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EMC’s Mirrors & Windows: Connecting with Literature is a comprehensive resource to support English language arts instruction in grades 6-12. The program includes print and web-based resources. In the middle school grades (grades 6-8), instruction uses the theme of “mirrors and windows” to help students use literature to reflect on their own lives and to connect with people from different cultures and times. Across middle school grades, Mirrors & Windows units are organized in terms of a theme linked to a literary genre. For example, a grade 6 unit that introduces poetry is centered on the theme of “Expressing Yourself.” Each unit is made up of a set of reading selections related to the theme. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Instruction focuses on the development of “close reading” skills using three readings of the same text. Each reading is for a different purpose, such as identifying important details, determining the text’s structure, and interpreting the its meaning. Reading strategies to be used before (e.g., build background), during (e.g., ask questions, visualize), and after reading (e.g., recall, analyze) each selection are provided. Lessons are organized using the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model, which frames activities in terms of Guided, Directed, and Independent Reading. About EMC* Over the years, EMC School has grown steadily into one of the nation’s leading producers of blended learning solutions for K-12 schools throughout the country.  EMC School  offers K-12 programs in Language Arts, World Languages, Business Education, and Social Studies with supplementary and multimedia materials. EMC is now a division of  Carnegie Learning, Inc. , a comprehensive, dynamic and progressive learning technology company. Advocating a belief in teaching and determination to help students develop as learners and thinkers, Carnegie Learning is seeking to re-define the role of technology across the K-16 landscape. Its mathematics and STEM division delivers research-proven mathematics curriculum and the MATHia® platform for grades 6-12, developmental math support for 2- and 4-year colleges, project-based digital solutions for STEM, and best-in-class K-12 professional learning services. For more information, please visit  www.carnegielearning.com  and  www.emcp.com . *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from  EMC .

Teacher Created Materials’ TIME for Kids: Exploring Nonfiction is a supplemental product that supports reading instruction in grades K-5. Content is available in print format. Instruction focuses on developing students’ reading comprehension skills using short, Informational texts that address a variety of content areas and student interests. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grade 4. Exploring Nonfiction’s grade 4 resources are contained in a classroom kit that includes sets of nonfiction text cards addressing topics in math, social studies, science, and language arts. Cards are numbered and color coded by subject area (e.g., green = science). The front of each text card presents a short nonfiction piece, such as an article or letter. The back of each card contains “Comprehension Connection” and “Skill Focus” features, a list of key vocabulary, and a “Writing Extension” task. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Each Exploring Nonfiction text card may be used to support one or more lessons that develop specific reading skills, such as using maps, referencing a glossary, and summarizing information. Reading selections are cross-curricular and address topics in science, social studies, math, and language arts. Nonfiction content is provided by TIME for Kids and is differentiated for students reading at- and below grade level. About Teacher Created Materials* Teacher Created Materials (TCM) is a leading educational publisher with products that are used in classrooms in all 50 states and in 89 countries. Everything TCM publishes is still created by teachers for teachers and students because they still believe that no one knows what teachers need more than other teachers and they know that all students can become lifelong learners. And each year TCM provides professional development to over 10,000 teachers, helping them to perfect their craft. It is that sense of commitment to teachers, students, and the community that exemplifies TCM’s mission, vision, and values and underlies everything they do. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Teacher Created Materials .

