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Learning List has reviewed the It’s About Time Interactive Mathematics Program (IMP). This set of comprehensive resources supports instruction for each of the Integrated Pathways described in Appendix A of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for mathematics. Resources are available in print and eBook formats and include additional online materials for teachers. Instruction in each course is problem-based and integrates concepts from algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability, and statistics. IMP uses a problem-based approach to instruction that grows out of the work of George Polya ( How to Solve It , 1949).  Students learn how to understand problems mathematically, develop a solution strategy, implement the strategy, and evaluate the reasonableness of its solution. Content is organized in units that focus on a situation that provides a central, novel problem that lacks a readily apparent solution. Units take six to eight weeks to complete and integrate content from other subject areas. For example, Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Pit and the Pendulum,” provides the context for a unit addressing statistical inference and mathematical modeling. Each week of the unit, students work on an open-ended, engaging Problem of the Week, or POW, and smaller, related problems that address concepts and skills integral to solving the overarching unit problem. Through their work, students discover the strategies needed to solve the larger problem. About It's About Time* It’s About Time® is unique because all our curricula are based on the latest research from the cognitive and learning sciences on how people learn. These programs have been mostly funded through National Science Foundation support and are produced through the rigorous, iterative, research-based cycles established by the NSF development process. *The content provided here was provided by or adapted from It's about Time . Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

Learning List recently reviewed Summit K-12’s comprehensive resources to support science and literacy instruction in grades 2-8. Materials are available in print and eBook formats with additional interactive components. Instruction integrates science content with informational literacy skills and addresses the reading, writing, speaking, and listening strands of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) at each grade level. Resources at each grade level support struggling readers and English language learners. Summit K-12 provides a set of integrated products that address topics in life science, physical science, earth and space science, and environmental science. Products include: (1) “ConceptLinks” interactive eBooks, (2) “Concept Booster” mini-lessons, and (3) “Vocabulary Booster” digital flashcards. ConceptLinks interactive eBooks are a set of 64 readers that address 16 science topics (e.g., animals, cells, weather). For each topic, eBooks are presented at four Lexile-based reading levels: Blue (450L-560L), Green (540L-720L), Orange (660L-790L), and Purple (720L-850L). eBooks are not grade specific and may be used to support students across grades 2-8, depending upon their reading abilities. Concept Booster mini-lessons are grade specific and address the science and English language arts/reading TEKS for the given grade level. Mini-lessons are built around interactive e-Posters that present images which facilitate the discussion of new concepts and vocabulary. Vocabulary Booster interactive flashcards contain an image and sentence with a missing word on one side. For example, an image of a toad is paired with the sentence, “Dry and bumpy are two of this toad’s skin.”). The flip side of the card contains the correct term (e.g., “physical properties”), the term’s definition, and additional practice sentences for students to complete (e.g., “One physical property of a/an is its bright color.”). About Summit K-12* Summit K-12’s vision is to provide teaching and learning solutions that enable all students to reach their full academic potential in Science, Reading, and Social Studies regardless of where they are on the learning continuum. The authors of our ConceptLinks ® Literacy and Connect to Literacy programs have uniquely blended standards aligned Nonfiction Science and Social Studies content with Language and Literacy development skills and strategies. We Engage Digital Learners with State of the Art Interactive eBooks and Digital Curriculum We enable teachers to Differentiate instruction with each content area being leveled to four reading levels using the five major leveling scales – DRA, Reading Recovery, Guided Reading, Lexile, and TESOL Our Solutions are research-based and aligned to the Science, Social Studies, ELA, and ELL standards in all 50 states and to the NGSS Science Standards and Common Core ELA Standards. ConceptLinks ® enables students from all backgrounds and aptitudes to Achieve results Our Digital Solutions are device and browser agnostic and will run on all major platforms We offer each program 100% in Print and 100% in Digital and any combination in-between to meet your individual classroom needs Implementation Services and Professional Development are Paramount to delivering our solutions with Fidelity Our team works daily to improve our products, content alignment, ease of use, and program efficacy based on sound research and customer feedback. *The content in this section is provided by or adapted from Summit K-12. Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

