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As a means to understand how district and campus-level staff “acquire and use instructional materials for English language learners (ELLs),”the Council of the Great City Schools conducted a survey of educators in urban school districts nationwide during the 2012-13 school year. Of the 248 survey respondents, 59% were ELL teachers, specialists, and/or coordinators. Below are some key findings from the survey: 82% of respondents said their current ELL materials did not reflect the rigor required by standards. 48% used general education materials with ELLs; 42% used supplemental ELL materials in conjunction with core curriculum materials. 34% of respondents said that they know good materials for ELLs exist, but finding them is difficult and time consuming. Learning List’s reviews can help educators identify products that support ELLs. Our alignment reports provide detailed information about each product’s alignment to standards. These reports analyze whether and specifically where the material addresses the content, context and the rigor required by the applicable standards, including the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, California, Florida, and Common Core State Standards. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> In addition to the alignment reports, our editorial reviews assess the instructional content and design of each material, including the supports provided for each special student population. Not surprisingly, many of the indicators of quality in a general education product are necessary supports for ELLs. For example, active reading strategies, audio readers, and visual elements help all students, including ELLs, read and understand a text. Research also indicates that thematic units; essential questions; vocabulary development activities; frequent, short writing assignments; and opportunities to discuss content and work with peers help ELLs in learning discipline-specific content and language skills. In addition, ELLs benefit from grade-level appropriate materials that are scaffolded, rigorous, and include connections to students’ lives. Learning List’s editorial reviews address all of these features. Further, Learning List allows subscribers to filter their searches for products with ELL-specific resources and supports in teacher and student materials. Across grades, our reviewers look for teacher materials that provide guidance in modifying instruction to meet the needs of ELLs at different levels of language acquisition (i.e., emerging, expanding, bridging). However, to be characterized as an ELL resource, student materials also must include specific supports for ELLs. Such supports may include translations, multi-lingual glossaries, glossaries with audio capabilities, and annotated text. We feel it’s important that supports be evident in student materials, particularly at the elementary level, because they facilitate independent work and help ELL parents support their children. Finally, our comparison tools make it easy for educators to strategically pair supplemental materials with specific tools for ELLs together with core curriculum resources to provide stronger support for language development in a subject-specific context. Learning List’s reviews and tools can help educators meet the vexing challenges of finding and using materials more effectively with ELL students in the general education classroom.  We share educators’ concerns and frustrations, however, about identifying materials designed specifically for use in English Language Development (ELD) classes. When submitted by publishers or requested subscribing districts, Learning List will review those materials for alignment to the applicable standards as well as for the unique attributes necessary to facilitate language acquisition.

Very few products we reviewed are specific to Texas or include direct references to the TEKS in teacher and/or student materials. However, some products contain supplemental resources, such as lesson plans and correlation documents, to help Texas teachers plan TEKS-aligned instruction. Surprisingly, some products that include Texas in their titles (e.g., Pearson’s “Texas Manufacturing Welding”) do not include references to the TEKS. This is likely due to the fact that many CTE products, while suitable for high school instruction, are designed to meet the needs of community college students and students in career and technical schools. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Similarly, CTE products designed for post-secondary learning environments tend to have fewer supports for struggling readers, such as active reading strategies, checks for understanding, and margin notes with study tips and learning strategies, which may create challenges to their use in high school classrooms.   Nearly all of the products we reviewed addressed employment skills to some degree. Products include  profiles of careers related to content, portfolio building activities, and lessons addressing job searches and skills for success in the workplace (e.g., collaboration, communication). Some products are state-adopted for multiple courses. For example, Cengage Learning’s “Personal Financial Literacy” and Goodheart-Willcox’s “Foundations of Financial Literacy” are state-adopted for both Money Matters (Subchapter F: Finance) and Dollars and Sense (Subchapter J: Human Services). In such cases, districts can get products for two courses for the price of one course.   Generally speaking, we saw few supports for English language learners across CTE products. And, when we did see supports, they were minimal such as a Spanish language glossary. There is considerable overlap in content for some publishers’ submissions. For example, CEV Multimedia’s products are state-adopted for a wide range of CTE courses. CEV provides module-based online instruction, and in many cases, the same modules appear in multiple courses. For example, each of the modules that make up CEV’s “Medical Terminology” also appear in CEV’s “Principles of Health Science” (Subchapter H: Health Science). In such cases, districts will want to be careful not to pay twice for the very same content.   Subscribe to Learning List for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for these materials and thousands of other widely used Pk-12 resources.

