Having facilitated many districts’ adoption processes and listened to educators articulate what they are looking for in instructional materials, we have observed that assessments are often under assessed during an adoption/selection process. Assessments are a critical component of the instructional cycle. Therefore, as part of Learning List’s qualitative, Editorial Review of each instructional material, we evaluate the material’s assessments. Based on our review of thousands of instructional materials, we offer the following four key considerations to help you determine whether the assessments embedded in an instructional material will meet your needs.
Project Based Learning
Posts about materials that support project-based learning
New Instructional Material Reviews: Kaplan’s Connect4Learning
Is your district looking for a fully integrated prekindergarten system? Take a look at Learning List’s reviews of Kaplan’s Connect4Learning.
Kaplan’s Connect4Learning is a comprehensive program for Prekindergarten. The program provides an interdisciplinary approach, integrating literacy, mathematics, science, and social and emotional development. The curriculum is designed to support development of the whole child.
How Can Instructional Materials Support Growth Mindset?
Growth Mindset, a term coined by Carol Dweck, addresses the beliefs and resulting actions that people have about learning. People with a growth mindset believe that their abilities, intelligence levels, and skills will improve over time and as a result of effort. They believe they can learn.
Much of what is written about growth mindset and the strategies to develop it focuses on pedagogy. While establishing a growth mindset culture in the classroom is primarily dependent on the teacher’s behavior, expectations, and instruction, the design and contents of the instructional materials can also support or hinder the development of a growth mindset.
New Product Review: MATHia
Are you looking for a digital math program that supports students’ independent learning? Take a look at Learning List’s reviews of MATHia®.
Carnegie Learning’s MATHia® is a digital math program for students in grades 6-12. The MATHia® program is an online, adaptive tutor that provides instruction and practice, personalized to meet students’ individual learning needs. The units and topics correlate to content in math textbooks published by Carnegie Learning; however, the program can be used to supplement other primary resources.
New Curriculum Review: American Reading Company (ARC) Core
American Reading Company’s (ARC) Core is a comprehensive, project-based reading, writing, and research program for students in grades K-12. Available in print and online formats, resourcesaddress the instructional shifts of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) (e.g., “Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction”). Instruction is organized in a workshop structure that provides opportunities for whole class, small group, and one-on-one instruction. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades K-5. [Read more…]
New Instructional Material Review: NICERC Computer Science
Learning List has reviewed the National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center’s (NICERC) Computer Science course. This is a comprehensive product that supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles courses. Content is available online and is comprised of printable PDF materials. Online content is not interactive. Instruction is project based and emphasizes the development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills in the context of computer science.[Read more…]
New Curriculum Review: UTeach Computer Science Principles
Learning List has reviewed UTeach Computer Science (CS) Principles. This comprehensive product supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles courses. Content is available in a web-based format and may be downloaded as a PDF. Instruction is project-based and emphasizes collaborative learning activities that develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Student materials are available at no cost. [Read more…]