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Learning List has reviewed Corwin Press’ Puzzle Piece Phonics (PPP) , which is a supplemental product that supports word study in grades K-2. Content is available in print format. Across grades, the program provides systematic and explicit instruction in spelling and phonics patterns. Instruction incorporates puzzle piece manipulatives that help students recognize sound and spelling patterns and their connections to word structure. PPP’s core content is organized in units, or “Concepts.” Each Concept is broken into instructional weeks that include a weekly focus. Content follows a logical sequence that builds on similarities in concepts and patterns. The pacing of instruction is deliberately measured to ensure that students have adequate time to master patterns before moving on to the next concept. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> As its title suggests, PPP uses the convention of puzzle pieces to organize learning. Each of PPP’s puzzle pieces represents a single letter, sound or spelling pattern (e.g., long a , the digraph ch ), and each piece displays its letter, sound, or pattern; a word that uses the letter/sound/pattern; and a related image. Instruction is organized in a set of predictable routines that introduce each new concept and each week’s focus, integrate ongoing review of previous concepts and patterns, check for understanding, and address specific elements of phonics instruction, such as phonemic awareness, recognizing sight words, building fluency, and so on. About Corwin Press* Corwin, a SAGE Publishing company, is the premier provider of professional learning products and services that equip educators with the resources needed to improve teaching and learning. Corwin offers print books and eBooks, digital products, and onsite consulting services for all types of educators at all stages of their careers. Corwin resources are authored by experts on the topics most relevant to education; formatted for hands-on, practical guidance; research based and peer reviewed for quality; and designed for professional learning. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Corwin Press .

Learning List recently reviewed The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences’ (CCFCS) Dollars and Sense . The product was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to the Texas Education Agency’s Proclamation 2019 call for high school Personal Financial Literacy products aligned to the new PFL Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Dollars and Sense is a comprehensive online course that is designed for teacher use. The interactive syllabus contain links to printable student materials (e.g., worksheets). Stand-alone student materials (e.g., a textbook) are not provided. Dollars and Sense includes clear links to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Texas high school PFL and Dollars and Sense courses as well as national standards (e.g., National Standards in Personal Financial Education). Content is organized in an online syllabus with topics such as the “Importance of Financial Planning,” “Consequences of Economic Decisions,” and “Careers.” Each topic is broken into one or more subtopics. For example, the topic titled “Big-Ticket Purchases” is broken into two subtopics: “Big purchases (other than houses)” and “Housing.” Most content is delivered in PowerPoint presentations; PowerPoint presentations and other teaching resources may be printed for student use. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> About CCFCS* The mission of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences is to produce and disseminate instructional materials that support family and consumer sciences programs and to provide related pre-service and in-service professional development to educators and administrators within those program areas. The Center is the only curriculum center in the nation that specializes in the development of curriculum materials for family and consumer sciences content areas. We support teachers with a broad range of resources, from print to multimedia to in-service training. *Information in this section in provided by or adapted from CCFCS .

Learning List recently reviewed Ramsey Education’s Foundations in Personal Finance: High School Edition , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to the Texas Education Agency’s Proclamation 2019 call for high school Personal Financial Literacy products aligned to the new PFL Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Foundations in Personal Finance: High School Edition is a comprehensive resource to support instruction in Texas high school PFL courses. Content is available in print and online formats. The program integrates videos featuring financial experts with text-based content. Instruction addresses avoiding debt, budgeting effectively, investing, and giving. Foundations in Personal Finance includes a direct instruction videos in which a financial expert explains some aspect of personal finance (e.g., “Basic Rules of Investing”). Most videos are developed specifically for the course, and some feature the authors speaking to an audience of students about the importance of money management. Print-based resources roughly correspond to Ramsey Education’s Foundations in Personal Finance online course (i.e., the two versions are not identical), and both versions incorporate videos. The print version includes a student workbook that accompanies the videos. The workbook cues students when to watch the video and includes pages with fill-in-the blank sentences that students complete while they watch. After the video, students respond to content in prompts for short journal entries (e.g., “If you were giving advice to a friend, what would you say are the most important things to know about investing?”).  Videos are embedded in the online course, which includes text that is broken into short sections and includes frequent lists and pull quotes from the authors and other notable figures in finance. Occasional photographs are integrated with the online text and instruction includes graphics and illustrations, where appropriate. Downloadable worksheets are provided for some activities. About Ramsey Education* The idea for Ramsey Education started over two decades ago when financial expert Dave Ramsey devoted his life’s work to teaching adults how to handle their money. Every day on The Dave Ramsey Show, Dave would teach adults across America how to budget, save, avoid debt, and retire with dignity. As he counseled adults on these essential money topics, he often heard the same feedback over and over again: "I wish I had learned this in high school!" That statement sparked Ramsey Solutions to develop a personal finance curriculum for high school students. After several years of the curriculum impacting classrooms across the country, the team launched an updated version called Foundations in Personal Finance. Since its launch in 2008, Foundations has been known across the industry as the leader in personal finance curriculum. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Ramsey Education .

