Instructional Time

Students in Anjanette McNeely's class work on their letters during a reading block at Windridge Elementary School in Kaysville, Utah, on Dec. 4, 2025.
What's the best way to attend to all the elements of the 'science of reading' in a literacy block? Research doesn't specify a specific answer, but kindergarten teacher Anjanette McNeely has designed hers to incorporate foundational skills, content, and writing. McNeely's class works on their letters at Windridge Elementary School in Kaysville, Utah, on Dec. 4, 2025.
Niki Chan Wylie for Education Week
Reading & Literacy How to Build a Reading Block: Two Teachers Share Their Approaches
Studies don't prescribe how best to knit together components of reading—leaving it up to teachers to devise.
Sarah Schwartz, December 8, 2025
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7 min read
Flat vibrant vector illustration depicting science education and learning concept. Illustration is showing different ways of learning: listening, watching, observing, exploring, experimenting, asking questions, talking and communicating, reading, drawing, and writing. The female teacher is placed on the right side and there are also two pupils each one representing different theme; one girl asking question and learning by listening and a boy holding a hand up to answer a question.
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Emma Banay, Christine Cunningham & James Ryan, October 9, 2025
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Kids climbing a pile of books to a higher reading level. Concept vector about education, literacy, and self development.
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We’re missing out on a golden opportunity—one that could effectively triple literacy instruction overnight.
Mike Schmoker & Timothy Shanahan, September 26, 2025
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5 min read
Illustration of clock with math and science symbols.
Chris Whetzel for Education Week<br/>
Curriculum Middle Schools Often Prioritize English and Math Over Other Subjects. Should They?
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Sarah Schwartz, June 11, 2025
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A teacher teaches the Korean alphabet to kindergarten and first-grade students in a dual-language immersion class.
A teacher teaches the Korean alphabet to kindergarten and first-grade students in a dual-language immersion class.
Allison Shelley for All4Ed
School & District Management How 2 School Leaders Limited Distractions and Carved Out More Time for Learning
They removed extra responsibilities from teachers' days and carved out a dedicated academic intervention time.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, March 26, 2025
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3 min read
Diverse elementary students reading in the classroom
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While American students saw another decline in 4th grade reading scores on the Nation's Report Card, this city was an exception.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, February 10, 2025
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6 min read
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During a typical school year, teachers contend with potentially thousands of interruptions to classroom time.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens & Laura Baker, January 13, 2025
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3 min read
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States Which States Require the Most—and Least—Instructional Time? Find Out
There's no national policy dictating how much time students must attend classes each year. That leads to wide variation by state.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens & Francis Sheehan, December 9, 2024
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2 min read
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States vary widely in how much instructional time they require, creating disparities that are only exacerbated by common interruptions.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, December 2, 2024
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Student Well-Being & Movement What’s Really Holding Schools Back From Implementing SEL?
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Arianna Prothero, April 16, 2024
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Tracy Fray-Oliver, January 2, 2024
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Illustration of large calendar with people scheduling and planning with post it notes, pencil, laptop and magnifying glass
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School & District Management What the Research Says What a Difference a Day Makes: How Schools Can Harness More Learning Time
Schools that are in session the longest provide five more weeks a year of learning time than those at the bottom of the scale.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 12, 2023
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Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Use those first weeks to explicitly teach listening, speaking, and thinking skills that will help build relationships as well.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 31, 2023
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14 min read
Teacher at a desk helping an elementary girl with her work.
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6 min read
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