June 30, 2021 8:00 am

Engaging Families in Math Learning

Family members are important partners in student learning, but how do we best to engage them in the learning process? Imagine Learning undertook a two-year-long research study, and these are the results.

Educators know that parents and family members are important partners in student learning, but some may not be aware of how best to engage family members in the learning process.

To help answer this question, Imagine Learning undertook a two-year-long research study, specifically around middle-years mathematics learning with a focus on third-grade students and their families.

At the outset of this study, Imagine Learning positioned family engagement in math learning as a design challenge, not a social problem. Imagine Learning did not want to perpetuate the idea that family engagement with low-income, Black, and Latino families is a social problem, meaning the problem resides within families and needs to be solved. Instead, the work was framed with an asset-based lens, which acknowledges that family members want to and do support their children in learning mathematics.

To partner and collaborate with family members to increase student academic achievement, it is essential for educators to support families and, most importantly, know how to recognize, honor, and acknowledge all efforts made by family members throughout the learning process. This is particularly important with low-income, Black, and Latino families, whose efforts supporting their students have commonly been unacknowledged or leveraged in mathematics.

By redefining family engagement and partnership as a design challenge, a pivotal change happens, in which family members — specifically those from low-income, Black, and Latino families — are properly seen and recognized as a child’s greatest asset in the learning process.

Our recent white paper describes the lessons learned from this study, which educators everywhere can use to further engage families as collaborators and partners in all learning, but particularly in math learning.

Here, we’ll share the research study’s five key lessons — “Lessons to Design By” — that may help other educators develop or further enhance approaches for increasing family engagement in mathematics, building stronger community relations, and accelerating academic achievement for students.

parent congratulates child with a high-five

Key Lessons and Takeaways for Engaging Family Members as Partners and Collaborators

As a result of this study, Imagine Learning determined five key lessons related to the importance of communication, establishing trusting relationships between schools and families, and inviting families to be partners in supporting their child’s learning. These lessons should all be considered when working to engage families as partners and collaborators in learning.

Lesson 1: The Importance of Invitations to Families. Family members do not always feel that teachers and schools welcome their involvement as educational partners, and this can be a particular issue for low-income families and families of color, even though they reported wanting to be engaged in their child’s math learning. Helping families feel welcome and as equal partners in their child’s learning is an important contextual factor that needs to be considered.

Lesson 2: The Importance of Family–Teacher Trust. Family members trust teachers as the primary source of information regarding their child’s learning. For families to engage with online supports or other resources, messaging about their value and importance needs to come from the teacher. This trust goes both ways, so building relationships of trust in which family members can share concerns is an essential precondition to a successful design. Research finds that low-income families of color and families of varying linguistic backgrounds are often underrepresented in school-level decision-making and family involvement activities. This speaks to differing needs, values, and levels of trust rather than families’ lack of interest or unwillingness to get involved.

Lesson 3: The Importance of Family–Teacher Collaboration. In general, teachers are frequently only in touch with families when discipline issues arise. Hence, there is value in establishing collaborative relationships and proactively communicating with positive and learning-related news early and often. Families value invitations to discuss their child’s learning as an equal to educators. Family members demonstrated that they sometimes do not feel like equals in decision-making relative to their child’s education, which supports the notion of empowering parents as partners in supporting learning. Not all parents know where to look for help, and some may not come to the school for assistance when they are not sure how to help their child.

Lesson 4: Honoring Family Experience Over Theoretical Models. To fully engage in community work with restricted resources, challenges with poverty, public trust, and language barriers requires significant energy, attention, and nuance. This is particularly true in math, as this is a subject in which parents and families tend to have less confidence in their content knowledge and skills, and are therefore more reluctant to get involved in their child’s learning at home.

Lesson 5: Community-Based Work with Families is Resource-Intensive. Implementing this project was resource-intensive work and given that, Imagine Learning concluded that there is a need to identify additional strategies that are more cost-effective in building math efficacy. We know that there is a need to develop community-specific, family-responsive designs, and one potential solution could be to provide coaching and support to families at the community level instead of individual schools.

Imagine Learning continually seeks design solutions to support the relationship between teachers, families, children, and mathematics content, as we recognize that family members are the greatest asset in children’s learning and development. Learn more in our white paper about this research study and the effects COVID-19 also had on the body of work.

June 9, 2021 4:01 pm

Combining Virtual Learning and Hands-On Experience

When Keith Marsh, Executive Director of Indiana Agriculture & Technology School, launched a charter school in 2018–2019, he was looking to combine virtual learning and hands-on experience.

“The key thing that makes it work is engagement,” said Keith Marsh, Executive Director of Indiana Agriculture & Technology School. “Every student here has an individual plan,” he said. “That’s why our kids do so well.”

When Marsh launched a charter school in 2018–2019, he was looking to develop a school that combined virtual learning and hands-on experience. Focused on agriculture and technology sciences, the school is designed to offer career pathways through partnerships with agribusiness and corporations, leading to promising career opportunities after graduation.

Indiana Agriculture utilizes Edgenuity Instructional Services as its core curriculum and pairs it with enrichment experiences on a local farm. Through carefully cultivated partnerships designed to prepare students for college and career, students can choose from a variety of specialized courses such as robotics and welding. Students also have the opportunity to earn certifications through the IATS Agriculture Pathways or Drone Certification Program offered at the school.

student does assignment on handheld device

“The key thing that makes our program work is student engagement. They’re not just online by themselves.”

Keith Marsh

Executive Director

Maximizing Distance Learning

Indiana Agriculture also got creative by integrating virtual learning and hands-on experience by livestreaming activities on the farm. This method proved successful throughout the pandemic, and they plan to continue to use video to scale up their capacity and build a curriculum archive.

For routine procedures like inoculating livestock, their teachers can record the video and make it available to students for review. Unique and often unpredictable teaching moments like the birth of an animal can also be recorded and incorporated into the curriculum, regardless of when a student takes the course.

“The goal was always to grow slowly and deliberately to ensure our students are getting the best experience possible,” said Marsh. And now, he and his team are realizing that a video archive gives them the scalability needed to provide consistent, engaging experiences to more students. This also opens up the possibilities of satellite campuses across the state, which could focus on other areas of agribusiness such as greenhouse production and goat farming.

Setting the Standard

“The key thing that makes our program work is student engagement. They’re not just online by themselves. They’re engaging with Edgenuity teachers, watching livestreams, attending Zoom classes with our teachers, and visiting the campus when appropriate,” said Marsh. “When people talk about kids losing learning because they’re on a virtual platform, it’s not because of the platform, it’s because the student is not engaged.”

He emphasized the importance of the teacher–student relationship and noted how their students have open communication with the teachers and each other.

Through its evolving partnership with Edgenuity, Indiana Agriculture has also amplified the resources available to students with special needs. “We don’t give up on kids,” said Marsh, who added that if a student is willing to put in the work, “we stick with them and give them the tools to succeed.”

“We want to set the standard for this type of program,” said Marsh. “Virtual learning is going to continue to grow across school communities, and students can be successful in this platform if we engage and support them appropriately.”

June 1, 2021 8:00 am

Rethinking the Future of Digital Learning

COVID-19 forced a revolution in digital education — and opened a path to a more connected future.

It has been just over a year since schools across the globe were forced to shift to digital learning environments and new ways of teaching and learning. The experience was disastrous for some, imperfect for many, and preferable for others.

There’s no denying the past 12 months represent a revolution in education that will fundamentally impact how educators, students and parents think about learning going forward.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic massively disrupted learning and left a host of challenges in its wake, it also catalyzed a breakthrough in digital learning that has been decades in the making.

