Austin, TX (PRWEB) November 24, 2014
Driven to prepare every student for the competitive demands of college and the workforce in a digital age, teachers in Texas are reinventing the classroom experience by trading traditional lectures and textbooks for personalized, interactive lessons. The Texas State Board of Education, on Friday, Nov. 21, approved new math and social studies instructional programs from Pearson, designed with the help of teachers from across the state specifically for Texas classrooms, to help educators provide dynamic lessons personalized for each student’s unique needs.
Following the State Board approval, school districts throughout Texas will introduce new math and social studies programs for use in classrooms in the fall of 2015. Schools in Texas historically have used the same textbooks for a decade or more. Now teachers are eager for new interactive instructional materials that adapt to the needs of each student—whether they’re learning English as a second language, struggling with comprehension, or are quick learners ready for the next challenge.
“As Texas students graduate into a new world of stiff competition and more rigorous demands in college and out in the workforce, we are working alongside educators to support the engaging learning experience they’re creating,” said Chris Benwell, Texas vice president and general manager for Pearson. “Texas’ most vital resource—the talent and ingenuity of its teachers—is completely changing the school experience as we know it today and helping provide students the best opportunities for success.”
Pearson’s new math and social studies programs were developed with guidance from Texas teachers to help educators inspire students to learn in today’s digital, always-connected world. The Pearson instructional materials for Texas classrooms cover 100 percent of the state’s rigorous curriculum standards, known to educators as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS).
Pearson’s research-based programs approved by state officials today consist of interactive curriculum resources available in print, digital and blended formats for high school mathematics and social studies courses from Kindergarten through 12th grades. The new instructional materials feature texts; music; editable presentations; thousands of videos, animations, 3-D images and other visual and audio tools for use in lessons as teachers deem best suited for their students’ needs. School children will enjoy writing and drawing in their own interactive “worktexts,” which replace traditional textbooks. The printed worktexts—belonging to each student and updated and replaced for classrooms each year—are designed to help encourage more engaged reading and interaction on each topic.
Teachers can access online lesson plans, games, vocabulary-building apps, songs and other resources for students. Activity-based math and social studies resources integrate reading and writing development throughout to bolster those critical skills. For the new social studies programs, Pearson collaborated with NBC News to profile people, places and historical events from Texas, across the country and all over the world in NBC Learn myStory videos. To help make the most of limited time, Pearson’s portfolio of digital and print materials is accessible from a single platform.
Progress monitoring and evaluation tools within the digital programs provide educators and students real-time feedback on each student’s level of mastery of each concept before and after each lesson. This immediate data can help educators quickly identify achievement gaps and make instructional adjustments needed for each child. Professional development tools are embedded in the programs to support teachers in using the new curriculum resources.
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About Pearson Pearson is the world’s leading learning company, with thousands of employees in Texas—many former educators. Pearson’s 40,000 employees in more than 80 countries are dedicated to supporting teachers in their work to help people of all ages make measurable progress in their lives through learning. For more information about Pearson, visit http://www.pearson.com.
Contact:
Brandon Pinette, brandon(dot)pinette(at)pearson(dot)com, or (800) 745-8489