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Learning List has reviewed Perfection Learning’s Human Geography: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Exam. This test preparation product supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography courses. Content is available in print and digital formats. Instruction provides a review of human geography concepts (e.g., the spatial distribution of resources) and practice activities designed to prepare students for the AP exam. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Human Geography opens with an introduction that contains an overview of the AP Human Geography exam and test preparation strategies, including exam pacing, guidance in answering multiple-choice and free-response items, and a schedule for study and review. Core content is organized in seven units: (1) How to Think Like a Geographer, (2) Population and Migration, (3) Cultural Patterns and Processes, (4) Political Organization of Space, (5) Agriculture and Rural Land Use, (6) Industrialization and Development, and (7) Cities and Urban Land Use. Across units, instruction emphasizes a systematic approach to analysis that includes (1) comprehension of basic information, (2) identification of patterns, (3) explanations of the phenomena that cause patterns to form, and (4) prediction of the pattern’s outcomes. Instruction emphasizes the development of the writing skills needed for the AP exam. Each chapter ends with multiple-choice and free-response questions formatted to reflect the AP exam. The text concludes with a full-length AP practice exam. 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. In 2013, Perfection Learning® acquired AMSCO School Publications. For over 75 years, AMSCO has excelled in providing high-quality materials in social studies; AP®, ACT, and SAT preparation; world languages; science; language arts; and more.   *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Perfection Learning . 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.

In a recent op-ed appearing in The Hill , ThinkCerca ’s founder and CEO, Eileen Murphy Buckley, describes the challenges she faced as a novice English teacher working at  Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, one of Illinois’ best high schools and Michelle Obama’s alma mater. Like many first-year teachers, she struggled with classroom management, planning relevant and engaging instruction, and mastery of her content area. She received sage advice from veteran colleagues, but she “confesses” that her strongest supports as an inexperienced teacher were the instructional materials she used in the classroom. She writes: So, there is my confession after all these years, but I make it to say that the products we use in schools matter. The quality of those resources matter so very much because they are what empower students, regardless of which teacher they end up with. The materials shape teachers and teacher practice, and they shape the teachers they raise through years of side by side work. These products must answer to students and teachers as well as buyers — the admins and school boards who are the stewards of our future, our culture, our democracy. Products have material impact on the lives of our children and grandchildren — who will be caring for us and our country in the very near future. Simply put, reading materials impact the quality of teaching in much more significant ways than you might know. At Learning List, we understand the importance of high quality materials. We recognize that instructional materials influence how teachers teach as well as how and what students learn. And this understanding shapes how we review products. Our editorial reviews examine the supports each material does or does not provide for teachers. Our reviewers explain whether teacher resources include background in content and pedagogy; provide pacing information, lesson plans, and guidance in differentiating instruction; and offer professional development opportunities and professional communities that facilitate collaboration and sharing with other teachers who use the same product. Our reviewers note when they feel a product is particularly appropriate for novice teachers. Such products include comprehensive discussions of the required content knowledge and pedagogy, and offer detailed, often scripted, lesson plans to support instruction. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> In addition, our alignment reports help all teachers—novices and veterans—understand the learning standards for their subject and grade level. Learning List’s alignment reports enable teachers to see, in detail, what their students are expected to know and be able to do as a result of instruction. Our alignment reports enable administrators and school board members to ensure that the materials they purchase are addressing the required standards and preparing students for success in subsequent grades, college, and careers. Learning List’s editorial reviews and alignment reports complement each other in the type of information they provide. Editorial reviews provide a qualitative discussion of each product’s features and functionality. Alignment reports provide a detailed examination of how well each product does or does not teach the required learning standards, resulting in a quantitative measure of the product’s alignment to standards. Taken together, these reviews enable district administrators and school board members—" the stewards of our future, our culture, our democracy”—to ensure the instructional materials they select for their classrooms meet the needs of their teachers and students and support high quality teaching and learning. Note: Learning List has reviewed ThinkCerca's Common Core ELA materials for middle school.