As we close out this school year and plan for the next, the education community has critical decisions to make, knowing there’s no going back to the “way things were” before the pandemic. Our collective focus must be on taking everything we’ve learned from this year — the good and the bad — to build a more connected, collaborative, data-led future for education.

A Decade of Advancement in Just 12 Months

Before the pandemic, personalized and adaptive learning experiences were widely available, but not widely adopted. A shortage of devices for K-12 students and a widespread belief that the technology was better suited for supplemental learning prevented most students from benefiting from a truly connected digital learning experience.

The past year has seen an explosion in digital learning in North America and around the world. By mid-April 2020, UNESCO estimates that around 1.6 billion students around the globe were learning fully remotely. To accommodate this sudden shift, districts across the country ramped up their device distribution. In March of this year, Education Week reported 90% of middle and high schools are providing one device for every student. In contrast to a 2018 EdWeek Market Brief report, where only 40% of district IT directors said they had a 1:1 student to computer ratio.

By mid-April 2020, around 1.6 billion students around the globe were learning fully remotely.

Nearly every teacher in America has been experimenting with new technology, and we have more data than ever before on how that technology can best support teachers and students and enable learning breakthroughs. Beyond these insights, many districts and schools now have a much more robust infrastructure for online learning.

In a non-pandemic world, it would have taken years or even decades to reach this level of adoption, device distribution, and real-world data. All of these developments have created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine learning.

Real Challenges to Learn From

As with any sudden, widespread adoption of technology, there were plenty of growing pains. Through our work partnering with over 5,000 school districts and supporting over 10 million students across the country, we shared a front row seat to many of those challenges.

COVID disruptions exposed and exacerbated the digital divide and inequities of our education system. Initial studies suggest millions of students were without access to the internet, the right devices, and family support — falling further behind.

A recent study we conducted with Oliver Wyman (2020) reported that educators from across the country suggests that more than 50% of their students are performing below grade level. This staggering reality is compounded by millions of students who must be supported to catch up academically, address their social and emotional well-being and even process trauma, something that educators say will take several years.

Despite the heroic efforts of educators, many students, parents, and teachers have come away from this experience with varied views of the benefits of digital learning. What we know for sure is that technology cannot replace teachers. Teachers are the center of student learning. And when paired with the right resources and support, students feel more supported, and achieve higher levels of learning and overall growth.

The True Value of Digital Learning

Even in the face of challenges, everyone involved in education has seen enough to realize the potential value of digital learning.

When utilized effectively, digital learning solutions can dramatically improve the learning process. They can help support the relationship between student and teacher and drive learning breakthroughs, in part by:

Managing time-intensive tasks like practice and assessment
Providing actionable, real-time data on student progress, and
Creating personalized learning paths that allow students to work at their own pace

Used as designed, digital learning technology frees up teachers to thoughtfully plan lessons, focus on social and emotional needs, and develop deeper relationships with their students. The goal is to let the technology do what it does best, so our teachers can do more of what they do best.

“In a non-pandemic world, it would have taken years or even decades to reach this level of adoption, device distribution, and real-world data. All of these developments have created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine learning.”

Sari Factor

A Better Vision for the Future

For the vast majority of students who will be returning to in-classroom learning, we expect digital learning to remain a fundamental part of their education. Many districts have seen enough value that, according to a recent RAND Corporation survey, nearly 20% of districts across the country are at least considering a virtual school offering for the coming year — and many years beyond.

We’ve seen how purposefully integrated digital learning tools can complement classroom learning and ignite breakthroughs for students.

So the question before us is not if but how best to integrate digital learning into the classroom?

As U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel Cardona recently asked “What do we want our system to look like?” Rather than going back to the pre-pandemic status quo, we imagine a collaborative, connected, data-led future for learning in which teachers, curricula, and technology work together to ignite learning breakthroughs for students.

Here’s how we can do it:

1. Embrace Personalized Learning.

Each student is on their own individual learning journey, and instruction should be personalized and differentiated for them. A 2019 study by The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) showed that educational software can effectively overcome traditional classroom challenges like “large class sizes with a wide range of learning levels,” which can “make it hard for teachers to personalize instruction.” Just as products like Waze design a route for drivers in real time — accounting for traffic and other roadblocks and delivering the driver to their destination as efficiently as possible — teachers should be able to pick students up wherever they are in their learning journey and take them where they need to go. While the destination may be the same (3rd grade reading proficiency or the successful completion of Algebra 1), each path will be different depending on the learner and her environment. Personalized and adaptive technology empowers teachers to identify and overcome those roadblocks without losing precious instructional time. Teachers can then scaffold up in areas where a student needs assistance or provide more rigorous material that encourages her to stretch, building confidence and enabling her to perform at her maximum potential.

2. Reimagine Assessment.

We must rethink our approach to assessment, which has long been used to sort and label kids in unproductive ways. An overwhelming majority of teachers (81%) believe students spend too much time taking district- and/or state-mandated tests. (Center of Education Policy) Adaptive technology can improve the efficiency and fairness of formative assessments by reducing bias and freeing up valuable instructional time. And this type of assessment enables more personalized learning: when teachers have real-time data on which students need specialized attention and instruction, they can better tailor content to each students’ unique educational journey.

3. Address Unfinished Learning.

To address unfinished learning, districts from Los Angeles to Atlanta are considering adding summer sessions, lengthening the school day or even the school year. But after a particularly draining year, some parents are pushing back on plans to adjust the academic calendar. And for those students who were already behind, we simply can’t make up all the time that has been lost. We must consider the essential skills that are prerequisites for grade-level learning — prioritizing the most important literacy and mathematics skills to succeed. Digital learning companies, together with teachers and administrators, need to collaborate to create plans that help students get to grade level and beyond. Rather than focusing on acceleration — which doesn’t make sense for students who may already be several grade levels behind — we should be coming together to develop on-ramps to help students reach their potential.

Nearly 20% of districts across the country are at least considering a virtual school offering for the coming year and may years beyond.

Implementing this technology in the classroom with fidelity requires leadership and continued professional learning opportunities for educators and district leaders. And the digital learning industry needs to be true partners in making that happen.

When it comes to digital learning, there isn’t just a light at the end of the tunnel of a truly difficult year — there’s a very bright future for our students and our educators. I hope we have the courage to embrace it and collaboratively create new learning experiences that enable every student to grow and thrive.

About the Author – Sari Factor

Vice Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer, Imagine Learning

Sari began her career as a mathematics teacher but soon thought of much bigger ways to impact students. Recognizing that technology could greatly transform the way students learn, she made a career move into education technology and has been working to leverage technology to help students, teachers, schools, and districts ever since.

Sari joined Imagine Learning in 2011 and has held leadership positions at successful educational publishing and learning technology companies, including Kaplan, McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin, and Everyday Learning Corporation. “I knew that I could fulfill my vision to combine technology with research on learning to make education truly student-centered.”

May 5, 2021 8:00 am

Teachers Deserve Our Appreciation — and So Much More

This Teacher Appreciation Week — and every week — it’s more important than ever to recognize the selfless and critical work that teachers do for students, families, and communities.

With all the stories this week about how teachers went above and beyond this year, it’s tempting to see teachers as superheroes. But it’s important to remember that they’re not superhuman. Teachers need acknowledgment, gratitude, and, most importantly, support every single week of the year, so they can continue to do their critical work for our students and our communities.