Learning List recently reviewed Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections Texas, which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response the Texas Education Agency’s Proclamation 2019 call for K-8 English language arts and reading (ELAR) products aligned to the new ELAR Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), including the spelling TEKS. Spelling Connections Texas is a comprehensive spelling product for students in grades 1-6. Content is available in print and digital formats. Instruction focuses on grade-appropriate word lists that incorporate the words students encounter most when reading, writing, and speaking, as well as frequently misspelled words. Lessons focus on recognizing spelling patterns and applying patterns to increasingly challenging words. At each grade level , Spelling Connections is organized in weekly units that are made up of daily lessons that are designed to be implemented in 15-minute periods. Across grades, instruction incorporates sorting activities that help students recognize and understand the similarities and differences in how words are spelled. Word sorts may be completed using Zaner-Bloser’s spelling cards or using online resources. Sorting may be implemented in a variety of formats, including teacher-led activities, partners, or individual student work. Lessons connect spelling to phonics (grades 1-3) or vocabulary (grades 4-6), reading, and writing. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> About Zaner-Bloser* People have been writing to communicate since ancient Sumerian times. Zaner-Bloser isn't quite that old, but our company's long history and distinguished legacy make us unique in the business, and they're something we're proud of. A lot has changed since Zaner-Bloser was originally founded in 1888 by Charles Paxton Zaner of Columbus, Ohio, with his business partner, Elmer Ward Bloser. Back then, penmanship wasn't just a skill—it was a profession, and Charles Zaner's College of Penmanship was where you went to learn it. Unlike other schools of penmanship, though, Zaner-Bloser didn't just teach how to write beautiful-looking letters. The school also taught academics as well, so graduating students were skilled penmen and good writers. Over the course of a century, Zaner-Bloser's programs for teaching handwriting have become the definitive methods used by generations of American children. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Zaner-Bloser .

Learning List recently reviewed B.E. Publishing’s Personal Financial Literacy and GoVenture . Both products were submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to the Texas Education Agency’s Proclamation 2019 call for high school Personal Financial Literacy products aligned to the new PFL Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Personal Financial Literacy is a comprehensive resource that focuses on the skills students need to set goals and manage their work and personal financial lives. GoVenture is an interactive simulation game in which students set life goals, make decisions (e.g., purchasing a home), and experience the effects of decisions (e.g., good or poor credit ratings). GoVenture may be used as a supplement to another core PFL program or as a comprehensive resource for PFL courses that require 110 hours of instruction. Personal Financial Literacy is organized in six units: (1) Plan, (2) Earn, (3) Manage, (4) Save & Spend, (5) Invest, and (6) Protect. Instruction emphasizes the importance of goal setting and the SMART goal framework; that is, goals that are S pecific, M easurable, A ttainable, R esults-focused, and T ime-based. Course resources address Precision Exams’ standards for certification in General Financial Literacy and Personal Financial Management; Learning List has not verified alignment to these standards. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> GoVenture’s games allow students to experiment with a variety of life style scenarios, experience financial decision making, and learn about investing. Game content is organized in three overarching categories: Individual Activities, Investing Simulation, and Life and Money Simulation. Individual Activities take up to 60 minutes to complete and address topics such as making a life plan, net worth, loans, and retirement. About B.E. Publishing* For over 20 years, B.E. Publishing has made CTE (Career & Technical Education) its passion. Basically, CTE is all B.E. Publishing does. From product development to technical support and customer service, B.E. Publishing strives to meet and exceed the needs of the CTE community. B.E. Publishing’ mission is to provide a seamless classroom experience, helping teachers teach and learners learn. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from B.E. Publishing.

EduSpark’s Lengua, Ritmo y Cultura is a Spanish language arts and reading (SLAR) program developed specifically for Texas students in grades K-5. Content is organized in print and online materials. Instruction supports the development of Spanish-language skills in dual language programs. Resources are designed to provide age-appropriate instruction in Spanish for students whose first language is not Spanish. Lengua, Ritmo y Cultura incorporates authentic reading selections from a variety of Spanish-speaking countries, as well as works written specifically for the program by Texans of Latino ancestry. At each grade level, Lengua, Ritmo y Cultura is organized in kits that include print student materials (i.e., textbooks and workbooks), digital lesson resources, and a Teacher Guide. Student textbooks at each grade level are made up of 36 lessons. At grade K-2, textbooks are organized in 12 units made up of three lessons each and textbooks at grades 3-5 are comprised of 9 units made up of four lessons each. Across grades, the first lesson in each unit addresses foundational language skills (e.g., pronunciation). Lesson 2 covers phonological awareness (grades K-2), phonics, spelling, and vocabulary (grades 3-5). Lesson 3 focuses on reading comprehension skills using multiple genres of authentic Spanish texts, and Lesson 4 for grades 3-5 addresses writing skills. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> About EduSpark* EDUSPARK is dedicated to empowering teachers and students to reach their full potential through dual-language resources based on research in neuroscience and technology. Our systematic tools and learning resources increase students’ intellectual capacity, academic vocabulary and concept development in English and Spanish, motivation, communication, and collaborative skills. EDUSPARK provides quality cognitive development and ongoing support so that educators have the tools and resources they need to help their Spanish-speaking students achieve success in school and in life. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from EduSpark .

