This booklet has highlighted the principles to consider when developing content and curricula to improve the quality of education for economically disadvantaged students. For low-achieving or “struggling” students, a group that quite often includes numerous economically disadvantaged students, engagement in classroom tasks is critical for motivation. Engagement can come through the use of authentic, relevant, and meaningful content that allows students to connect what they are learning to the outside world, to their needs and interests, and to their prior learning. In addition, by reversing the normal “talk-work” sequence in the classroom to “work-talk” or “talk and work”, teachers can better observe what students are retaining during learning tasks before moving ahead to assessment and practice lessons.
