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Super Teacher Worksheets (STW) is a supplemental resource that provides printable worksheets, flashcards, and learning games across content areas for grades K-5. Resources are accessed online and must be printed for student use. Learning List recently reviewed STW materials for math instruction. STW math resources address the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and support reinforcement, remediation, and re-teaching of specific skills (e.g., identifying fractions, decimals, and mixed numbers). Each resource includes a clear title, a short overview, and the grade level(s) for which it is appropriate (e.g., K-2). Worksheets and other activities allow students to practice concepts and improve fluency through repeated problem solving. Worksheets use limited vocabulary and emphasize numerals, which may support struggling readers and ELLs. An STW “Generator” tool allows teachers to create their own math worksheets and quizzes. Many STW resources are available at no cost at www.superteacherworksheets.com ; membership is required for full access to STW materials. Each resource is linked to the relevant CCSS, and many worksheets are available in English and Spanish. STW adds new worksheets each week. About Super Teacher Worksheets* STW is the largest and most popular website created and managed by T.P.W. Websites. TPW’s mission is to provide high-quality, affordable teaching resources on the Internet for teachers, parents, and homeschoolers. STW features thousands of educational printables to help students learn and review essential reading, writing, math, science, and social studies concepts. This information is provided by or adapted from TPW Websites .   Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

The Mind Research Institute’s ST Math is a supplemental, online program that supports mathematics instruction in grades K-12. Students learn through engaging, interactive math games and puzzles. The highly visual program develops students’ ability to use spatial-temporal (ST) reasoning to understand math concepts and become proficient problem solvers. Learning List reviewed Common Core resources for grades K-6 in summer 2016.  In summer 2017, we completed TEKS alignment verifications for the same grades. ST Math defines spatial-temporal reasoning as “the innate ability to visualize and manipulate images through a sequence of steps in space and time.” To develop spatial-temporal reasoning skills, the program presents visual representations of math concepts in the form of animated, interactive math games. Each game requires that students manipulate visual models to help JiJi (i.e., an animated penguin) overcome or bypass obstacles that block his way. For example, in one first-grade game, students are introduced to the concept of a number line. JiJi cannot continue on his way across the computer screen until students are able to match the number of birds on telephone wire from with the numeral that appears at the top of the screen (e.g., the number 3; three birds). Learning games are organized in several levels. The first level introduces the mathematical concept and the game’s format and is completely visual. That is, the game does not include symbolic and/or verbal representations of concepts. Subsequent games build on the concept, providing greater complexity and extending students’ reasoning skills. When students have mastered content in the visual format, symbolic and verbal representations of concepts are introduced. This structure creates learning paths that scaffold instruction, foster conceptual understanding, and build fluency for each student. About The Mind Research Institute* The Mind Research Institute’s mission is to ensure that all students are mathematically equipped to solve the world's most challenging problems. Institute staff believe every child has the potential to be a powerful learner and to acquire the problem-solving and math proficiency needed to compete in a knowledge-based economy. Through a uniquely visual, non-language-based approach to teaching math — delivered through the ST Math instructional software — students across the country are deeply understanding math, developing perseverance and problem-solving skills, and becoming life-long learners prepared for success. *This information is provided by or adapted from The Mind Research Institute . Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

During the first weeks of school most teachers and principals are working together to document learning plans that support continuous improvement in areas such as planning, instruction, assessment, and learning environment. Regardless of where you teach, these plans are likely to include: Designing lessons that are aligned to standards Using formal and informal methods to measure student progress Using student progress data to adjust instruction Using data to design lessons that are appropriate for diverse learners Planning lessons that encourage higher order thinking Creating opportunities for student engagement Formal professional development is a great resource for learning, but you may have limited time and opportunity for attendance during the school year.  Job-related experiences and interactions with colleagues are often just as valuable as formal professional development because these just-in-time learning activities provide just what you need when you need it . Speaking of which, as you focus on your learning plan for the 2016-17 school year Learning List can assist you in achieving goals for standards-based planning and instruction.  Learning List has reviewed almost 2500 of the most widely used instructional materials. As a subscriber using these reviewed materials you can access detailed alignment reports to use in PLCs, peer mentoring and coaching, and individual planning and research whenever you need it. Training resources to help you use the alignment reports for the areas listed above are located next to your “Library” once you have logged into LearningList.com . These resources include short videos and step-by-step guides that put learning at your fingertips. Subscribers can also request webinar training on any of the topics listed. Use your Learning List subscription to support your professional learning goals.

