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Students are more likely to do well on state assessments if their instructional materials help them learn what the state requires them to know and be able to do after taking the course. Publishers regularly tell us that going through our review process has helped them strengthen their materials in a variety of ways: 1) Creating correlations for more products: Trustworthy correlations help teachers quickly identify the parts of an instructional material that will help students master the knowledge and skills required in each standard. Publishers typically develop correlations for materials they intend to submit for state adoption but do not routinely correlate their non-state-adopted and supplemental materials. A detailed correlation document must accompany any product submitted to Learning List for review. Therefore, many publishers have used Learning List’s alignment templates to correlate their materials to state standards for the first time. Learning List’s subject matter experts then verify that the citations in the publisher’s correlation are aligned to the content, context and cognitive demand of each standard. 2) Strengthening their correlations: Learning List’s subject matter experts review the citations listed in the publisher’s correlation from an educator’s perspective. For each citation found not to be aligned to the relevant standard, Learning List’s reviewers provide a comment explaining precisely which part of the standard the citation fails to address. Some publishers have eliminated from their correlations any citations Learning List found not to be aligned to the standards. As one publisher told us, “We don’t want to mislead our customers in any way. We’d rather remove any citations that your reviewers believed did not address the standards as deeply as educators need them to.” 3) Helping educators use products more effectively: Learning List allows publishers to provide comments in response to our alignment review. Several publishers have provided comments to guide subscribers to content provided in another grade level where a particular standard is more deeply aligned. Other publishers suggest ways subscribers can adjust their use of the product (e.g., extend the number range; access a writing tool) to address the dictates of a particular standard that Learning List found not to be aligned in the material. 4) Strengthening product content: Publishers have also added content to their products to address deficiencies highlighted in Learning List’s alignment reports. For example, in response to Learning List’s alignment review of its elementary math products, a publisher created new content for the teacher editions and submitted a correlation to the new content for a subsequent review. As a result of the additional content, the product’s alignment percentage increased from around 70 to 98%. Last week, the publisher of state-adopted materials that were deemed by the state review panel to be aligned to fewer than 100% of the standards asked us to review new content developed to address deficits highlighted in the state’s review. We will review the new content and provide subscribers with both the original state alignment report and Learning List’s alignment report for the updated product. Learning List helps students learn by providing high quality reviews that empower educators to select the instructional materials that will best meet their students’ needs. However, Learning List is helping students learn in another, equally important way. By helping publishers strengthen their materials’ alignment to the standards, Learning List is helping students receive materials that will better prepare them for academic success.

Think Through Math (TTM) is a supplemental, online mathematics program for grades 3-8 and Algebra I. Resources support self-paced instruction in remediation and intervention programs. Across grade levels, TTM’s adaptive software adjusts content to meet individual learning needs, provides immediate corrective feedback, and motivates students through a system of extrinsic rewards. Instruction incorporates multiple representations of concepts (i.e., visual, numeric, and verbal) and includes resources to support students at each Response to Intervention (RtI) tier. Learning List reviews for these materials are now published through our service. TTM is meant to supplement core math programs; lessons do not provide direct instruction in key concepts. At the start of each year, each student takes a placement test to assess learning gaps. Based on assessment results, students are prescribed an individualized “learning path” or sequence of lessons. TTM lessons are made up of six components. Most lessons begin with a (1) a Pre-Quiz and (2) a Warm-Up. The Pre-Quiz assesses students’ knowledge of the topic and the Warm-Up is a short game or set of multiple-choice questions that introduces the topic and links to prior knowledge. Core instruction is provided in (3) Guided Learning and (4) Problem-Solving activities. Guided Learning introduces concepts through example problems and guiding questions. Problem-Solving activities frame a five-step solution process that includes analyzing, planning, solving, justifying, and evaluating. In the (5) Practice section of the lesson, students work independently on practice problems. Lessons end with (6) a Post-Quiz over content. Extrinsic rewards are central to TTM’s approach to instruction, and the program provides rewards in the form of points, badges, and contests. Across lesson activities, students earn points when they arrive at the correct answer. Students may use points to purchase items to customize their TTM avatar (e.g., hairstyles, accessories, clothes). Points may be pooled to purchase classroom pizza parties (500,000 points=$50 gift card to a pizza venue) or donated to a charity (10,000 points=$1 donation). Students also earn badges for achieving certain milestones, such as answering a question correctly on the first try, and have the opportunity to participate in TTM contests (e.g., students who pass 30 lessons qualify for a drawing to win a $200 Amazon gift card). Educators who have used the TTM program with students said in interviews that points were an effective motivational tool. However, they underscored the importance of teacher monitoring, noting that students could game the system in order to earn points.

