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Learning List recently reviewed Perfection Learning’s Connections, 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). Connections is a comprehensive product that supports ELAR instruction in grades 6-12. Content is available in print and digital formats. Learning List’s review is of resources for grades 6-8. At each middle school grade level, Connections is organized in four units that address cross-curricular themes and center on an Essential Question. For example, the fourth unit at grade 7 considers the following Essential Question: “What does history teach us about ourselves?” Units include literary and informational texts related to the theme. Lexile levels for each selection are provided in teacher editions.  < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Instruction focuses on a close reading model in which students read each text three times for different purposes. Students have opportunities to write in response to reading selections as well as to develop speaking and listening skills. Margin notes prompt students to make connections across subject areas and unit texts and to reflect on what they have read. Instruction emphasizes annotating skills and reading selections in the student work text and include space for notes. eBooks contain a “My Thoughts” feature that allows students to enter notes in the margins of their text and interactive tools, such as graphic organizers, to help students organize their thinking. 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 literature programs provide cost-effective solutions for teaching critical thinking skills and incorporating the demands of Common Core and state standards. K-8 reading/language arts solutions include hybrid print/digital handwriting and spelling programs, nonfiction reading, and intervention programs in reading and math. The company provides cutting-edge digital physics programs for high school and higher education. Designed for 21st century learners, Kinetic Physics incorporates video and electronic whiteboard lessons; interactive problems, activities, and digital tools; and a robust online assessment and course management system. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Perfection Learning .

Learning List recently reviewed Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Reading 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). Into Reading is a comprehensive product that supports ELAR instruction in grades K-6. Content is available in print and digital formats. Learning List reviewed online resources for grades K-5. Instruction develops students’ reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills using authentic texts from a variety of genres. Across grades, Into Reading is organized in multi-week modules that provide access to a variety of authentic texts at varying levels of complexity. Modules are thematic and include cross-curricular topics, such as a “Global Guardians” module at grade 4 that integrates content from conservation science. Modules are organized around an essential question (e.g., “What does it take to meet a challenge?”). Reading selections include a variety of authentic, age-appropriate literary and informational texts related to the essential question. Selections include a variety of genres (e.g., historical fiction, narrative non-fiction) and representations of diverse cultures and characters. Each text has vivid illustrations that support comprehension and engage student interest. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Reading and writing instruction is presented in a workshop format that includes direct instruction, guided and independent practice, and application tasks. Activities include whole group and small group instruction, opportunities for collaborative student work, and periodic spiraled reviews that revisit previously learned concepts and their connection to current learning. Each week’s instruction includes a mindset (e.g., seeking challenges) that addresses social and emotional learning. About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt* Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global learning company committed to delivering integrated solutions that engage learners, empower educators and improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of K–12 core curriculum, supplemental solutions and professional learning services, HMH partners with educators and school districts to uncover solutions that unlock students’ potential and extend teachers’ capabilities. HMH serves more than 50 million students and 3 million educators in 150 countries, while its award-winning children's books, novels, non-fiction, and reference titles are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Learning List recently reviewed Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Literature 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). Into Literature is a comprehensive product that supports ELAR instruction in grades 6-8. Content is available in print and digital formats. Learning List reviewed online resources. Instruction develops students’ reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills using authentic texts from a variety of genres. At each grade level, Into Literature is presented in six units that center on an Essential Question that links reading selections, frames the unit’s theme, and connects to students’ experiences. For example, a grade 7 unit titled “Change Agents” considers the question: “What inspires you to make a difference?” Units address cross-curricular topics such as the Civil War in an eighth-grade unit titled “The Fight for Freedom” and space science in a sixth-grade unit titled “The Terror and Wonder of Space.” Units include literary and informational texts and a set of “Studios” (e.g., “Reading Studio”) that integrate activities in the domains of literacy (i.e., reading, writing, listening, and speaking) as well as vocabulary and grammar.  < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Lessons are organized around age-appropriate authentic texts that support reading instruction and serve as mentor texts for student writing. Reading selections include a variety of genres (e.g., historical fiction, narrative non-fiction) and representations of diverse cultures and characters. Critical vocabulary is highlighted in the text and hyperlinked to definitions in eBooks. Texts include vivid visual elements, numbered paragraphs and stanzas, and embedded prompts that help students analyze and understand what they are reading, such as an “Analyze Point of View” prompt that asks students to consider whether a story’s narrator is reliable and to explain their reasoning. eBooks have note taking, bookmarking, and highlighting tools and a word processing feature that allow students to respond to prompts in their texts. Teachers may activate audio readers. About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt* Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global learning company committed to delivering integrated solutions that engage learners, empower educators and improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of K–12 core curriculum, supplemental solutions and professional learning services, HMH partners with educators and school districts to uncover solutions that unlock students’ potential and extend teachers’ capabilities. HMH serves more than 50 million students and 3 million educators in 150 countries, while its award-winning children's books, novels, non-fiction, and reference titles are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

W. W. Norton’s American Politics Today, 5 th AP Edition, is a comprehensive product that supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government and Politics courses. Content is available in print and digital formats. Instruction explores concepts and issues in government and politics through the lens of contemporary American events (e.g., the 2016 presidential campaign election). The discussion emphasizes the critical roles of conflict and compromise in American political life, and how individuals and choices shape political behavior and outcomes. Learning List recently reviewed digital resources. American Politics Today is organized in four parts: (1) Foundations, (2) Politics, (3) Institutions, and (4) Policy. Across parts, three “key ideas” anchor the text’s discussions: politics is conflictual, political processes matter, and politics is everywhere. Chapters include a set of features designed to engage student interest, connect content to their lives, and facilitate understanding of sometimes complex concepts. Some features include: < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> “How It Works: In Theory” presents a graphic that illustrates and explains a political concept, such as the system of checks and balances. A corresponding “How It Works: In Practice” describes and illustrates a real-world application of the theory. “What Do the Numbers Say?” presents real-world quantitative data for students to read, analyze, and interpret (e.g., longitudinal data on government spending and the federal debt). “Why Should I Care?” provides short explanations of events and decisions that clarify how politics influences students’ own lives and experiences. “Take a Stand” explores both sides of a political issue or policy question, such as whether the Constitution has a fixed meaning or whether it is a flexible document that should be interpreted in the context of the current time (i.e., the originalism vs. living document debate). Chapters end with a conclusion and a “Study Guide” feature. Study Guides restate the chapter’s learning goals, present a summary of key content, a list of highlighted vocabulary and terms, a set of multiple-choice check for understanding questions, and free-response questions. About W. W. Norton* Now, in its 90th year and with an annual list of 400 titles, W. W. Norton is a global company, its familiar seagull logo appearing on books in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Latin America. Though the Norton of today is international in scope, there is much about the company that would remain recognizable to its founders: the editorial quality of the books, the rigorously anti-corporate style, and above all the shared sense of purpose that flourishes when all employees have a stake in the success of their firm. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from W.W. Norton .

Learning List recently reviewed the College Board’s SpringBoard English Language Arts and Language Workshop middle school resources (i.e., grades 6-8) , which were 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). Both resources focus on developing English language arts skills through active learning. At each grade level, instruction emphasizes the development of the knowledge and skills needed for rigorous coursework, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Core content is presented in SpringBoard’s English Language Arts resource. Content at each grade is organized in four thematic units. For example, at grade 6, reading selections address the theme of change. Students explore the concepts of change and growth in their own lives and in the lives of real and imagined characters. Each unit includes a balance of literary and informational texts and opportunities for students to respond to non-print texts, such as photographs and clips from audio recordings and films. For the most part, units incorporate reading selections that present the experiences of diverse individuals and cultures. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> SpringBoard includes a “Language Workshop” resource at each grade level. Language Workshops address reading and writing for specific purposes (e.g., reading and writing a myth, reading and writing an argumentative essay) as well as foundational skills (e.g., common prefixes and suffixes). At each grade level, two Workshops are provided for each English Language Arts unit, and Workshops reflect the related unit’s thematic emphasis. For example, the first unit in English Language Arts at grade 8 explores the challenges of heroism. Correspondingly, the Language Workshop’s first workshop is titled “Reading and Writing a Hero’s Journey Narrative.” About the College Board* The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from the College Board .

