Learning List Blog

School leaders regularly use data from benchmark assessments, walkthroughs, and accountability to guide campus decisions. However, instructional materials data is an often-overlooked source of information for administrators to factor into their decision making.

High-quality instructional materials can significantly influence student achievement, but only when educators monitor how those materials impact student learning. One of the most effective ways to evaluate instructional material effectiveness is through the analysis of student work samples and performance data. By examining what students produce and how their learning develops over time, educators can determine whether curriculum resources are aligned, rigorous, and producing

Aligning professional learning with the core curriculum is essential for improving instructional coherence, strengthening implementation, and increasing student outcomes. When professional development is directly connected to what teachers teach, it becomes more effective, actionable, and sustainable. Below are five research-based strategies district and campus leaders can use to align professional learning with curriculum and classroom practice.

If your district is looking for new prekindergarten materials, take a look at Learning List's reviews of Benchmark Education's Ready to Advance Early Learning Program.

Teacher guides (or teacher editions) are designed to do more than outline lessons. They provide essential pedagogical and content support. High-quality teacher guides embed scaffolding and differentiation strategies to help all students access rigorous, grade-level content. When used effectively, they enable teachers to respond to student needs without lowering expectations. Below are five practical strategies to help educators maximize teacher guides to support diverse lear

School leaders often ask how to determine whether instructional materials are actually improving teaching and learning. Monitoring the impact of instructional materials helps leaders ensure that curriculum is providing students with consistent access to grade-level work and strengthening classroom instruction. The quality of instructional materials is important, but instructional materials alone do not improve student outcomes. Research suggests that high-quality materials c

High school social studies classrooms are most engaging when students investigate questions, analyze evidence, and collaborate with peers. Instructional materials that support inquiry-based learning while providing strong teacher supports can help make those experiences possible.

Across the country, school systems are prioritizing high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) to support rigorous, standards-aligned instruction. Research shows that the curriculum teachers use directly shapes students' daily learning experiences and their opportunities to master grade-level standards. But not all instructional materials provide the same level of quality, alignment, or teacher support and without careful evaluation, districts may adopt materials that fall s

Learn how to use instructional walkthrough data to strengthen grade-level instruction, improve curriculum implementation, and ensure students consistently experience rigorous, materials-aligned learning.

Whether by verifying standards alignment or validating rubric evidence, Learning List has supported many publishers in preparing for state adoptions and/or reviews by national entities. Based on that work, here are five tips to help strengthen your submissions for district, state, or national instructional materials reviews.

Looking for a Texas science program that brings learning to life through investigation, reasoning, and real-world connections? Learning List has reviewed Savvas Learning Company’s Texas Experience Science, a comprehensive science program for grades K-8, available in print and digital formats. This blog highlights findings from Learning List’s reviews of grades K-5, where the materials emphasize collaborative, hands-on learning aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skil

Is your district looking for a phenomena-driven material aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards? Take a look at Learning List’s review of Savvas Learning Company’s Experience Science, comprehensive K–8 science program designed to support three-dimensional NGSS instruction. Program Overview Savvas Learning Company’s Experience Science is a phenomena-based elementary science program available in both print and digital formats. The program is designed to bring science

In K–12 classrooms, learning is most powerful when students see how ideas connect across subjects. High-quality instructional materials (HQIM), standards-aligned, research-based curricula, provide a strong foundation for this kind of integrated learning. When used strategically, HQIM can help teachers move beyond isolated lessons toward coherent, interdisciplinary learning experiences. Below are five keys to building cross-content connections while maintaining fidelity to

Students’ access to grade-level instruction is shaped less by which instructional materials a school adopts and more by how those materials are used in classrooms. When expectations for instruction vary, students can experience very different levels of rigor—even within the same school using the same curriculum. School leaders play a critical role in guiding the use of instructional materials to ensure all students regularly engage with grade-level instruction.

Grouping students into small groups is not just an effective strategy for Tier 2 and Tier 3 instruction. It is a powerful strategy for meeting the diverse learning needs within a single classroom during Tier 1 instruction, too. Yet planning effective small-group lessons, especially when balancing core and supplemental materials, can feel overwhelming. Many educators wonder: Which students should I group together? How do I connect small-group work to the core lesson? Which sup

QuaverHealth is a fully digital K–5 health education program designed to strengthen students’ social, emotional, intellectual, and physical well-being. Learning List recently reviewed the program’s health content. While access to our full review is reserved for subscribers, we are sharing several key observations about this material.

Heinemann’s Math Expressions is a comprehensive K–6 math curriculum designed to engage students and build deep conceptual understanding through collaboration, problem-solving, and real-world connections. The materials are available in English and Spanish, in print and digital formats. Learning List has reviewed the material’s alignment to the Common Core Standards for Mathematics, as well as the material’s instructional quality and technology compatibility. While full access

Campus administrators and instructional coaches consistently consider how to make Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) meaningful. The most effective PLCs focus on student learning and use instructional resources as a foundation for analysis and planning. The five keys below provide a framework for structuring PLCs that are impactful, data-driven, and grounded in professional learning. Each key is supported by research and includes an embedded quote to help you integra

In today’s classrooms, supplemental instructional materials, such as worksheets, videos, lesson plans, games, and online activities, are everywhere. A recent study by the RAND Corporation found that nearly all teachers (97%) reported using at least one supplemental resource weekly, with many drawing on several at once. Teacher-created supplemental resources are especially common. In the RAND study, nearly half of teachers reported using self-developed supplemental mat

Every classroom is full of diverse learners and even the best high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) require thoughtful adaptation to meet every student where they are. The goal is not to rewrite the curriculum. It is to use HQIM strategically so all students can access grade-level content through differentiated instruction and well-planned scaffolds. Below are six research-based strategies to help educators adapt materials effectively without losing rigor or alignment