In case you missed it, College Board released this blog . Learning List: Helping Identify the Best AP Instructional Materials for Your Course By Liam Julian, Director, AP Instruction Communications 04/07/16 Textbooks and supplementary materials for the classroom are expensive. How can AP Coordinators and teachers choose the best resources for their AP courses? The College Board has partnered with Learning List , an independent instructional materials review service for schools and districts, to ensure that the materials included on the example textbook lists for the following AP subjects are aligned to the curriculum frameworks: Art History Biology Calculus AB and Calculus BC Chemistry Computer Science Principles European History Human Geography Physics 1 and Physics 2 Research Seminar U.S. History World History On each example textbook list, materials that have been reviewed by Learning List are so noted; example textbooks not reviewed by Learning List are also noted. Other AP subjects’ example textbook lists will be similarly updated in the future. To ensure the quality of its reviews, Learning List hired as its reviewers many of the AP teachers who helped the College Board develop the new curriculum frameworks. As this brief video explains, three reviews are provided for each instructional material: (1) an overview of the material’s key academic and technology attributes; (2) an in-depth analysis of the material’s instructional content and design; and (3) a review of the material’s alignment to the Learning Objectives, Essential Knowledge statements, and Practices/Skills for the course. Beyond helping educators select new AP instructional materials, the reviews and tools on LearningList.com offer AP teachers ongoing support in using their materials effectively. About College Board* The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. 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 content in this section is provided by or adapted from College Board. Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

Learning List has reviewed Heinemann’s Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Study for grades K-5. This supplemental writing program is made up of a set of print resources for teachers with additional materials available on CD-ROM.  Based on the work of Lucy Calkins and the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Teachers College, Columbia University, Units of Study incorporates a workshop approach to teaching writing skills that focuses on Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for writing. At each grade level, content is organized in four 6-week units that include opinion, information, and narrative writing, as well as an additional unit (e.g., memoir). Additional, shorter units are provided in a separate book, titled “If…Then…Curriculum: Assessment-Based Instruction.”  Each unit is organized in “Bends” (i.e., bend in the road). For example, the grade 5 unit for research-based argument essays is made up of three Bends: (1) Establishing and Supporting Positions, (2) Building Powerful Arguments, and (3) Writing for Real-Life Purposes and Audiences. Bends are made up of sets of lessons, or “Sessions,” that follow a consistent format across grades K-5. CD-ROMs for each grade level contain additional resources to support each unit (e.g., photographs), printable checklists and handouts for students, and video samples of student work. Daily writing workshops last 50-60 minutes and foster the development of higher level thinking skills (e.g., synthesis, analysis). Content is organized sequentially within and across grades and learning progressions are provided. Accompanying sets of trade books for each grade level are available from the publisher. Units of Study uses a system of performance-based assessments to evaluate students’ writing skills.  The “Writing Pathways: Performance Assessments and Learning Progressions” text provides teachers with comprehensive guidance in implementing the system, as well as writing prompts and rubrics to support assessment. About Heinemann* Heinemann is a publisher of professional resources and a provider of educational services for teachers, kindergarten through college. We strive to give voice to those who share our respect for the professionalism and compassion of teachers and who support teachers’ efforts to help children become literate, empathetic, knowledgeable citizens. Our authors are exemplary educators eager to support the practice of other teachers through books, videos, workshops, online courses, and most recently through explicit teaching materials. Our commitment to our work and customers’ enthusiastic response to our offerings has made us the leading publisher in this area. Our organization is guided by the following principles: Heinemann cares deeply about teachers. Heinemann is wholeheartedly committed to teaching excellence. Heinemann is the leader in professional teacher development. Heinemann’s authors and classroom resources are transformative. Heinemann makes good teaching accessible to all. *The content in this section is provided by or adapted from Heinemann. Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

