Learning List Blog

Selecting materials to remediate students' learning gaps can be a daunting task. If you have access to multiple materials, and you are feeling overwhelmed by the choices, here are five tips to help you identify which of your current materials to use and how to use them effectively to address your students' learning gaps. 

OpenStax powered by Kiddom provides comprehensive science programs for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The materials are available in digital format through the Kiddom platform or in print. The Biology material intends to support “biology courses for science majors” through an evolutionary lens while highlighting careers in biology. Chemistry intends to support students in learning the core concepts of chemistry and how those concepts apply to the world. Physics focuses on p

Studies Weekly’s Texas Science (Studies Weekly) is a core science program for grades K-5. The program focuses on engaging students in science using reading, writing, and drawing. The materials are available in print and digital format. The digital format includes printable PDF documents, accessed through the Studies Weekly platform. Science Weekly organizes learning in units. Units consist of three primary sections: the phenomenon or problem, inquiry activities, and addition

National Geographic/Cengage’s Body Structures and Functions (National Geographic Anatomy)is a comprehensive science program for high school Anatomy and Physiology. The program focuses on introducing students to the organization, structures, and functions of the body to help them understand how body systems work. The materials are available in print and digital format. Digital components are accessible to students and teachers from National Geographic Learning/Cengage’s intera

Discovery Education’s Science Techbook for Texas (Discovery Texas)is a comprehensive science curriculum for grades K-8. The material focuses on helping students act as scientists and engineers through relevant phenomena, hands-on labs, and interactive activities. The materials are available in print and digital formats. Discovery Texas organizes learning around phenomena and recurring themes and concepts present in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Each grade

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 learning in three modules per grade level, based on topics typic

Savvas' Texas Experience Science is a comprehensive science curriculum for grades K-8, which focuses on bringing science concepts to life through collaborative, hands-on activities. The material is available in English and in Spanish and in print and digital formats. Experience Science organizes learning around seven topics in each grade level. Each topic includes a launch, which introduces the topic, an anchoring phenomenon, and multiple "Experiences" (lessons).

Looking for an activity-based science curriculum? Don’t miss our reviews of HMH’s Into Science. Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Science(Into Science) is a comprehensive science program for grades K-8. The program focuses on providing student-centered activities intended to “bring out every student’s inner scientist.” Learning List has reviewed the version of the material submitted for state adoption under Texas Proclamation 2024. While the Texas version includes content spe

As the materials adoption season begins, curriculum reviews can save you hours of work. If you are looking at science materials, learn about a science curriculum we have reviewed for middle school. OpenSciEd Science powered by Kiddom is a comprehensive science program for grades 6-8 and high school Biology. This review is based on the version of the material submitted for state adoption under Texas Proclamation 2024. While the publisher may have developed some content in thi

McGraw Hill’s Texas Science is a comprehensive science program for grades K-12. The materials are available in English and Spanish in grades K-6 and some content is translated from English to Spanish within the English version of the material for middle and high school. The materials are available in print and digital format and are accessible to students and teachers from McGraw-Hill’s interactive digital platform. Texas Science is designed around the 5E instructional model

Looking for a new comprehensive science curriculum for grade K-12?Consider Accelerate Learning’s STEMscopes Texas (STEMscopes).  STEMscopes supports student learning with phenomena, hands-on experiences, and virtual simulations. The curriculum uses the 5E instructional model, with intervention and acceleration added, to support inquiry-based instruction. Scopes (lessons) are based on TEKS-aligned topicsand span multiple days of instruction. Each Scope seamlessly integrates

On May 22, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a proposed settlement order in a first-of-its-kind case against an education technology (ed tech) company for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule. The settlement order contains valuable guidance for ed tech companies and school districts that work with them. Congress enacted COPPA in 1998 with the goal of protecting the safety and privacy of children online by prohibiting the unauthor

The end of the school year and the impending ESSER cliff are two forces compelling districts to review their K-12 curriculum materials to determine which instructional resources to keep and which to discard. If you are involved in making those decisions in your district, the first question you are likely asking is, "Which materials are teachers using?" Several companies, including Canvas, Day 180, and Lightspeed Systems, can help you track the usage of digital materials. A s

Does your district need practice material for mathematics? Take a look at Learning List’s review of DeltaMathINTEGRAL. DeltaMathINTEGRALis a fully digital, supplemental mathematics program for grades 6-12. Learning List recently reviewed the content for grades 6-8 and Algebra I. The program intends to supplement core mathematics instruction by providing practice problems and opportunities for students to develop content and skills in mathematics.

Are you looking for new ELA materials for K-5? Take a look at Learning List’s review of Amplify Texas Elementary Literacy Program. Amplify’s Texas Elementary Literacy Program is a comprehensive program that supports English language arts instruction for Pre-kindergarten-grade 8. Learning List recently reviewed the materials for K-5 which the Texas Education Agency has made available to Texas school districts and charter schools at no charge. Amplify intends to provide stude

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 bellwether states in the K-12 publishing market. Additionally, Te

A recent EdWeek article titled, Why Printed Books Are Better Than Screens for Learning to Readaddresses the debate over print vs digital materials for young learners in an interview with Maryann Wolf, the director of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. Wolf begins by saying that the answer is not binary. "There are advantages and disadvantages for each type of medium , depending on the pu

Are you looking for supplemental reading material for your students? Take a look at Learning List’s review of McGraw Hill’s Actively Learn. McGraw Hill’s Actively Learnis a fully digital, supplemental program for grades 3-12 that supports English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science. Learning List recently reviewed the content for English Language Arts. The program is designed to help students improve reading comprehension by providing engaging reading materials, quest

While states and districts have engaged in numerous strategies to address Covid-related learning losses, the strategy getting the most attention and investment is high-dose tutoring. According to a February 2023 report published by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), states have spent $700 million of ESSER reserve funds to expand tutoring opportunities, including $470 million on large-scale, high-dose tutoring programs. This blog endeavors to provide tips, bas

This two-part blog series contains stepped-out guidance and important tips to help you map your resources to the district's curriculum.  The first blog provides tips to help you prepare for an efficient process. We discuss: developing a common definition of alignment, becoming familiar with your materials, and selecting citations (lessons, activities quizzes) in your materials to map to the district curriculum. The second blog discusses: how to cite the aligned content in yo