Rally! Education’s Texas STAAR Reading for Figure 19 is a supplemental product that supports reading instruction and preparation for Texas’ STAAR Reading exams in grades 3-8. Content is available in print format. At each grade level, instruction focuses on the relevant reading comprehension skills identified in Figure 19 of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English language arts and reading. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades 5-8 (i.e., Levels E-H). [Read more…]
Supplemental Materials
Posts about Learning List’s reviews about supplemental materials
New Product Review: Blue Duck Education Mangahigh
Blue Duck Education’s Mangahigh is a supplemental online mathematics product that supports skills practice and test preparation in grades K-8 and Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and Precalculus high school courses. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades K-8 and Algebra I. Content is formatted in math games that allow students to practice math skills. [Read more…]
New Product Review: NSF C5 Project AP CSP Cyber Supplemental
Learning List has reviewed NSF (National Science Foundation) C5 Project’s AP CSP Cyber Supplemental. This is a supplemental product that supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles (CSP) courses. Content is available online. Course resources are made up of downloadable PowerPoint lecture slides and downloadable lab activities and assessments in Word format. Instruction addresses the cybersecurity-related learning objectives and essential knowledge statements of the College Board’s course framework for AP Computer Science Principles. [Read more…]
New Product Review: Perfection Learning Human Geography: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Exam
Learning List has reviewed Perfection Learning’s Human Geography: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Exam. This test preparation product supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography courses. Content is available in print and digital formats. Instruction provides a review of human geography concepts (e.g., the spatial distribution of resources) and practice activities designed to prepare students for the AP exam. [Read more…]
New Product Review: GameSalad
GameSalad is a supplemental computer science program that supports instruction in grades PK-12. Content is available online and includes printable resources, such as lesson plans, worksheets, and quizzes. Instruction is project based and introduces students to concepts in programming and game design without the need to learn programming languages and coding skills. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades 3-8. [Read more…]
New Product Review: Benchmark Education STAAR Reading Practice
Learning List has reviewed Benchmark Education’s STAAR Reading Practice. This test preparation product helps Texas students in grades 2-6 prepare for STAAR Reading exams. Content is available in print format. Instruction focuses on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Readiness and Supporting Standards at each grade level and helping students build test-taking skills. [Read more…]
New Product Review: Writing A-Z
Learning A-Z’s Writing A-Z is a supplemental product that addresses writing instruction in grades pre-K-6. Content is available online and includes printable resources. Instruction develops students understanding of the writing process and builds writing skills across a variety of genres, including narrative, informational/explanatory, persuasive, and transactional (e.g., letters) writing. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades K-5. [Read more…]
New Product Review: USATestprep
USATestprep is a supplemental online test preparation product that helps students prepare for a variety of standardized tests, including STAAR, Advanced Placement, and SAT/ACT exams. Content is available online and includes printable materials. USATestprep provides a variety of assessment resources and short instructional activities linked to standards. Learning List reviewed resources designed to help students master the Algebra I Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and prepare for STAAR testing. [Read more…]
New Product Review: Edmentum Study Island—Math
Edmentum’s Study Island is a supplemental online product that helps students in grades K-12 master the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and prepare for STAAR exams. Content is available for mathematics, English language arts/reading, science, and social studies. Resources support teacher-guided instruction and independent study. Teachers may create their own lessons and assessments using online tools. Learning List recently reviewed math materials for grade 3. [Read more…]
What to Expect from Supplemental Materials
A supplemental resource is designed to complement and support comprehensive materials. Publishers design supplemental resources for different purposes, including to:
- help students learn the content and practice the skills contained in all of the standards for a particular grade and subject;
- offer some of the same resources as comprehensive materials to support students in learning a specific subset of standards (e.g., writing standards, Personal Financial Literacy, etc…);
- target specific standards with which students typically struggle;
- build skills addressed across grade level standards; or
- support specific student learning needs, such as the needs of English language learners, students with disabilities, or advanced learners.
Supplemental materials vary in the percentage of standards they intend to address. Some intend to align to all grade-level standards, but most do not. A supplemental resource that is aligned to only 50% of the grade-level standards may be the best material to select if it is aligned to the standards you need it to teach. Similarly, a resource that intends to build vocabulary may do so effectively even though it is aligned to fewer than 10% of the grade level standards because it does not teach the other content and skills the standards require. Thus, such a product may be a great addition to your district’s instructional arsenal despite its low alignment percentage. [Read more…]