During Teacher Appreciation week, I often hear of the amazing teachers that turn lives around. I read stories that inspire and motivate.  But, there are many more untold stories of the impact that a good teacher has over the span of their career in education.  And as I reflect on my experience as a student, I would like to thank all of the teachers from Rockwall ISD. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> I was the quiet kid that was always “A joy to teach!” according to my report card.  I followed directions and at worst occasionally did not turn in my homework. I might not have the “turned my life around” story, but I do have many memories of always being spoken to respectfully and treated as capable and intelligent.  When my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Adams, was patient with a quiet girl that was not comfortable speaking up, I felt accepted and respected.  When my eighth grade science teacher, Ms. Brown, pulled me aside and asked me to be available to help with questions from the kids with special needs, because she knew I could, I felt capable.  Even though it has been well over twenty years, my teachers contributed to who I am today and I am grateful for that. These are just a few samples of the many positive memories from having good teachers in my life.  So, I thank them for the quiet assurance that I was worthy of respect and capable of success.

One t eacher I would like to thank is Ms. Anita Johnson, who taught English at Dallas ISD’s J.L. Long Middle School in the 1980s. Ms. Johnson was my supervising teacher when I completed a semester of student teaching in 1986.  Ms. Johnson taught me how to structure a lesson, plan for contingencies, and use an overhead projector. More than that, she taught me the gentle balance that is classroom management—the importance of being kind, fair, and firm. < Read=">Read" more... ="more...">   At that time, there was no stipend for supervising student teachers, and Ms. Johnson confided her frustration that she received no compensation or release time for her supervisory work.  She was an excellent teacher and because of her excellence, she was assigned to supervise a new student-teacher nearly every year. I hope that my gratitude for her help and the knowledge that through her ongoing support of new teachers, she has touched the lives of students she has never met—the many students taught by the young teachers whose lives and careers she helped to shape—is some compensation for her effort.

I started high school in a class of over 800 students, a shocking transition from attending a small junior/senior high school on a military base. I did well in school, but stayed under the radar. I had a few teachers who took the time to push and challenge me, but none as much as my art teacher, Mrs. Stephens. She taught me to appreciate perspectives, styles, and to be an individual. More importantly, my opinions, strengths, tastes, and limitations were valued. < Read=">Read" More="More" ... ="..."> Mrs. Stephens challenged me with work that I did not believe I could accomplish, and supported me in reaching those goals. Her feedback was always constructive and specific so that I could learn and improve. I did not become an artist, but the challenges, new experiences, successes, and failures helped me grow as an individual. I know Mrs. Stephens would be proud, I became a teacher.