Texas A&M University Press’s Texas Aquatic Science is a comprehensive aquatic science product that supports science instruction in grades 6-8 and high school Aquatic Science and Environmental Science courses. The student text is available in print and online formats; teacher resources are in print format only. Instruction examines water from the molecular level to the level of aquatic ecosystems. Learning List reviewed materials for high school Aquatic Science courses. Texas Aquatic Science is a joint project involving the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, and The Hart Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. The course includes an online and print-based student text, and a Teacher Guide that is integral to instruction. The online student text and course-specific videos are available at no cost (http://texasaquaticscience.org/). < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Texas Aquatic Science’s core instructional activities are contained in its Teacher Guide, which provides chapter and lesson level resources, including assessments. For each lesson, the Guide provides the essential concept (e.g., “Water is important, is diversely distributed, and useable water is scarce.”), specific learning objective(s), and TEKS addressed by instruction. Lessons plans provide pacing information, the needed materials, vocabulary, and questions to support formative assessment of student learning. Lessons include engaging investigation(s), journaling assignments, research tasks, and collaborative learning experiences. For each activity, teachers have access to detailed descriptions of learning tasks; prompts for discussions, journal entries, and formal writing assignments; and suggestions for related readings and extension activities. About Texas A&M University Press* Founded in 1974, Texas A&M University Press is the principal publishing arm of one of this nation’s leading research institutions. The Press's primary mission is to select, produce, market, and disseminate scholarly publications of outstanding quality and originality and thereby help the University achieve its paramount purposes of teaching, research, public service, and dissemination of the results of scholarly inquiry. In conjunction with the long-term development of its editorial program, the Press draws on and supports the intellectual activities of the University and reflects the standards and stature of scholarship that are fostered by this institution. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Texas A&M University Press .

Districts across the country are preparing to adopt new materials this school year. We thought we'd share some important considerations to help you implement an efficient and effective adoption process.  Following are questions to help you define the scope of your adoption: What subjects and grade levels will you be adopting new materials for? Are you adopting the primary material for the subject or a supplemental product? Are you planning to adopt the same material across all grade spans or does each grade span, or even each grade level, have autonomous decision-making? Have you audited your existing materials to identify gaps/deficits (i.e., gaps in alignment, gaps in adaptions)? Have you conducted a needs assessment to help you identify the features that the new materials  must have in order to support teaching and learning effectively in your classroom/campus/district over the next several years?  Consider distributing the needs assessment to content area teachers, campus leadership, the district's curriculum and technology teams, parents and your community to ensure that all end users' perspectives are considered.The feedback from your needs assessment may not only define what your materials  must  contain, you may also come away with a list of features that would be nice-to-have in the new materials but are not quite as critical. Have you also considered these other important factors to help you identify which new materials will meet your needs best: Student achievement and demographic trends that may indicate the need for adaptions in the new materials; Teacher experience which could dictate instructional resources the new materials should contain; and, If you will be considering online materials, your campus/district's technology parameters to ensure that the material you select can be supported in that environment? This list is not exhaustive; certainly, there are additional questions you could ask/answer to help you define what you are looking for in the new adoption. The answers to these questions can help (a) establish the district’s priorities for the adoption, (b) build the district’s rubric for reviewing materials, and (c) keep selection committee discussions focused on the product features that matter most.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Saxon Phonics & Spelling is a supplemental product that supports the development of foundational skills in grades K-3. Content is available in print format and is designed to supplement a reading program. Instruction develops phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, spelling and fluency skills and includes lessons addressing handwriting. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades K - 2. Saxon Phonics & Spelling materials at each grade level are contained in a classroom kit that include student, teacher, and classroom resources to support instruction. Student resources include worksheets, alphabet handwriting strips, decodable readers, and a spelling dictionary (grade 1 only). Classroom resources include posters, card decks, a CD pronunciation guide, fluency readers. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Instruction is carefully sequenced. Teachers are advised not to skip lessons or teach them out of order. Each lesson begins with a warm-up activity that includes a review and practice of prior learning and then instruction moves to the “New Increment,” or the topic of the day’s instruction (e.g., the Letter G). Each lesson includes scripted direct instruction. Students have opportunities for guided and independent practice, and some lessons include homework worksheets. Lessons provide opportunities for students to speak, write, and use manipulatives, such as letter tiles and card decks. Most instructional weeks are structured with a formative assessment activity on the fifth day. About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt* Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global learning company committed to delivering integrated solutions that engage learners, empower educators and improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of K–12 core curriculum, supplemental solutions and professional learning services, HMH partners with educators and school districts to uncover solutions that unlock students’ potential and extend teachers’ capabilities. HMH serves more than 50 million students and 3 million educators in 150 countries, while its award-winning children's books, novels, non-fiction, and reference titles are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Heinemann’s Primary Comprehension Toolkit is a supplemental product that supports active reading of informational texts in grades K-2. Materials are available in print only. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades K-2. The Toolkit strives to develop active learners and responsive teachers. Instruction focuses on developing the skills to help young students understand nonfiction texts and retain what they read. Content is not grade specific. Primary Comprehension Toolkit resources may be used across grades K-2. The Comprehension Toolkit uses the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) instructional model to support reading instruction in elementary classrooms. In the GRR model, teachers model skills and strategies first and then students practice skills and strategies in guided, collaborative, and independent activities. Toolkit content is organized in 34 cross-curricular lessons that integrate topics from math and science. Lessons are presented in seven separate teacher resources. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Twenty-two lessons are organized in six books, each of which addresses a specific “Strategy Cluster” for reading nonfiction texts. Strategy Clusters include: (1) Monitor Comprehension, (2) Activate and Connect , (3) Ask Questions, (4) Infer & Visualize, (5) Determine Importance, and (6) Summarize and Synthesize. The remaining 12 lessons are contained in a “Content Literacy” book that builds on the work students do in strategy lessons. Content Literacy lessons ask students to integrate the strategies and to apply reading skills across content areas. About Heinemann* Heinemann is a publisher of professional resources and a provider of educational services for teachers, kindergarten through college. We strive to give voice to those who share our respect for the professionalism and compassion of teachers and who support teachers’ efforts to help children become literate, empathetic, knowledgeable citizens. Our authors are exemplary educators eager to support the practice of other teachers through books, videos, workshops, online courses, and most recently through explicit teaching materials. Our commitment to our work and customers’ enthusiastic response to our offerings has made us the leading publisher in this area. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Heinemann .

KAMICO’s STAAR Connection Diagnostic Series: Writing and STAAR Connection Diagnostic Series: Math are test preparation products designed to help students in grades K-12 prepare for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) writing and mathematics exams and high school end-of-course exams. Content is available in print format. Resources include practice tests that address specific Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Practice tests consist of multiple-choice questions that reflect what students will see on the STAAR exam, and the writing product includes writing prompts. Learning List recently reviewed writing resources for grades 1-4 and math resources for grades K-2 and 4. Writing practice tests present short reading passages followed by 8-12 multiple-choice questions that address editing and revising skills. Reading passage sentences are numbered to facilitate ease of reference in students’ responses, and many passages include black and white illustrations. Some questions include charts and diagrams for students to consider. Students in grades 3 and 4 respond to multiple-choice questions using a bubble answer sheet. Each test has a writing prompt that generally asks students to respond to short quote (e.g., “Practice makes perfect.”). < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Math practice tests present eight to ten questions that incorporate the TEKS Readiness and Supporting Standards as well as Mathematical Process Skills. At grade K, tests are made up primarily of images that students must count, recognize in terms of shapes, and estimate in terms of quantity (e.g., “Which car will hold the most people?”). At grades 1 and 2, practice tests still include many images, but increasingly rely on text-based questions, including word problems. At grade 4, questions continue to include visual supports and students are asked to use images of mathematical tools, such as number lines and rulers, to answer questions About KAMICO* KAMICO® Instructional Media, Inc. embarked on a mission in 1988 to develop the most effective instructional and test preparation materials possible and to distribute those materials at prices that made them accessible to all students. Founder and current president Kathy Michael was a classroom teacher when she created the initial instructional and test preparation books and games after finding no products available that met her students' academic needs. Her knowledge of the classroom, children's learning styles, curriculum design and development, and assessment requirements led to the creation of a results-oriented product line that is engaging, challenging, and effective. Today, KAMICO®'s expansive product line provides educators with the tools to ensure student mastery of state curriculum standards and success on state assessments. These tools are used by educators across the country to assess the academic strengths and weaknesses of students, assist students in mastering curriculum standards determined by their state, build students' test-taking endurance, develop students' test-taking skills, and relieve students' test-taking anxiety. educators who praised these materials shared their students' academic progress and test results with other teachers, principals, and superintendents. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from KAMICO .

