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Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbooks are comprehensive, web-based social studies courses for middle school and high school students. Courses include World Geography and Cultures and United States History (Prehistory to Reconstruction) at the middle school level and United States History (Civil War to Present) at the high school level . Each course includes high-quality and engaging content provided by the Discovery Channel and MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. Course resources support instruction in flipped classrooms and blended learning environments. Each course is inquiry-based and emphasizes the development of critical thinking and literacy skills, particularly skills in reading informational texts. Lessons focus on answering “essential questions” and are organized using the 5E Instructional Model (i.e., Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate). Core content is presented in Core Interactive Text (CIT) that includes photographs, illustrations, and multimedia features, such as interactive maps and embedded videos. Each CIT ends with discussion questions and checks for understanding. CITs, which may be printed, are available in Spanish and in two Lexile-based reading levels for students at or below grade-level. A brief video overview is available here . Elaborate activities require that students use social studies and critical thinking skills to develop products, such an argument for a debate, a presentation to Congress, or an analysis of a primary source document. Some Elaborate activities are presented in slide shows in which students investigate concepts using interactive tools (e.g., maps, timelines). Activities include printable guides for both teachers and students. Discovery Education’s “Board Builder” tool encourages students to take ownership of learning through the process of creating and sharing their own content. Using the Board Builder platform, students can create personalized “boards” that incorporate their own text, videos, and photos, as well as editable video and audio files from Discovery Education. Once approved by teachers, student boards may be shared with classmates or the larger community of Discovery Education users. Other resources include “Global Wrap” video summaries of the week’s most important new stories and an interactive atlas that displays a variety of data (e.g., population density, landforms) at the regional or global levels. Teacher resources for each lesson include links to relevant standards, learning objectives, and “Model Lessons.” Model lessons map a multi-day, 5E lesson cycle with suggested pacing and provide step-by-step guidance in implementing each activity. A companion teacher guide for the course is available in print format. Discovery Education’s Teacher Center provides additional resources, including interactive investigations, graphic organizers, outline maps, and additional video clips to support instruction. About Discovery Education : "Discovery Education offers a breadth and depth of digital media content that is immersive, engaging and brings the world into the classroom to give every student a chance to experience fascinating people, places, and events. All content is aligned to state standards, can be aligned to custom curriculum, and supports classroom instruction regardless of the technology platform."

Savvas Education’s Texas Social Studies Series provides comprehensive middle school and high school social studies courses in print and digital formats.  Courses support instruction in blended learning and flipped classroom environments and include U.S. History , World History , Economics , and U.S. Government at the high school level and Contemporary World Cultures , Texas History , and U.S. History at the middle school level.  Instruction in each course uses storytelling and project-based learning to engage students in social studies and to make content relevant. Click here for a video overview. Content is structured using a four-part model: (1) Connect, (2) Investigate, (3) Synthesize and (4) Demonstrate. “Connect” is a start-up activity focused on engaging students in learning. Core instruction is provide in “Investigate” activities that include narrative text, videos, and interactive maps and learning tools. “Synthesize” activities allow students to apply what they have learned. “Demonstrate” includes tests that provide customized remediation or enrichment and performance-based assessments. Courses include “My Story” videos provided by NBC Learn . My Story videos focus on the lives and experiences of individuals who lived in a particular historical period or geographic region.  Other course resources include “Flipped Videos,” “Interactive Reading Notepads” and “Interactive Primary Source Documents.” Flipped Videos may be used to flip instruction, provide remediation, or to support students who have been absent. The Interactive Reading Notepad identifies new vocabulary, clarifies learning objectives and provides comprehension questions to support the close reading of informational texts. The Primary Source Document resource includes interactive tools and prompts to help all students understand and analyze primary source materials. Teacher resources include comprehensive lesson plans with overviews of all print and online instructional materials. Lesson plans provide step-by-step guidance in implementing activities with students and point-of-use TEKS and ELPS, differentiation strategies, and professional development videos. Click here for a Savvas demo.