I attended Westwood Elementary School in Friendswood, Texas during the late 1970’s. The school had a traffic signal light in the cafeteria.  When the light was green, students could talk; yellow meant students  could whisper; but when it was on red, no one dared to speak.  Unfortunately for me, I was known as a motor mouth and would always talk to my friends no matter what color the light.  I finally had my day of reckoning when I was in fourth grade.  I will NEVER forget this infamous day!  The light was red  and as usual, I was jabbering away to my friends.  Little did I know there was a teacher, wearing a cream and green crocheted wide-striped sweater, watching me the entire time.  After she had seen enough, she approached me, grabbed my arm and said, “Follow me young lady!”. All the way, she scolded me for not following the rules in the cafeteria.  She then told me my punishment was that I had to sit on the stage in front of the student body for the remainder of the week.  I was mortified! < Read=">Read" More... ="More..."> Summer finally came and it was absolutely  joyous until I received a letter from the school informing me of my 5 th grade schedule.  As soon as I saw the teacher’s name I yelled, “NOOOO”!!  I could not be in Mrs. Pare’s class!   I begged my mother to go to the school and get a schedule change but my mom refused to do it.  Needless to say, the rest of my summer days were miserable. By the time school started, I was a nervous wreck. On the first day of my fifth grade year, I could barely compose myself.  I remember my stomach being tied up in knots.  But once I got to school, everything began to get better.  I was sure Mrs. Pare had forgotten I was the student she had placed on the stage the year before.  Surprisingly, she was super nice and so much fun! Every day we would skip down the hallways to PE class singing “We are off the see the Wizard…,” and she even played with us on the playground during recess.  That year became one of my favorite memories of school. The following year I would make sure to stop by her classroom at least twice a week to see her on my way home from school.  I would help her clean her room, but most times we would talk about school, family and life in general.  I moved away that same year and although we never saw each other, we kept in touch over the years. The next time I saw her was at my wedding.  Mrs. Pare sat in my mom’s spot at my wedding.  I could not have been more proud to have her there. Ten years later, she drove 500 miles round trip to attend my baby shower.  Although it has been 30 years since I was in her classroom, we still keep in touch. Things always happen for a reason.  If I had not had Mrs. Pare as my teacher in 5 th grade, I do not think I could have made it to where I am today.  She has always been there for me -- to provide a shoulder to cry on or be the voice of reason.  She is like a mom to me, and I will forever be grateful to her.  So, in honor of Teacher’s Appreciation Week, I want to say “Thank you Mrs. Pare for everything you have given me over the years.  I love you!!”

I am forever indebted to my third grade teacher, Mrs. Adams, and principal, Dr. Woodward at Spring Creek Elementary School in Richardson, Texas. The compassion and empathy these women exhibited changed the course of my life. My family moved to the United States when I was eight years old.  Though I spoke English, it felt like a different language than “American” (and particular “Texan”).  I had an accent which my new classmates had difficulty understanding.  I used different words to describe things which my classmates ridiculed.  And, I spelled words differently which lead me repeatedly to fail spelling tests. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> No student wants to be “different.” I was different. No student wants to fail; I was failing. I hated school … so much so that I refused to attend.  One day, my mother met with Mrs. Adams and asked her to consider checking my spelling test using an Oxford Dictionary. Fortunately, Mrs. Adams agreed.  Instead of giving me a big red “X,” she wrote how I needed to adjust my spelling to get the answer correct in America. I slowly grasped the nuanced changes that I needed to make and began getting good grades again. That simple act of kindness restored my confidence. Dr. Woodward helped me feel accepted and valued. She was the most approachable principal I had ever met. She smiled a lot. She asked me how things were going when she saw me in the hall. The interest she showed made me feel that she was happy to see me and cared whether I was at school.  Her simple acts of kindness transformed my attitude towards school. My third grade teacher and my elementary principal truly changed my life. In third grade, I was a shy little girl who did everything in her power not to attend school because I felt so different and unwelcome. In fourth grade I was making good grades again; I had friends, in fact, I was elected to the student council; I loved school again. Who would I be today if Mrs. Adams had not been willing to adapt her instructional strategy to help me learn to spell the American way? Her patience and willingness to work with me transformed me from a child who felt dumb and a failure to a young girl with confidence in her ability to succeed.  Where would I be if Dr. Woodward hadn’t made me feel that my presence at school mattered? Few of us have the power to impact peoples’ lives as profoundly as teachers do.  Thank you Dr. Woodward and Mrs. Adams and all the teachers who impacted my life indelibly! I am forever indebted to each of you. Without your teaching, guidance and caring, I would not have had the knowledge or confidence to start Learning List.  I hope that Learning List pays the gifts you gave me forward by making it a bit easier for teachers to use their materials to teach, reteach, and differentiate instruction most effectively to help all of their students reach their potential.