When Stephany Hume arrived at the hospital for emergency surgery in December, she wasn’t thinking about herself. She was thinking about her fifth-grade students, and the book they had yet to finish. “I thought ‘I can’t leave these poor kids hanging,’” she told reporters, after her 11-day stint teaching from a hospital bed caught the attention of the media and warmed the hearts of a pandemic-weary public.

Her story is inspiring — and unsurprising to anyone who knows teachers.

Teacher is assisting a student, both are wearing masks

If there’s one good thing to come out of this incredibly difficult year, it’s the renewed appreciation we have for the heroic work that our teachers do every day. As the often invisible frontline worker, teachers have persevered through unpredictable schedules, ever-changing guidelines, and unimaginable trauma to provide hope, stability, and support to their students.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, it’s more important than ever to recognize the selfless and critical work that teachers do for students, families, and communities. But appreciation is not enough—we must also listen to and learn from the teachers in our lives, and do everything we can to make the noblest profession as rewarding and empowering as possible.

“There is a very strong sense of social solidarity at the moment; people recognising how we all depend on each other.”

Professor Tony Gallagher

Queen’s University Belfast

Learn from teachers’ resilience

Teachers are the greatest driving force behind learning. And they have taught us all a lot this year.

As a digital learning company, we had a front-row seat to many of the ways teachers used technology to meet students where they are and embrace and celebrate their differences. From teaching tactile concepts in a digital environment to orienting children to COVID safety protocols in fun and age-appropriate ways, teachers were masters of innovation and resilience. They found new ways to engage students who learn at different speeds and struggled to adjust to unsettling circumstances and new environments. “Instead of being so focused on making sure all the kids get the same thing,” said Amanda Brooks, Virtual Support Specialist Counselor at AVA in Georgia, “Individual kids get what they need.”

A recent study by the University of Texas at Austin on Trauma, Teacher Stress, and COVID-19 found day-to-day student connections are a big part of why teachers teach. And when schools went remote last spring, they really missed that connection. But teachers adapted quickly, using technology to scale their time with students and offer safe, consistent, individual support. “Our teachers are always in beta mode. So they’re never done,” said Lesley Clifton, Director of Online Learning at Classical Academy in California. “They’re always learning, trying, growing.”

While educators are increasingly confident that we won’t have to return to an all-remote model, teachers have seen firsthand how different kinds of students shine in different environments—and they’re adjusting their approach accordingly. “We’re learning that some students just need to learn a little bit differently than everyone around them,” said Jamie Max, Director of District 308 in Illinois.

“When we talk about teachers and teaching, it’s not just the students they’re impacting, they’re engaging and impacting families and — by extension — whole communities.”

Kimberlin Rivers

Vice President, Imagine Learning

Uplift teachers as pillars of the community

While teachers are known for juggling increasingly difficult circumstances with magnificent grace, teaching is still undervalued.

An Ipsos/USA Today poll found that nearly three-quarters of Americans said that a teacher had a significant, positive impact on their life, and a majority believed teachers are not fairly compensated for their work. And their belief is borne out in the data, which shows that teachers in many parts of the country earn less than the family living wage. “The profession isn’t as respected as it used to be, when teachers were pillars of the community,” said Kimberlin Rivers, Vice President, Instruction at Weld North Education.

But the pandemic has introduced a shift in the public narrative around essential workers, and teachers are no exception. “During a crisis, assumptions start to fall apart a little bit and people start to question things they had previously accepted and taken for granted,” Queen’s University Belfast Professor Tony Gallagher, who tracked the shifting public perceptions of teachers during COVID, said. “There is a very strong sense of social solidarity at the moment; people recognising how we all depend on each other.”

We’ve always known that teachers have influence extending far beyond their stated role. The numerous roles teachers play for students and the community—mentor, coach, counselor, social worker—were brought into sharper focus this past year as the pandemic underscored many systemic issues in American education.

“When we talk about teachers and teaching, it’s not just the students they’re impacting,” Rivers said. “They’re engaging and impacting families and—by extension—whole communities.”

Advocate for a more supportive, flexible future for the profession

While professionals in other fields benefit from pandemic-induced workplace flexibility, teachers will likely return to a more rigid schedule as they head back into the classroom. But schools can and should learn from this experience and find ways to use technology to create efficiencies and flexibility for their teachers.

In a piece titled “Why Schools Should Embrace Flexibility and Innovation Beyond COVID-19,” the Urban Institute argued that making flexible school options permanent could benefit many students, including the significant portion of students who work while attending school.

The same argument could be made for teachers, who are already dealing with enormous amounts of stress and burnout. According to the 2019 PDK Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools, half of public-school teachers were considering quitting their jobs before COVID. And the stress of the pandemic has only intensified the crisis. Retirements are up, morale is down, and schools are scrambling to fill open positions as their teachers decide not to return to the classroom in the fall. If we want to keep teachers in the profession, we need to find ways to embrace flexibility and give teachers more, not fewer, options for when and how they connect with their students.

May 3, 2021 7:00 am

Imagine Learning Recognizes Top Schools Across the Country for Innovation, Dedication, and Exemplary Usage of Imagine Learning Digital Programs

Provo, Utah — May 3, 2021 — Imagine Learning, a Weld North Education company and leading educational technology developer of supplemental adaptive curriculum for PreK through eighth-grade students, today announced the winners of the 2020–2021 Imagine Nation Awards. The awards are part of the esteemed Imagine Learning motivational program igniting engagement and amplifying confidence for all learners.

Today, we congratulate 317 schools and students from across the country for their exceptional use of Imagine Learning programs: Imagine Language & Literacy, Imagine Reading, Imagine Math 3+, Imagine Math PreK-2, Imagine Math Facts, and Imagine Español. Over 16,000 schools implementing the evidence-based programs were eligible for the Imagine Nation School of Excellence Award and/or the Imagine Nation Beacon School Award.

Imagine Learning uses multiple measures, including usage and implementation data, to designate top schools for the Imagine Nation Awards. The awards given today include:

The Imagine Nation School of Excellence Award: Schools and students who demonstrate outstanding usage, dedication, and implementation of an Imagine Learning program throughout the year. Today, 80 schools are receiving the honor for the 2020–2021 school year.
The Imagine Nation Beacon School Award: Schools and students nominated by Imagine Learning representatives exemplifying the spirit of the Imagine Learning partnership, consistent program usage, and best practices in program implementation. Today, 237 schools are receiving the honor for the 2020–2021 school year.

“We are proud to present these achievements to schools across the nation,” said Jeremy Cowdrey, Chief Executive Officer at Imagine Learning. “These awards recognize the schools and students that have demonstrated exemplary usage of Imagine Learning programs and they are a true testament to the hard work and dedication of students and educators around the country.”

Following official notification of the Imagine Nation awards, each winning school will receive an Imagine Learning banner that displays their achievement.

