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Savvas’s Words Their Way (WTW): Word Study In Action Developmental Model is a supplemental product that supports reading and language arts instruction in grades K-5. Content is available in print and digital formats. Learning List recently reviewed WTW’s print and CD-ROM/DVD resources. The program uses the word study instructional model to teach phonics, spelling, word recognition, and vocabulary skills. WTW organizes content in terms of five spelling stages: (1) Emergent-Early Letter Name, (2) Letter Name, (3) Within Word Patterns, (4) Syllables and Affixes, and (5) Derivational Relations.  Across stages, instruction is centered on sorting words. That is, students learn to group words according to a set of categories that facilitate comparing and contrasting. For example, students learn to sort words or pictures by concept (e.g., fruit not a fruit), sounds (e.g., beginning sounds), letter recognition, word families (e.g., mixed vowels), and roots (e.g., Greek vs. Latin). < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> *About Savvas Savvas is the world’s learning company, with expertise in educational courseware and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Savvas’s mission is to help people make progress through access to better learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Savvas .

Learning Without Tears’ Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) is a comprehensive handwriting product for grades K-5. Core content is available in print format. Digital teaching resources also are available. This review is of print resources only. Instruction focuses on printing skills in grades K-1 and cursive writing in grades 2-5. HWT is available in English and Spanish and includes developmentally appropriate visual, tactile, auditory, and kinesthetic activities that build handwriting skills. Instruction is provided in 15-minute periods that fit easily into classroom routines. Content is cross-curricular and contains connections to other subject areas, particularly reading and writing. Teacher’s guides provide comprehensive guidance in teaching handwriting instruction and include detailed lesson plans. HWT ’s Handwriting Interactive Teaching Tool (HITT) is available separately from the publisher and contains a variety of digital tools. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> About Learning Without Tears* Learning Without Tears’ (LWT) mission is to make learning and teaching easy and fun by providing superior educational products, training, and materials to educators and parents. LWT is a leader in providing easy to learn, easy to teach, developmentally appropriate, and inclusive materials to elementary students. More than three million students become confident communicators by using the Learning Without Tears programs. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Learning Without Tears .

Edmentum’s Courseware™ is an online program that supports instruction in self-paced, remediation, and credit recovery programs. provides comprehensive instruction in each of the core subjects, as well as in other content areas (e.g., world languages). Learning List recently reviewed sequence of high school English courses. Instruction is provided online and includes printable materials. At each grade level, content is presented in two semester-long courses, and each semester is made up of three units. Each unit begins with a pre-test that assesses students’ mastery of learning objectives. Based on pre-test results, teachers may exempt students from some or all of the unit’s lessons or use results to provide targeted remediation. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Units are made up of lessons are structured as tutorials followed by a mastery test. Tutorials provide direct instruction and guided practice in an interactive slide show format that includes embedded closed-captioned videos. Tutorials begin with statements of learning objectives and a short video introduction. Tutorials introduce the concepts and skills students will need in order to complete reading and writing activities. Direct instruction is presented in short blocks of text with accompanying visual elements, including artwork, illustrations, and photographs, as well as videos related to content. Each unit ends with a “Unit Activity” and a post-test and each semester ends with a cumulative exam. Unit Activities are performance tasks that require students to review the unit’s content, read and evaluate sources, and present a written argument that incorporates sources. Unit and semester tests are made up primarily of multiple-choice questions and are taken online. About Edmentum* Edmentum’s Courseware is a standards-based online learning program grounded in a tradition of solid research, sound pedagogy, and applied innovation. Edmentum develops rigorous, relevant curriculum that challenges your students with a 21st century approach - engaging them with interactive, media-rich content. Whether your students are falling behind, at grade level, or advanced, accommodate their unique needs in an environment in which they will thrive. Courseware can be used in a lab setting, a blended model in which online courses supplement the traditional classroom, or through a completely virtual experience. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Edmentum .