In this article published recently in Education Week Jackie Lain, President of Learning List, shares a two-step process to determine whether your instructional materials are propelling your students’ success or undermining it. As Jackie explains, students cannot learn what they are not taught. If your students' test scores reflect a pattern of low performance on questions associated with a standard or group of standards, use the two-step process to determine whether your materials may be to blame.  If your materials do not address or the citations that were assigned are not  aligned  to those standards, then your students did not learn  all  of the knowledge and skills those standards require and their test scores reflect the materials' deficits. Access the full article for details and see previous posts to this blog highlighting the importance of alignment of instructional materials to standards are: Are Your Resources Supporting Your Efforts to Close the Achievement Gap? Are You Discussing Instructional Material Alignment in Your PLC?

Learning List has reviewed McGraw Hill’s StudySync California. This comprehensive resource addresses California’s English language arts (ELA) and English language development (ELD) standards for grades 6-12. Materials are provided in online and print formats and support instruction in blended learning environments. The core literacy program provides integrated instruction in the close reading of complex texts, writing for specific purposes (e.g., argument), and research skills. Content is structured around the five key themes of the California Framework: Making meaning, language development, effective expression, content knowledge, and foundational skills. At each grade level, instruction is presented in four 45-day thematic units that include 10-12 short texts for students to analyze, integrated writing and research activities, and a recommended longer “Full Text Study.” Core instruction is presented in each unit’s “Instructional Path” for each of the literary and informational texts contained in the unit. Built on the work of Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey (i.e., “Rigorous Reading”), the Instructional Path begins with a “First Read” lesson followed by several “Skills Lessons” and concludes with a “Close Read” lesson that revisits the text. Each unit includes an “Extended Writing Project,” a “Research Project,” and a recommended “Full-Text Study.” The Extended Writing Project provides core writing instruction and allows students to explore the unit’s theme more deeply, by drawing on the texts read, through research, and students’ own experiences. Research Projects provide opportunities for students to develop research and presentation skills by examining a topic related to the unit’s theme in greater depth. The recommended Full Text Study for each unit suggests an additional full-length work for student to read and study. About McGraw Hill* McGraw Hill’s mission is to accelerate learning through intuitive, engaging, efficient and effective experiences – grounded in research. McGraw-Hill Education believes that its that our contribution to unlocking a brighter future lies within the application of a deep understanding of how learning happens and how the mind develops. It exists where the science of learning meets the art of teaching. * The content in this section is provided by or adapted from  McGraw Hill Education Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

Learning List has reviewed Edgenuity’s online mathematics program for Algebra II. The comprehensive course supports instruction in blended learning and self-paced environments. Video-based lessons focus on developing students’ understanding of advanced algebraic concepts and the application of learning to real-world problems. Prescriptive, diagnostic pre-tests identify the concepts students have already mastered and route them to relevant, personalized content. Instruction is presented in video-based lectures with accompanying whiteboard notes and demonstrations. Each lesson begins with an interactive warm-up that frames the lesson topic, establishes learning goals, connects to prior learning, and introduces new vocabulary and concepts. Core instruction is presented in video lectures by engaging teachers, with accompanying white board demonstrations of concepts and skills. The course includes read-aloud tools in seven languages and translation tools in 17 languages, including Spanish. Students have access to audio readers, a searchable glossary, a set of calculators (e.g., graphing, matrix, statistical), and online highlighting and note taking tools. About Edgenuity* Edgenuity provides engaging online and blended learning education solutions that propel success for every student, empower every teacher to deliver more effective instruction, and enable schools and districts to meet their academic goals. Edgenuity delivers a range of Core Curriculum, AP®, Elective, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and Credit Recovery courses aligned to the rigor and high expectations of state, Common Core and iNACOL standards and is designed to inspire life-long learning. * The content in this section is provided by or adapted from Edgenuity . Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

