If you’ve concluded your Beginning of Year (BOY) assessments, then you’re probably planning RtI for struggling students. When selecting instructional materials for intervention support, these two questions are critical to your students’ success: Is the material aligned to the standards students are struggling with? Does the instructional material provide sufficient practice for students to master those skills? Imagine that your assessments show that a 2 nd  grade student needs help decoding multiple syllabic words (a) in context and (b) independent of context by applying common letter sound correspondences. The table below shows a popular intervention material’s alignment to the Elements of the Standard that addresses decoding words in context .  The material is aligned to each Element of the Standard; in fact, all 3 of the citations Learning List reviewed* were aligned to each Element. Standard 2.A.1: Decoding words in context: In contrast, the table below shows the material’s alignment to the Elements of the Standard that addresses decoding words independent of context .  One of the citations Learning List reviewed was aligned to each Element of the Standard, but five other citations reviewed were not aligned. Standard 2.A.2: Decoding words independent of context: While the instructional material is aligned to both of the standards the student is struggling with, this material would provide only one opportunity for the student to learn/practice each Element of the second standard, decoding multisyllabic words independent of context. Some level of repetition is typically required for students to understand, internalize, and master content and skills. If this is an adaptive material, this material’s single "aligned" citation may not be instructionally sufficient to help the student "master" decoding multisyllabic words independent of context. If this were your student, you would be advised to look for a different material that contains more citations aligned to each Element of these two standards, or use the reviewer’s comments in the alignment report to adjust instruction to match the full intent of the standard. Learning List’s alignment reports make it easy to identify materials that are aligned to the standard your students are struggling with and help you determine whether the material provides sufficient practice for your students to master those standards. *If the publisher's correlation lists  fewer than three  citations as aligned to a standard, Learning List's subject matter experts review all of the citations listed. If the publisher's correlation cites  more than three  citations as being aligned to a standard, Learning List employs a "spot check" verification methodology - at least three and up to eight citations are reviewed for alignment to the standard. If teachers want to use a citation that Learning List has not  reviewed, they would be advised to check the alignment of the citation themselves. However, Learning List's alignment report serves as a guide as to how likely it is that any additional citation would be aligned to that standard.

McGraw Hill’s ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces) is a comprehensive, online program that provides adaptive math instruction for students in grades 3-12. Content is available online and includes some printable resources (e.g., worksheets). Instruction is presented using individualized, interactive tutorials that focus on a specific concept. Learning List recently reviewed ALEKS resources for middle and high school math courses. Students take an “Initial Assessment” that evaluates they know and the concepts they are ready to learn. Based on the results of the Initial Assessment, each student receives a “Student Assessment Report” that clarifies the topics they will be assigned in “ALEKS Learning Mode.” In ALEKS Learning Mode, students receive direct instruction and have opportunities for guided and independent practice. Instruction focuses on a single topic or concept (e.g., the multiplicative property of equality with decimals) and begins with an example problem, its solutions, and an explanation of the strategy used to find the solution. After the example problem, students are presented with a set of similar practice problems. ALEKS supports instruction in a variety of learning environments, including teacher-led, self-directed, and distance learning programs. Content is fully customizable and available in English and Spanish. About McGraw Hill Education and ALEKS* McGraw-Hill Education, a leading digital learning company, acquired  ALEKS Corporation in 2013 At the time of the acquisition, McGraw-Hill Education had marketed and sold ALEKS for math in the higher education space for more than 10 years. * 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 middle school and high school resources for the College Board’s SpringBoard English Language Arts: California Edition. The comprehensive program is designed for students in grades 6-12 and is available in print and digital formats. Courses have a consistent structure and focus on developing English language arts skills through active learning. At each grade level, instruction emphasizes the development of the knowledge and skills needed for rigorous coursework, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Content is organized thematically and includes fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and non-print media related to the theme (e.g., change). SpringBoard uses the “Understanding by Design” instructional model. Each unit begins with an overview that frames new content with essential questions. Units are broken into sets of activities made up of several daily lessons that address related concepts. Each lesson establishes learning targets in student-friendly language. Lessons include “Suggested Learning Strategies” (e.g., summarizing, close reading, marking the text) that meet different learning needs and facilitate student ownership of learning and a “Making Connections” feature that connects content to students’ lives. Lessons focus on developing close reading skills. Students learn to analyze texts using graphic organizers and strategies applied before, during, and after reading. They learn to interpret what they read and to support their interpretations with evidence from the text. Instruction emphasizes the effective use of language and the development of writing skills. Each unit includes step-by-step guidance in the writing process. Writing activities include prompts for expository and narrative pieces as well as opportunities for students to develop arguments and incorporate research. About the College Board* The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools. The information in this section is provided by or adapted from the College Board .   Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