CORD Communications’ “Learning in Context” program for high school math instruction provides courses for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II in print and digital formats. Across courses, instruction focuses on providing the real-world context for learning mathematics and supporting students’ retention of content. Each course relies on the “Contextual Learning” instructional model which is built around five strategies abbreviated in the acronym REACT: Relating . Connect content to what students have previously learned Experiencing . Teacher-led instruction and hands-on learning experiences Applying . Solve real-world problems Cooperating . Collaborative learning activities Transferring . Application of skills to new situations and contexts Courses highlight the application of mathematics in STEM-based careers and include a feature titled “Why should I learn this?” that explains how math is used the workplace (e.g., Opticians use real numbers to classify the curvature of optical lenses).  Instruction includes “Math Application” activities that present multi-step, workplace-related problems. Courses also include lab activities in which students solve hands-on problems using graphing calculators and critical thinking skills. Teacher editions include pacing guides for blocks of 50-minute periods, strategies for implementing the REACT model, and guidance for in-class assignments and homework. Point-of-use resources include teaching notes, answer keys, and references to related content in ancillary materials. About CORD : CORD Communications serves the educational market by providing quality products and services designed to improve student achievement by integrating active learning into academic and career and technology classrooms.  CORD Communications strives to empower educators to implement contextual learning in the classroom. CORD Communications is affiliated with  CORD , the leading educational change agency, and accomplishes its purpose by marketing and disseminating programs developed by CORD and others .

Although the state of Texas has chosen not to adopt the Common Core State Standard s (CCSS) as the state’s K-12 English language arts and math standards, Texas school boards are, nevertheless, facing an ongoing struggle over the CCSS. In 2013, the Texas legislature passed a law, Texas Education Code §28.002(b) which prohibits: (1)   The State Board of Education from adopting the CCSS as the “essential knowledge and skills” for the State of Texas; (2)   School districts from teaching the CCSS as the essential knowledge and skills for any foundation or enrichment course; and (3)   School districts/charter schools from being required to teach the CCSS (as, for example, a condition of accepting federal or grant funding). “Common Core” resources are seeping into Texas classrooms, and some people allege that districts are breaking the law if their teachers use CCSS-aligned materials.  When asked whether it is illegal for Texas educators to use instructional materials aligned to the CCSS, the Texas Attorney General decided that as long as a resource aligns to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills ( TEKS ) it is permissible for Texas school districts to use it, even if the material also aligns to the CCSS. Therefore, a district is not necessarily breaking the law just because its teachers are using materials that claim to be aligned to the CCSS. Why are Texas teachers using CCSS-aligned materials?  Publishers of K-12 instructional materials develop products to appeal to their largest potential market. In the past, California and Texas were the two largest potential markets for K-12 materials. However, the widespread adoption of the CCSS changed that calculation. Because more than 40 states have adopted the CCSS, the number of potential customers for CCSS-aligned materials far exceeds the number of districts that need TEKS-aligned materials. Therefore, many more publishers develop materials that address the CCSS than materials that address only the TEKS. CCSS-aligned materials may, however, also be aligned to other states’ standards, including the TEKS. The materials may address each state’s standards to a different degree and in different locations within the product. Therefore, to ensure that they are not violating the law against teaching the CCSS, it is critical that Texas educators ensure that the materials they use are aligned to the TEKS. How do districts accomplish this? (1)   Purchase state-adopted materials. The state has a rigorous process for validating that materials submitted for state adoption are aligned to TEKS. However, for a variety of reasons, many publishers choose not to submit their materials for state adoption. Texas law allows districts to purchase non-state-adopted materials and many choose to do that because non-adopted materials may meet their students’ needs better or may be less expensive than state-adopted materials. (2)   Districts can rely on the publisher’s alignment report to ensure that the products they use align to the TEKS. However, many educators evaluate alignment differently from publishers. (3)   Districts can require their teachers to verify the alignment of the materials the district is using. It takes between 8 and 10 hours to verify the TEKS alignment for one product in one grade level; 104 to 130 hours to do the same for one product that spans grades K-12. (4)   A low-cost, time-saving alternative is to subscribe to Learning List . Learning List features a detailed, independent TEKS alignment report for each state-adopted and non-adopted instructional material. Subscribing districts may access any completed alignment report and may request that Learning List develop a TEKS alignment report for the materials (in the four core subjects) that their district already uses. In this way, Learning List gives districts peace of mind that the materials their teachers are using are aligned to the TEKS and thus, that the district is in compliance with the law.