Learning List has reviewed over 1500 of the most widely used instructional materials, including hundreds of mathematics materials aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).  Over the last few years, we have observed general and grade-span specific trends that may be of interest to mathematics teachers.  This blog post addresses the attributes that apply to mathematics materials across grade levels. Most materials, particularly at the elementary level, present highly visual content sequenced to support the progression in learning from concrete to pictorial to an abstract understanding of math concepts. Materials today address fewer math topics in greater depth to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Rather than teaching algorithms and rote memorization, the materials help build students’ conceptual understanding and proficiency in solving math problems. Manipulatives and models help students visualize complex problems and develop solution strategies.  Often frustrating to parents, materials teach multiple approaches with multiple entry points to solve problems. With the goal of creating mathematical thinkers, materials focus more heavily on teaching mathematical practices and process skills than in the past. Practices and process skills are embedded throughout instruction with varying degrees of success.  Some materials still isolate them in a particular section of the material; others integrate the teaching and use of practices and skills throughout the teaching of content standards. Materials use real-world problems and connections to careers that use mathematics (i.e., fashion designers, fireworks engineers) to connect to students’ interests and lives and engage them in learning.  Moreover, current materials tend to provide more instructional resources for teachers. They often provide background in the concepts and pedagogy critical to successful teaching and learning. They identify the misconceptions that students most commonly have and provide teaching strategies to address misunderstandings. The materials also support differentiated instruction by providing adaptions (e.g., interactive tutorials, video demonstrations) that help students with differing abilities and levels of understanding engage with the material and learn the mathematical concepts presented. Selecting materials is an increasingly complex task. During her presentation at the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics conference in Oakland, California, this week, Learning List’s president,  Jackie Lain, will address some of the critical attributes to consider as well as some of the grade span-specific trends to be aware of when purchasing new mathematics materials. Subscribe to Learning List for access to full editorial reviews, alignment reports and spec sheets.

Apex Learning  provides supplemental, online Tutorial resources to help Texas students master the TEKS and prepare for STAAR testing. Tutorials are flexible resources that support a variety of instructional environments, including test prep, flipped instruction, and blended learning programs. Content is presented in short lessons that include interactive content, videos, and assessment. Learning List recently reviewed Tutorial resources for English 1 and Algebra 1. Tutorials are organized in units that address an overarching concept (e.g., Author’s Voice and Method; Linear Systems) and modules that focus on specific objectives within the concept (e.g., Word Choice; Solving Systems of Linear Equations: Graphing). Each unit begins with a prescriptive pretest and ends with a cumulative posttest. Modules are made up of “Learn It,” “Try It,” “Review It,” and “Test It” activities, which may be completed in any order: Learn It is a short slide show that provides direct instruction. Try It practice activities are formatted as interactive questions (e.g., multiple choice, matching) with hints and corrective feedback. Review It presents a video in which an engaging teacher summarizes the module’s content using age-appropriate humor. Test It is a short quiz over content. Teachers and site coordinators have access to tutorial outlines and overviews, a set of “Best Practices Guides,” and an “Implementation Strategy Playbook.” Best Practices Guides support users in implementing the tutorials in a variety of settings (e.g., whole group instruction, blended learning) and in addressing common issues (e.g., academic integrity). The Implementation Strategy Playbook offers suggestions for site coordinators in organizing and managing a self-paced instructional program. About Apex Learning* Founded in 1997, Apex Learning is the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nation's schools. The company's standards-based digital curriculum — in math, science, English, social studies, world languages, and Advanced Placement® — is widely used for original credit, credit recovery, remediation, intervention, acceleration, and exam preparation. Schools across the country are successfully using Apex Learning digital curriculum to meet the needs of students, from building foundational skills to creating opportunities for advanced coursework. *The content provided here was provided by or adapted from Apex Learning. Subscribe to Learning List  for access to the spec sheet, full editorial review and detailed alignment report for this material.

