Arnold Arons wrote in "Teaching Introductory Physics" (page 147, 1997 Ed):
"Delta E = Q + W
Note that this form alters the sign of W from that used in the usual
American convention in the first law. I suggest this convention for the
sign of W, at least temporarily, since it would be very messy to give
negative signs to work done by the force in accelerating an object at a
stage when students are having great difficulty with interpretation and use
of algebraic signs in general."
In a footnote Arons notes: "In the most commonly used American convention,
work is taken to be positive when it is done by rather than on the system.
This is very likely motivated by the convenience of associating a positive
value of dW with positive values of pdv for expanding fluid (or so-called
chamical) systems. the convention is the reverse in much European and some
American thermodynamic literature."