DataWORKS Educational Research

10/14/2026

Closing the Literacy Gap Starts with Knowing Where Students Are.

Every student comes to school with different literacy experiences and levels of readiness. The key is identifying which skills students have mastered—and which ones need support.

Universal reading diagnostics can help educators identify specific areas of need, while effective, explicit instruction gives students the structured practice they need to grow.

When we identify gaps early and respond with the right instruction, we can help more students become confident, proficient readers.

🔗 Read the full article: What Is the Literacy Gap & How Can We Close It?

The Literacy gap refers to the difference in reading skills and literacy achievement between students who have developed strong reading abilities and students

10/11/2026

New on the DataWORKS Blog!

Activating Prior Knowledge: Connecting Past Learning to New Math

Before students can successfully tackle new and challenging concepts, they need a strong foundation to build on.

Our latest blog explores how a math teacher uses activating prior knowledge to prepare students for learning about exponential growth—connecting familiar skills and vocabulary to new, more complex applications.

It’s a great example of how intentional instruction can reduce cognitive load, build confidence, and prepare students for rigor.

👉 Read the full blog:

Activating Prior Knowledge: Connecting Past Learning to New Math
https://dataworks-ed.com/blog/2026/01/activating-prior-knowledge-the-foundation-for-mathematical-success/

In mathematics education, one of the most powerful yet underutilized instructional strategies is activating prior knowledge before introducing new concepts.

10/04/2026

Does Your Classroom Arrangement Support Learning?

Classroom arrangement isn’t just about where desks fit—it’s about whether students can see, hear, respond, and stay engaged during instruction.

For Explicit Direct Instruction, there’s one simple rule:

👉 Students should always be able to face the teacher and the instructional screen.

Rows, angled rows, carpet + desks, and V-formations can all work. The best arrangement is the one that supports instruction, interaction, and frequent Checks for Understanding.

Before you rearrange your classroom, ask yourself:

Can ALL students easily see the teacher and the screen?

🔗 Read the full article for practical classroom arrangement ideas.

A well-organized classroom supports the teacher’s movement, student interaction, and frequent Checks for Understanding. The goal is simple:

09/29/2026

Great article on the Mississippi Miracle—aka the reading revolution happening in Mississippi.

Pretty fascinating to see what happens when schools get serious about evidence-based reading instruction and stick with it (Aka: rigor and fidelity).

The state’s success shows that, if taught properly, all kids can succeed – and that change is possible even in big, bureaucratic systems.

08/30/2026

Are your state standards clear—or do they feel more complicated than they should?

State standards often combine multiple skills, concepts, vocabulary, and levels of rigor into a single statement. The challenge for educators is turning those standards into clear, teachable learning.

That’s where Demystifying State Standards comes in.

This professional development workshop helps educators learn how to:

-Unpack complex state standards
-Identify the specific knowledge and skills students need to master
-Develop clear, measurable learning objectives
-Analyze state test questions to understand what students are expected to know and do
-Align instruction, independent practice, Checking for Understanding, and assessment
-Connect classroom learning to state assessment expectations

The goal?

Turn complex standards into focused learning targets that guide instruction and help students know what they are learning and why.

When standards, learning objectives, instruction, and assessment are aligned, everyone has a clearer path to learning.

Explore Demystifying State Standards and see how this approach can support your educators and instructional goals:

Learn More: Demystifying State Standards



https://dataworks-ed.com/trainings/common-core/