Learning List Blog

Starfall Education provides supplemental reading programs for grades PK-1 and supplemental mathematics materials for grade 1. Resources are available in print and online formats. Learning List recently reviewed reading products for grades and K and 1 and Starfall’s first-grade math program.

With a shared goal of helping publishers produce materials that will prepare students for success in AP courses, Learning List worked with College Board to develop alignment templates based on the recently released course frameworks. Learning List now reviews AP materials for alignment to the Learning Objectives (LO) (i.e., what students must be able to do) and separately to the Skills and Practices (i.e., larger transferable skills) contained in the newly revised AP course

Sensible Solutions’ A Common Sense Guide for Teaching Common Core Literacy is a resource to support grade 6-12 educators in transitioning to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for literacy. The print-based Guide clarifies the CCSS and the progression of literacy standards across grade levels. Learning List has completed reviews of the materials for grades 6-12.

LearnZillion is an online, open educational resource that provides supplementary mathematics teaching materials for grades 2-12. Resources are free and address the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Learning List has recently completed reviews of LearnZillion’s OER math materials.

Discovery Education’s Science Techbook for Texas is a comprehensive, web-based science curriculum for grades K-12. At each grade level, the multimodal program includes a range of digital resources, including interactive text; embedded videos, animations, and virtual investigations; and hands-on explorations.

McGraw-Hill’s SRA Imagine It! is a comprehensive reading and English language arts program for students in PreK-6. Learning List recently reviewed SRA Imagine It! CCSS-aligned materials for grades K-6 and TEKS-aligned materials for grades K-5.

Read Naturally Live is a web-based program that provides differentiated instruction to meet the needs of struggling readers and second language learners in grades 1 through 8. The customizable program supports improved vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension .... Learning List has completed reviews for the web-based program in grades 1 through 8.

Gourmet Learning Reading is a vertically-aligned, supplemental reading comprehension program for grades 1-8. The program’s modular design meets a range of teaching needs, including whole-class instruction, supplemental instruction, and Response to Intervention (RtI). Learning List has completed reviews for the supplemental reading comprehension program for grades 1-8.

Texas Economics: Math & Personal Finance is a free set of lesson plans (OER) for teaching mathematics and personal financial literacy in grades K-12. Learning List has completed reviews for Personal Financial Literacy (Grades 4-6), Personal Financial Literacy - Lessons for Classrooms and After School Programs (Grades 7 & 8) and Texas Economics: Math & Personal Finance (Grades K-3).

WriteSteps is a comprehensive, stand-alone writing program for grades K-5. Learning List completed reviews of the comprehensive (K-5) program.

Mathalicious is an online, supplemental resource that supports Common Core middle school and high school math instruction. Instruction emphasizes the application of math to real-world issues and focuses on algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability at the high school level. Learning List has completed reviews for Mathalicious Lessons for Grades 6-8 as well as Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry.

The State Bar of Texas’ OYEZ, OYEZ, OH YAY! is a supplemental open-educational resource (OER) that supports social studies instruction for grade 8 and high school students. Learning List has completed reviews of these resources.

Learning List will be presenting a session titled "Unpacking the Standards in the Transformative Classroom" at the Texas ASCD's Ignite15 conference at the Irving Convention Center - 10:30AM today in the Junior Ballroom A1.

This morning, Ed Week Teacher had a great article explaining “3 Things You Can Do This Summer to Be a Better Teacher in the Fall.” The second point the article makes is “Read, Reflect, Plan,” with an emphasis on the importance of planning. In that regard...

American Learning Labs’ Getting Ready for Algebra is a supplemental print resource to help students in grade 6 prepare for algebra. Content is presented in two self-directed study workbooks.... Learning List has completed reviews of both resources.

Cosenza & Associates’ STAAR Mission Math is a supplemental, accelerated program to help students master the TEKS and prepare for STAAR math exams in grades K-12. Learning List recently reviewed STAAR Mission Math products for grades 4-8.

Jarrett Publishing’s Mastering the TEKS in World History is a supplemental test preparation program for world history available in print format. Learning List recently published an editorial review and alignment report for this book.

As Texas districts prepare for the 2015-2016 school year, we analyzed the IMA purchasing data* to identify trends that could offer valuable insights for districts and publishers alike. Take a look a this infographic (click to download) ...

Discovery Education’s Math Techbook for Texas provides comprehensive, web-based Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II courses aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Instruction connects mathematics to students’ interests, including careers. Learning List recently completed reviews for the Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II courses.

It’s axiomatic: students can’t learn what they are not being taught. As the song (above) suggests, if your instructional materials (IMs) are not well aligned to the state’s standards, your students’ test scores will likely reflect it.