WorldView Software provides a set of comprehensive, online social studies courses for use with middle school and high school students. Course resources support instruction in self-paced educational programs and may be used to supplement instruction for students in need of remediation or credit recovery. Courses do not include print materials, although some online content may be downloaded as PDFs. Learning List has recently completed editorial reviews for the following TEKS -based instructional materials, some of which are state-adopted. For students in grade 8, WorldView provides Basic American History I , which covers the historical period spanning the arrival of the first native people in North America to Reconstruction. High school courses include: World Geography: An Interactive Approach : An exploration of each of the world’s major regions that considers how geography shapes the economies and cultures of the countries in each region. World History A : A one-semester survey course covering the Neolithic period, early civilizations, medieval monarchies, the nation states of Europe, the development of Japan, the Ming Dynasty in China, and the Ages of Exploration and Revolution. World History B : A follow up, second-semester course that begins by examining the effects of nationalism on Western Europe and surveys recent world history through the Cold War and the post-World War II changes felt in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Basic American History II: Post Civil War : An examination of the historical period spanning Westward expansion through the Obama presidency. Economics: An Interactive Approach : A course that introduces students to key concepts in economics, including scarcity, economic theories, supply and demand, the business cycle, and the role of the consumer. U.S. Government: An Interactive Approach : A course that covers the branches of American government and includes chapters on political culture, political parties, campaigns and voting, and state and local government. For each course, content is presented in chapters, but may be reorganized by activity type (e.g., Case Studies, Maps, Tutorials) or by social studies themes (e.g., civics, globalization, immigration). Each chapter begins with a short introductory overview that includes a computerized audio reader to support struggling readers and ELLs. Chapters include case studies, primary source documents, and essay prompts. Case studies provide in-depth coverage of important figures and key events and include short-answer questions. Primary source documents have a short introduction that provides the context for the document and information about its author(s) and are followed by document-based questions. Essay prompts are provided in two formats: Guided and Non-guided. Guided prompts provide support in for writing a five-paragraph essay, including hints about main ideas and example paragraphs. Non-guided prompts do not include supports. Each chapter includes a glossary; links to related artwork, maps, and graphs; opportunities to conduct projects and Internet research; and multiple choice questions to support test preparation.

Triumph Learning’s Common Core Performance Coach provides supplemental instructional materials for mathematics and English language arts and reading instruction in grades 3-8. Performance Coach materials are available in print format and are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Resources include practice questions formatted to reflect the CCSS-based standardized exams (i.e., PARCC, Smarter Balanced). Learning List has recently published alignment reports and editorial reviews for these materials in grades 3-8. Common Core Performance Coach: English Language Arts organizes instruction in four strands: (1) Working with Literature, (2) Working with Informational Texts, (3) Writing, and (4) Listening. Common Core Performance Coach: Mathematics is organized in terms of the CCSS Mathematics domains for each grade level. Content in both products is structured using the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) instructional model which gradually shifts responsibility for learning from the teacher to students. To achieve this goal, lessons are presented in three parts: Getting the Idea: Teachers introduce new concepts, model new skills, provide examples, and make connections to prior learning. Coached Example: Teachers coach students as they practice new skills and work with peers. Lesson Practice: Students practice new skills independently. The Performance Coach Teacher Guide provides teachers with a detailed pacing guide for the full instructional year that references additional resources to support instruction. Guides provide correlations to the CCSS and background information to help teachers transition to the new standards and assessments. Guides include strategies for working with English language learners, rubrics to guide the evaluation of student writing, and comprehensive lesson plans.