Learning List recently reviewed Savvas’s Texas myView Literacy , submitted for state adoption in Texas. Texas myView Literacy is a comprehensive English language arts and reading product for grades K-5 available in print and digital formats. This review is of online materials only. Instruction is organized using sets of mini-lessons that facilitate flexible instructional planning and a variety of instructional models. Across grades, myView Literacy is organized in five 6-week units. Each unit addresses a cross-curricular theme focused on an essential question. For example, a grade 4 unit titled “Diversity” integrates social studies topics and asks: “How can we reach new understandings through exploring diversity?” Each unit features a “Spotlight” genre that is the focus of instruction (e.g., informational texts) and includes works from additional genres. Across units, instruction provides a balance of authentic literary and informational texts. Students learn to read different types of content, such as maps, infographics, and timelines. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Units are organized in instructional weeks. Each week centers on an essential question and an authentic text linked to the unit’s theme. Weekly instruction incorporates predictable routines. For Weeks 1 through 5, routines include Reading Workshops, Reading-Writing Bridges, and Writing Workshops. The sixth week of each unit is focused on an inquiry-based project, reflection, and assessment activities. Project activities incorporate the unit’s theme and ask students to make connections between the unit’s texts, conduct research, work collaboratively, and create a final product in written and/or spoken format. For example, the unit addressing diversity at grade 4 ends with a project in which students study the importance of inclusive playgrounds and write an argumentative letter to the principal requesting accessible playground equipment. *About Savvas Savvas is the world’s learning company, with expertise in educational courseware and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Savvas’s mission is to help people make progress through access to better learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Savvas .

Learning List recently reviewed Savvas’s my Perspectives Texas , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to 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). myPerspectives Texas is a comprehensive product that supports English language arts instruction in grades 6-12. Learning List reviewed resources for grades 6-8. Content is available in print and online formats and facilitates instruction in blended learning environments. myPerspectives Texas is a student-centered program that develops close reading skills and students’ ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken formats. At each grade level, content is organized in five 6-week thematic units (e.g., “Facing Adversity”). As its title suggests, myPerspectives explores authors’ points-of-view and helps students develop their own perspectives. Units present a balance of literary and informational texts and a variety of genres from a range of time periods. Readings have diverse authorship and represent protagonists and themes that reflect a variety of experiences, support inclusion, and facilitate understanding. Instruction provides opportunities for students to respond to non-print texts, such as videos, radio plays, and television interviews. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Instruction is made up of a mix of whole group, small group, and independent learning activities. Whole class instruction facilitates teacher-guided reading and modeling of reading strategies. In small group activities, students work with peers to develop close reading and listening skills. Graphic organizers are provided to support students in their close readings and subsequent analysis of what they have read. Independent learning activities allow students to apply what they have learned and to choose additional reading selections and activities that interest them. *About Savvas Savvas is the world’s learning company, with expertise in educational courseware and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Savvas’s mission is to help people make progress through access to better learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Savvas .

Learning List recently reviewed McGraw Hill’s Texas Wonders , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to 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). Texas Wonders is a comprehensive reading and language arts program for students in grades K-5. Materials are available in print and digital formats. At each grade level, instruction incorporates a balance of literary and informational texts to build close reading, analytic writing, and speaking and listening skills. Wonders also emphasizes the development of social and emotional learning. Across grades, Wonders is structured to “Teach the Whole Child.” Instruction emphasizes the habits of learning (e.g., thinking critically, solving problems), social and emotional skills, and a positive classroom culture. At each grade level, Texas Wonders student resources include a “Reading/Writing Companion” and a “Practice Book.” The Reading/Writing Companion is at the center of instruction. The Companion addresses close reading skills, collaborative conversations, analytic writing, and foundational skills (e.g., phonics). Instruction focuses on the reading and rereading of authentic literary and informational texts for specific purposes, and the use of textual evidence to support conclusions and opinions in spoken and written communication. Students learn to discuss what they read and to produce written products that use textual evidence to support a particular view or response. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Units are broken into instructional weeks that are structured using the Gradual Release of Responsibility (i.e., GRR) model. Early in the week, teachers introduce genres and model close reading routines and strategies using big books and anchor texts. Each week incorporates guided practice and independent practice of Wonders’ close reading routines (i.e., read, reread, integrate). Lessons rely on a set of instructional routines (i.e., introduction, modeling, and guided and independent practice) that are applied to a specific learning task. Weekly activities include opportunities for students to practice vocabulary and listening skills, to participate in read alouds and independent reading, and to write about what they have read using Reading/Writing Companion. About McGraw Hill* At McGraw-Hill Education, we believe that our contribution to unlocking a brighter future lies within the application of our deep understanding of how learning happens and how the mind develops. It exists where the science of learning meets the art of teaching. Our mission is to accelerate learning through intuitive, engaging, efficient and effective experiences – grounded in research. Educators have been and always will be at the core of the learning experience. The solutions we develop help educators impart their knowledge to students more efficiently. We believe that harnessing technology can enhance learning inside and outside of the classroom and deepen the connections between students and teachers to empower greater success. By partnering with educators around the globe, our learning engineers, content developers and pedagogical experts are developing increasingly open learning ecosystems that are proven to improve pass rates, elevate grades and increase engagement for each individual learner while improving outcomes for all. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from McGraw Hill Education .

