Learning List Blog

National Teachers' Day is a special day to recognize and show appreciation to teachers in the USA for their extraordinary contributions to education and development. Here are 14 ways to celebrate and honor them for their special contributions!

ORIGO Stepping Stones is a comprehensive, mathematics curriculum for grades K-5 available in English and Spanish. Learning List has verified that Stepping Stones is aligned to 100% of the Common Core math standards in grades K-5, and with newly developed content, is aligned to 100% of the TEKS in grades 1-5, as well.

Over the last several weeks, several curriculum directors have called to ask what information they should take to the school board about the materials they are proposing for local adoption. Since the commissioner may ask for documentation to support the superintendent/board’s TEKS certification (i.e., to prove that materials are aligned to 100% of the TEKS for each grade and subject in the required curriculum, except PE), district staff would be prudent to provide the board w

Born in Chicago on April 22, 1902, Ralph W. Tyler was a visionary educator and a leading proponent of student-centered learning. At the request of the Carnegie Corporation, he chaired a committee that developed the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, in 1967. Today, NAEP is known as the “Nation’s Report Card” and it remains the most reliable national data on student achievement.

LearnZillion is an online, open educational resource (OER) that provides supplementary English language arts and reading (ELAR) instructional materials for grades 2-12. Resources are free and address the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Learning List recently completed reviews of their materials for grades 2-12.

'Tis the season for selecting instructional materials. Board members often ask me what questions they should be asking during their district’s selection process. Below are five important facts for Texas school board members to keep in mind and seven key questions for school board members in all states to ask....

American Legacy Publishing’s Studies Weekly Texas K-5 Social Studies Series provides resources to support elementary social studies instruction in print and online formats. With newly developed content, Learning List has verified that Studies Weekly is aligned to 100% of the TEKS for grades K-5.

The Neuhaus Education Center’s Scientific Spelling is a supplemental resource to support spelling instruction in grades 1-8 [in print format]. Learning List recently completed reviews of the materials for grades 1-8.

On March 24, Superintendents received TEA’s “To the Administrator Addressed” letter regarding ordering instructional materials and certifying their district’s compliance with the 100% Rule. State-adopted, non-adopted, comprehensive and supplemental materials may be considered when certifying that the district’s materials align to 100% of the TEKS for each grade/subject.

We won … now it’s on to Washington, D.C. for the 1776 Challenge Cup Finals! Dear Supporters: THANK YOU for helping Learning List become the People’s Choice education candidate in the 1776 Challenge Cup. We are overwhelmed not only by your votes but also by notes like the ones below...

Learning List has been nominated to compete for the “People’s Choice” position in the international 1776 Challenge Cup competition. Only four education startups internationally have been afforded this opportunity. Please take a minute (literally) to vote for Learning List.

Bedford, Freeman, & Worth’s Mathematical Modeling with Applications: Texas Edition is a comprehensive high school mathematics course available in print format. Learning List recently published a review of this course. Content emphasizes concepts presented in Algebra I and Geometry in order to prepare students for Algebra II

What do the labels “comprehensive” and “supplemental” mean as they relate to instructional materials. We examine the key distinguishing features.

Jarrett Publishing’s Mastering the TEKS in World Geography is a supplemental test preparation resource for the STAAR end-of-course exam in world geography available in print format. Learning List has recently published an alignment report and editorial review of this resource.

Last week, Education Week hosted a webinar addressing the mathematics standards that were most challenging for students to master. This analysis prompted Learning List to think about the Common Core mathematics products we’ve reviewed. In particular, we wondered which mathematics standards were least aligned in the products we’ve reviewed. We analyzed our data....

Voces® provides three supplemental, online courses to support English language arts instruction at grades 9 and 10: ELA Literature Digital Courseware, ELA Full-Spectrum Nonfiction Courseware, and Grammar & Writing. Learning List has recently completed reviews of these courses.

5 Key Features Make Learning List Unique: Learning List 1) Is a service, not a site; 2) Reviews comprehensive and supplemental materials; 3) Is Standards agnostic; 4) Empowers Choice and 5) Is Subscription-based.

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

Learning List has reviewed Sirius Education Solutions’ Grade 8 Science: STAAR Review and Preparation WorkText. This supplemental, consumable print resource prepares eighth grade students for the STAAR science exam.

First, why is alignment so important? Teachers rely on their instructional materials for 80% of their curriculum and expect that the materials the district purchases will be aligned to 100% of the standards. Yet the actual alignment percentage of materials does not always match a publisher's submitted alignment percentage.