A Texas school district administrator recently stated that his district subscribed to Learning List in order to be good stewards of taxpayer funds. In an NPR interview, a curriculum director of an Ohio school district offered the same explanation for her district’s decision to subscribe. How does Learning List help districts become better stewards of taxpayer funds? Promotes educational equity. Learning List seeks products to review from large publishers, smaller, boutique publishers and open education resources. Subscribing districts can also request reviews of the materials of greatest interest to them. And, once Learning List reviews a material, the review is available to all subscribers. Thus, if Dallas Independent School District (ISD) requests a review, Dimmit ISD has access to our reviews of the product. So all subscribers have the same product information and selection, regardless of the district’s size or geographic location. Provides cost-effective options. Learning List seeks a wide variety of products to review. Some districts are looking for materials with many different types of support for their teachers and students. Others want a well-aligned consumable print material. And, many schools/districts want materials with features and functionality somewhere in between. Learning List’s mission is to provide high quality reviews of instructional materials offered at various price points to help districts make cost-effective purchases of instructional materials for their students. Saves staff time and school/districts money. Educators in schools and districts across the country spend countless hours reviewing the same instructional materials. In some cases, schools even hire substitutes to free teachers to review materials. Learning List’s in-depth reviews help educators identify the materials with the features and functionality their students need to narrow the number of materials they have to review themselves. As a result, teachers spend less time reviewing materials and have more time to teach. Increases transparency and accountability. Millions of dollars worth of purchased instructional materials go unused each year. Why? Because the materials purchased fail to live up to the publisher’s claims. Learning List’s independent reviews examine the alignment, instructional content and instructional design of each material to help schools/districts avoid purchasing materials that won’t meet their students’ needs. By holding publishers to a higher level of transparency and accountability for their claims, our reviews help educators make better informed purchasing decisions and thus become better stewards of taxpayers’ funds.

Cengage Learning provides comprehensive high school mathematics courses in print and eBook formats. Courses include Mathematical Models with Applications , PreCalculus with Limits , and PreCalculus with Limits: A Graphing Approach. Mathematical Models with Applications begins with a “Chapter R” review of concepts students learned in algebra courses, and then introduces students to the uses of modeling in multiple real-world situations. Instruction addresses functions, graphing, systems of equations, probability, and statistics. Each lessons begins with a short narrative describing content, why it’s important, and how it connects to students’ lives. Informational text uses a conversational tone and is written at a level most high school students will understand. Explanations begin and end on the same page to support readability and comprehension. Important concepts are summarized in textboxes and illustrated in ample example problems that provide step-by-step solutions. The course’s page layout is uncluttered and allows students to focus on examples and easily identify solutions. PreCalculus with Limits addresses concepts from algebra, geometry, and trigonometry in order to prepare students for calculus. The course includes an introduction to calculus and the concept of limits, and its final chapter addresses concepts in statistics. Chapters open with photographs that illustrate the real-world applications of content and references to the chapter examples or exercises to which they apply. Lessons open with clear statements of learning objectives and photographs that help students connect content to everyday experiences. New content is presented with clear, concise explanations and relevant visual elements, such as graphs, photographs, and figures. Explanations begin and end on the same page to support readability and comprehension. Some examples include side-by-side demonstrations of different approaches to solving a particular problem (e.g., graphical, numerical, algebraic). Examples are followed by “Checkpoints” that ask students to solve a similar problem as an immediate check for understanding. PreCalculus with Limits: A Graphing Approach includes instruction in the use of graphing calculators, including “Explore the Concepts” graphing calculator activities and “What’s Wrong?” examples of common mistakes made with graphing utilities. About Cengage : Engaged with you. Cengage Learning believes that engagement is the foundation of learning…engagement is at their core and their focus is on engaging with learners, both in the classroom and beyond, to ensure the most effective product design, learning solutions and personalized services — all to help people learn. Cengage Learning understands that an engaged learner is a successful one and they are leading the transition to digital with a unique faculty AND student perspective to transform learning through engagement. The name itself reinforces this core commitment — “engage” is at the “center” of all they do.