Learning List recently reviewed Istation , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to the Texas Education Agency’s Proclamation 2019 call for K-8 English language arts and reading (ELAR) and Spanish language arts (SLAR) products aligned to the new ELAR and SLAR Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Istation is a supplemental reading and writing program for grades PK-8. Content is available in English and Spanish. Instruction is presented digitally and includes printable resources. The adaptive program identifies and addresses gaps in student learning and supports intervention at each Response to Intervention (RtI) tier. Across grades, the program develops vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and word analysis skills. Istation provides personalized, adaptive instruction in specific reading skills. Students complete the “Istation Indicator of Progress” (ISIP) at the beginning of the year and each month thereafter. Animated characters provide directions for ISIP tasks and examples of how to enter responses. ISIP is available in English and Spanish.  Based on ISIP results, the program prescribes specific learning activities and the usage time needed to address individual student learning gaps. As students move along individualized learning paths, instruction adapts, providing more or less challenging content based on student progress. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Most instruction is presented by animated characters in an engaging, game-like format that includes direct instruction and guided and independent practice.  Animated teachers review prior learning and connect content to students’ lives. Instruction is organized in sections addressing Reading Comprehension, Word Skills, Comprehension Practice, Sentence Building, and Writing Skills. Reading instruction integrates content from the physical, life, and earth and space sciences and emphasizes strategies, such as CAPS: C larify, Connect; A sk Questions; P redict, Picture It; S ummarize. About Istation* Founded in 1998 and based in Dallas, Texas, Istation (Imagination Station) has become one of the nation’s leading providers of richly animated, game-like educational technology. The winner of several national educational technology awards, the Istation program puts more instructional time in the classroom through small-group and collaborative instruction. Istation’s innovative reading, math, and Spanish programs immerse students in an engaging and interactive environment and inspire them to learn. Additionally, administrators and educators can use Istation to easily track the progress of their students, schools, and classrooms. Istation now serves over 4 million students throughout the United States and several countries. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Istation .

Learning List recently reviewed StrongMind , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to 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). StrongMind provides online “courseware” that supports instruction in the core subject areas and some electives (e.g., art history, career and technology courses) in middle school and high school grades. Instruction is designed for self-paced and credit-recovery programs and blended learning environments. Learning List reviewed English language arts resources for Texas middle school students. At each grade level, StrongMind’s Texas middle school content is organized in two semester-long courses.  Each semester is made up of six units that are loosely organized around a theme. For example, a grade 7 unit titled “Putting It In Order” includes lessons addressing informational texts, such as chapters from Helen Keller’s “The Story of My Life,” and writing an informational essay. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Instruction includes a variety of authentic texts that address a range of genres and vary in length. Generally speaking, StrongMind’s texts are not selected to address cross-curricular themes or themes that incorporate diverse individuals and cultures. Instead, reading selections are representative of age-appropriate classic works, such as Robert Frost’s poems and Jack London’s autobiographical work “On the Road.” Some units include a digital literacy component that addresses topics such as online safety. About StrongMind* StrongMind’s mission is to empower educators and schools across America to democratize education, enabling students to learn through relevant and engaging digital experiences that unlock the magic of learning and drive improved academic outcomes. StrongMind believes every child deserves a great education. StrongMind continually pushes the boundaries in curriculum and technology to enable schools around the country to provide a top-quality education for as many students as possible. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from StrongMind .