Learning List has reviewed Mastery Education’s Measuring Up End-of-Course: Algebra I, STAAR Edition. This is a supplemental print product that helps students prepare for the STAAR Algebra I end-of-course (EOC) exam. Content is organized in short lessons that address specific TEKS. Instruction provides ample opportunities for students to practice and apply problem-solving strategies. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Measuring Up organizes instruction in chapters that address key concepts in Algebra I (e.g., polynomial and algebraic expressions, quadratic equations). Each chapter is made up of short lessons that address specific TEKS. Content is scaffolded, building from simple to more complex concepts and connections to the TEKS are clear in both student and teacher resources. Each lesson includes a STAAR practice test and each chapter ends with a STAAR Minitest. Teacher editions also contain two versions of a cumulative STAAR practice test, a table identifying the TEKS addressed by each practice test problem, and a prescriptive answer key to support re-teaching. About Mastery Education* Mastery Education focuses on supplemental instructional and practice materials that are standards-based and customized for specific markets. We work closely with educational partners to analyze mandated standards and assessment criteria in order to create the most useful and relevant teacher support tools. Mastery Education products work within the company priorities of Diagnose, Instruct and Practice, and are delivered both in print as well as digital formats. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Mastery Education . 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 Charles A. Dana Center’s Advanced Mathematical Decision Making (AMDM) is a comprehensive product that supports instruction in Advanced Quantitative Reasoning courses in Texas high schools. Content is available in print format. Instruction is discovery based and engages students in authentic problem solving that emphasizes real-world contexts, including statistics and finance. Algebra II is a prerequisite for the course. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> AMDM presents core content in eight teaching guides. Each guide comprises a unit of instruction that focuses on particular concepts and sets of skills (e.g., using functions in models and decision making). Units are broken into “sections” made up of lessons.  Each section in teacher guides begins with learning objectives, pacing information, prerequisite skills, overviews of student resources (e.g., activity sheets), new vocabulary, and the required instructional materials (e.g., graphing calculator). “Additional Background” helps teachers link content to other subject areas and students’ experience and “Things to Watch For” cues teachers to common student misconceptions and opportunities to enrich students’ understanding through class discussions. About the Charles A. Dana Center* The Dana Center team brings a wealth of experience and education—and a deep commitment—to our work to enable all students to achieve postsecondary success. We have multilayered expertise in mathematics and science education, leadership, research and program evaluation, literacy, policy and systemic reform, and services to high-need populations. Many of us have advanced degrees in mathematics, mathematics education, engineering, curriculum and instruction, or education administration or policy. Dana Center staff bring to our work a rich collective expertise in classroom teaching, instructional leadership, education administration, curriculum development, and national leadership in organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Academy of Sciences Mathematical Sciences Education Board, and the Advisory Committee of the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices in STEM Education. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from The Dana Center . Subscribe to Learning List for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material and thousands of other widely used Pk-12 resources.

L earning List has reviewed online materials for National Geographic’s Reach for Reading, which is a comprehensive product that supports language arts and reading instruction in grades K-6. Instruction addresses Common Core State Standards (CCSS) at each grade level and is organized in thematic units that focus on science and social studies topics and emphasize the importance of caring for the planet. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> At each grade level, Reach for Reading presents content thematic units that address a “Big Idea” (e.g., “Water for Everyone”). Units open with a “Big Question” that frames a theme in science or social studies (e.g., “Where does water come from?”). Unit openers at grades 1-6 also include a “Building Background” video linked to the Big Question. Each week provides instruction in close reading of complex texts, writing, grammar, phonemic awareness (grades K-2), and phonics, as well as the development of academic and content vocabulary. Instruction emphasizes the development of reading and writing skills in the context of their real-world applications. Students read texts such as blogs and emails, and create written products such as travel brochures and speeches. Online resources include the National Geographic digital library, “Comprehension Coach,” and “My Vocabulary Notebook.” The program’s “ eAssessment” tool contains weekly and unit assessment options that include reading comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, writing, editing and revising tests.  Downloadable benchmark tests with answer keys and grading rubrics are also provided. About National Geographic Learning* National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage Learning, is a leading educational publisher of school, higher education, English Language Teaching, library and reference materials. At National Geographic Learning, we believe that an engaged and motivated learner will be a successful one, and we design our materials to motivate. We believe that learning can be exciting, inspiring, and transformational. Through our learning programs, we want learners to experience the excitement and joy of learning that National Geographic explorers, scientists, writers and photographers experience. We share real stories from National Geographic that increase learners' knowledge of the world and everything in it. We illustrate these materials with stunning National Geographic photography, video, and illustrations that bring the world to the classroom and the classroom to life. At National Geographic Learning, we have a responsibility to future generations to provide strong educational skills and an awareness of their role as caretakers of the planet. *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from National Geographic Learning .   Subscribe to  Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material, and thousands of other widely used Pk-12 resources.