Big Ideas Learning ® provides comprehensive courses for Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra II in its Big Ideas Math® series for Texas high schools.  Courses integrate the Mathematical Process Standards throughout instruction and include support for English language learners and Response to Intervention at each tier. Instruction encourages students to think mathematically, justify their conclusions, and communicate their reasoning using precise language. Virtual samples are available here .  Learning List  has reviewed this series relative to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills ( TEKS ). In each course, chapters begin with two short features: (1) a review of prior learning titled “Maintaining Mathematical Proficiency” and (2) a set of exercises focused on Texas’ Mathematical Process Standards. New concepts are framed by an “Essential Question” and include a brief set of “Explorations” exercises that help students make sense of what they are learning. Online resources include a “See the Big Idea” video that connects each chapter’s content to real-life STEM issues.  Each chapter has a TEKS-based practice test (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) and a performance task in which students apply new learning to a real-life problem. Big Ideas Learning provides a comprehensive correlation to the TEKS as well as point-of-use references to the relevant TEKS in each course’s teacher edition.  Teacher resources also include point-of-use pacing guides, answer keys, and guidance in differentiating instruction, designing interventions, and supporting ELLs. Print teacher editions reference the online resources that are available to support each lesson. Big Ideas Math® is a registered trademarks of Larson Texts, Inc.

Scientific Minds MC 2 in Agriculture is a supplemental video-based science resource for high school courses in agriscience and biology.   Learning List  has reviewed this relative to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills ( TEKS ). Content covers fundamental concepts in agriculture and supports instruction in the core content areas, particularly science and math. Lessons are presented in 30 short videos with accompanying worksheets and extension activities. Content addresses topics in soil, plant, and animal science and issues in environmental science (e.g., pollution and conservation of resources). Lessons are presented in short, narrated videos (8 to 10 minutes) that include images, animations, and brief sets of notes. Videos present core agricultural content aligned to national Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources (AFNR) standards and include an “Explore the Core” section that focuses on the core content areas and reviews SAT vocabulary. Each video lesson includes an accompanying worksheet that may be downloaded in PDF format. See the sample video on the right. Worksheets review video content and include cross-curricular activities specific to each of the core subject areas. Worksheets also include hands-on extension activities.  Some of these activities are quite detailed (e.g., retrieving ovum from the reproductive tract of a cow). Each Lesson also includes a multiple-choice quiz. Students with accounts may take quizzes online or quizzes may be downloaded for paper-and-pencil delivery. About Scientific Mind s: Scientific Minds ® , LLC is a publisher of technology-based science education products built from  state standards . Their product development is based on research proving that students absorb information best in small yet thought-provoking chunks. Their versatile, supplemental products will support any science curriculum.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Texas High School Math Series provides comprehensive Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II courses designed specifically for Texas students. Learning List has reviewed each course as submitted for state adoption in Texas.  The courses support instruction in blended learning environments and include videos, interactive tools, and adaptive software that customizes instruction based on individual student needs. Instruction combines Texas’ math content and process standards and includes performance-based assessments and opportunities for students to write about math concepts. Online content includes interactive problem sets, videos and tutorials, and the Personal Math Trainer (PMT), powered by Knewton™, through a Student Dashboard. Interactive problems provide students with immediate corrective feedback. Videos highlight the real-world applications of algebra, and video tutorials explain example problems. Lesson videos include scannable QR codes that enable students to access them on smartphones. The PMT is an adaptive practice, homework, and formative assessment tool that pinpoints students’ needs to deliver targeted remediation, extension, and enrichment in order to help them learn more efficiently and effectively. The PMT prescribes intervention activities based on individual student work and automatically grades assignments. Grades are reported on the teacher dashboard. Teacher resources include links to the TEKS , background in key content, questioning strategies, planning and pacing guides, and support for differentiating instruction and teaching struggling readers. Teachers have access to materials for English language learners, Response to Intervention, and advanced learners. Online professional development resources include teaching tips and videos in which master teachers model effective strategies in the classroom. About HMH:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is dedicated to providing forward-thinking solutions in educational innovation, content, and technology. W e help meet the needs of students and teachers preparing for the Texas assessment.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s (HMH) Texas Social Studies Series provides comprehensive core social studies courses for grades 6 through 11. Learning List  reviewed the course for each grade level as submitted for state adoption in Texas. Middle school courses include: Contemporary World Studies: People, Places, and Societies ; Texas History ; and United States History: Early Colonial Period Through Reconstruction. High school courses include: World Geography , World History , and The Americans: U.S. History Since 1877. Courses are available in print and online versions and may be downloaded as eReader files. Each course integrates literacy instruction and support for active reading with engaging social studies content. Courses focus on making historical events relevant to students’ lives through videos, interactive learning experiences, and features that help students see why content matters to them. Course videos are provided by History® . Content is organized around essential questions and includes frequent references to primary source documents. Instruction emphasizes the development of skills such as accessing and evaluating information, reading maps and graphs, and collaborating with others and each course includes specific resources to help students master the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). A Spanish-language student edition is available for each middle school course and a Texas Guided Reading Workbook in Spanish and English is available for courses across grade levels. Courses include formative quizzes and summative chapter tests. Chapter tests are provided in multiple versions for students at different levels. Teachers also have access to the ExamView® Assessment Suite, which allows users to create customized tests in English and Spanish. Teacher editions include comprehensive alignments to the TEKS and the ELPS; planning guides; and support for introducing content, pre-teaching, and providing direct instruction. Online teacher resources include editable PowerPoints with interactive content and point-of use links to videos, maps, and primary sources. You can find more information at HMH Texas Social Studies website .