Great Minds provides a comprehensive set of mathematics resources to support the transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The downloadable materials, known as Eureka Math , provide lesson plans and professional development resources to support mathematics instruction in grades PK-12.  Learning List recently reviewed Eureka Math resources for grades K-12. Some Eureka Math resources may be accessed at no cost at www.GreatMinds.org Eureka Math mathematics resources focus on exploring fewer topics in greater depth at each grade level. Content is organized using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines, which structure instruction by providing multiple means of engaging students, representing content, and expressing and acting upon learning. Further, lesson plans strive to meet the rigor of the CCSS by balancing conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and the application of mathematics to real-world problems. To achieve this goal, Eureka Math lessons are presented in four-parts: Fluency Practice includes activities that develop proficiency, connect to prior learning, and preview new concepts. Concept Development provides core instruction in new concepts and skills, including step-by-step examples. Application Problems allow students to practice using problem sets that are related to the instruction provided in the Concept Development portion of the lesson. Student Debrief provides opportunities for students to discuss and share what they have learned. Debriefs close with an “exit ticket” –a short formative assessment of the day’s learning as students leave the classroom. The Mathematical Practice Standards (MPS) are integrated throughout Eureka Math lessons, and teacher resources include comprehensive support to help teachers adapt to the new standards and integrate the practices in instruction.  Other teacher resources include full-year scope and sequence materials (i.e., curriculum maps) that provide a detailed overview of instruction at each grade level, background in key content, rationale for the structure of instruction, and CCSS alignment documents. About Eureka Math* A group of education leaders founded the non-profit Great Minds in 2007 to define and encourage content-rich comprehensive education for all American schoolchildren. In pursuit of that mission, Great Minds brings schoolteachers together in collaboration with scholars to craft exemplary instructional materials and share them with the field. Great Minds’ Eureka Math curriculum has won accolades at the state and national levels, and is the only comprehensive math curriculum aligned to the Common Core State Standards at every grade. Content in this section is provided by or adapted from Great Minds .   Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

Learning List has reviewed DynaStudy’s DynaNotes Math Eligible TEKS Program for grades 6-8.  DynaNotes is a supplemental learning aid to support mathematics instruction in grades 3 through Algebra 2. Student resources are in print format and teacher materials are on a CD-ROM. Instruction at each grade level addresses each of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) assessed by the applicable STAAR test. At each grade level, DynaNotes presents content using a four-page set of “Student Course Notes” and an accompanying “Student Activity Book.” Student Course Notes are coated cardstock notes broken into categories related to the TEKS strands for each grade level (e.g., Geometry and Spatial Reasoning). Categories are broken into sections that address a subset of the strand (e.g., circles) and provide notes on specific content (e.g., radius, diameter). Section notes summarize fundamental concepts in short, easy-to-read text, clear examples, and colorful illustrations, tables, and graphs. The Student Activity Book provides a set of corresponding activities for each section of the Student Course Notes. Teacher materials are provided on a CD-ROM and include “Student Course Notes and Lessons,” TEKS alignment documents, and answer keys to problems in Student Activity Books. Course Notes and Lessons present the Student Course Notes for each section and an accompanying lesson plan.  Lesson plans present the TEKS addressed by instruction, whole group warm-up exercises and discussion questions, and references to the accompanying activities in the Student Activity Book. About DynaStudy* DynaStudy, Inc., is an award-winning educational publishing company headquartered in Texas. DynaStudy is the creator and sole source provider of all DynaNotes brand products. DynaStudy strives to provide the most effective research-based, student-centered tools that are both motivating for students and affordable for schools. DynaStudy is proud to be WBE certified (Women's Business Enterprise) by WBENC/WBEA and also HUB certified (Historically Underutilized Business) by the Texas Building and Procurement Commission * The content in this section is provided by or adapted from  DynaStudy .   Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