ReadWorks is a supplemental open-educational resource that provides a library of literary and informational texts that support English language arts and reading instruction in grades K-12. Content is available at no cost online at two sites ReadWorks.org and ReadWorks Digital . Learning List recently reviewed ReadWorks.org resources for grades K-8. Instruction focuses on the development of reading comprehension skills included in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Although built for the CCSS, content may be searched by specific state standards, including the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> ReadWorks.org provides teaching resources that develop reading comprehension and vocabulary skills across grades K-6 and the understanding of specific genres at grades 5 and 6. Content is presented in units that focus on a specific reading passage or text and: (1) reading skills and strategies, (2) reading comprehension (grades K-5), or literary genres (grades 5 and 6). Readworks.org also includes a set of short “Reading Passages” and the “Article-A-Day” program that provides a daily informational article for grades K-8. In each lesson, learning activities include teacher modeling, checks for understanding, guided and independent practice, and reflective practice. Downloadable worksheets and practice activities are provided. ReadWorks.org provides detailed lesson plans that include learning objectives, pacing information, and step-by-step guidance in implementing activities with students. The “My Binder” tool allows teachers to collect the lesson plans they will use. Lesson plans include user comments, some of which provide additional implementation tips and strategies. About ReadWorks* The nonprofit ReadWorks provides K-12 teachers with what to teach and how to teach it—online, for free, to be shared broadly. ReadWorks provides a high-quality library of curated nonfiction and literary articles, along with reading comprehension and vocabulary lessons, formative assessments, and teacher guidance. Most importantly, everything ReadWorks does is based on proven cognitive science research. ReadWorks delivers content, curriculum, and training on two sites: ReadWorks.org And  ReadWorks Digital . On ReadWorks Digital teachers and students can engage with ReadWorks interactively.   *Content in this section is provided by or adapted from ReadWorks . Subscribe to  Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material, and thousands of other widely used Pk-12 resources.

Learning List has reviewed Davis Publication’s Communicating through Graphic Design. This comprehensive product supports instruction in high school graphic design and illustration courses.  Content is available in print and eBook formats and includes additional online components.  Instruction introduces students to concepts in graphic and web design. Topics include design history, publication and advertising concepts. The material also provides connections to history and introduces professionals working in the design field. < Read=">Read" more... ="more..."> Communicating through Graphic Design presents content in two parts. “Part One, The Nuts and Bolts of Graphic Design,” contains two chapters that introduce concepts in graphic design (e.g., What is Graphic Design?).  “Part Two, Graphics Design Challenges,” is comprised of six chapters which address the design process, as well as design types (e.g., Publications Design and Digital Design).  The chapters cover topics such as the history and key principles of design and the arts, as well as practical skills (e.g., simplifying images and organizing print layout). “How to” tutorials and “Case Studies” clarify the real-world applications of what students are learning. Each chapter concludes with a “Chapter Review” which prompts students to recall, understand, apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate the chapter’s content.  The text has a “Handbook” with additional resources, such as information on design tools, common terms, career planning and notable people and organizations in the graphic design industry. About Davis Publications* Art educators face increasing demands every year. At Davis, our goal is to create resources that are flexible enough to meet every teacher’s needs. Whether your school is emphasizing theme-based learning, big ideas, essential questions, connections to language arts, STEM, Common Core State Standards, or state and national standards—all Davis programs are designed to provide you with the resources you need to support and supplement your curriculum. We know how art educators teach—with a wide variety of projects, lessons, and resources. All of Davis’s core textbook programs are written by experienced and creative art educators who provide a wealth of ideas, fine art images, and studio experiences to enhance your instruction.   *Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Davis Publications .   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.