Sharon Wells Mathematics Program is a comprehensive product that supports mathematics instruction and preparation for Texas STAAR exams in grades 2-5. Content is available in print format. Instruction is tailored to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) at each grade level and emphasizes preparation for standardized tests. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grade 4. The Sharon Wells Mathematics Program is organized in six 6-week units. Daily resources support 90 minutes of math instruction and are made up primarily of black and white problem-solving worksheets. At grade 4, instruction is organized in four core components: (1) Problem Solving/Process TEKS, (2) Basic Facts, (3) Skills, and (4) Concepts. Each component begins with a list of the TEKS covered by instruction and includes open-ended and multiple-choice practice problems. Multiple-choice problems are formatted to reflect STAAR exams. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Each week has an assessment, and each six-week unit ends with a comprehensive review and assessment. Assessments and reviews are made up of multiple-choice questions. For each assessment resource, teachers have a “Student Performance Data” sheet which lists the Reporting Category and TEKS addressed by each test item. Teachers enter each student’s name and whether they answered each item correctly. Completed sheets enable teachers to see patterns in students’ responses and to group students for re-teaching and remediation. About the Sharon Wells Mathematics Program The Sharon Wells Mathematics Program is designed on the principle of maintaining unique recurring methods and pedagogical beliefs for implementing effective mathematics instruction for young learners such as: Providing rigorous and in-depth lessons, frequent assessments, and spiraled repetition of readiness concepts Real life, hands–on lessons using manipulatives Building a strong foundation for understanding with conceptual learning opportunities from concrete to abstract activities Active learning experiences to conceptualize skills being taught The Program strives to create lessons that engage students so they can build the conceptual foundation and develop the mathematical processes needed for strengthening cognitive math skills, algebraic reasoning and problem solving. This will not only lead to success in the current grade level, but prepare students to transfer the learning to higher level mathematics. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from the Sharon Wells Mathematics Program .

Learning List has reviewed TeachTransform’s Master Fractions. This is a supplemental product that supports mathematics instruction in grades 2-5. Resources are available in print format and are designed for teachers. The text’s blackline masters must be copied for student use. Instruction focuses solely on fractions; other math content is not addressed. At each grade level, Master Fractions provides a variety of activities that help students develop the conceptual understanding needed to master the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) related to fractions. At each grade level, Master Fractions is organized in sections, or units, made up of lessons that address specific concepts related to fractions. For example, at grade 4, sections address (1) representing and iterating fractions, (2) equivalent fractions, (3) comparing fractions, and (4) adding and subtracting fractions. Instruction emphasizes the use of visual models and simple manipulatives. Content is presented simply in black and white print and is designed for teacher use. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Each activity contains “Teacher Notes” that clarify the purpose of the lesson, reference the relevant TEKS, and provide detailed guidance in preparing for and delivering instruction. Guidance includes “Meaning Behind the Math” background information in math concepts, and “Working the Classroom” pedagogical support in the use of models, manipulatives, and other strategies (e.g., word walls). The “Reading, Writing, and Speaking to Improve Critical Thinking” feature suggests strategies to develop students’ academic vocabulary and the ability to communicate mathematical reasoning in written and spoken formats. About TeachTransform* The TeachTransform series was created by Carol Gautier, a Texas mathematics educator whose career has included teaching middle school math in Round Rock ISD, working as a Project Coordinator for Math and Science at Education Service Center Region 13, and serving as the Supervisor of Mathematics for Austin ISD. Her goal in creating the TeachTransform products is to provide meaningful math materials that help math teachers fine-tune their use of class time and to help students to love math.   *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from TeachTransform .

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). Instruction is provided online and includes printable materials. Learning List recently reviewed the publisher’s courses for high school social studies. These courses include Texas U.S. History, World History Survey, World Geography, Economics, and U.S. Government.  < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Each course is organized in units that begin 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. Lessons are structured as tutorials followed by mastery tests. The tutorial provides direct instruction and guided practice in an interactive slide show format. Lessons are structured as tutorials followed by mastery tests. The tutorial provides direct instruction and guided practice in an interactive slide show format. Across courses, tutorials may include embedded videos, interactive timelines, and learning activities. Mastery tests are checks for understanding. 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 Farm is a supplemental online program that provides instruction and adaptive practice activities that address specific Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in mathematics, English language arts/reading, and science for students in grades K-8. Instruction is presented in interactive learning activities that support independent practice, review, and preparation for standardized tests. Learning List recently reviewed mathematics resources for grades 3-5. Learning Farm’s content is organized in “Topics” (e.g., place value, area) that address specific TEKS (e.g., 3.2.A, 3.6.C) and are grouped in terms of TEKS reporting categories (e.g., Numbers and Operations, Geometry and Measurement). Each topic has an optional short lesson that explains concepts using text, mathematical tools (e.g., number lines), and visual models. Lessons include a set of practice questions that students complete independently. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Core instruction is provided in “Test” or “Game” modes. Content is the same in each mode. In Game mode, students are rewarded with games for correct answers. Instruction is adaptive. When students answer incorrectly, Learning Farm presents additional problems similar to the one the student missed until mastery is achieved. Students who continue to struggle are directed to a lower-level “helper topic” designed to provide remediation and support. An icon depicting a lifesaver in online class rosters cues teachers to students completing helper topics. About Learning Farm* Learning Farm's mission is to create cutting edge educational software products that are easy to use, engaging to students, affordable for schools, and ultimately improve students' educational outcomes. Learning Farm has developed these three core beliefs: Student Focused - The most effective classroom resources are designed with student usage as the top priority. Simple implementation and ease of use are a must. Quality Content - The best resources have quality content designed specifically for the curriculum teachers are expected to teach. It is not good enough to piece together content from multiple sources and align it to standards. To be most effective, the content must be designed and presented specifically based on the realities of today's rigorous standards and assessments. Affordable - Education companies spend too much time and money on sales and marketing which is bad for schools. In most cases, too much money and focus are devoted to sales and marketing and not enough on product research, development, and quality. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Learning Farm .

