Work

Opportunities to Learn in America's Elementary Classrooms

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: Observations in 737 5(th)-grade classrooms reveal high amounts of basic skills instruction in reading and math as whole-group or individual-seatwork, delivered with mediocre instructional quality. Cooperative learning, technology, social studies or science are rare. Observed opportunities show little association with features of teachers or schools. Across 1(st), 3(rd) and 5(th) grades, classroom quality is low if children are poor or are low on achievement; for others quality is inconsistent across grades. The promise of legislative mandates for high quality educational programs will depend on more accurate assessments of teaching and must address inequity in access to high-quality educational experiences.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1139719

Authors: Robert C. Pianta, Jay Belsky, Renate Houts, Fred Morrison

Institution: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Language: English

Topic: School Choice and Performance

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funder: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development