Learning List recently reviewed eBook resources for McGraw Hill’s DLM Early Childhood Express. The comprehensive program builds the knowledge and skills pre-K students need in order to successfully transition to Kindergarten. Resources are available in print and eBook formats and support instruction in blended learning environments. The holistic program addresses the social-emotional, academic, and physical learning needs of pre-K students. Instruction may be paced for half-day and full-day pre-K programs. DLM Early Childhood Express is a holistic program that addresses social and emotional skills; oral language and vocabulary development; phonological awareness; letter names, sounds, and formation; writing skills; math, social studies, science content; fine arts, technology, and physical education. Content is organized in units that focus on a particular interdisciplinary theme (e.g., “Amazing Animals”). Each day’s instruction incorporates predictable routines, including start-of-the-day and end-of-the-day activities, learning centers, and whole group “Circle Time” experiences. Daily activities incorporate read alouds, music, art, and storytelling. Math and science concepts are addressed in the “Math and Science Flip Chart” and in learning center activities. Math learning center resources include “Building Blocks,” which are early education math learning activities and games. The “Making Good Choices Flip Chart” contains illustrations and discussion prompts that address social and emotional skills (e.g., “How can I get others to play with me?”). eBooks present images with associated text (e.g., an elephant; “This animal is big.”) and have audio readers and annotation and highlighting tools. About McGraw Hill* McGraw Hill’s mission is to accelerate learning through intuitive, engaging, efficient and effective experiences – grounded in research. McGraw-Hill Education believes that its that our contribution to unlocking a brighter future lies within the application of a deep understanding of how learning happens and how the mind develops. It exists where the science of learning meets the art of teaching. * The content in this section is provided by or adapted from  McGraw Hill Education Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

Learning A-Z’s Raz Plus is a supplemental program that supports reading instruction in grades K-5. Resources are available online and may be downloaded and printed or displayed using classroom projection devices. Instruction focuses on developing proficient readers using texts that match students’ individual reading levels. Learning List has recently completed reviews of Learning A-Z's Raz Plus grades K-5. Reading A-Z content is organized in 27 reading levels (i.e., aa to Z 2 ) that gradually increase in difficulty. Levels are identified using Learning A- Z’s proprietary “Text Leveling System.” This system considers qualitative indicators (e.g., author’s purpose), quantitative measures (e.g., word count), and reader and task considerations (e.g., student interest and skill) to provide a rounded measure of text complexity. Learning A-Z provides a “Level Correlation Chart” aligning its complexity levels with other widely used measures (e.g., Lexiles, Fountas & Pinnell). At each level of text complexity, Reading A-Z provides two “Benchmark Books” that assess students’ readiness for instruction. Core instruction is presented through the use of more than 1,400 leveled texts and their associated “Guided Lessons.” Texts include a balance of fiction and non-fiction selections. Lessons address fluency, comprehension, writing, vocabulary and foundational skills, such as letter recognition, phonological awareness, and phonics. Each leveled reader is accompanied by a set of instructional resources, including worksheets and quizzes. Teachers may enable individual students and/or classes to access the online “On Your Own Book Room.”  The Book Room contains a variety of independent reading materials in eBook format, including Spanish-language books, poetry, and texts that emphasize high frequency vocabulary.   About Learning A-Z* Learning A-Z is an education technology company dedicated to expanding literacy through thoughtfully designed resources. Learning A-Z provides research-based PreK-6 products that enhance instruction and improve learning. This content is provided by or adapted from  Learning A-Z .   Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