Exploros is an open-educational resource (OER) that provides comprehensive products that support instruction in the social studies and English language arts/reading (ELAR) core content areas. Exploros is available at no cost. Content is available online and facilitates instruction in teacher-led, technology-based learning environments, such as 1:1 programs and flipped classrooms. This review is of ELAR resources for grades 4-8. At each grade level, Exploros organizes content in seven units that address: (1) foundational skills, (2) literary genres, (3) non-fiction texts, (4) author’s craft, (5) personal narrative, (6) the writing process, and (7) inquiry and research. Each unit is made up of a set of “experiences” or lessons that are organized using the 5E model (i.e., engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate). A “scene” or a set of online page(s) is provided for each “E” in the model. Scenes are activities related to the E of the 5E model. For example, the first scene in each lesson/experience is an engagement activity that clarifies the lesson’s learning objectives. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> At each grade level, Exploros includes a unit titled “The Writing Process” that provides explicit instruction in the writing process, including punctuation, drafting, editing, and revising. Students evaluate their writing using a rubric. The final lesson in the unit is titled “Writing for Assessments.” Students learn to write in response to assessment prompts using the “PAST” strategy (i.e., ­ P urpose, A udience, S ubject, T ype of Writing) and related graphic organizers. About Exploros* Exploros drives student engagement and transitions classrooms to student-centered learning. Teachers can focus on guiding instruction, and personalizing the classroom learning experience. Students collaborate as a class, work in small groups, and individually, developing graphic organizers, writing essays, investigating primary sources, creating drawings, tables, word clouds, and much more. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Exploros .

ECS Learning Systems’ STAAR Master Math and STAAR Master Reading are test preparation products designed to prepare Texas students in grades 1-8 for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) mathematics and reading exams. Content is available in print format. Instruction focuses on problem sets (math) and questions (reading) that address specific Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Problems and questions are formatted to reflect what students will see on the STAAR exam. Learning List recently reviewed “Student Practice Book” resources for grades 3-5. Student Practice Books in math are organized in four sections that address each of the TEKS Reporting Categories for mathematics (e.g., Geometry and Measurement, Data Analysis and Personal Financial Literacy). Each section begins with the full text of the TEKS for the Category and whether the standard is a Readiness or Supporting Standard. Subsequent content is made up of practice exercises formatted to reflect what students will see on the STAAR exam (i.e., multiple-choice responses).  Each exercise includes the text of the TEKS addressed by the problem set and each problem in the set references the specific TEKS it addresses. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Reading Student Practice Books present a variety of short informational and literary texts followed by multiple choice-questions that assess students’ ability to read and understand texts. Questions address vocabulary, knowledge of language conventions, media literacy, ability to locate and use text-based information, and so on. Each question references the TEKS and reading skill (e.g., inference) it addresses and includes a label reflecting its level of complexity (i.e., low , medium , and high ). About ECS Learning Systems* As a leading publisher of state-specific test-prep materials, ECS is pioneering the concept of Integrated Test Prep. This approach encompasses six essential stages of test preparation: diagnose, teach, practice, evaluate, remediate, and reinforce. Traditional test-prep programs focus solely on targeted test practice, creating an imbalance that compromises sound teaching practices. With the TestSMART® and STAAR MASTER® series, teachers can embark on a path to Integrated Test Prep. This balanced approach supports a strong curriculum, varied instructional methods, and targeted test practice. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from ECS Learning Systems .