Learning List recently reviewed ThinkCERCA , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to 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). ThinkCERCA is an online learning platform that helps students in grades 3-12 develop literacy and critical thinking skills across the core subject areas. Instruction focuses on developing close reading and academic writing skills. ThinkCERCA’s Texas Edition addresses the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English language arts/reading (ELAR) and supports instruction in blended learning environments. Learning List reviewed materials for grades 6-8. ThinkCERCA focuses on developing students’ ability to read texts and produce written responses using the CERCA framework: (1) make C laims, (2) support claims with textual E vidence, (3) explain their R easoning, (4) recognize C ounterarguments, and (5) use language that appeals to a particular A udience. Core instruction is presented in modular “CERCA Sets” that cover content from across the core subject areas (i.e., English/language arts, science, mathematics, and social studies). Many CERCA Sets are not grade specific. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Instruction addresses specific topics (e.g., Genetics) and related essential questions (e.g., “How do your genes contribute to who you are?”). CERCA Sets are organized in a consistent structure that includes Direct Instruction , Applied Lessons , and Additional Reading Practice lessons. Reading selections are drawn from a variety of engaging informational and literary texts and include visual elements, such as photographs and illustrations, to support understanding. About ThinkCERCA* ThinkCERCA's personalized literacy platform helps educators teach critical thinking skills through argumentative writing. With students and teachers using its platform in all 50 states and 130 countries, the company has partnered with prominent leaders in education, including Follett Corporation, and has been featured by The Atlantic and EdSurge. In a recent controlled study of 26 ed-tech tools by LEAP Innovations, ThinkCERCA was proven to help students achieve two years of academic growth per year on average. A 2016 SIAA CODiE Awards finalist in the Best Learning Capacity-Building Solution and Best Reading/English/Language Arts Instructional Solution categories, ThinkCERCA has also been named one of the best tools in ed tech by Common Sense's Graphite. In July 2013, ThinkCERCA was the recipient of a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Literacy Courseware Challenge grant, and in December 2012, graduated from the inaugural class of Impact Engine's social impact accelerator. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from ThinkCERCA .

Learning List recently reviewed The Center for the Collaborative Classroom ’s Collaborative Literacy , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to 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). Collaborative Literacy is a comprehensive reading/language arts product for grades K-5. Resources are available in print and online formats. Instruction emphasizes the social development of upper-elementary students while building reading, writing, and spelling skills. At each grade level, Collaborative Literacy is made up of three separate resources that, when used together, support 30 weeks of comprehensive instruction in reading and language arts. Each resource is discussed separately below. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Being a Reader (grades K-2) develops students’ early literacy skills and ability to work independently. Lessons support build reading comprehension, phonics, and decoding skills, as well as students’ ability to recognize high frequency words. Making Meaning (grades K-5) develops students’ reading comprehension and vocabulary skills through read-alouds, discussions, and collaborative learning experiences. Read-alouds include a balance of literary and informational texts and provide students with opportunities to listen to, read, and discuss a variety of genres, such as poems, plays, stories, articles, and narrative non-fiction. Being a Writer (grades K-5) strives to develop skillful and creative writers using the “6+1 Trait Writing Model” that emphasizes seven traits of quality writing: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation. Across grades, students learn to communicate their ideas logically and with creativity and expression. Guided Spelling (grades 3-5) develops “thoughtful spellers” who recognize patterns, can spell by segment and sound, and understand and can apply spelling rules. About The Center for the Collaborative Classroom* The Center for the Collaborative Classroom, a nonprofit organization, improves the school experience of children across the globe by providing teachers with engaging curricula and ongoing professional learning that support the academic as well as the social and emotional development of the students we all serve.   Its mission is to provide a sustainable, scalable, and affordable way for schools and districts to grow research-supported teaching practices that support teachers with helping students grow as readers, writers, and thinkers as they develop the social and emotional skills necessary to thrive.   Founded in 1980 as the Developmental Studies Center by the prominent researcher Eric Schaps, the organization has contributed foundational research on social and emotional learning and pioneered the integration of social and academic development into curricula.   *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from The Center for the Collaborative Classroom .