Learning List recently reviewed ExploreLearning’s Gizmos. This supplemental, web-based product supports math and science instruction across grades 3-12. Instruction is inquiry-based. Gizmos are content-specific simulations and virtual manipulatives that provide students with dynamic, hands-on opportunities to explore math and science concepts in fun and meaningful ways. Across grades, Gizmos are housed in searchable libraries for math and science. Libraries are structured by grade band (e.g. 3-5) and topic. The math library is broadly organized in topics that include: numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability. Each topic includes sub-topics with one or more content-specific simulations (e.g., estimation using a number line). Each sub-topic Gizmo has a short overview of the simulation, learning objectives, a list of new vocabulary, and feedback from the Gizmos’ user community. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Each math Gizmo helps students make sense of concepts through visual representations of content. Interactive tools enable students to gather and analyze data, manipulate key variables, and use mathematical models to solve problems. Gizmos includes game-based activities that require students to reason quantitatively, critique their own reasoning, and that of their classmates. Simulations address many topics and skills that are relevant to both math and science (e.g., measurement, graphing). The overlap between Gizmos for math and science enable students to make connections between subject areas. Gizmos’ focus on solving real-world problems helps students to make connections to the world in which they live. Watch this brief video produced by ExploreLearning to learn more about Gizmos. About ExploreLearning* ExploreLearning® was founded in 1999 with a mission to improve student learning in math and science through best-in-class online solutions. Today, ExploreLearning’s award-winning products —  Gizmos®  and  Reflex®  — are successfully used in every state and province and more than 50 countries around the world. ExploreLearning is based in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is part of the  Cambium Learning Group®  — a leading educational solutions and services company committed to helping all students reach their full potential. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from ExploreLearning .

Educators and publishers often use the terms “standards,” “curriculum” and/or "instructional materials" interchangeably. Moreover, many educators consider their instructional materials to be their curriculum. However, each of these terms represents a distinct component of an educational program. In the sections that follow, we provide explanations of each of these terms to differentiate their meanings in the context of PreK-12 education. Standards set out what students are expected to know and be able to do at the end of each school year. Standards are generally established at the state level. In fact, ESSA requires that each state create learning standards for public schools in three subjects—English language arts/reading, mathematics, and science—and many states go beyond ESSA’s minimum to set standards in social studies, career and technical education, languages other than English, and other subjects. In contrast, the curriculum is developed at the district level, the product of local policy making. While the standards tell you what is expected, the curriculum provides the road map to get there. Often described in documents such as “scope and sequence” and “units of instruction,” a curriculum includes goals, instructional practices and pedagogical guidance, suggested resources and instructional materials, and methods of measuring student progress. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Instructional materials are publisher-created products designed to support and enhance a district's curriculum and support teaching of the state's standards. It is easy to see why the terms “instructional materials” and “curriculum” are used interchangeably: many instructional materials provide units of study, daily lesson plans, and assessments; and, many teachers rely so heavily on their instructional materials that the materials become the de facto curriculum. However, publishers design instructional materials to support educators across districts, even states. Thus, the units of study or pacing guide contained in an instructional material may not be consistent with the district’s curriculum and may not be well aligned to the applicable state's standards. For these reasons, instructional materials should be used to help teachers implement the district's curriculum and facilitate day-to-day instruction rather than as a curriculum. Working in concert, the district's curriculum and instructional materials help to ensure that students receive the instruction needed to master state standards and progress academically.