GameSalad is a supplemental computer science program that supports instruction in grades PK-12. Content is available online and includes printable resources, such as lesson plans, worksheets, and quizzes. Instruction is project based and introduces students to concepts in programming and game design without the need to learn programming languages and coding skills. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades 3-8. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> GameSalad organizes instruction in units that teach students how to create computer games using GameSalad’s “Creator” user interface. Most units focus on the development of a specific game (e.g., Space Runner, Top-Notch Trivia). Within units, students learn key computer science concepts, such as inputs/outputs, copyright law, universal access, and the applications and impacts of computer science in daily life. Students create games using a menu-based system that does not require knowledge of coding. Activities require students to apply reasoning skills, logic, and innovative thinking to solve problems. A textbook to accompany GameSalad is available separately from Cengage . About GameSalad* GameSalad is a revolutionary game development platform that allows anyone to create the game of their dreams without writing a line of code. It’s also the best way to introduce programming concepts, game design, and digital media creation to your students. Launched in 2010, GameSalad has been used by over one million aspiring game developers and has powered over 75 games that reached the top 100 in the App Store, including multiple #1 games. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from GameSalad . 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 the National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center’s (NICERC) Computer Science course. This is a comprehensive product that supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles courses. Content is available online and is comprised of printable PDF materials. Online content is not interactive. Instruction is project based and emphasizes the development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills in the context of computer science.< Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> NICERC Computer Sci ence begins with three lessons that introduce students to the foundations of computer science and some ideas embedded in the course (e.g., the importance of failure to future success). Core content is organized in multi-day lessons that address specific components, or “pillars,” of computer science. Pillars include algorithms, computer programming, data structures, and computer architecture. Lessons address a set of related topics (e.g., the binary number system, binary arithmetic). Most lessons include one or more hands-on Activities that require students to work with classmates to complete computing tasks, such designing computer games. Additional Resources include a variety of additional activities, including puzzles, videos, and opportunities to create digital artifacts. Other resources include “Beam” supplemental lessons that teachers may incorporate in the course if they choose. Beams are meant to be capstone lessons that address the application of computer science to a variety of contemporary topics, including robotics, cyber security, and gaming. About NICERC* NICERC provides hands-on professional development, curricula, programs, and competitions to engage students in STEM disciplines. Project-driven curricula creates a context for the content at every level of learning. Professional development programs for K-12 teachers enable them to motivate creativity and innovation in students through problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication. These initiatives offered through NICERC provide a collaborative and comprehensive solution that fosters systemic change in education. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from NICERC . 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 Norton’s America: A Narrative History, Tenth Edition. This comprehensive product supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) United States History courses. Content is available in print and digital formats. Instruction focuses on how political and economic developments have shaped the nation, with analyses of how these developments informed social change and discussions of key individuals and events. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> America begins with a preface that describes changes to the Tenth Edition and provides an overview of digital learning resources. Core content is organized in seven parts titled: (1) A Not-So-“New” World, (2) Building a Nation, (3) An Expanding Nation, (4) A House Divided and Rebuilt, (5) Growing Pains, (6) Modern America, and (7) The American Age. Each chapter begins with a set of “Focus Questions” (e.g., “How did the South and the West change by 1900?”) and a brief introduction. Co-author David Shi provides responses to Focus Questions in closed-captioned video segments on the course’s online “Student Site.” eBooks are searchable by keyword and have an audio reader; bookmarking, highlighting, and note taking tools; and a feature that allows teachers to post notes to the text for their students to see. The course’s online “Student Site” provides access to author videos, interactive maps (i.e., “iMaps”), downloadable primary source documents, and worksheets indexed by chapter. Students also have access to “Norton’s “InQuizitive” interactive, adaptive quizzing tool. 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 . 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 month commemorates the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act in February 1917. The Act was the first federal law to recognize the importance of vocational education to America’s economic future.  While the Smith-Hughes Act focused primarily on education for agricultural careers—the nation’s primary industry at the time—today’s CTE is organized in 16 Career Clusters that include critical and growing sectors of the current economy, including information technology, healthcare, energy, and manufacturing. Throughout February each year, national, state, and local CTE organizations celebrate the achievements of CTE students, advocate for CTE, and strive to raise awareness of CTE’s important role in a strong economy. The month emphasizes the benefits of CTE in academically preparing students for fulfilling careers that will support America’s continued economic growth. Educators can find CTE activities, links to articles about CTE, and advocacy materials on the Advance CTE website . < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Learning List has reviewed a wide range of CTE instructional materials across the Career Clusters. Most of these materials were submitted to the Texas Education Agency in response to Proclamation 2017, which called for the submission of CTE materials for state adoption in Texas. Readers may link to our blogs about PROC 2017 materials here: Adoption Materials for CTE Courses  Career and Technical Education: Anatomy and Physiology Career and Technical Education: Medical Terminology Career and Technical Education: Principles of Health Science New Product Review: Davis Publication Communicating through Graphic Design New Product Reviews: CompuScholar Information Technology Materials Review: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Resources Reviews of Materials for CTE and Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Subscribe to  Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and state alignment reports for these materials and thousands of other widely used PreK-12 resources.