Learning List recently reviewed McGraw Hill’s Texas StudySync, 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). StudySync is a comprehensive product that supports English language arts/reading (ELAR) instruction in grades 6-12. Content is available in print and digital formats and is intended for blended learning environments. Learning List reviewed online resources for grades 6-8. Instruction centers on the close reading of a set of thematically-related texts with integrated lessons in reading comprehension, writing, and speaking and listening skills. StudySync’s content is organized in six, 30-day thematic units at each grade level. Each unit focuses on an essential question and a genre. Most units address personal topics (e.g., “No Risk, No Reward”) and include content that relates to other subject areas, particularly social studies. Units integrate authentic literary and informational texts and culminate in an overarching project that requires students to respond to what they have read in either written or spoken format. Across middle school grades, texts vary in length and genre and address diverse individuals and cultures. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Videos are integral to StudySync’s instruction. Each unit opens with a video preview of reading selections and their relationship to the unit’s essential question. Lesson-specific video segments, known as “StudySyncTV” are integrated throughout content. Close reading instruction is carefully scaffolded, often beginning with “Skills” lessons that introduce the close reading strategies students will use for each text. Subsequent to the Skills lesson, students complete a “First Read” using the reading strategy to build comprehension. Second readings, or “Close Reads,” focus on analysis of elements of the text and on developing a formal written response. Skills lessons between the first and second readings, address the close reading, analysis, and writing skills students will need for the Close Read and the related written response (e.g., using figurative language, analyzing and using graphic features). About McGraw Hill* At McGraw-Hill Education, we believe that our contribution to unlocking a brighter future lies within the application of our deep understanding of how learning happens and how the mind develops. It exists where the science of learning meets the art of teaching. Our mission is to accelerate learning through intuitive, engaging, efficient and effective experiences – grounded in research. Educators have been and always will be at the core of the learning experience. The solutions we develop help educators impart their knowledge to students more efficiently. We believe that harnessing technology can enhance learning inside and outside of the classroom and deepen the connections between students and teachers to empower greater success. By partnering with educators around the globe, our learning engineers, content developers and pedagogical experts are developing increasingly open learning ecosystems that are proven to improve pass rates, elevate grades and increase engagement for each individual learner while improving outcomes for all. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from McGraw Hill Education .

Learning List recently reviewed Learning A-Z’s Raz-Plus ELL Edition , which was submitted for state adoption in Texas in response to 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). Raz-Plus ELL Edition is a supplemental program that supports reading instruction in grades K-5 with instructional materials designed specifically for English language learners (ELLs). Resources are available online and may be downloaded and printed and/or displayed using classroom projection devices. Instruction focuses on developing proficient readers using cross-curricular texts that match students’ individual reading levels. Raz-Plus content is organized in 29 reading levels (i.e., aa to Z 2 ) that gradually increase in difficulty. Levels are identified using Learning A- Z’s proprietary “Text Leveling System.” This system considers qualitative indicators (e.g., author’s purpose), quantitative measures (e.g., word count), and reader and task considerations (e.g., student interest and skill) to provide a rounded measure of text complexity. Learning A-Z provides a “Level Correlation Chart” aligning its complexity levels with other widely used measures (e.g., Lexiles, Fountas & Pinnell). Learning A-Z’s text complexity levels are not grade specific, levels; however, they may be matched to grade levels. For example, in terms of Lexiles, texts Q-Z 2 range from 651L to 1,140L and support instruction across grades 3-5.  < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Raz-Plus has a variety of tools to assess reading skills. Resources include running record forms, Benchmark Quick Checks, and materials to evaluate foundational skills, such as the ability to identify upper- and lower-case letters, recognize letter sounds and symbols, and read high frequency words. The program includes timed reading assessments of fluency and rubrics to evaluate comprehension. About Learning A-Z* Learning A-Z is a literacy-focused PreK-6 educational provider of technology-enabled learning resources. Our products blend traditional teacher-led instruction with robust online resources to make teaching more effective and efficient, practice more accessible and personalized, assessment more strategic and automated, and learning more informed and proactive. Our suite of products includes: Raz-Plus, Reading A-Z, Raz-Kids, Headsprout, Science A-Z, Writing A-Z, Vocabulary A-Z, and ReadyTest A-Z. Learning A-Z’s resources are used by more than 7 million students in more than 170 countries. Learning A-Z is a business unit of Cambium Learning Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABCD). *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Learning A-Z .