One of the joys of being involved in Learning List is working with the outstanding, passionate educators from across the country who do our alignment verifications and editorial reviews.  The other night, I contacted one of our reviewers to ask if she would be available to complete an alignment verification. She mentioned that she was about to host a dinner and asked if we could talk in the morning. The next morning, I asked her how her dinner was. She explained that her guest was a very special former student. "I met Jorvis when he was a 12-year-old student in the high-poverty, high-minority middle school where I was principal. Jorvis was always well-spoken and believed in speaking his mind, particularly where he felt injustice occurred. During this time, I met one of Jorvis' older brothers, who became active on the streets. This brother, truly a challenge, was diagnosed with cancer during this time and died soon thereafter. Through this illness, Jorvis and his younger brother struggled. Jorvis fought harder to be successful; his young brother went the other direction, getting into trouble and mixed up with drugs. Then Jorvis' oldest brother and his dad were incarcerated due to an incident where the dad shot the oldest brother. Jorvis went on to high school to become a positive leader and role model.  As the new high school principal, I had the privilege of watching him become Vice President of his senior class and handed him his diploma when he graduated. Jorvis enrolled in Texas A&M Kingsville and quickly became a leader in organizations, his classes, and his work. He even became a speaker on the local university radio station. When he returns to Bryan, Jorvis visits his high school to see his teachers, speak to students about their power to be successful regardless of their circumstances, and he continues to be a leader in his home church. Jorvis has a Facebook page titled, “Keys2Succeed” which contains his favorite quote: "It's not what they call you, it's what you answer to." Jorvis dreams big and truly believes God has a plan for his life. He dreams about owning his own TV station and working with Oprah Winfrey. Recently, his youngest brother was accepted to Texas A&M University College Station because, as he expressed to Jorvis, he has seen how successful Jorvis has become." Jorvis has high expectations for himself and believes he can inspire others to have high expectations for themselves no matter what their circumstances. Jorvis' "Blueprint for Success in Life!"   that got me thinking … setting goals and expectations, isn’t that what standards are all about? Read more about Jorvis’ "Keys2Succeed" on his website . Jorvis McGee is a motivational speaker for schools and is founder of Keys2Succeed. He's also a senior at Texas A&M University in Kingsville - Class of 2015. Jorvis can be contacted at jorvismcgee@hotmail.com.