Learning A-Z’s Writing A-Z is a supplemental product that addresses writing instruction in grades pre-K-6. Content is available online and includes printable resources. Instruction develops students understanding of the writing process and builds writing skills across a variety of genres, including narrative, informational/explanatory, persuasive, and transactional (e.g., letters) writing. Learning List recently reviewed resources for grades K-5. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Writing A-Z’s “ Emergent Writing” program for students in pre-K and kindergarten is organized in six “Stages,” or units. In Stage 1, students write labels for common objects (i.e., nouns), link sounds and letters, and learn to write from left to right.  By Stage 6, students are writing sentences that incorporate conjunctions and simple phrases. At grades 1-5, students are characterized as “Beginning” (grade 1), “Early Developing” (grade 2), “Developing” (grade 3), and “Fluent” (grades 4-5) writers.  Although lessons are differentiated for each developmental level, instruction across grades focuses on Process Writing, Skill Building, and Grammar/Word Work. Writing A-Z contains a set of interactive writing tools to support instruction. The tools include “Process Writing Workshop,” “Write Your Way,” and “Build a Book.” The Process Writing Workshop guides students in the writing process across the Process Writing genres. The Write Your Way tool encourages short daily writing. The Build a Book tool enables students to create their own illustrated online books. 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 5 million students in more than 175 countries. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Learning A-Z . 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.

USATestprep is a supplemental online test preparation product that helps students prepare for a variety of standardized tests, including STAAR, Advanced Placement, and SAT/ACT exams. Content is available online and includes printable materials. USATestprep provides a variety of assessment resources and short instructional activities linked to standards.  Learning List reviewed resources designed to help students master the Algebra I Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and prepare for STAAR testing. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> For Algebra I, USATestprep provides assessment resources to support benchmarking, the identification of learning gaps, and preparation for the STAAR end-of-course exam. In addition, the program includes a variety of short, online instructional activities to support review of the TEKS. Online learning activities include “Standards-based Modules,” performance tasks and warm-ups, an “Item of the Day” feature, as well as games to be used with classroom projection devices. Each resource is linked to a specific standard and may be customized to meet teachers’ needs. USATestprep ’s “Benchmark” tab allows teachers to create Basic and/or Custom benchmark assessments. Basic benchmarks are system-created summative tests that prepare students for the Algebra I STAAR end-of-course exam. Custom benchmarks allow teachers to select questions that address specific standards. For both Basic and Custom benchmarks, teachers are able to preview tests and set item point values. Online tools allow teachers to select a variety of assessment features, including whether tests provide students with explanations of results upon completion, include Spanish translations, order questions randomly, and/or have three rather than four answer choices. About USATestprep* USATestprep, Inc. is recognized as a leader in curriculum resources and test prep for high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. We have been helping students with high-stakes tests since 1998, and we offer a multitude of review products for subject area end-of-grade, end-of-course, graduation level, career readiness, and college entrance assessments. Our programs are tailored to both individual state and/or Common Core standards. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from USATestprep . 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.

Edmentum’s Study Island is a supplemental online product that helps students in grades K-12 master the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and prepare for STAAR exams. Content is available for mathematics, English language arts/reading, science, and social studies. Resources support teacher-guided instruction and independent study. Teachers may create their own lessons and assessments using online tools. Learning List recently reviewed math materials for grade 3. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Study Island begins math instruction at each grade level with a pretest and a diagnostic test that assess students’ readiness for content. Instruction is presented in short lessons for each topic followed by a set of “Sessions” with practice activities. Lesson texts include definitions of new terms, example problems with step-by-step solutions, and illustrations to support understanding. Many lessons have interactive flashcards for new vocabulary and terms; flashcards may also be printed. Some lessons include animated and video-based content. Study Island has comprehensive monitoring resources that allow teachers to track student and class progress in multiple, easy-to-use and -understand formats. Reports track student usage and performance data, and enable comparisons between classes and state averages of other Study Island users. Teachers may monitor student performance by topic and standard, and track performance trends, such as student time spent using resources. About Edmentum* Edmentum 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. 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 OpenStax’s Biology for AP Courses. This c­­­­­­­omprehensive, open education resource (OER) resource supports Advanced Placement (AP) Biology instruction at the high school level. Resources are available online and may be downloaded as an interactive PDF. Instruction covers the content for an introductory college-level biology course with an emphasis on ensuring resources address the College Board’s course framework for AP Biology. