Instructional Materials Reviewed

New Product: Sirius Education Solutions STAAR Readiness Review and Practice Math Grades 6-8

September 6, 2022May 29, 2019

If your district is looking for a STAAR test preparation product, take a look at Learning List’s review of Sirius Education Solutions STAAR Readiness Review and Practice.

Sirius Education Solutions STAAR Readiness Review and Practice for grades 6-8 math provides supplemental test-preparation products intended to help Texas middle school and high school students prepare for STAAR assessments. Content is available in print format with online teacher editions. Learning List only had access to the print student edition for this review.

New Product: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Literature

September 6, 2022May 22, 2019

Are your teachers ready for new ELA materials for middle school? Take a look at Learning List’s reviews of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Literature.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Literature is a comprehensive literacy program that supports English language arts instruction for grades 6 through 8. Content is available in print and digital formats. Instruction develops students’ reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking skills with learning activities that provide numerous opportunities and structures for effective group and partner work.

New Product: Mentoring Minds ThinkUp! ELAR for TEKS

September 6, 2022April 30, 2019

Do you need a product to support student mastery of TEKS? Take a look at Learning List’s reviews of Mentoring Minds ThinkUp! ELAR.

Learning List recently reviewed Mentoring Minds ThinkUp! ELAR which supports instruction in grades K through 8. Content is available in print with an online pre-assessment. This product is designed to develop literacy skills through the integration of the seven strands of the 2017 TEKS for ELAR. ThinkUp! also supports instruction in the 9 traits of critical thinking as defined by Mentoring Minds. Materials are available in English and Spanish.

New Product: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Reading for CCSS

August 30, 2022April 28, 2019

Is your district looking for a reading product that supports balanced literacy with more traditional resources for teachers and students? Take a look at Learning List’s reviews of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Reading.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Reading is a comprehensive literacy program that supports English language arts and reading instruction in kindergarten through 6^th grade. Content is available in print and digital formats. Instruction develops students’ reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills using authentic texts from a variety of genres.

New Review: Heinemann’s Units of Study in Reading Middle School Grades

June 28, 2022April 25, 2019

Which instructional materials is your district considering for reading instruction in middle school? Particularly if you are implementing the reading workshop model, consider Learning List’s review of Heinemann’s Units of Study in Reading Middle School Grades (Units of Study Reading).

Units of Study Reading is a supplemental reading product for students in grades 6 through 8. The program is primarily an instructional narrative for teachers and includes print and online teaching resources. Lucy Calkins’ workshop model underpins the framework for reading instruction focusing on developing avid readers who choose and understand increasingly complex texts. Units are not specific to a grade level which means district or campus staff sequence the units based on the district’s curriculum, availability of resources, and student needs or reading levels. Teachers without prior experience in teaching writing workshop will require significant professional development and time to study materials and resources to ensure successful implementation. [Read more. . . ]

New Product: Shurley English

September 6, 2022April 4, 2019

If your district needs a product to support grammar and writing instruction, take a look at Learning List’s review of Shurley English for grades 5 through 8.

Shurley English is a comprehensive ELAR product. Materials are available online for grades 5 through 8 and in print for grades 5 and 6. The material focuses on building effective communication skills through the development of grammar, language skills, writing, and oral communication.

New Product: Heinemann’s Units of Study in Writing

June 28, 2022April 1, 2019

Which instructional materials is your district considering for writing instruction? Take a look at Learning List’s reviews of Heinemann’s Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing^TM (Grades K-5) and Heinemann’s Units of Study in Argument, Information, and Narrative Writing^TM (Grades 6-8) (Units of Study Writing).

Units of Study Writing is a supplemental writing product for students in grades K-8. The program is primarily an instructional narrative for teachers and includes print and online teaching resources. Lucy Calkins’ workshop model underpins the framework for writing instruction in this series. Teachers without prior experience in teaching writing workshop will require significant professional development and time to study materials and resources to ensure successful implementation.

Units of Study Writing dovetails with Heinemann’s Units for Reading^TM, which Learning List has reviewed. Both products use similar structures, instructional strategies, and vocabulary across grade levels and content areas. This provides seamless transitions for students from grade to grade. Learning List’s alignment reports show how the material’s vertical alignment of skills guide teachers in supporting students at all proficiency levels. [Read more. . . ]

New Product Review: Edgenuity Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, and Physics

July 24, 2022March 28, 2019

Learning List recently reviewed Edgenuity’s Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, and Physics courses. These video-based courses address the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and are appropriate for blended learning and/or self-paced instruction. However, teacher involvement improves rigor and increases the likelihood of student success.

A guiding question, such as “What is the relationship between hypotheses, theories, and laws?” forms the basis of each lesson. A variety of teachers provide instruction in short video lectures, supported by notes, demonstrations, guided practice, and brief checks for understanding. Some lessons include activities such as using Gizmos to explore Mystery Powder Analysis. Each lesson concludes with a teacher-led review, practice activities, and a short quiz. Each unit ends with a multiple-choice test. [Read more. . . ]

New Product: BrainPOP for Algebra I, U.S. History, and Biology

September 6, 2022March 25, 2019

Learning List recently reviewed BrainPOP’s Algebra I, U.S. History, and Biology resources for high school. BrainPOP is a supplemental program that supports instruction in the core content areas as well as technology, fine arts, and health. Resources are available online and include some printable materials. Instruction uses videos and interactive concept maps to address content.

BrainPOP organizes content in “Topics” that address a range of subject-area concepts (e.g., historical figures, cells, polynomials). Topics include a short movie in which animated characters explore a topic-related question, provide background information, explore and illustrate key concepts, and introduce and define new vocabulary. [Read more. . . ]

New Product Review: Heinemann’s Units of Study in Phonics

September 6, 2022March 20, 2019

Is your district trying to connect the dots for the adoption of new ELAR materials? Take a look at this new review to see if Heinemann’s Units of Study in Phonics^TM is what you are looking for.

Heinemann’s Units of Study in Phonics is a supplemental reading product for students in grades K-1. The program is primarily an instructional narrative for teachers; few online student resources are provided. A condensed workshop model underpins the framework for phonics instruction focusing on instruction that transfers to support students’ reading and writing. Units of Study in Phonics dovetails with Heinemann’s Units of Study for Reading and Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing for grades K-1. Learning List has reviewed Units of Study for Reading and Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing. [Read more. . . ]

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