We often hear districts complain that their supplemental materials are not achieving the desired results. Do you know why? It could be that teachers haven't had the professional development necessary to use the materials effectively. It could be that the materials didn't have a correlation to help teachers map the material to the scope and sequence.   We have found that some of the supplemental materials subscribing districts ask us to review don’t have a correlation at all or it is very difficult to find. Learning List has reviewed the alignment of hundreds of the most widely used supplemental materials. Based on our alignment reports, we would conjecture that the most likely reason teachers are not getting the desired results from their supplemental materials is because (1) the material did not address the standards teachers are using it to teach, or (2) the material is not completely aligned to the standards teachers are using it to teach. Bottom line: students won’t learn what they're not taught.  If you're going to use a supplemental material to help students learn a select group of standards , make certain of these three things: (1) the material has a correlation to your state’s standards;  (2) the material is aligned to the particular standards you’re  using it to teach; and (3) that the citations you're going to assign in that material (e.g., pgs., lessons, videos) are aligned to the standards you're trying to help students learn. Using supplemental materials to try to teach standards that the material is not aligned to is like trying to hit a bull’s eye wearing a blindfold.  The consequences are predictable. Subscribe to Learning List for access to full editorial reviews, alignment reports and spec sheets for hundreds of supplemental materials.

Learning List recently reviewed Istation’s supplemental reading and writing resources for grades K-8. Content is presented digitally and includes printable resources. The adaptive instructional program identifies and addresses gaps in learning and supports intervention at each Response to Intervention (RtI) tier. The highly visual program engages students with humorous, animated content that frequently addresses topics in science. Instruction is presented by animated characters in an engaging, game-like format that includes direct instruction and guided and independent practice. Instruction is personalized and adaptive, and targets each student’s learning needs. Students complete the “Istation Indicator of Progress” (ISIP) at the beginning of the year and each month thereafter.  Based on ISIP results, the program prescribes specific learning activities and the usage time needed to address individual learning gaps. As students move along individualized learning paths, instruction adapts, providing more or less challenging content based on student progress. Students may practice reading skills using Istation’s library of books. The library has texts organized in 16 “Cycles” that range from PK-15. Cycles address particular Lexile ranges and some Cycles span grade levels. Generally speaking, lower Cycles (i.e., PK-11) address phonemic and phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, while Upper Cycles (i.e., 12-15) present a variety of literary genres and build vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and word analysis skills. As students move through each Cycle, they encounter texts that increase in complexity. About Istation* Istation (aka Imagination Station) is an award-winning, comprehensive e-learning program used by more than four million students and educators around the world. Known for its accurate assessments, engaging curriculum, and trusted teacher tools, Istation helps students in prekindergarten-8th grade achieve academic growth. Istation’s computer-adaptive assessments (known as ISIP™) immediately place students on personalized instructional paths unique to their needs. And our animated, game-like interface engages students so effectively that they don’t even realize they’re being evaluated. Along with Istation’s highly interactive digital curriculum, teachers also have access to a library of thousands of lessons perfect for instructing small groups or an entire class. Comprehensive reports are immediately available for educators, administrators, and parents. Istation offers its ISIP assessments in Early Reading , Advanced Reading , Spanish and Math ; Istation instruction is available for Reading , Reading in Español , and Math . Students can also use their Istation subscriptions at home . Since its founding in 1998, Dallas-based Istation has seen tremendous growth. The company’s animated learning program now helps students in forty-four states and four countries learn and grow. *The content in this section is provided by or adapted from Istation. Subscribe to Learning List for access to full editorial reviews, alignment reports and spec sheets.