We are often asked whether we review materials for Pre-AP courses. Pre-AP courses are grade level courses with embedded strategies to provide knowledge, concepts, and skills needed to prepare students for AP courses. While we will review any instructional materials aligned to the TEKS, CCSS, NGSS, and certain state-specific standards, districts may not need to purchase specific “Pre-AP texts”. Supporting students in these five essentials will better prepare them for more rigorous AP coursework to come. Reading advanced texts is a large component of AP courses . Students access learning from college level texts and must be able to read independently for understanding. Pre-AP courses can support this skill development by including instruction in note-taking, key vocabulary terms, as well as reading college texts and primary source documents. Higher level thinking should be embedded in all classes and is essential for Pre-AP . Teacher developed lessons should include questions that challenge students to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and create. Students should also be encouraged to create higher level questions and participate in class discussions where conversations are between student and teacher, as well as student and student. In addition to promoting higher level thinking, Pre-AP courses should focus on depth and complexity . Students should be looking for big ideas, details, trends, patterns, rules, unanswered questions, and using subject-specific vocabulary.. Pre-AP students benefit from exposure to a variety of resources . Challenging Pre-AP students to use a variety of materials to connect and apply their learning supports the skills previously discussed. Teachers can include resources such as high school texts, college texts, studies by experts in the field, and online resources. Writing in Pre-AP is important for AP test preparation. Moreover, students benefit from writing in the context of the discipline, using the language of the discipline to express higher level thinking through depth and complexity is a skill that will support students in all future endeavors.

Learning List has reviewed TeachTransform’s Start Quick and Ramp It Up! This set of supplemental print resources supports mathematics instruction at grade 4. The program scaffolds instruction from grade 3 to 4 for struggling students and provides on-grade level and more challenging extension activities. Content focuses on developing students’ ability to reason mathematically and understand and implement problem-solving strategies. Start Quick and Ramp It Up! content is presented five books that separately address (1) operations, (2) multiplication, (3) division, (4) measurement, and (5) algebraic reasoning.  Each Start Quick and Ramp It Up! book is organized in terms of the TEKS addressed by instruction. Books include the following activities: Quick Starts are designed to help struggling students. Activities help students connect fourth-grade content to what they have learned in previous grades. Ramp Ups are on-grade-level learning tasks that support students in applying core math content and extending learning through challenging problems. Launches present more complex problems and offer an even greater challenge for students who have demonstrated mastery of content at the Ramp Up level. Lessons incorporate common classroom objects (e.g., markers, base-ten blocks) and provide opportunities for students to work collaboratively and to discuss their problem-solving strategies.  Instruction emphasizes the use of precise mathematical language and includes “Thought Extender” discussion prompts that help students verbalize their thinking (e.g., “How is multiplication different from division? How is it similar?”). About TeachTransform* TeachTransform products are based on the work of Carol Gautier,  a math curriculum specialist who has worked in a variety of positions in Texas, including serving as Project Coordinator for Curriculum Support for Education Service Center Region 13.  TeachTransform products are written with the goal of helping students to love math and helping teachers to love teaching math. The information in this section is adapted from TeachTransform .   Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

