Texas Write Source, Grade 6

A Radical Rewrite of Texas’ Instructional Materials Laws Threatens to Dismantle the K-12 Market

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023

If you care about instructional materials, you need to know about legislation that is sailing through the Texas legislature: House Bill 1605 (Buckley) and its identical companion Senate Bill 2565 (Creighton). The legislation would implement significant changes in how instructional materials are selected and used in Texas classrooms. Why should you care? California, Texas, New York, and Florida have long been …

New Product Review: Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections Texas

August 16, 2022December 17, 2018

Learning List recently reviewed Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections Texas, which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response the Texas Education Agency’s Proclamation 2019 call for K-8 English language arts and reading (ELAR) products aligned to the new ELAR Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), including the spelling TEKS. Spelling Connections Texas is a comprehensive spelling product for students in …

New Product Reviews: Odysseyware Middle School Mathematics and English Language Arts and Reading (Texas Editions)

September 6, 2022November 15, 2017

Learning List has reviewed Glynlyon’s Odysseyware Texas middle school products for mathematics and English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR). Both products are Texas Editions that were developed to address the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Both math and ELAR products are comprehensive resources that cover a full year’s content. [Read more…]

Helping Kids Learn to Write

August 12, 2022August 27, 2017

A recent New York Times article titled Why Kids Can’t Write explores the reasons behind U.S. students’ poor writing skills. The article asserts that the root of writing problems lies with teachers, most of whom have not been trained in how to teach writing, and who are not confident writers themselves. The article goes on to cite specific efforts, such as …

New Product Review: WriteSteps

August 16, 2022August 16, 2017

Learning List recently reviewed WriteSteps, which is a supplemental stand-alone writing program for grades K-5. Resources address the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and state standards for writing and grammar and are available in print and digital formats. Instruction focuses on developing writing skills using the “6 Traits of Quality Writing” framework (i.e., ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, …

Buyer Beware (Part 3): Believing that the Alignment Percentage Is Consistent Across All Grade Levels

July 22, 2022March 2, 2015

Alignment percentages can vary greatly from grade level to grade level.

New Reviews: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Texas High School Math

September 7, 2022September 3, 2014

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Texas High School Math Series provides comprehensive Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II courses designed specifically for Texas students. Learning List has reviewed each course as submitted for state adoption in Texas. The following is a summary of our reviews.

New Science Curriculum Reviews: PhD Science K-5

November 28, 2023October 23, 2023

Great Minds’ PhD Science Texas (PhD Science Texas) is a comprehensive science curriculum for grades K-5. The material focuses on students making sense of and explaining scientific phenomena. The goal of the program is for students to “engage in learning that builds their coherent understanding of scientific knowledge.” As of September 2023, the materials are available in print only. PhD Science Texas organizes …

Methodologies

April 13, 2023March 15, 2022

New Product: NoRedInk

June 28, 2022December 15, 2021

Is your district looking for materials to support writing skills? Take a look at Learning List’s reviews of the free version of NoRedInk. NoRedInk is a supplemental, fully digital English language arts program for students in grades 4-12. The program provides a free version and a subscription-based version. Learning List recently reviewed the free version of the program.

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