Are you teaching a new grade level or subject this year? If so, have you had time to investigate the instructional materials provided by the district for the grade or course you are teaching? Sometimes when we have short notice of a change of assignment there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to plan.  Three years into my teaching career I moved between campuses and inherited a book cart full of materials for my new assignment. I had no idea which materials were current or most aligned to the standards for the course I would be teaching!  To make things more difficult, I was a singleton teacher and had no one to ask.  It took me a long time to wade through what I had and I am quite sure that I was missing components of the material that came with the original purchase. If you are in a similar position consider the following as you navigate your new role and review the materials you have. What types of materials do you have? Are your materials comprehensive or supplemental? A comprehensive material is one that supports instruction for a course’s full curriculum and is provided for all students. Such materials would include broad, deep discussions of content; remediation and enrichment activities; formative and summative assessments; as well as teacher resources. Supplemental resources are not designed to be the sole instructional resource for a course. Instead, supplementary materials complement, enrich, or extend the content of comprehensive resources. It seems reasonable that supplemental products will vary in terms of their alignment to standards. Some products may focus on a narrow set of standards, while others, such as test preparation resources, may provide a brief review of all standards. What other instructional resources are included with those materials? For example, do you and/or your students have access to additional web resources, or consumables that may engage them or help extend their learning? Hopefully you were left a list, or someone else on your team can provide this information to you. If not, it may be worth your time to research the material on the publisher’s website in order to understand all of the components you have at your fingertips. Is the material aligned to the standards you are teaching? Sometimes we have older materials that were purchased prior to a standards revision cycle. Those may not address all the current standards students are responsible for learning. How would you know? Compare the material’s publication date to the date the new standards were implemented. If provided, use the publisher’s correlation to identify which standards are addressed in the instructional material. When planning your instruction check that the citation(s) (page, lesson, video, etc.) you plan on using  is aligned to the content, context, and cognitive demand of the standard s you are teaching. Students won’t learn what they are not taught.  So make sure the materials you are using address the entire standards you are teaching. Thinking back to my third year teaching I would have been a far more effective teacher if I had known to check my materials.  I didn’t.  I hope this helps you avoid the same mistake so that your students have the best opportunity for success.

Compass Learning’s Pathblazer is a supplemental online program that supports intervention and remediation in English language arts/reading (ELAR) and mathematics across grades K-8. Adaptive screening and diagnostic tools identify individual student’s learning gaps and prescribe a customized plan that addresses gaps and moves students toward on-grade level instruction. Learning List has reviewed Pathblazer’s ELAR resources for middle school students (i.e., grades 6-8). Pathblazer uses an “Initial Screener” and a “Proficiency-Level Diagnostic” to identify each student’s learning needs. Based on combined assessment results, students are prescribed an individualized, standards-based instructional path that addresses gaps, accelerates learning, and moves students toward on-grade level instruction. Learning paths are made up of thematic, text-based lessons designed to build students’ vocabulary, fluency, reading comprehension, and writing skills. Lessons are engaging and balance entertaining instruction with high-quality content. Direct instruction is provided through animated, interactive videos that clarify learning objectives, vocabulary, and literary terms and devices. Instruction focuses on building foundational skills and reading fluency and includes frequent quizzes that check for understanding. About Compass Learning* Compass Learning purpose-builds K–12 learning acceleration software for blended learning, intervention, high school, and inquiry-based personalized learning. Compass® software helps pinpoint and close skill and concept gaps and move students forward academically with: Explicit instruction Supported practice Independent practice Ongoing formative assessment Compass Learning’s award-winning content is rigorous, yet fun, so students remain engaged and motivated to learn. * The content in this section is provided by or adapted from Compass Learning Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.