McGraw Hill’s Thrive™ powered by Time To Know® is a comprehensive, online resource to support English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science instruction in 1:1 computer-based learning environments. Resources support teacher-led, data-driven instruction in classrooms that integrate technology. Learning List has reviewed Thrive ELA resources for grades 3-8. Thrive presents content at grade level in five or six thematic units (e.g., Personal Discoveries) made up of Reading Modules and a Writing Module. Each grade also has a set of “Literature Study” works to extend classroom instruction or for students to read independently. Reading Modules focus on authentic literary and informational texts. Each module begins with a “Model Reading” activity that guides students through a text, posing questions to help students develop reading and comprehension strategies (e.g., “What is the narrator’s problem, or conflict?”). After Model Reading lessons, students reread the text in a “Close Reading” activity in which they answer text-dependent questions. Most Reading Modules contain a second “Anchor Text” followed by another Close Reading activity. Writing Modules address the writing process, planning and drafting, editing and revising, and publishing and presenting. Writing Modules include opportunities for peer review and instruction in grammar and usage. About Thrive ELA* Improving student engagement with reading, writing, and speaking is at the core of the  Thrive  English language arts program. Guided reads, model reads, and anchor text selections—with a 50/50 balance of fiction, literary nonfiction, and informational texts—provide students with context for learning at their own levels and paces to build close reading and writing skills. Structured lesson plans deepen students’ understanding of texts, while genre‐specific writing tutorials reflect the shifts in ELA instruction, for which the  Thrive  English language arts program is designed. An emphasis on analytical writing and writing to sources affords students opportunities to practice and apply foundational literacy skills, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies as they foster a lifelong *Information 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.

When selecting materials for a campus, there are many benefits to choosing a publisher’s material that spans multiple grade levels. The consistency of navigation, layout of the instruction, technology specifications (for online materials), special population student support, and common professional development are significant considerations that may lead you to lean in favor of adopting a single material for multiple grade levels. You may also presume that the product’s alignment to the standards will be consistent across grade levels. Not so. Having analyzed the alignment of thousands of K-8 materials, Learning List has found that the alignment percentage of a material in one grade level is not predictive of the same material's alignment in other grade levels. Take for example, the alignment of the multi-grade level material shown in the chart below. Learning List’s alignment reports for grades K through 8th highlight a significant variation in percentage of state standards addressed by material in each grade level. So, what does this mean for your materials selection strategy? When you are reviewing a material to purchase for a grade span, it is critical to carefully examine the alignment of the material in each grade level. Learning List’s alignment reports make it easy to see which standards are and which are not addressed in each grade level. If a comprehensive material is not aligned to 100% of the standards in each grade level, determine whether there is a pattern in the standards that are not addressed across all grade levels. For example, does this material simply not address the financial literacy standards in each grade level? If so, then it is easier to identify other materials that will fill in the gap for this product at all grade levels. If there is no obvious pattern in the material’s alignment across grade levels, then the variability may be caused by the fact that different authors wrote each grade level or different people correlated the material at each grade level. Finding products to fill in the material’s gaps will be more arduous and more expensive, though Learning List’s Fill-in-the-Gap tool and new Search by Standard filter lessens that burden. This revelation should not necessarily be discouraging. As one superintendent told me, “Realizing that a material is not necessarily aligned consistently across all grade levels was a real ‘A-Ha’ moment for me. I no longer had to force all my teachers to agree on a single material.  This year, we adopted one product for the elementary grades and another for the middle schools.  The teachers were much happier.  Now my technology staff… well, that’s another story.”

Learning List has reviewed Edgenuity’s Chemistry. The comprehensive, online course supports instruction in blended learning and self-paced environments. Video-based lessons focus on developing students’ understanding of chemistry concepts and their real-world applications. Instruction includes virtual and classroom-based lab activities. Diagnostic pre-tests ensure that instruction is individualized for each student. Content 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, highly-qualified teachers, with accompanying white board demonstrations of concepts and skills. The use of multiple teachers ensures that students experience a range of instructional styles. Virtual labs provide interactive learning experiences in which students use simulated lab equipment, such as microscopes and test tubes, to explore concepts. Instruction addresses lab safety and some lessons include classroom-based wet labs to be completed with teacher oversight. Many labs include a downloadable student guide with step-by-step instructions and resources to support data collection and analysis. 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 designed to inspire life-long learning. This content 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.

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.

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.