Imagine Nation School of Excellence Award

2020–2021 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Language & Literacy

Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary, Nogales Unified School District, AZ
Mary Welty Elementary, Nogales Unified School District, AZ
Cajon Valley Middle, Cajon Valley School District, CA
Washington Elementary, Pomona Unified School District, CA
Academia Antonia Alonso, Academia Antonia Alonso District, DE
Coral Gables Senior High, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
Eisenhower Elementary, Ottumwa Community School District, IA
Cheatham Park Elementary, Robertson County Schools, TN
Noel Elementary, Ector County ISD, TX
Energized for Excellence Elementary, Houston ISD, TX
IDEA Carver Academy, IDEA Public Schools, TX
IDEA Hardy Academy, IDEA Public Schools, TX
IDEA Riverview Middle, IDEA Public Schools, TX
IDEA Spears Academy, IDEA Public Schools, TX
KIPP Unity Primary, KIPP Houston Public Schools, TX
Bridge Elementary, Bridge Elementary Charter, UT

2020–2021 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Reading

Foothills Middle, Arcadia Unified School District, CA
Niu Valley Middle, Hawaii Dept of Education, HI
Lancaster Elementary, Garrard County Schools, KY
Gulfport High School, Gulfport School District, MS
Heritage Elementary, Ogden School District, UT
New Bridge School, Ogden School District, UT

2020–2021 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Español

Ronald Reagan Elementary, Desert Sands Unified School District, CA
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Santa Ana Unified School District, CA
Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Santa Ana Unified School District, CA
Dr. Michael D. Fox School, Hartford Public Schools, CT
Parkville Community School, Hartford Public Schools, CT
Academia Antonia Alonso, Academia Antonia Alonso District, DE
West View Elementary, Muncie Community Schools, IN
Central Elementary, Angleton Independent School District, TX
Oppe Elementary, Galveston ISD, TX
Ashbel Smith Elementary, Goose Creek CISD, TX
David Crockett Elementary, Goose Creek CISD, TX
Carroll Bell Elementary, Harlandale ISD, TX
Collier Elementary, Harlandale ISD, TX
Stonewall-Flanders Elementary, Harlandale ISD, TX
William J Clinton Elementary, La Joya ISD, TX
Scotland Park Elementary, Wichita Falls ISD, TX
Zundy Elementary, Wichita Falls ISD, TX
William Lloyd Meador Elementary, Willis ISD, TX

2020–2021 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Math PreK-2

Sartorette Elementary, Cambrian School District, CA
Mission Dolores Academy, Mission Dolores Academy, CA
Academia Antonia Alonso, Academia Antonia Alonso District, DE
Clay Charter Academy, Charter Schools USA, FL
Rosa Parks Elementary, Fayette County Public Schools, KY
Onida Elementary, Agar-Blunt-Onida School District, SD
Fairmont Elementary, Deer Park Independent School District, TX
Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence, Garland ISD, TX
Garner Fine Arts Academy, Grand Prairie ISD, TX
Moore College and Career Preparatory, Grand Prairie ISD, TX
Energized for Excellence Elementary, Houston ISD, TX
IDEA Bluff Springs Academy, IDEA Public Schools, TX
Mildred Elementary, Mildred ISD, TX
Bridge Elementary, Bridge Elementary Charter, UT
Utah Connections Academy, Connections Academy Corporation, UT

2020–2021 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Math 3+

Mission Dolores Academy, Mission Dolores Academy, CA
Hollywood Academy of Arts and Science-Elementary, Charter Schools USA, FL
Hollywood Academy of Arts and Science-Middle, Charter Schools USA, FL
Renaissance Charter School at West Palm Beach, Charter Schools USA, FL
Fairview Elementary, Bonneville Joint District #93, ID
Woodland Hills Elementary, Bonneville Joint District #93, ID
Robert Healy Elementary, Chicago Public Schools, IL
Hereford Preparatory Academy, Hereford ISD, TX
Bush Elementary, Midland ISD, TX
Long Elementary, Midland ISD, TX
Rusk Elementary, Midland ISD, TX
Cole Elementary, Northside ISD – Region 20, TX
Spring Branch Academic Institute Elementary, Spring Branch ISD, TX
Mountain View Elementary, Davis District, UT
Buffalo Elementary, Logan County Schools, WV

2020–2021 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Math Facts

Lorena Falasco Elementary, Los Banos Unified School District, CA
Miano Elementary, Los Banos Unified School District, CA
Winding Creek Elementary, Cumberland Valley School District, PA
Johnson Elementary, Carroll ISD, TX
Fairmont Elementary, Deer Park Independent School District, TX
Hutchins Elementary, El Campo ISD, TX
Northside Elementary, El Campo ISD, TX
Kay Granger Elementary, Northwest ISD, TX
Samuel Beck Elementary, Northwest ISD, TX
Midas Creek Elementary, Jordan School District, UT