Learning List recently reviewed Decker & Associates’ Real Life Personal Finance (RLPF) , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to the Texas Education Agency’s Proclamation 2019 call for high school Personal Financial Literacy products aligned to the new PFL Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). RLPF is a comprehensive resource that supports instruction in Texas high school Personal Financial Literacy courses. Content is available online. Resources support independent study and are appropriate for students in self-paced and credit recovery learning environments. Instruction emphasizes the importance of post-secondary education in achieving career goals. RLPF is aspirational in tone. Instruction asks a student to consider the lifestyle they would like in the future, the earnings needed to support that lifestyle, and how current decisions may affect their ability to achieve their goals. Instruction helps students identify career interests and addresses the importance of post-secondary education in pursuing career choices. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> The course’s capstone project asks students to compete in the experiential “Game of Real Life.” The game requires students to work in teams and calculate a score based on “working, paying bills, and making life decisions” as they “age” from 19 to 26. The game requires that students make financial decisions, such as deciding on post-secondary education, renting or purchasing a home, and selecting investment options. The team with the highest aggregate income or net worth wins the game. About Decker & Associates* Since 1980, major employers, school districts, and government organizations have trusted the Deckers to provide objective personal financial education, tax planning, investment strategies, benefits selection, estate planning workshops, and counseling to thousands worldwide. Beginning in 2012, at the requests of numerous educators, parents and students, the Deckers created a high school course, Real Life Financial Mathematics (RLFM). Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Decker & Associates .

Learning List recently reviewed Cengage Learning’s Managing Your Personal Finances , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to the Texas Education Agency’s Proclamation 2019 call for high school Personal Financial Literacy products aligned to the new PFL Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Managing Your Personal Finances is a comprehensive resource to support instruction in Personal Financial Literacy courses. Materials are available in print format and include additional online components. Learning List’s review is of print resources only. Instruction addresses personal money management, career and retirement planning, saving and investment, and credit management. Managing Your Personal Finances is organized in six units that address: (1) Managing Careers and Income, (2) Managing Credit, (3) Managing Resources, (4) Providing Financial Security, (5) Risk Management, and (6) Consumer Rights and Responsibilities. Units open with a short overview of each chapter’s content and a related “Net Link” that links students to related content on the text’s companion website. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> The course emphasizes individual responsibility for personal financial planning and incorporates relevant real-world examples (e.g., college costs). Content is well organized and presented in a format designed to support reading comprehension. The instructional narrative is broken into short sections with clear headings presented in large, colorful fonts. About Cengage Learning* Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. The company serves the higher education, K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide. Cengage creates learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA with an office hub in San Francisco. Employees reside in nearly 40 countries with sales in approximately 165 countries and territories around the world. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Cengage Learning .

Universal Publishing’s Universal Handwriting provides comprehensive handwriting products for grades K-5. Content is available in print format and includes interactive whiteboard tools (i.e., animations). This review is of print materials only. Instruction emphasizes correct letter formation and the importance of legibility. Teacher resources include corrective strategies to address handwriting problems. Across grades, lessons use a three-stop process that includes: Model and Discuss, Practice, and Self-Evaluate. In Model, teachers model letter formation or use AlphamationPlus whiteboard animations of letter formations. Discussions center on the strokes used to form letters (e.g., undercurves) and students trace letters in the air or on their paper. During Practice, students complete related activities in their workbooks. Students identify their best work in Self-Evaluate and discuss what they did correctly and where they could improve. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> About Universal Publishing* Since 2001, Universal Publishing has provided educators with materials and resources to help students develop one of the most valuable learning tools they can possess: fluent and functional handwriting. Universal Publishing’s handwriting programs are written by internationally recognized handwriting instruction expert and master penman Thomas M. Wasylyk. With nearly 40 years of experience in the field of handwriting instruction, Mr. Wasylyk has dedicated his career to helping students learn to write by hand.  His mission is to provide educators and students with handwriting programs that are both effective and affordable. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Universal Publishing .

Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Texas is a comprehensive handwriting product for students in grades K-5. Content is available in print and digital formats. Instruction emphasizes legibility and the real-world applications of handwriting. Lessons integrate content from other subject areas, including language arts and social studies. A Spanish-language version of the full K-5 product— La escritura —is also available from Zaner-Bloser . Learning List has reviewed La escritura. At each grade level , Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Texas begins with a “Getting Started” unit that introduces handwriting concepts (e.g., stroke, spacing, posture) and program resources (e.g., QR Codes/tutorials). Getting Started includes a pretest and, where appropriate, a review of previously learned skills. The second and third units at each grade level address the formation of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and the use of letters and numbers in the writing of words, sentences, and compositions. The fourth and final unit at each grade is titled “Using What You Have Learned” and focuses on the real-world applications of handwriting. Cursive is introduced in grade 2. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> About Zaner-Bloser* People have been writing to communicate since ancient Sumerian times. Zaner-Bloser isn't quite that old, but our company's long history and distinguished legacy make us unique in the business, and they're something we're proud of. A lot has changed since Zaner-Bloser was originally founded in 1888 by Charles Paxton Zaner of Columbus, Ohio, with his business partner, Elmer Ward Bloser. Back then, penmanship wasn't just a skill—it was a profession, and Charles Zaner's College of Penmanship was where you went to learn it. Unlike other schools of penmanship, though, Zaner-Bloser didn't just teach how to write beautiful-looking letters. The school also taught academics as well, so graduating students were skilled penmen and good writers. Over the course of a century, Zaner-Bloser's programs for teaching handwriting have become the definitive methods used by generations of American children. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Zaner-Bloser .

Perfection Learning’s Benson Handwriting with Reading and Language Arts is a comprehensive handwriting product for students in grades K-5. Core content is available in print format and includes software-based and online resources. This review is of print materials only. Handwriting instruction emphasizes fluency and legibility. Students learn to print in grades K and 1, and to use cursive in grades 2 and 3. At grades 4 and 5, students apply handwriting skills in tasks related to English language arts and reading (ELAR). Learning List also reviewed Benson Escritura , the Spanish-language version of Benson Handwriting. Benson Handwriting organizes content in grades K-3 in units that group letters based on the strokes used to form the letters. For example, in grades K and 1, the printed letters L, I, T, and F are grouped in a unit because they begin with same pencil stroke. Students transition from print to cursive in grade 2. Workbooks at grades 4 and 5 revisit handwriting basics (e.g., letter and number formation), but most instruction is delivered in lessons that address ELAR/SLAR content such as root words, subject/verb agreement, and approaches to text structure (e.g., compare/contrast). < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Student materials at each grade level are presented in consumable workbooks. K-2 workbooks are formatted in landscape to help young writers place the paper and develop correct posture. At each grade level, workbooks include an overview of the alphabet (i.e., letters in context), and guidance in holding the pencil for left- and right-handed students. Workbook formatting includes colored guidelines, shading, and other features to help students place, size, and control letters and numbers. A “Letterman” character visually guides students in forming each letter with numbered arrows designating the placement and movement of pencil strokes. About Perfection Learning* For over 90 years, Perfection Learning® has been a leader in literature and language arts programs for grades 6-12. These programs cover the complete range of language arts skills and course areas with both textbooks and supplemental programs. Innovative, inquiry-based literature programs provide cost-effective solutions for teaching close reading and writing, developing critical thinking skills, and building literacy engagement—all while incorporating the demands of state standards. Grades K-8 reading/language arts solutions include hybrid print/digital handwriting and spelling programs, supplemental middle school literature programs, and intervention programs in reading and math. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Perfection Learning .

InterEthnic’s Alphabet Harbor/Harbor Friends Series is a comprehensive handwriting product for grades K-5. Content is available in print format. Grades K and 1 address printing. Grades 2-5 develop cursive writing skills. Instruction emphasizes the connection between written letters and their sounds. Letters are personified as “Harbor Friends” or “Harbor Pals” using clipart images of children and animals (e.g., Zany Z). At each grade level, the Harbor Friends handwriting series presents content in a consumable “Student Workbook.” At grades K and 1, instruction is organized in terms of the alphabet. At grades 2-5, lessons are organized in terms of letters with the same shape in their initial strokes. For example, lower-case letters that begin with a “short swoop up” (r, s, j, and p) are taught in the same section. Across grades each letter is represented by a “Harbor Friend” or “Harbor Pal” (i.e., a clipart image of a boy, girl, or animal) and a poem that describes the letter’s formation. Where appropriate, letter sounds and letter identification are integrated with handwriting instruction. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> About InterEthnic* InterEthnic’s mission is to ensure all children are prepared to read before they enter school.  Alphabet Harbor!™ and its complementary products enable every child to acquire 40 sounds of English as naturally and easily as learning to speak. More importantly, the Harbor Friends™ become a child’s new best friends, priming their heart for loving reading. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from InterEthnic .