We welcome all teachers, students and school administrators back to school across the country. With over 3.7 million views, Kid President's Pep Talk to Teachers and Students is a great way to start the school year. Enjoy the video: Kid President's Pep Talk We wish all a happy new school year.

As the industry-leading instructional materials review service for schools and districts, Learning List has designed a robust review process specifically intended to inform educator choice. As one curriculum director observed: “Learning List was built from the ground up to respond specifically to educators’ needs. And it does.” Learning List is a standards-neutral, independent review service accountable only to subscribing schools and districts. However, the service creates value for publishers, as well. Learning List’s reviews are descriptive, not critical. The reviews do not rate products or determine which materials are best or most appropriate. Learning List believes that educators are the most qualified to determine which materials would be best for their students. The reviews help each school or district select the standards-aligned instructional materials that will lead to the greatest success of their particular students. Though our reviews are independent, Learning List partners with publishers to provide rigorous, clear, and complete assessments of instructional materials. Publishers preview the editorial reviews before they are published to ensure their factual accuracy. Publishers are also afforded an opportunity to respond to Learning List’s alignment decisions before alignment reports are posted. By working together, Learning List and publishers ensure that the reviews are more valuable to educators and the instructional materials are more valuable to students. Today, anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of information technology and no actual content knowledge can publish materials and claim alignment to standards. Conversely, in today’s world of high-stakes testing, districts have a greater need than ever before for instructional materials that are truly aligned to the content, context, and cognitive demand of their state’s chosen curriculum standards. Through collaboration, Learning List and publishers can help educators navigate the increasingly chaotic instructional materials market by providing districts with the timely and accurate information they need to find the instructional materials that are best for their students. For more information about the benefits of Learning List, you can schedule a webinar via this link .

One of the most significant goals that educators have is developing 21st-Century critical thinkers. The portfolio of instructional materials that Mentoring Minds has developed is designed to work toward that goal.  Mentoring Minds provides grade-specific supplemental instructional materials to support K-8 students’ preparation for STAAR tests in reading, writing, math, and science. Products include: Motivation Reading (grades 2-5) Motivation Writing (grade 4) Motivation Math (grades 1-5) Motivation Science (grades 3-5, and grade 8) Motivation products for each subject and grade level are organized in terms of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and focus on preparing students for STAAR tests.  Content is provided in TEKS-specific units and includes opportunities for students to practice for standardized exams.  In both teacher and student editions, the table of contents reference the specific TEKS addressed by each unit, and the header of each page references the unit’s TEKS focus standard.  Instruction includes critical thinking activities, opportunities to work with peers, games and puzzles, and activities to be completed at home with parents. Mentoring Mind resources include TEKS support for teachers and tools to help teachers and students track TEKS mastery. Teacher edition units begin with an overview of the unit’s focus standard. An “Unpacking the Standards” feature clarifies the standard’s student expectations and the prerequisite knowledge and skills needed to master the standard. Teacher editions provide comprehensive guidance in implementing unit activities with students and include charts and references that link each unit activity and assessment question to the relevant TEKS, Bloom’s Taxonomy level, and Webb’s Depth of Knowledge level. A “Class Performance Chart” helps teachers track class mastery of the TEKS. Student editions have a “Chart Your Success” tool that allows students to monitor their own progress. About Mentoring Minds : Mentoring Minds is a national educational publisher developing proven K-12 instructional materials that encourage critical thinking for life. Their mission and commitment is to motivate children to think critically and to learn effective problem-solving skills in the classroom that will increase their success and prepare them for life in the 21st-century global marketplace.