Engaging the Adolescent Learner
Middle school is a critical time to actively engage students who struggle with basic math and reading comprehension skills. Kaplan K12 has developed several programs to attract the attention of adolescent learners and bring them up to where they need to be, in addition to giving them the skills they require to succeed in high school and beyond. Using an engaging, interactive approach to address both the needs and interests of the adolescent audience, we can help you transform struggling students into lifelong learners.
This math intervention program for grades 4 and up grew out of the fundamental mathematics needs we found while working with thousands of students nationwide. Highly illustrated text keeps each lesson fun and engaging, while characters Matt and Marta provide direct student modeling. We've allowed for differentiated instructions by providing multiple entry points and universal access for special needs students. The program also easily adapts to multiple implementation models, including use during class periods, as a pull-out session or in an after-school program.
Kaplan's reading solutions for K12 also include: SpellRead, a small group reading intervention program backed by independent research that focuses on phonological automaticity and reading fluency for struggling readers, and a Content Area Literacy Framework for secondary content area teachers to help all students become more skilled readers and writers who are prepared for postsecondary success.
See a Teacher's Edition sample (pdf, 30.9 MB)!
For more information, click here (pdf).
Website: momentummath.com.
TextConnections is designed specifically for middle school students who have basic phonics and decoding skills, but lack good comprehension and critical thinking skills. The program focuses on comprehension skills and strategies with support from the role that vocabulary, fluency, word skills and writing play in achieving growth. In addition, TextConnections uses all of these developing reading abilities across content areas such as Science and Social Studies so students can access their school curriculum.
Clearly stepped out lessons make it an easy program to teach for the reading or content area teacher. TextConnections includes "think alouds," metacognitive strategies, building anchor knowledge, games, drawings and connections to real world social experiences to engage the student and cater to different types of learners. Additionally, high-interest trade books and leveled text allow for differentiated instruction. The program is typically used as a full-class, 1 year program, but is adaptable.
Study Skills
Kaplan Study Skills is an effective program embedded in high-interest content. The program uses this content to build successful habits of mind that are essential for high achievement in middle school, high school, and beyond.
Themed Explore magazines comprise the five units in the program, and are designed to expose students to a wide range of topics and genres while also maintaining readability for struggling readers. Every unit has four lessons that correspond to one of four core study skills:
- Getting Organized
- Using Your Resources
- Simplifying the Task
- Following Through
A Student Planner helps students stay organized with a weekly class schedule, a month-by-month calendar to assist in long-range planning, and a daily calendar for homework assignments and to-do lists. An in-depth Teacher's Guide provides teachers with 20 workshop-style lessons and blackline masters. Study Skills is a full year course that can be used in an advisory period, any content area class or as an after-school or Saturday program. Implementation models vary depending on the program and time availability.