Imagine Nation Beacon School Awards

2020–2021 Beacon Schools

Hunter Elementary, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, AK
Dzantik’i Heeni Middle, Juneau Borough School District, AK
Klawock City School, Klawock City School District, AK
Dena’ina Elementary, Mat-Su Borough School District, AK
Ipalook Elementary, North Slope Borough School District, AK
Thompson Intermediate, Alabaster City, AL
Sugar Creek Elementary, Limestone County, AL
West Morgan Middle, Morgan County, AL
West Forest Intermediate, Opelika City, AL
Crestmont Elementary, Tuscaloosa County, AL
International Studies Magnet, Jonesboro, AR
Fulbright Elementary, Little Rock School District, AR
Baldwin Elementary, Paragould, AR
Granada West Elementary, Alhambra Elementary School District, AZ
Prince Elementary, Amphitheater Public Schools, AZ
Desert Sun Elementary, Cave Creek Unified, AZ
P.T. Coe Elementary, Isaac Elementary School District, AZ
Pine Forest School, Pine Forest, AZ
C.E. Rose Elementary, Tucson Unified School District, AZ
Ford Elementary, Tucson Unified School District, AZ
Mary Bell McCorkle, Tucson Unified School District, AZ
Ochoa Community School, Tucson Unified School District, AZ
Tolson Elementary, Tucson Unified School District, AZ
L.U.C.H.A., Alum Rock Union Elementary School District, CA
Summerdale Elementary, Berryessa Union School District, CA
Discovery Charter, Chula Vista, CA
Bret Harte Elementary, Corcoran Unified, CA
Dos Palos Elementary, Dos Palos Oro Loma, CA
Kerman-Floyd Elementary, Kerman Unified, CA
Lakeside Farms, Lakeside Union School District, CA
Lakeview Elementary, Lakeside Union School District, CA
Westside Elementary, Los Banos, CA
Henry Miller, Los Banos Unified, CA
Las Palmas Elementary, National School District, CA
Willow Elementary, San Ysidro School District, CA
Dwight Bellizzi Dual Language Academy, Hartford Public Schools, CT
Harry A. Conte West Hills Magnet, New Haven Public Schools, CT
John S. Martinez Sea & Sky STEM Magnet, New Haven Public Schools, CT
Lucille Moore Elementary, Bay District Schools, FL
Meadowbrooke Elementary, Broward County Public Schools, FL
Westchester Elementary, Broward County Public Schools, FL
Renaissance Charter Elementary, Charter School USA, FL
Rhodora J. Donahue Academy of Ave Maria, Collier County Public Schools, FL
Landmark Middle, Duval County Public Schools, FL
Ensley Elementary, Escambia County School District, FL
Rymfire Elementary, Flagler Schools, FL
J.D. Floyd Elementary, Hernando School District, FL
Cypress Creek Elementary, Hillsborough, FL
Manatee Elementary, Lee County Public Schools, FL
Orange River Elementary, Lee County Public Schools, FL
American Senior High, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
Redland Elementary, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
Dream Lake Elementary, Orange, FL
Pleasant Hill Elementary, Osceola, FL
Cholee Lake Elementary, Palm Beach County Public Schools, FL
Melaleuca Elementary, Palm Beach County Public Schools, FL
Rolling Green Elementary, Palm Beach County Public Schools, FL
Wiregrass Elementary, Pasco County Schools, FL
Kathleen Middle, Polk, FL
W.H. Rhodes Elementary, Santa Rosa County School District, FL
Lamarque Elementary, Sarasota County Schools, FL
Blanche H. Daughtrey Preparatory School of Arts and Sciences, School District of Manatee County, FL
Robert H. Prine Elementary, School District of Manatee County, FL
Fairlawn Elementary, St. Lucie County Public Schools, FL
Mosaic Digital Academy, St. Lucie County Public Schools, FL
Ridge Crest Elementary, Blackfoot School District, ID
Valley View Elementary, Boundary County School District, ID
Hope Elementary, Lake Pend Oreille School District, ID
Iowa Elementary, Nampa School District, ID
Roosevelt Elementary, Nampa School District, ID
Snake River Junior High, Snake River School District, ID
Star Elementary, West Ada School District, ID
Burr Oak Elementary, Calumet Public School District 132, IL
Hiram H Belding Elementary, Chicago Public Schools, IL
Perkins Bass Elementary, Chicago Public Schools, IL
Caroline Sibley School, Dolton School District 149, IL
Steuben Elementary, Kankakee School District 111, IL
Holmes Primary School, Maercker School District 60, IL
Prairie School, Orland School District 135, IL
Hillard Collins Elementary, Boone County Schools, KY
Woodlawn Elementary, Boyle County Schools, KY
Millbrooke Elementary, Christian County Public Schools, KY
Meadowthorpe Elementary, Fayette County Public Schools, KY
Sandersville Elementary, Fayette County Public Schools, KY
Dixie Magnet Elementary, Fayette County Public Schools, KY
Cedarcrest Southmoor Elementary, East Baton Rouge Parish School System, LA
Geraldine Boudreaux Elementary, Jefferson Parish Schools, LA
Hinks Elementary, Alpena Public Schools, MI
Lakeland Elementary, Coldwater Community Schools, MI
Kinloch Elementary, Crestwood School District, MI
Grand Blanc Academy, MI
Horizon High School, Hamtramck Public School District, MI
Bowen Elementary, Kentwood Public School, MI
Monroe Intermediate School District, Monroe ISD, MI
Marquette Elementary, Muskegon Public School, MI
Burr Elementary, Utica Community Schools, MI
Estabrook Elementary, Ypsilanti Community Schools, MI
Sumner Elementary, Austin, MN
Cornelia Elementary, Edina Public Schools, MN
Edina Public School, Edina Public Schools, MN
North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale District, North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale, MN
Kaposia Education Center, South St. Paul, MN
West Fargo Public, West Fargo Public Schools, MN
Willow Park Elementary, West Fargo Public Schools, MN
Prairie Elementary, Worthington, MN
D’Iberville Elementary, Harrison County School District, MS
St. Martin East Elementary, Jackson County School District, MS
Quarles Elementary, Long Beach School District, MS
Mannsdale Upper Elementary, Madison County Schools, MS
R. Homer Andrews Elementary, Alamance-Burlington School System, NC
Turrentine Middle, Alamance-Burlington School System, NC
Weaverville Elementary, Buncombe County, NC
Kings Creek School, Caldwell County Schools, NC
Pine Level Elementary, Johnston County Public Schools, NC
LJ Bell Elementary, Richmond County Schools, NC
Mineral Springs Elementary, Richmond County Schools, NC
Hargrove Elementary, Sampson County Schools, NC
Northeast Elementary, Wayne County Public Schools, NC
C.C. Wright Elementary, Wilkes County Schools, NC
Broad Street School Bridgeton, NJ, Bridgeton School District, NJ
Alfred Cramer College Preparatory Lab School, Camden City School District, NJ
Thomas H. Dudley Family School, Camden City School District, NJ
Elementary School 3, Clifton School District, NJ
Midtown Community School, Neptune School District, NJ
School Number 2, Clifton School District, NJ
River Plaza Elementary, Middletown Township Schools, NJ
School 19, Paterson School District, NJ
School 24, Paterson School District, NJ
Cuba Elementary, Cuba Independent School District, NM
Esperanza Elementary, Farmington Municipal Schools, NM
Sanger Elementary, Hobbs Municipal Schools, NM
Lea Elementary, Lovington Municipal School District, NM
Ridgeway Elementary, White Plains Public Schools, NY
Joseph Gallagher, Cleveland Metropolitan Schools, OH
Kenneth Clement Boys Leadership Academy, Cleveland Metropolitan Schools, OH
Thomas Jefferson Newcomers Academy, Cleveland Metropolitan Schools, OH
Lynn Wood Elementary, Broken Arrow Public Schools, OK
Prairie Elementary, Guymon Public Schools, OK
6th Grade Academy, Muskogee Public Schools, OK
Union Elementary, Ponca City Public Schools, OK
McAuliffe Elementary, Union Public Schools, OK
Elizabeth Baldwin Elementary, Pawtucket School Department, RI
Anthony Carnevale Elementary, Providence Public Schools, RI
Sand Hill Elementary, Dorchester School District Two, SC
Cheraw Intermediate, Chesterfield County School District, SC
Summerville Elementary, Dorchester School District Two, SC
Bennettsville Primary School, Marlboro County School District, SC
Crosswell Drive Elementary, Sumter School District, SC
Hambrick Middle, Aldine ISD, TX
Jones Elementary, Aldine ISD, TX
Dr. Red Duke Elementary, Alvin ISD, TX
Glenn York Elementary, Alvin ISD, TX
Meridiana Elementary, Alvin ISD, TX
Nolan Ryan Junior High, Alvin ISD, TX
Guerrero Thompson Elementary, Austin ISD, TX
International High School, Austin ISD, TX
Rodriguez Elementary, Austin ISD, TX
Webb Middle, Austin ISD, TX
Widén Elementary, Austin ISD, TX
Krause Elementary, Brenham ISD, TX
Barrett-Lee Early Childhood Center, Channelview ISD, TX
Frank Macias Elementary, Clint ISD, TX
Valley Creek Elementary, Coppell ISD, TX
Windsor Park, Corpus Christi ISD, TX
Woodlawn Elementary, Corpus Christi ISD, TX
Los Encinos, Corpus Christi ISD, TX
Birkes Elementary, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, TX
Emery Elementary, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, TX
Warner Elementary, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, TX
San Jacinto Elementary, Deer Park ISD, TX
Paloma Creek Elementary, Denton ISD, TX
M.A.P. Muñoz Elementary, Donna ISD, TX
East Chambers Elementary, East Chambers ISD, TX
David Crockett Elementary, Goose Creek CISD, TX
Victoria Walker Elementary, Goose Creek CISD, TX
Alcott Elementary, Houston ISD, TX
Daily Elementary, Houston ISD, TX
Emerson Elementary, Houston ISD, TX
Garden Oaks Montessori, Houston ISD, TX
Neff Elementary, Houston ISD, TX
KIPP Journey Primary, KIPP Texas, TX
KIPP Sharp Elementary, KIPP Texas, TX
Zwink Elementary, Klein ISD, TX
Lloyd M. Bentsen Elementary, La Joya ISD, TX
Alma Pierce Elementary, Laredo ISD, TX
Bear Park Elementary, Magnolia ISD, TX
Magnolia Parkway Elementary, Magnolia ISD, TX
Finch Elementary, McKinney ISD, TX
McWhorter Elementary, Mesquite ISD, TX
Leo Marcell Elementary, Mission CISD, TX
Allen & William Arnold Elementary, Pharr San Juan Alamo ISD, TX
Garland Classical Academy, Responsive Education Solutions, TX
Roque Guerra Jr. Elementary, Rio Grande City CISD, TX
Jones Elementary, Rockwall ISD, TX
Patti Welder Middle, Victoria ISD, TX
Raul Gonzalez Elementary, Weslaco ISD, TX
West Orange-Stark Elementary, West Orange Cove Consolidated ISD, TX
YES Prep North Central Elementary, YES Prep Public Schools, TX
YES Prep Southeast Elementary, YES Prep Public Schools, TX
Vista Hills Elementary, Ysleta ISD, TX
Century Elementary, Box Elder School District, UT
Hill Field Elementary, Davis School District, UT
Lincoln Elementary, Granite School District, UT
Morgan Elementary, Morgan County School District, UT
Washington Elementary, Washington County School District, UT
Roy Elementary, Weber School District, UT
Vista School, UT
Stevens Elementary, Aberdeen SD, WA
Adrmore Elementary, Bellevue School District, WA
Carl Cozier Elementary, Bellingham School District, WA
Esquire Hills, Central Kitsap School District, WA
Chief Leschi Schools, Chief Leschi Schools, WA
Steins Pillar Elementary, Crook County School District, WA
Mill Park Elementary, David Douglas School District, WA
Valley View Elementary, Ellensburg School District, WA
Pioneer Elementary, Evergreen Public Schools, WA
Sunnycrest Elementary, Federal Way Public Schools, WA
James Sales Elementary, Franklin Pierce School District, WA
Arthur H. Smith Elementary, Grandview School District, WA
Seahurst Elementary, Highlin Public Schools, WA
Lincoln Elementary, Hoquiam School District, WA
Online Learning Academy, Kennewick School District, WA
Grove Elementary, Marysville School District, WA
Larson Heights Elementary, Moses Lake School District, WA
Nyssa Elementary, Nyssa School District, WA
Ocosta Elementary, Ocosta School, WA
Sitton Elementary, Portland Public Schools, WA
Evergreen Elementary, Shelton SD, WA
Seattle Hill Elementary, Snohomish School District, WA
Birney Elementary, Tacoma Public Schools, WA
McNary Heights Elementary, Umatilla School District, WA
Satus Elementary, Wapato School District, WA
West Valley School District #208, West Valley School District #208, WA
Whitney Elementary, Yakima School District, WA
Saint Josaphat Parish, Archdiocese of Milwaukee, WI
Jackson Elementary, School District of Janesville, WI
Sheridan Elementary, Sheboygan Area School District, WI

