A Michigan State University researcher says improving the writing skills of America's K-12 students may be harder than anticipated. MSU Associate Professor of Education Gary Troia is co-director of a national study that compares existing instruction with tougher "common core" standards. He says early findings show current teaching practice needs significant revision.
"Curriculum developers are going have to rethink how the curriculum is enacted in classrooms and the instructional materials are going to have to be supplemented or new ones are going to have to be developed," he says.
By 2014, most U.S. states--including Michigan--are expected to implement the new standards to strengthen students' skills in math and English.