Forde-Ferrier’s Ultimate STAAR Math Workbooks are supplemental products that supports students in grades 1-8 in preparing for the STAAR mathematics exams. Content is available in print format—consumable student workbooks. Instruction addresses the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Readiness and Supporting Standards at each grade level. Learning List has reviewed resources for grades 3-5. [Read more…]
Learning List Helps Educators Identify Materials for English Language Learners
As a means to understand how district and campus-level staff “acquire and use instructional materials for English language learners (ELLs),”the Council of the Great City Schools conducted a survey of educators in urban school districts nationwide during the 2012-13 school year. Of the 248 survey respondents, 59% were ELL teachers, specialists, and/or coordinators. Below are some key findings from the survey:
- 82% of respondents said their current ELL materials did not reflect the rigor required by standards.
- 48% used general education materials with ELLs; 42% used supplemental ELL materials in conjunction with core curriculum materials.
- 34% of respondents said that they know good materials for ELLs exist, but finding them is difficult and time consuming.
Learning List’s reviews can help educators identify products that support ELLs. Our alignment reports provide detailed information about each product’s alignment to standards. These reports analyze whether and specifically where the material addresses the content, context and the rigor required by the applicable standards, including the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, California, Florida, and Common Core State Standards. [Read more…]
New Product Review: 3P Learning Mathletics
3P Learning’s Mathletics is a supplemental product that supports intervention and enrichment in mathematics for students in grades K-12. Content is available online and includes some printable resources. Instruction is personalized for individual students and includes interactive learning activities that target specific standards and learning needs. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades K-6. [Read more…]
Review: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Resources
Very few products we reviewed are specific to Texas or include direct references to the TEKS in teacher and/or student materials. However, some products contain supplemental resources, such as lesson plans and correlation documents, to help Texas teachers plan TEKS-aligned instruction. Surprisingly, some products that include Texas in their titles (e.g., Pearson’s “Texas Manufacturing Welding”) do not include references to the TEKS. This is likely due to the fact that many CTE products, while suitable for high school instruction, are designed to meet the needs of community college students and students in career and technical schools. [Read more…]
A Thank You to My Teachers
During Teacher Appreciation week, I often hear of the amazing teachers that turn lives around. I read stories that inspire and motivate. But, there are many more untold stories of the impact that a good teacher has over the span of their career in education. And as I reflect on my experience as a student, I would like to thank all of the teachers from Rockwall ISD. [Read more…]
The Ripple Effect of Supporting New Teachers
One t
eacher I would like to thank is Ms. Anita Johnson, who taught English at Dallas ISD’s J.L. Long Middle School in the 1980s. Ms. Johnson was my supervising teacher when I completed a semester of student teaching in 1986. Ms. Johnson taught me how to structure a lesson, plan for contingencies, and use an overhead projector. More than that, she taught me the gentle balance that is classroom management—the importance of being kind, fair, and firm. [Read more…]
A Lasting Impact
I started high school in a class of over 800 students, a shocking transition from attending a small junior/senior high school on a military base. I did well in school, but stayed under the radar. I had a few teachers who took the time to push and challenge me, but none as much as my art teacher, Mrs. Stephens. She taught me to appreciate perspectives, styles, and to be an individual. More importantly, my opinions, strengths, tastes, and limitations were valued. [Read More …]
Things ALWAYS Happen for a Reason
I attended Westwood Elementary School in Friendswood, Texas during the late 1970’s. The school had a traffic signal light in the cafeteria. When the light was green, students could talk; yellow meant students could whisper;
but when it was on red, no one dared to speak. Unfortunately for me, I was known as a motor mouth and would always talk to my friends no matter what color the light. I finally had my day of reckoning when I was in fourth grade. I will NEVER forget this infamous day! The light was red and as usual, I was jabbering away to my friends. Little did I know there was a teacher, wearing a cream and green crocheted wide-striped sweater, watching me the entire time. After she had seen enough, she approached me, grabbed my arm and said, “Follow me young lady!”. All the way, she scolded me for not following the rules in the cafeteria. She then told me my punishment was that I had to sit on the stage in front of the student body for the remainder of the week. I was mortified! [Read More…]
Two Educators Who Changed My Life
I am forever indebted to my third grade teacher, Mrs. Adams, and principal, Dr. Woodward at Spring Creek Elementary School in Richardson, Texas. The compassion and empathy these women exhibited changed the course of my life.
My family moved to the United States when I was eight years old. Though I spoke English, it felt like a different language than “American” (and particular “Texan”). I had an accent which my new classmates had difficulty understanding. I used different words to describe things which my classmates ridiculed. And, I spelled words differently which lead me repeatedly to fail spelling tests. [Read more…]
New Product Review: Mastery Education Measuring Up End-of-Course: Algebra I, STAAR Edition
Learning List has reviewed Mastery Education’s Measuring Up End-of-Course: Algebra I, STAAR Edition. This is a supplemental print product that helps students prepare for the STAAR Algebra I end-of-course (EOC) exam. Content is organized in short lessons that address specific TEKS. Instruction provides ample opportunities for students to practice and apply problem-solving strategies. [Read more…]