Learning List has reviewed The Mathematics Vision Project , or MVP , Secondary Courses I-III . The courses are a set of a supplemental open-educational resource s that support instruction for each of the Integrated Pathways described in Appendix A of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for mathematics . Resources are available in print format and structure an inquiry-based approach to learning . MVP is built on “learning progressions” that include a meaningful flow of classroom learning tasks that prompt students’ mathematical thinking, develop understanding, and foster intuitive approaches to problem solving. Each course provides sets of questions accompanied by visual elements (e.g., graphs) that guide students’ thinking. Courses encourage multiple approaches to solving problems and connect concepts in algebra and geometry . Daily lessons are guided by teaching notes that describe “Launch” (whole class), “Explore” (small group), and “Discuss” (whole class) activities. Each lesson is accompanied by a “Ready, Set, Go !” homework assignment that helps students practice new skills and retain prior learning. Many homework assignments have corresponding video tutorials available through Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.com). MVP’s courses are available at no cost from www.mathematicsvisionproject.org . Addi tional materials , including answer keys for homework assignments, are available for purchase on the MVP website . About MVP* We enable educators to teach their students this truth through engaging, forward-thinking content. The MVP classroom experience does not look  like the traditional mathematics classroom. In the MVP classroom the teacher launches a rich task and then through “teacher moves” encourages  students to explore, question, ponder, discuss their ideas and listen to the ideas of their classmates.  In this way, the teacher connects the Eight Mathematical Practices to the content. All material is expertly-aligned with The Common Core standards. Homework assignments are organized into three parts--Ready, Set, and Go!  As students mature mathematically, there are many math problems they should be able to do whenever they encounter them. The procedures for solving them become automatic. Students should be able to take off and Go! with them. This is how students learn mathematics. They learn by doing mathematics. They learn by needing mathematics. They learn by verbalizing the way they see the mathematical ideas connect and by listening to how their peers perceived the problem.  Students then own the mathematics because it is a collective body of knowledge that they have developed over time through guided exploration. This process describes the Learning Cycle and it informs how teaching should be conducted within the classroom. MVP materials top the charts when it comes to  Alignment, Rigor & Balance  as well as  Deeper Learning . All essential attributes of a focused, coherent and rigorous curriculum. *The content in this section is provided by or adapted from MVP. Subscribe to Learning List for access to full editorial reviews, alignment reports and spec sheets.

Applied Practice in Colonial America is a supplemental resource that supports instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) United States History courses. Materials are available in print and eBook formats and focus on preparing students for the AP U.S. History exam. Resources supplement core instruction across the school year by providing activities that may be adapted to meet a range of instructional needs (e.g., warm-ups, quizzes, assessments, test preparation). Learning List recently reviewed the product’s print materials. Applied Practice in Colonial America is one volume of a 19-volume series that contains teaching activities, student study aids, and practice questions for the AP exam in U.S. History.  The Colonial America volume, or booklet, addresses content for Period 1 (i.e., 1491-1607) of the AP Course Framework for U.S. History. The booklet contains four teaching activities that involve research tasks and collaborative student work (e.g., Debating a Historical Controversy, Creating an Interactive Timeline). Instruction includes engaging collaborative learning activities. The booklet contains 80 multiple choice questions, four short-answer questions, two essay questions, and one document-based question (DBQ) to help students prepare for AP exams. Examples of short answer and essay questions as well as answer keys and scoring rubrics are provided. Answer keys include explanations of correct answers and rubrics provide detailed guidance for teachers in scoring students’ written work.  About Applied Practice* In 1997, two high school English teachers were inspired to launch Applied Practice while searching for ways to integrate test preparation into their daily curriculum. Today, Applied Practice has a comprehensive catalog of supplemental materials to assist teachers in teaching a topic-based curriculum, while contemporaneously preparing students for standardized tests in today's exam-driven environment. Our teaching tools are literature-based for English and topic-based for Science and Social Studies. Each product line provides preparation for the current exam-driven environment by offering test questions presented in the style and format of a particular standardized test, utilizing content typically taught in a planned unit. Our intention is to help teachers utilize their classroom time more efficiently by offering simultaneous content review and critical test-taking practice. Applied Practice was founded by teachers for teachers. Our tools enrich the classroom experience by motivating teachers and students, enhancing productivity, and improving results. *The content in this section is provided by or adapted from Applied Practice. Subscribe to Learning List for access to full editorial reviews, alignment reports and spec sheets.

