with recommendations for school leaders and policymakers to promote public awareness of the advantages of early learning.
ALDN Constructive Conversation Skills Poster
This resource is a graphic organizer showing four important conversation skills (create, clarify, support, and evaluate and compare) and sentence starters to help students engage in purposeful and extended interactions.
Handbook for Culturally Responsive Science Curriculum
This handbook presents an overview of culturally responsive Alaska Native science curriculum, including vignettes and samples of classroom lessons. The author describes ways in which existing learning models can be modified to include Alaskan Native methods for teaching and learning, with suggestions of how to include Native elders in meaningful ways.
The handbook discusses best practices within inquiry-based teaching and practices that may bridge differences between inquiry and traditional forms of instruction. A variety of culturally relevant materials are either included or listed in a reference section.
ALDN Argumentation Activities
This set of activities helps students practice their abilities to build and challenge ideas using evidence-based reasoning. It focuses on building students’ argumentation skills in preparation for debates, structured academic controversies, discussions, and argument-based written and multimedia products.
ALDN Math Constructive Conversation Skills Poster
This resource is a mathematics graphic organizer highlighting four important conversation skills when building math understandings and ideas:
Clarify a problem and ideas for solving it,
Discuss representations and models,
Explain and support reasoning, and
Use multiple methods for solving.