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Biology for AP Courses begins with a Preface that describes the course and its features. Instruction is organized in units that begin with a “Chemistry of Life” introduction to biology followed by units covering cells, genetics, evolution, biological diversity, plant structure and function, animal structure and function, and ecology. Each chapter opens with an outline of content and a brief introduction. Chapters are broken into sections that begin with the key questions explored in the discussion (e.g., “What are metabolic pathways?”) and a “Connection for AP Courses” feature that connects the section’s content to the relevant Big Ideas, Enduring Understandings, and Essential Knowledge included in the College Board’s framework for AP Biology. About OpenStax* OpenStax is a nonprofit based at Rice University, and it’s our mission to improve student access to education. Our first openly licensed college textbook was published in 2012, and our library since scaled to more than 20 books for college and AP courses used by hundreds of thousands of students. Our adaptive learning technology, designed to improve learning outcomes through personalized educational paths, is being piloted in college courses across the country. Information in this section is provided by or adapted from OpenStax . 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 National Geographic Learning/Cengage Learning’s Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity, AP Edition, Tenth Edition. This comprehensive product supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry courses. Content is available in print and eBook formats with additional online resources. The course provides an overview of chemical principles and processes, and the real-world applications of these principles and processes in industry, medicine, and the environment. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity organizes core content in five parts: (1) The Basic Tools of Chemistry, (2) Atoms and Molecules, (3) States of Matter, (4) The Control of Chemical Reactions, and (5) The Chemistry of the Elements. Part 1 begins with a short chapter titled “Let’s Review: The Tools of Quantitative Chemistry” reviews of some of the key mathematical concepts needed for the study of chemistry (e.g., units of measurement, graphs and graphing, problem-solving strategies). Each chapter begins with an outline of chapter sections, and chapter sections begin with statements of the learning goal(s). The text’s artwork helps students understand the relationships between the macroscopic, symbolic, and particulate levels of chemistry. Example problems include step-by-step guidance in identifying solution strategies, implementing strategies, and arriving at solutions. A “Think About Your Answer” feature encourages consideration of each solution’s reasonableness. Embedded checks for understanding are included with each example problem About National Geographic Learning/Cengage Learning* At National Geographic Learning, part of Cengage Learning, we believe education is one of the great transformative forces of this century. Among our goals is to help learners and teachers to achieve personal success and be better citizens of the 21st century. We want English language teachers and their students to experience the excitement and joy of learning, and to bring their classroom to life. Our mission is to inspire students to learn and acquire the skills they need to be successful in their careers or educational experiences, as well as to become lifelong caretakers of the planet. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from National Geographic Learning/Cengage Learning . 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.

A supplemental resource is designed to complement and support comprehensive materials. Publishers design supplemental resources for different purposes, including to: help students learn the content and practice the skills contained in all of the standards for a particular grade and subject; offer some of the same resources as comprehensive materials to support students in learning a specific subset of standards (e.g., writing standards, Personal Financial Literacy, etc...); target specific standards with which students typically struggle; build skills addressed across grade level standards; or support specific student learning needs, such as the needs of English language learners, students with disabilities, or advanced learners. Supplemental materials vary in the percentage of standards they  intend to address. Some intend to align to all grade-level standards, but most do not.  A supplemental resource that is aligned to only 50% of the grade-level standards may be the best material to select if it is aligned to the standards you need it to teach.  Similarly, a resource that intends to build vocabulary may do so effectively even though it is aligned to fewer than 10% of the grade level standards because it does not teach the other content and skills the standards require. Thus, such a product may be a great addition to your district's instructional arsenal despite its low alignment percentage. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Bottom line : It is critically important to look beyond the alignment percentages of supplemental materials in order to use them effectively. Learning List's editorial review explains the intended purpose of each material, and our alignment comparison tool and alignment reports identify the standards to which each material is aligned. Supplemental materials typically have fewer components than comprehensive materials and vary significantly in their offerings. For example, some supplemental products include assessment resources and monitoring tools; others do not. The rigor of supplemental materials also varies based on the material's intended purpose. Supplemental materials intended for remediation, review, or to support students’ independent study may strive to pose fewer challenges in the content they present and in their reading levels in order to ensure materials are accessible to students with limited teacher support. In contrast, supplemental materials designed to extend and enhance students’ understanding may present deeper discussions of topics and more complex activities that require students to apply their learning in new and innovative ways. Such materials are generally intended for classroom use with teacher guidance and support. Because supplemental materials are intended for different purposes, it is difficult to state what to expect from a supplemental resource. As stated above, not all supplemental materials are intended to help students master the standards; some are skill builders, some target specific content, and others address particular students' needs. If a supplemental resource is standards-focused, however, it will only be effective if it is aligned to the standards you are using it to teach. Like comprehensive materials, supplemental products differ significantly in price, with no observable relationship between the price and percentage of standards addressed. Thus, comparison shopping is essential to ensure you get the product you need at the best value for your district/campus.