About Imagine Learning

Imagine Learning is passionate about providing equity of access to learning for all students through teaching with technology. We are a leading educational technology company providing supplemental digital curriculum for PreK through eighth-grade students. Our adaptive suite of Literacy, Reading, Math, and Assessment solutions is powered by the Imagine Learning Language Advantage^™, a theory of action that promotes rigorous and equitable development of language, enabling students to have deeper comprehension, engagement, and enjoyment of learning. Over 3 million students nationwide benefit from Imagine Learning programs to accelerate their learning. Learn more at imaginelearning.com.

April 23, 2021 8:00 am

Weld North Education Announces Award Recognitions from EdTech Digest and Tech & Learning

Weld North Education, a leading provider of PreK-12 digital curriculum solutions, today announced that several of its flagship brands—Edgenuity, provider of online courseware and intervention solutions; Imagine Learning, creator of digital supplemental curriculum solutions for literacy, language and mathematics; and LearnZillion, which makes high-quality, digital-first core curriculum accessible for teachers and students—have been recognized by the EdTech Digest Awards and the Tech & Learning Remote Learning Awards.

Weld North Education Brands Edgenuity, Imagine Learning, and LearnZillion Recognized for Digital and Remote Learning Curricula

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (PRWEB) APRIL 23, 2021

Weld North Education (WNE), a leading provider of PreK-12 digital curriculum solutions, today announced that several of its flagship brands—Edgenuity, provider of online courseware and intervention solutions; Imagine Learning, creator of digital supplemental curriculum solutions for literacy, language and mathematics; and LearnZillion, which makes high-quality, digital-first core curriculum accessible for teachers and students—have been recognized by the EdTech Digest Awards and the Tech & Learning Remote Learning Awards.

WNE offers a full suite of brands, curricula and platforms that are research-backed and designed to ignite learning breakthroughs by engaging students and empowering educators, as well as families, towards a more positive learning experience.

“We are honored to be recognized for these prestigious awards,” said Sari Factor, Chief Strategy Officer at Weld North Education. “Our talented development teams strive to deliver effective solutions to meet the needs of diverse learners. Edgenuity, Imagine Learning and LearnZillion are among our brands that provide high-quality, digital-first curriculum to empower educators—whether teachers or parents—to spark breakthroughs in every student’s unique learning journey.”

Edgenuity MyPath, Imagine Reading, and LearnZillion Illustrative Mathematics were winners of the EdTech Awards—the largest and most competitive recognition program in all of education technology. Edgenuity MyPath was presented with the Personalized Learning Solution Award, Imagine Reading received the Literacy/Reading Solution Award and LearnZillion Illustrative Mathematics was awarded the Math Solution Award.

Additionally, Imagine Learning products, Imagine Math and Imagine Language & Literacy, were both recognized with the Tech & Learning Remote Learning Award in the Primary Grades (K-6) category. The winners were chosen by a judging panel of Tech & Learning advisors who deemed the solutions as standouts for helping students, parents and teachers succeed in the new learning environments amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This award was open to any products that helped to support effective teaching and learning practices throughout the pandemic.

Edgenuity programs—including MyPath, Courseware, the LMS, the Purpose Prep curriculum and more—were also named finalists in over 10 categories, such as Language Arts Solution for MyPath, as well as Curriculum and Instruction Solution for Courseware. Imagine Learning was also named a finalist in several categories, including Games for Learning/Simulation Solution: Imagine Math Facts and Personalized Learning Solution: Imagine Math.

About Weld North Education

Weld North Education (WNE) is a K–12 digital learning company that ignites learning breakthroughs by designing forward-thinking solutions at the intersection of people, curricula, and technology that drive student growth. WNE serves over 10 million students and partners with over 7,000 school districts nationwide. WNE’s flagship brands include Edgenuity, provider of online courseware and intervention solutions; Imagine Learning, provider of digital supplemental curriculum in literacy, language, and mathematics; and LearnZillion and StudySync, providers of high-quality, digital-first core curriculum. Read more about Weld North Education at http://www.weldnorthed.com.

For Media Queries

Imagine Learning is a leading provider of K–12 online and blended learning solutions, and we are always available to speak with members of the press.

Visit our homepage to learn more about Imagine Learning.

Tim DeClaire

Imagine Learning

tim.declaire@imaginelearning.com

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March 31, 2021 8:00 am

Motivating English Learners

Read one Texas teacher’s creative strategies for keeping English-learning students energized and motivated.

Teachers across the country are finding innovative ways to engage English learners (EL) in the classroom and online.

In Austin, Texas, Webb Middle School has been incorporating Imagine Language & Literacy curriculum in their classrooms for over four years to help students learn and practice the English language.

Genoveva Zamarron, who herself was an English learner, now leads the English Language Development Academy (ELDA) for Webb Middle School. In recognition of her excellence, Genoveva was awarded the Top Imagine Language & Literacy usage teacher in February 2021!

We sat down with Genoveva to learn how she inspires and motivates her students to achieve their academic goals.

“I didn’t speak English when I was little and now, I teach English. My experience helps me motivate them. I want [students] to be a success story because I consider myself a success story!”

Genoveva Zamarron

Literacy and Language in the Classroom

For EL students at Webb Middle School, a typical day includes three to four hours working in the ELDA program before moving onto their elective or additional core classes.