Following the recent release of the State Board of Education’s adoption list, three of the five largest school districts in Texas have subscribed to Learning List for independent reviews of instructional materials. Learning List, the industry-leading instructional materials review service for schools and districts, has reviewed the state-adopted materials, as well as many other products not submitted for state adoption in all four core subjects. This announcement today was shared at the Instructional Materials Coordinators  Association of Texas ( IMCAT ) conference in Fort Worth, Texas (Learning List is at Booth 315). “We need to make sure that we’re being good stewards of the taxpayer’s funds,” said Matt Tyner, Textbook Manager for Dallas Independent School District . “Learning List’s reviews provide our selection committees with the information they need to help them decide if a material will meet our students’ needs. We’ve told publishers that Dallas ISD won’t consider purchasing materials that are not either on the state-adopted list or reviewed by Learning List.” Learning List reviews comprehensive as well as supplemental products which are designed for a specific niche. Three types of reviews are featured for each instructional material: a detailed alignment report to state standards; an editorial review and educator ratings and reviews . “We must ensure that we are purchasing the best materials for our students. Learning List expands the selection of materials we can consider. Their reviews then help us narrow our choices so that teachers spend less time in selection committees and have more time to teach,” said Dr. Linda Mora, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction for Northside ISD . Not only can subscribing districts access Learning List’s completed reviews, they can also request reviews of additional materials. In that way, Learning List becomes an extension of the district’s curriculum department. Austin ISD was one of the first subscribing districts. According to Dr. Suzanne Burke, Associate Superintendent for Academics for Austin ISD , “Our district used Learning List last year and found the service to be well worth the subscription price. With so many product choices these days, we simply don’t have the staff or time to review materials as thoroughly as Learning List does. Their reviews provide a great starting point for our selection process and give us greater confidence in our purchasing decisions.” Visit LearningList.com for more information about the service or schedule a free webinar to see the reviews/tools on the site and qualify for a free trial. Learning List is exhibiting at IMCAT on Monday, December 8th and Tuesday, December 9th. Jackie Lain, President of Learning List, will be presenting at 2:15PM on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 2:15PM at the Omni Texas I conference room. The session is " Learn How to Project Your IMA & Strategies for Stretching Your IMA Funds ."

Cengage Learning ’s Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System is a comprehensive, semester-long high school economics course. Resources are available in print and eBook formats . Instruction introduces students to basic concepts in economics, including market structures, money and banking, global trade, and the role of government and business in shaping economic policies. Each unit begins with an overview of chapter content and a set of projects that incorporate 21 st century skills (e.g., communication and collaboration). Chapters begin with a “Free Enterprise in Action” feature about an individual (e.g., an entrepreneur) or event (e.g., the housing crash) related to economics. Informational text is written in a conversational style that most high school students will understand. Content includes relevant visual elements, such as: photographs, charts, figures, and graphs, and frequent checks for understanding. The course includes profiles of key figures in economics (e.g., Steve Jobs) and a set of textbox features. Textboxes include connections between economics and mathematics, explorations of the role of ethics in economic decisions, investigations of global issues, and activities that encourage students to examine problems from the perspective of an economist. Teacher editions provide guidance in implementing activities with students, strategies for differentiating instruction, and references to additional course resources. Point-of-use resources, such as discussion questions, answer keys, and notes to support instruction, are also included. About Cengage : Engaged with you. Cengage Learning believes that engagement is the foundation of learning…engagement is at their core and their focus is on engaging with learners, both in the classroom and beyond, to ensure the most effective product design, learning solutions and personalized services — all to help people learn. Cengage Learning understands that an engaged learner is a successful one and they are leading the transition to digital with a unique faculty AND student perspective to transform learning through engagement. The name itself reinforces this core commitment — “engage” is at the “center” of all they do.

Lone Star Learning ’s TEKSas Target Practice™ Digital Edition is a supplemental, online mathematics program to help K-6 students master the TEKS and prepare for STAAR exams. The program is designed for use with interactive whiteboards (IWBs) and provides a daily framework for teacher-led review of the TEKS. Learning List recently reviewed TEKSas Target Practice™ products for grades K-2. TEKSas Target Practice™ provides short, daily activities that address each of the TEKS at each grade level. Activities focus on improving fluency and skill with concepts that have been introduced during core math instruction. The program includes activities for each day of a 36-week school year. Instruction is organized in 18 ten-day blocks of instruction (i.e., two weeks). Each day presents a set of review activities that address related math concepts and skills (e.g., place value, using number lines, writing numbers), and each activity is aligned to one or more TEKS. To facilitate ease of use, each of the ten days in an instructional block follows a consistent system of color coding (e.g., Day 1 is gold, Day 8 is pink). The day’s color appears on a banner when displayed using IWBs and students have corresponding, color-coded worksheets that include space to work out problems and record answers. Student worksheets may be completed online or downloaded for paper and pencil completion. Teacher resources include teaching notes, strategies for organizing student work, answer keys, and a comprehensive correlation of the specific TEKS addressed by each day’s activities. Instructional tools include a clock with minute hands only to support counting by ones or fives, a coin graphic to help students count money, a classroom calendar, a hundreds/tens/ones chart, tiles to illustrate concepts (e.g., addition), and a chart displaying numbers from 0 to 99. More information about this digital edition is available here .