Learning List has reviewed GrapeSEED , which is a supplemental product that supports English for language learners as well as English language arts/reading (ELAR) instruction in grades K and 1. Content is in print form and available online including digital (i.e., DVD) resources. GrapeSEED is an oral language program that develops students’ speaking and listening skills while providing a foundation for literacy. Instruction strives to accelerate the development of language skills, reduce achievement gaps, and increase the confidence of emergent readers. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> GrapeSEED’s content is organized in ten sequential units that progressively increase in the complexity of vocabulary and skills taught. Unit 1 addresses concepts in counting and recognizing the alphabet, and the final unit covers shapes, telling time, and the months of the year. Across units, instruction includes a variety of materials for interactive language acquisition such as songs and chants, “Action Activities” (i.e., kinesthetic learning tasks), big books, and poems. Each material has associated resources that may include videos, audio recordings, and visuals suitable for display using interactive whiteboards. Writing instruction begins in Unit 3. Early writing activities focus on tracing letters and numbers and copying simple words, such as rabbit and rock. By Unit 10, students are writing words independently and copying short sentences. GrapeSEED provides “Repeated Exposure and Practice,” or “REP,” materials that students take home in print, CD, and DVD formats. REP materials enable students to practice language skills with their families. About GrapeSEED* The GrapeSEED program for children was born out of more than four decades of language teaching success by American educators at the MeySen Academy in Sendai, Japan. Continuing their track record of educational excellence internationally, GrapeSEED classrooms can currently be found in several states throughout the US. GrapeSEED continues to sponsor longitudinal studies focusing on English Language Learners (ELL) students, English as a Second Language (ESL) students, and other Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students. These studies provide an unmistakable evidence that schools are seeing significant improvements in their grade level assessments as a result of successful implementation of the program. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from GrapeSEED . Subscribe to  Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and alignment reports for these materials and thousands of other widely used PreK-12 resources.

Learning List has reviewed Blue Pelican Math’s Algebra I course. This comprehensive product supports teacher-led instruction and independent study for students in Algebra I. Content is available in print and online formats. Instruction emphasizes paper-and-pencil problem solving and includes web-based videos in which author Charles Cook explains concepts and demonstrates problem solving strategies.  < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Blue Pelican Algebra I content is presented in two semesters and organized in units and daily lessons. Daily lesson resources for each semester are provided in three versions: (1) teacher version, (2), absent-student version, and (3) regular student version. Each version begins with a detailed syllabus that lists the topic of each unit and lesson. The teacher version includes notes to support instruction and modeling solution strategies as well as answer keys. The absent student version includes the same teaching notes and solutions strategies as in the teacher version but does not include answer keys. The regular student version includes space for taking notes during teacher-led instruction and modeling. Lessons are designed to be completed in a single class period and include direct instruction and guided and independent practice. Each lesson includes a video in which author Charles Cook provides direct instruction and demonstrations of problem solving strategies. Videos may be integrated into daily instruction and/or used to guide teachers in planning their own instruction and modeling. Videos also support absent students, independent study, and review. About Blue Pelican Math* Charles Cook, author of the Blue Pelican Math curriculum, is a high school teacher with a proven track record of success in both the class room and publishing.  A passion for teaching advanced mathematics and a clear vision of both its content and presentation shapes Cook’s curriculum. A quick look at this curriculum reveals that it definitely was not created by a committee: it discards the traditional approach of bloated, politically correct textbooks and opts for day-by-day lessons that are actually ‘doable’ in a single day. Cook has carefully crafted lessons so as to cover all required topics in a single school year. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Blue Pelican Math . Subscribe to  Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and alignment reports for these materials and thousands of other widely used PreK-12 resources.

