Over the years, numerous subscribing districts have contacted us for help finding instructional materials to consider for a new course they were planning to offer. We would contact other districts that subscribe to our service and compile a materials list for the relevant course. One day, a grateful curriculum director explained that the list we gave her had saved her staff weeks of work. That sparked an idea! We could leverage our relationships with districts and publishers alike to create a robust materials list for the range of subjects and courses schools offer.
Do Your Instructional Materials Support and Reinforce Questioning That Promotes Critical Thinking?
Questioning has a significant impact on critical thinking and student learning. In the article, “Questioning in the Classroom: An Updated Guide,” Terry Heick outlines the strengths and weaknesses of questions. Good questions:
- Encourage further inquiry and learning
- Reveal subtleties in students’ understanding
- Promote personalized learning
How Much Influence Do Principals Have When It Comes to Selecting and Using Instructional Materials?
What is the principal’s role in selecting and implementing materials? The RAND Corporation’s study titled, School Leader’s Role in Selecting and Supporting Teachers’ Use of Instructional Materials, answers that question. The study explored how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted school leaders’ perception of materials’ quality, as well as their role in selecting and implementing instructional materials. The study was based on qualitative, semi-structured interviews …
New Review: Imagine Language & Literacy
Imagine Language & Literacy supplemental materials
Would your students benefit from a digital material to supplement their language arts instruction? Take a look at Learning List’s review of Imagine Learning’s Imagine Language and Literacy.
Imagine Language and Literacy is an adaptive digital program designed to accelerate students’ reading and language proficiency. Learning List recently reviewed the content for grades K-5. The material intends to supplement core literacy instruction by providing lessons and practice in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Using the Publisher’s Correlation to Get the Biggest Bang-for-Your-Buck From Your Materials
Whether you are reviewing the alignment of a material before you purchase it or are planning instruction with a material you already own, the publisher’s correlation can be an invaluable resource. The correlation identifies which standards the material has attempted to address and directs teachers to specific content in the material that addresses those standards.
New Review: Imagine Math
Imagine Math supplemental materials
Does your district need supplemental math materials to support students in K-8? Take a look at Learning List’s review of Imagine Learning’s Imagine Math.
Imagine Learning’s Imagine Math is an adaptive digital program designed to supplement core mathematics instruction for grades PreK-Geometry. Learning List recently reviewed the content for grades PreK-8.
Are Your Materials A Safety Net or a Sieve?
The mass resignation of teachers and resulting nationwide teacher shortages highlight the importance of having high-quality instructional materials. Prior to the pandemic, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Washington[i] were among the states experiencing severe shortages of fully-prepared, credentialed teachers. During the 2020-21 school year, nearly 20 percent of California’s K-12 classrooms were taught by underprepared teachers.[ii] And, according to the National …
New Curriculum Review: STEMscopes Math Grades 6-Algebra I
Does your district need math instructional materials that develop critical thinking skills? Learning List has just reviewed the quality, alignment and technology compatibility of Accelerate Learning’s STEMscopes Math. This blog post shares a few highlights from our reviewer’s review.
Accelerate Learning’s STEMscopes Math is a comprehensive mathematics program for grades K-Algebra I. Learning List recently completed a curriculum review of grades 6-Algebra I. The materials are digital, with the option of printing PDF documents for most program components.
Teaching a New Course This year? If So, Some Advice…
Are you teaching a new grade level or subject this year? If so, you likely do not feel like you have had enough time to plan.
Three years into my teaching career I moved between campuses and inherited a book cart full of textbooks and supplemental materials for my new assignment. I had no idea whether the materials were current or well-aligned to the current standards for the course! To make things more difficult, I was a singleton teacher and had no one to ask. It took me a long time to wade through what I had, and I am quite sure that I was missing components of the material that came with the original purchase.
If you are in a similar position, consider these suggestions to help you plan instruction efficiently with materials you have inherited.
Invest ESSER Funds for Lasting Impact
Have you ever purchased K-12 textbooks or online instructional materials that are not well-aligned to the standards? Where are those materials today – on a bookshelf, in a closet, in the district’s warehouse? Selecting new instructional materials or even deciding which existing materials to use in a lesson can be a daunting task.