In the ELDA program, Genoveva incorporates Imagine Learning content and in-person lessons so students further develop their English skills.

And in her classroom, Genoveva pairs students who speak Spanish with others who speak Arabic to encourage them to learn outside of their comfort zones and build confidence in speaking English.

To ensure that the platform is accessible to students and families who speak and read in another language, Genoveva provides instructions in various languages so students can get started on their work right away.

Additionally, students are taught how to monitor their progress and grades to drive self-discipline and accountability for their own success. Genoveva explains that “the confidence of the student is powerful,” because they need to see how their efforts directly affect their progress and grades.

As part of the curriculum, students record themselves completing oral assignments to practice their English. Genoveva has adopted the practice of sitting down with struggling students to listen to the recordings together.

This helps students understand how they are being graded on oral assignments — for comprehension, fluency, phonics, etc. — and hear the improvements in their English.

Students sitting on the floor listening to a story

Keeping Students Motivated

Genoveva reflects a lot on what it was like for her to grow up in the United States as an English learner, and shares these experiences with her students to help inspire them to become proficient English speakers.

Some of her students would be the first English speaker in their family and the first to attend schooling in the United States, so it’s important to keep them motivated and confident in their education.

One of the amazing ways students stay energized in the ELDA program is with the Imagine Learning wall (pictured above). Students note each day’s progress — including completions and successes — on activity cards, which they then add to the wall.

Seeing their progress and successes allows for some healthy competition between students, and further motivates them to work hard to reach their goals.

This is also a great way to get students active and out of their seats as they work on their online schoolwork.

Another special experience students can earn is the opportunity to attend field trips outside of the classroom.

As many of her students are new to the United States, Genoveva rewards them with short trips to practice and experience their new English skills in the outside world. Just this month, the students with the highest number of active minutes got to go to the theater to see a movie in English!

Getting Parents and Guardians On Board

We asked Genoveva what advice she would give to fellow educators, and she confirmed that building relationships with students and their families is how you can best drive success.

From day one, she expresses the importance of building those relationships so students feel supported and motivated in and out of the classroom.

She also holds her students to the same standards as her son, and expects them all to do their best.

Genoveva also sometimes shares pictures of the student’s homework so parents and guardians can help them continue working on their skills at home. This provides families with the tools they need to provide their students with that additional one-on-one support they receive in the classroom.

By building relationships with families and empowering students in and out of the classroom, Genoveva’s program has given English learners the confidence to reach their goals and set them up for success outside of the classroom.

Motivate Your English Learners

Discover how Imagine Language & Literacy can deliver targeted support to students acquiring English.

Learn More

February 4, 2021 8:00 am

Weld North Education Acquires BookheadEd Learning, Developer of Award-Winning StudySync Digital-First Core Curriculum

Weld North Education, the largest provider of K–12 digital curriculum solutions in the U.S., today announced the acquisition of BookheadEd Learning, a developer of engaging and effective digital-first curriculum for districts and schools worldwide. BookheadEd develops dynamic, multimedia academic content that leverages advanced technology solutions for education, including the award-winning StudySync, a comprehensive English Language Arts (ELA) program for grades 6-12, and SyncBlasts, a cross-curricular, inquiry-based reading and writing solution to promote critical thinking and research skills.

Acquisition Is Significant Step Forward to Deliver on Leadership Vision to Offer Digital-First Core Curriculum
BookheadEd’s products, StudySync and SyncBlasts, offer students and teachers an anywhere, anytime, any device experience

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Buisness Wire) Weld North Education (“WNE”), the largest provider of K–12 digital curriculum solutions in the U.S., today announced the acquisition of BookheadEd Learning (“BookheadEd”), a developer of engaging and effective digital-first curriculum for districts and schools worldwide. BookheadEd develops dynamic, multimedia academic content that leverages advanced technology solutions for education, including the award-winning StudySync, a comprehensive English Language Arts (ELA) program for grades 6-12, and SyncBlasts, a cross-curricular, inquiry-based reading and writing solution to promote critical thinking and research skills.

The acquisition and integration of BookheadEd and StudySync is a significant and important milestone for Weld North Education as it advances the Company’s vision and mission to deliver on the promise of digital-first core curriculum, which today is a $3 billion market in the U.S. alone. BookheadEd, and its brands StudySync and SyncBlasts, are used by over three million students.

“Our mission from the beginning has been to create a set of digital learning tools and solutions that unlock the power of data to enhance and focus the learning experiences for students, teachers and parents. With a focus on developing core curriculum for the K-12 classroom, the acquisition of BookheadEd is a big step forward towards this goal,” said Jonathan Grayer, Founder and CEO of Weld North Education. “BookheadEd has long been a champion of creatively improving and enriching the learning experience and depth of student engagement through technology, video and multimedia, and StudySync sets the standard for a truly digital-first, core ELA curriculum. The talented BookheadEd team shares our commitment to transforming classrooms with innovative and interactive products that engage students and empower educators to focus on the specific needs of each child.”

BookheadEd products are accessible from any device and are designed to enhance student engagement by leveraging multimedia and addressing real-world topics relevant to students. Teachers benefit from flexible and accessible digital and print resources to support their planning and teaching. From a single, easy-to-navigate platform, educators have the ability to easily assess and track student performance, provide feedback, and implement differentiated lesson plans.

StudySync, BookheadEd’s flagship product, offers powerful digital instruction that brings together centuries of fiction and nonfiction texts with video and other multimedia elements—including daily blasts styled after familiar social media channels, peer-to-peer collaboration modules, and dramatic readings—to provide students with media-rich learning experiences that advance their reading, writing and critical thinking skills. StudySync has been adopted in California and Texas, and is currently under consideration in the Florida ELA adoption process.

“Accessible and engaging digital resources are more important now than ever and being a part of WNE is an excellent opportunity to expand the power of digital learning for teachers and students everywhere,” said StudySync founder Robert Romano. “Our core values and goals of creating forward-thinking digital content, putting the student experience first, seeing engagement as essential to learning, and providing an accessible experience make this combination a perfect strategic fit, and I am excited about our future as a part of WNE.”

Over the last decade, WNE has invested broadly in bringing innovative and accessible digital curriculum capabilities to a broader base of students across the entire K–12 landscape. BookheadEd Learning is the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions including social and emotional learning program Purpose Prep and LearnZillion, a leading provider of K–12 high-quality digital-first core curriculum, best known for making high-quality curriculum more widely accessible to educators.

About Weld North Education

Weld North Education (WNE), the largest digital education company in the U.S., was founded in 2010 with the goal of creating a focused suite of digital curriculum capabilities and resources that enable teachers, administrators, parents and students to benefit from innovative learning technologies. Over the last decade, WNE has expanded its mission by investing broadly in the development of researched-based digital curriculum capabilities to engage and support PreK-12 students and educators. WNE’s flagship brands include Edgenuity, provider of online courseware and intervention solutions; Imagine Learning, provider of digital supplemental curriculum in literacy, language and mathematics; and LearnZillion, provider of high-quality digital-first core curriculum. WNE has made additional investments in innovative education brands: SEL course provider Purpose Prep and digital curriculum company Glynlyon, Inc. Read more about Weld North Education at www.weldnorthed.com.