Savvas’s enVisionmath2.0 Common Core is a comprehensive mathematics curriculum for grades K-8 that includes print and eBook resources with additional online content. Students learn through hands-on activities that focus on understanding, fluency, and flexibility with math concepts while developing problem-solving skills. Learning List recently reviewed eBook and online resources for grades K-5. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> enVisionmath2.0 is organized using the Understanding by Design (UbD) model that frames instruction in terms of “Big Ideas,” “Essential Understandings,” and “Essential Questions.” Content is presented in “Topics” (i.e., chapters) made up of sets of lessons that address a particular concept or skill. Each Topic includes at least one “Problem-Solving” lesson that focuses on a particular problem-solving strategy, such as drawing a picture or looking for a pattern. Teacher and student editions have a “Mathematical Practices Handbook” that provides an overview of the MPS and guidance in how to use them. MPS videos provide a student-friendly overview of the standard, questions to support students in using the practices (e.g., “How can I check to make sure my answer makes sense?”), and examples of the standards in use. Videos help teachers make connections between the MPSs and evaluate students’ ability to use them. At each grade level, enVisionmath2.0 provides a “Common Core Standards Practice Workbook” and the a “Math Diagnosis and Intervention System” (MDIS). Workbooks contain practice activities for each standard and end-of-year practice tests and performance tasks. MDIS includes a diagnostic test and intervention resources to support RtI, remediation, and summer school instruction. *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 . Subscribe to  Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and alignment reports for these materials and thousands of other widely used PreK-12 resources.

The effective implementation of a material is as critical to student success as the material's alignment to standards. Learning List’s editorial reviews empower districts with information they need to not only to select materials but also to implement materials more effectively. They provide a qualitative analysis of each material's instructional content and design. They point out the critical components of the product and the value each provides in the instructional process. They highlight the supports available for teachers and point out deficits in the material's offerings. For example, the editorial reviews explain whether teacher resources include background in content and pedagogy, provide pacing information and/or lesson plans, and offer guidance in differentiating instruction. They explain the professional development opportunities in the material and note when a product contains additional supports for novice teachers, such as comprehensive discussions of the required content knowledge and pedagogy, and detailed lesson plans to support instruction. Learning List's  alignment reports  guide educators in their selection and use of standards-aligned materials. Our editorial reviews help educators understand the intended use and instructional components of each product so they can implement the product effectively. Together, these reviews empower educators to choose and use materials to fuel their students' success. A recent example of implementation gone wrong ... and how reading our reviews could have lead to success!  An assistant superintendent of a subscribing district called to let us know that her high school math teachers believed that our reviews of a particular material were too generous to a publisher by failing to mention the material's lack of rigor. They felt the material did not provide practice exercises necessary to allow students to develop mathematical proficiency. Rigor is an attribute we review materials for both in our alignment methodology and in the editorial review. So, after the call, we reviewed our alignment reports and editorial reports for each applicable grade level. Our alignment reports revealed the following information about the material: The material was aligned to a high percentage of the relevant state standards, meaning that we found at least one aligned citation  for the majority of standards in each grade level. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> However, for several standards in each grade level, not all of the citations we reviewed were aligned, primarily because, as the Reviewer's Comments pointed out, the citations did not address the cognitive demand of the standard. Furthermore, other standards were found to be aligned only if several partially aligned citations are "bundled" (i.e., used together), as stated in the Reviewer's Comment. Since our alignment reports revealed that some, but not all, of the citations listed in the publisher's correlation were sufficiently rigorous to meet the cognitive demand of the standards, teachers would need to be circumspect about selecting citations to use in their lessons. Our alignment reports point out the aligned citations that teachers can use to teach each standard. In addition to the information contained in the Alignment Report, our editorial reviews point out that while core instruction was provided in the online student edition online, "practice" was addressed in consumable student workbooks which contain hands-on activities, and practice, application and challenge problems. Our reviewers found the practice opportunities in the workbooks sufficiently rigorous to build conceptual understanding and procedural fluency. In a follow up conversation with the assistent superintendent about the information available in our reviews, we learned that the while teachers had reviewed the online student edition,  they had not reviewed the accompanying workbooks.  We conjectured that perhaps her teachers concluded that the material was not sufficiently rigorous because they had not accessed the workbooks. In order for students to get the most benefit from any instructional material, all available resources must be used as intended for instruction. Learning List’s three professional reviews of each material assist educators in both selecting and implementing materials effectively.