Learning List launched a year ago in September; There are many things for which we give thanks and remember: Selection committees that said our reviews saved them time; Curriculum directors who thanked us for providing peace of mind; Superintendents who subscribed for legal compliance and support; Publishers who refined their materials based on our alignment reports. We thank educators and publishers for their commitment each day To provide resources that help students reach their potential in every way.

Today, the Texas State Board of Education adopted 89 social studies, 55 high school math and 172 fine arts materials. Learning List has reviewed all of the state-adopted social studies and high school math products that were adopted, as well as several materials in those subjects that were not submitted for state adoption. The State Board took another less notorious vote today but one that significantly impacts the amount of state funding school districts and charter schools will receive to pay for instructional materials and technology over the next two school years. The Board set the percentage distribution rate from the Permanent School Fund (PSF) to the Available School Fund (ASF) at 3.5 percent for the 2015-2016 fiscal biennium. As a result of that action, approximately $1 billion a year will transferred from the PSF to the ASF and half of that (~$500M) will be set aside in the ASF for the state instructional materials fund (IMF). Are you wondering how much IMA your district or charter school will receive to purchase new social studies and high school math materials? Learning List’s whitepaper will help you predict approximately how much IMA funding you can reasonably expect to receive in September of each year of the 2015- 16 biennium. However, as you will read, two important steps have yet to be taken before districts can know with certainty the amount of IMA funding they will have available for each year of the next biennium. NOTE : Based upon our analysis  with a 2013-14 TEA enrollment of 5.15 million students, districts can expect approximately $98 /student per year in IMA funds for each of the next two years. You can read or download a copy of How to Project Your District's Instructional Materials Allotment Allocation by clicking here .

Social Studies School Service | Nystrom’s StrataLogica resource is a supplemental, web-based map and atlas program that includes print materials. Resources support core social studies instruction across grades K-12. Learning List recently reviewed StrataLogica’s Early Learning and Readiness Package for grades K-3. The program introduces students to the world using maps and atlases that focus on land, water, continents, oceans, countries, and states. Resources are for use with computers, LCD projectors, and interactive whiteboards. StrataLogica maps are interactive and may be displayed in 2D or 3D formats. Map tools allow users to zoom in and out, pan, and rotate and tilt the image in 3D view. Users may search for specific locations (e.g., Austin, Texas), measure distances, and draw, label, and add symbols and text to maps. A dual map viewer tool allows users to compare different types of maps for the same location (e.g., physical and political maps). Maps are customizable and include premade, editable presentations and projects linked to current events (e.g., Piracy Today), history (e.g., Journey of the Pilgrims), geography skills (e.g., latitude and longitude), and student interests (e.g., Monsters—Real or Hoax?). Maps include “Placemark Pop-ups” with text, videos, and images pinned to specific locations. For example, a presentation about how t-shirts are manufactured includes a placemark pinned to Lubbock, Texas, that displays a short YouTube video about the cotton industry there. Teachers may create their own Pop-Ups with text and uploaded videos and images. Pop-ups may be turned on or off. Atlases and charts are accompanied by activities with lesson plans that provide step-by-step guidance for instruction, discussion questions, and links to other subject areas and related children’s literature. Lessons include hands-on activities and downloadable activity sheets (i.e., PDFs). Atlases for grades 1-3 are available in print and eBook formats and have age-appropriate informational text, vivid illustrations and photographs, glossaries, and abbreviation keys (e.g., TX, St., S). Outline maps are customizable and may be downloaded as PDFs for classroom use.