About BookheadEd Learning

BookheadEd Learning, based in Sonoma, California, provides a pathway to the great ideas that have come down to us throughout the ages, leveraging technology, video, multimedia, and a rich library of classic and modern texts to bring those ideas to life. StudySync, the company’s award-winning flagship product, uses web-delivered educational tools – including mobile platforms and social networking —to provide relevance to students while helping teachers meet the demands of the Common Core Standards. StudySync inspires higher levels of reading, writing, critical thinking, academic discourse and peer-to-peer collaboration through a blend of time-honored best teaching practices and the latest educational technology. For more information about BookheadEd Learning and its StudySync educational platform, visit www.studysync.com.

Contacts

Amanda Coyle
Sloane & Company
acoyle@sloanepr.com
212-446-1867

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Imagine Learning is a leading provider of K–12 online and blended learning solutions, and we are always available to speak with members of the press.

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Tim DeClaire

Imagine Learning

tim.declaire@imaginelearning.com

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October 21, 2020 8:00 am

LearnZillion Illustrative Mathematics Student Spotlight Lessons Now Available for Classroom and Distance Learning

Video series showcasing authentic student discussions now integrated into LearnZillion platform for students in grades 6–8

PRWEB | Scottsdale, Arizona | October 21, 2020

Today, education software company LearnZillion announced that Spotlight Lessons aligned with its recently launched Student Spotlight Project have been integrated into LearnZillion Illustrative Mathematics grades 6–8. The Student Spotlight Project is a series of engaging videos that feature middle-school students from across the United States collaborating virtually in a “Zoom-like” format. The LearnZillion IM Student Spotlight Lessons harness peer power by connecting students for on-demand models of small-group collaboration during asynchronous work time.

The Student Spotlight Lessons align with each part of an Illustrative Mathematics lesson—including the warm-up, the activities/task, and the synthesis—and include interactive discussions featuring student thinking, strategies, and productive struggle within the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum, which emphasizes supporting the whole learner.

“During this unique time in education, it’s as important as ever to engage students’ minds in authentic, age-appropriate mathematical reasoning whenever, wherever, and however they learn best,” said Kate Nowak, Vice President of Product Strategy for Illustrative Mathematics. “Our certified partner LearnZillion has developed this highly innovative way to focus students’ attention on meaningful conversations and provide more opportunities to justify their reasoning and critique the reasoning of others. We’re grateful for their efforts to preserve the integrity of Illustrative Mathematics’ careful research-based curriculum design while adapting to meet the challenges inherent to different instructional environments.”

Each Student Spotlight Lesson is designed to drive student engagement and motivation by showcasing how different students grapple through various tasks, challenges, and milestones within the curriculum. These lessons foster a growth mindset, promote accountability for learning, and connect students to meaningful math discourse, whether they are inside or outside of the classroom.

The LearnZillion Illustrative Mathematics Grades 6–8 Student Spotlight Lessons offer educators another tool to support students during distance learning, as well as hybrid and in-person instruction. The videos can be directly assigned to students as a model and check throughout their conceptual development.

“Since becoming part of Edgenuity, LearnZillion has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation and to empowering students and educators—and has responded to the need to define best instructional practices even while students are learning from home,” said Sari Factor, CEO of Edgenuity. “These Spotlight Lessons are one example of how LearnZillion is creating resources that support a sense of community, student engagement, and academic rigor, particularly in distance learning environments.”

For more information and an introductory video, please visit: learnzillion.com/spotlight/

About LearnZillion

LearnZillion, a leading provider of K–12 online learning solutions and now a part of Edgenuity, curates and publishes the highest-quality core instructional materials supported by exceptional professional development. LearnZillion is committed to helping educators plan and deliver powerful, lasting learning experiences. Districts that adopt our curricula empower teachers to spend less time building student-facing materials from scratch and more time meeting their students’ needs. For more information, visit www.LearnZillion.com.

About Illustrative Mathematics

Illustrative Mathematics is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world where all learners know, use, and enjoy mathematics. We provide access to high-quality instructional materials, professional learning, and a community in order to support all students’ mathematical growth. By utilizing an uplifting, engaging, and inclusive approach, we help students develop skills, understandings, and practices that will stay with them for a lifetime. Learn more at www.IllustrativeMathematics.org.

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Imagine Learning is a leading provider of K–12 online and blended learning solutions, and we are always available to speak with members of the press.

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Tim DeClaire

Imagine Learning

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September 16, 2020 8:00 am

Edgenuity Pathblazer Awarded Research-Based Design Product Certification by Digital Promise

Edgenuity, a leading provider of online curriculum and instructional services for the K-12 market, today announced that its Pathblazer solution has earned the Research-Based Design product certification from Digital Promise. The certification provides third-party verification to educators and families that an educational technology product is based on credible learning sciences research.

PRWEB | Scottsdale, Arizona | September 16, 2020

Edgenuity, a leading provider of online curriculum and instructional services for the K-12 market, today announced that its Pathblazer solution has earned the

Research-Based Design product certification from Digital Promise. The certification provides third-party verification to educators and families that an educational technology product is based on credible learning sciences research.

“It is essential that students receive the instruction, guidance, and support needed to master foundational skills in the elementary grades, especially to close early learning gaps in math and reading,” said Sari Factor, CEO of Edgenuity. “This certification assures educators and parents that our products are grounded in well-accepted research documented to help accelerate student learning.”

Pathblazer offers teachers in grades K-6 dynamic, skills-based online content that can be used for math and reading intervention and enrichment so they can help every student catch up, keep up, and get ahead. Whether in an individualized learning path or single lesson, Pathblazer provides students with engaging, motivating content that they can access in class or at home, which will make it easier for students to continue learning during transitional periods in the coming months.

The program utilizes data-driven, targeted instruction built around a gradual-release instructional model—which includes supported practice, independent practice, and assessment—to help reinforce grade-level skills among elementary-school students. For students in need of more support, educators can also use Pathblazer to offer targeted, standards-based intervention in math and ELA as needed.

The Research-Based Design product certification uses a competency-based learning framework, developed in consultation with Digital Promise’s Learner Variability Project advisory board, expert researchers in the Learning Sciences field, and dozens of educators across the United States. Further information about the development of the Research-Based Design product certification can be found here.

Edgenuity submitted evidence to Digital Promise demonstrating that instructional design decisions were intentionally grounded in recognized research. Earlier this year, Pathblazer was also found to meet the highest level of efficacy—Tier 1 “strong” evidence—in improving student achievement in reading for grades three to five, as outlined by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which governs the United States K–12 public education policy.

Edgenuity is dedicated to offering innovative, research-based learning solutions aimed at improving student achievement. An extensive body of pedagogical research about how people learn drives every aspect of the Company’s design and development of K–12 learning solutions. Educators interested in learning more about Edgenuity Pathblazer® can visit this page or contact an Edgenuity representative for more information.

About Edgenuity

Edgenuity, a leading provider of online curriculum and instructional services for the K–12 market, is in use by more than 20,000 schools nationwide, including 20 of the 25 largest school districts, to meet academic goals and improve student outcomes. Edgenuity’s full suite of solutions is aimed at helping students, educators, and districts achieve success in their online and blended learning programs. For students, Edgenuity offers learning solutions including initial credit courses, honors and Advanced Placement courses, credit recovery, intervention, and test readiness. Edgenuity additionally supports educators through high-quality digital-first core curriculum provided by LearnZillion, as well as professional development solutions to help educators plan and deliver powerful, lasting learning experiences.

About Digital Promise

Digital Promise is a nonprofit organization that builds powerful networks and takes on grand challenges by working at the intersection of researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators. Our vision is that all people, at every stage of their lives, have access to learning experiences that help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and continuously learn in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website and follow @digitalpromise for updates.

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