AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- ThinkUp! ELAR for Texas educators from K-12 publisher, Mentoring Minds, earned high marks from Learning List, a leading instructional materials review service for schools and districts. As part of its rigorous review process, Learning List scored five of the supplemental curriculum's eight levels at 100 percent, with the review citing the integration of the seven strands of TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) as "concise, organized instruction and practice."
"Learning List's review of ThinkUp! reflects the diligent work that our team of educator developers put into ensuring that this curriculum had the deep rigor and alignment necessary for successful learning outcomes," said Shad Madsen, CEO of Mentoring Minds. "As always, our focus is on providing educators with the tools and resources they need to put their students on the path to success."
ThinkUp! ELAR (English language arts and reading), available in both print and digital formats for grades 1 to 8, and 1 to 5 for Spanish speakers, integrates activities designed to help teachers accommodate a wide range of learners and engages students through meaningful and authentic reading experiences. Designed to build students who are thinkers, not just test takers, it embeds critical thinking into each activity to allow students to take ownership of their learning and gain the power to write their own stories. Students who are taught critical thinking skills become equipped for success in the classroom, are able to build confidence for upcoming assessments and face the challenges of a rapidly evolving future.
The teacher and student editions include vocabulary and instructional strategies such as getting started, instruction, assessment, intervention and extension components to help teachers engage and accommodate all learners. ThinkUp! ELAR aligns 100 percent with TEKS genre requirements, including reading, inquiry, writing, speaking, listening, viewing and thinking and the full-length and grade-appropriate texts engage students in meaningful and authentic reading experiences. The digital platform features interactive, web-based instruction, real-time student progress monitoring and digitally enabled capabilities including drag-and-drop and ordering activities.
ThinkUp! also integrates Mentoring Minds' 9 Traits of Critical Thinking – adapt, examine, create, communicate, collaborate, reflect, strive, link and inquire – which allows educators to put critical thinking skills at the center of the classroom. Based on collective research, Mentoring Minds developed the traits that were most indicative of students who exhibit skillful thinking and deeper levels of thought. When explicitly taught, modeled and practiced, the nine traits can guide students toward increased successful outcomes, whether engaging in cognitively demanding tasks or in social interactions at school. Integrating the traits across the curriculum establishes a common language and produces a school-wide transformation that develops students into active thinkers and learners.
Every Learning List product review consists of a comprehensive three-part procedure composed of a specifications sheet which provides key attributes and technology requirements; alignment reports which detail alignment to content standards; and editorial review, which examines the product's instructional content and design. Reviews are designed to help educators effectively choose and use instructional materials.
For more information about ThinkUp!, visit Mentoring Minds. Visit Learning List to read its full review of ThinkUp! ELAR.
About Mentoring Minds, the Critical Thinking for Life company
Mentoring Minds is a national K-12 publisher with a mission to put critical thinking at the center of the classroom in order to support student achievement and empower educators to teach to higher standards. Mentoring Minds' award-winning, research-based resources are designed to be flexible for classroom needs, supporting technology integration and standards mastery for Math, ELA, and Science. Mentoring Minds' commitment to education extends beyond the classroom, as well; the company proudly sponsors groundbreaking administrators across the nation and supports community-based education initiatives. For more information, call 800-585-5258 or visit mentoringminds.com.
SOURCE Mentoring Minds

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