Learning List has reviewed LearnZillion’s Full Math Curriculum— an open educational resource that provides comprehensive instruction to support the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for students in grades K-8. Resources are available online and include printable materials. Instruction develops students’ conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and ability to apply their learning. Productive struggle is at the center of LearnZillion’s Full Math Curriculum . LearnZillion defines productive struggle as “the process of expending effort to make sense of important ideas, concepts, or connections that are within reach but require new understanding” (Math Overview). To ensure this process, the program defines and makes use of three curriculum strands, or “Threads,” that bind instruction across grades and provide coherence: (1) O perations Thread , (2) N umber Thread , and (3) E quivalence Thread. In addition to coherence, the three strands, or ONE, link concepts within and across CCSS domains and clusters at each grade level and provide a foundation that supports the transition to algebra. Instruction is presented in sequential units that address “Key Concepts” of the CCSS. Each unit includes a summative assessment that evaluates students’ understanding of the Key Concepts. Lessons develop students’ understanding of concepts, fluency and procedural skills, and ability to apply concepts and skills in new situations. Each lesson is presented using a slide show with detailed teaching notes. Slide shows focus on problem-solving activities that foster productive struggle. Each lesson’s teaching notes provide detailed guidance in implementing activities, including the purpose of each slide, pacing information, suggestions for discussion, common student misconceptions, teaching tips, and answer keys. About LearnZillion* The idea for LearnZillion began at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. where co-founder Eric Westendorf, was principal. After watching 6th grade teacher Andrea Smith teach her students what it meant to divide by fractions, Eric wondered, "could powerful learning experiences be captured so that teachers didn't have to re-invent the wheel every time they taught a standard?" He decided to find out. Working with Andrea and a few other E.L. Haynes teachers, he created a homemade website that featured screencasts of high quality, Common Core lessons. The website worked. Not only could teachers find examples of high quality lessons, but parents and students also benefited from the explanations. Thanks to a Next Generation Learning Challenge Grant, Eric was able to grow the idea. He teamed up with former classmate and teacher , Alix Guerrier, and together they recruited an initial corps of 20 Dream Team teachers from across the country. The Dream Team grew to 123 the following year. In 2015 over 1,000 teachers participated on Dream Teams across the country. The result is the world’s first open, cloud-based curriculum. *The content in this section is provided by or adapted from LearnZillion. Subscribe to Learning List for access to full editorial reviews, alignment reports and spec sheets.

When I was in middle school, my uncle asked my what I’d learned that day.  I answered, “Pi R square.”  My uncle, who was a bit unsophisticated answered, “Honey, they are teaching you wrong.  Everyone knows pies are round. Corn bread are square.” Okay.  It’s an old joke.  But poor math skills are no joking matter—particularly here in the USA. As a recent Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) survey found, U.S. adults scored at the bottom of the 24 participating countries, outranking only Italy and Spain, in their ability to solve everyday problems, such as calculating the total price for items in a buy one, get the second at 50% off sale. So, on this day, as we celebrate Pi, our favorite irrational number, Learning List would like to give a shout out and a high five to math educators who strive to develop the habits of mind and quantitative reasoning skills that are so critical to our students’ (and adults’) success. Learning List has reviewed hundreds of the most popular math materials aligned to the TX, CCSS, CA CCSS, MAFS (Florida) and revised AP Calculus course framework.  We hope our spec sheets, alignment reports and editorial reviews make your job a bit easier. Go math!  Go math teachers! Subscribe to Learning List for access to full editorial reviews, alignment reports and spec sheets.