Instructional Materials

Read more about the materials that are used to help students learn the curriculum
Phil Dreste provides roaches, beetles, isotopes and other insects for his students to study at Kenwood Elementary in Champaign, Ill., on Jan. 12, 2026.
Phil Dreste provides roaches, beetles, and other insects for his students to study at Kenwood Elementary in Champaign, Ill., on Jan. 12, 2026.
Kaiti Sullivan for Education Week
Teaching Download How to Build a Classroom Terrarium for Hands-On Science (Downloadable)
Terrariums introduce students to natural ecosystems—while easing the burden of caring for class pets.
Sarah D. Sparks, January 16, 2026
•
1 min read
Composite trend artwork sketch image 3d photo collage of huge black white silhouette hand hold book immerse yourself in new world fantasy imagination inspiration.
iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy Opinion Stop Assigning Boring Books in English Class
Many teens and young adults aren’t reading for pleasure anymore. School isn’t helping.
Erich May, January 16, 2026
•
4 min read
Reading & Literacy Quiz Quiz Yourself: Is Your District Truly Science of Reading Aligned?
Answer questions on the science of reading alignment in your district, including classroom materials, achievement data, and regulations.
January 15, 2026
3D digital illustration of an AI robot representing an small child learning to read.
iStock/Getty
Artificial Intelligence AI Tutors Are Now Common in Early Reading Instruction. Do They Actually Work?
AI reading tutors are only now being studied, and raise difficult questions about how to judge efficacy.
Sarah Schwartz, November 20, 2025
•
7 min read
First grader Aizlynn Castillo works on an assignment in Diana Oviedo-Holguin’s English learner class at Heritage Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 3, 2025.
First grader Aizlynn Castillo works on an assignment in Diana Oviedo-Holguin’s English-learner class at Heritage Elementary School in San Antonio on Sept. 3, 2025. The school district has embraced the "science of reading" and is applying it to instruction for English learners and in dual-language programs.
Noah Devereaux for Education Week
English Learners How One District Approaches the 'Science of Reading' With English Learners
Leaders shared three guiding principles in a recent Education Week virtual event.
Sarah Schwartz, October 28, 2025
•
4 min read
Timothy Rimke reads during Casey Cuny's English class at Valencia High School in Santa Clarita, Calif., on Aug. 27, 2025.
Timothy Rimke reads during Casey Cuny's English class at Valencia High School in Santa Clarita, Calif., on Aug. 27, 2025. Some observers of English/language arts curriculum fear that several growing in popularity subordinate the reading of novels and whole texts to shorter excerpts, but the evidence is still sketchy.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Reading & Literacy Novels vs. Excerpts: What to Know About a Big Reading Debate
Here are three core things to keep in mind about new evidence on the texts used in reading classes.
Sarah Schwartz, October 27, 2025
•
3 min read
Mon., October 20, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Webinar Math for Every Learner: A Systems-Level Approach to Student and Teacher Empowerment
Math isn’t magic. Join us to explore how we can help students and teachers feel confident in their ability to understand and excel in math.
Content provided by HMH
Register
A selection from the basal reader, Reading Street, pictured on Oct. 8, 2025.
A selection from the basal reader Reading Street, published in 2013, pictured on Oct. 8, 2025.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week
Reading & Literacy Explainer What Is a Basal Reader, And Why Are They Controversial?
From the Civil War to the new millennium, one reading tool has held a secure spot in American classrooms.
Sarah Schwartz, October 15, 2025
•
8 min read
Handwritten excerpts of student writing
Laura Patranella's 5th graders write verses in response to <i>Love That Dog</i>, by Sharon Creech. One of Patranella's English/language arts unit features that novel alongside the poems that inspired it.
Illustration by Vanessa Solis/Education Week. Student writing courtesy of Laura Patranella
Reading & Literacy Are Books Really Disappearing From American Classrooms?
Measuring whether "whole texts" are vanishing in favor of excerpts isn't clear cut.
Sarah Schwartz, October 13, 2025
•
17 min read
Stylized calendar planner in monthly and weekly views in spiral notebook display
Photo provided by Success By Design
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Sponsor Choosing the Best Student Planners for Your School from Success By Design
A good student planner can be a game-changer for students of any age. However, to make the best choice, it is important to understand why and how these materials benefit children, what key features to look for and how to choose the best student planners for your requirements.
Content provided by Success by Design
070125 ISTE KD 22 BS
Jennifer Watkins, who runs a STEM program for the Fouke school district in rural Arkansas, shared how she uses inexpensive ed-tech tools to help students understand robotics at the ISTE+ASCD annual technology and learning conference this summer.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Classroom Technology How One Teacher Built a STEM and Robotics Program on a Shoestring Budget
This rural Arkansas elementary and middle school teacher gives her students rich STEM experiences by using a creative mix of tools.
Alyson Klein, September 4, 2025
•
4 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
Curriculum Opinion Here’s Why It’s Important for Teachers to Have a Say in Curriculum
Two curriculum publishers explain what gets in the way of giving teachers the best materials possible.
Rick Hess, August 19, 2025
•
5 min read
First grade students listen as their teacher Megan Goes helps them craft alternate endings for stories they wrote together at Moorsbridge Elementary School in Portage, Mich., on Nov. 29, 2023.
First grade students listen as their teacher Megan Goes helps them craft alternate endings for stories they wrote together at Moorsbridge Elementary School in Portage, Mich., on Nov. 29, 2023. In reading classrooms nationwide, teachers tend to mix core and supplemental materials—whether out of necessity or by design.
Emily Elconin for Education Week
Curriculum The Many Reasons Teachers Supplement Their Core Curricula—and Why it Matters
Some experts warn against supplementing core programs with other resources. But educators say there can be good reasons to do so.
Sarah Schwartz, August 8, 2025
•
7 min read
First grader Geniss Gibbs practices reading skills at Eastern Elementary School in Washington, N.C., on May 23, 2022.
First grader Geniss Gibbs practices reading skills at Eastern Elementary School in Washington, N.C., on May 23, 2022. Although districts are choosing new curricula purportedly aligned with evidence-based reading practices, they still frequently supplement with other teaching materials.
Kate Medley for Education Week
Reading & Literacy Districts Using 'High-Quality' Reading Curricula Still Supplement With Other Materials. Why?
A new report maps the shifting reading curriculum market.
Sarah Schwartz, August 4, 2025
•
5 min read
Load More ▼