2017
Paths to College and Career

7th Grade - Gateway 3

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Note on review tool versions

See the series overview page to confirm the review tool version used to create this report.

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Gateway Ratings Summary

Usability

Gateway 3 - Meets Expectations
97%
Criterion 3.1: Use & Design
8 / 8
Criterion 3.2: Teacher Planning
8 / 8
Criterion 3.3: Assessment
8 / 8
Criterion 3.4: Differentiation
9 / 10
Criterion 3.5: Technology Use
Narrative Only

TThe instructional materials meet expectations for instructional supports and usability. The use and design of the materials facilitate student learning. The materials take into account effective lesson structure and pacing, and the pacing allows for maximum student understanding. Materials are designed to ease teacher planning and support teacher learning and understanding of the standards. Standards addressed and assessed in each lesson are clearly noted and easy to locate, and the teacher’s notes included with each lesson provide useful annotations and suggestions that anticipate both teacher and student needs. The materials reviewed provide teachers with multiple strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners. Content is accessible to all learners to be supported in meeting or exceeding the grade-level standards. Students who read, write, speak, or listen below grade level or in a language other than English are regularly provided with extensive opportunities to work with grade-level text and meet or exceed grade-level standards. Materials also provide students who read, write, speak, or listen above grade level some extension and advanced opportunities. Materials also support the effective use of technology to enhance student learning.

Criterion 3.1: Use & Design

8 / 8

The use and design of the instructional materials facilitate student learning. The design of the materials is consistent, simple, and not distracting. The curriculum map and module and unit overviews make lesson structure and pacing clear. The 32 weeks of instruction is reasonable for a school year. All resources include clear directions, explanations, and standards alignments.

Narrative Only

Indicator 3a

2 / 2

Materials are well-designed and take into account effective lesson structure and pacing.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectations that materials are well-designed and take into account effective lesson structure and pacing.

  • The Grade 7 curriculum is comprised of four eight-week modules.
  • Four modules make up one year of instruction. Each grade level has six modules. Teachers can choose between an A and a B option for two of the modules.
  • Within each module there are three units. Each module has the same sequence of units. Unit 1 is Building Background Knowledge, Unit 2 is Extended Reading and Research, and Unit 3 is Extended Writing. Modules are anchored by one or more books as a central text.
    • For example, in Module 2, Unit 1 focuses on Building Background Knowledge and "What is Identify and How is it Formed?" Unit 2 focuses on Identity Transformation in Pygmalion, and Unit 3 focuses on a Culminating Project and "Analyzing Gender Roles in Advertising."
  • Materials include a curriculum plan located online at eleducation.org that lists the topic, focus, central texts, and major writing tasks in each module.
  • Materials include a curriculum map located online at eleducation.org that includes a module description, assessments, and standards assessed for each module.
  • A module overview is found at the beginning of each module. The module overview explains the story of the module, lists standards assessed, and provides a week-at-a-glance planning chart. For example, the Module 2A overview is found on pages 2-19.
  • There are unit overviews and a Unit-at-a-Glance located online at eleducation.org for each of the three units in each module.
Materials also include detailed daily lessons plans and supporting materials. Lessons are 45 minutes long for Grade 7. Teachers can download the MS Word version of the lesson plan files to modify them. Each module contains 35-40 lessons.
  • All lessons have three sections: Opening, Work Time, and Closing and Assessment. For example, Module 1, Unit 1, lesson 1, has the following parts: Opening (20 minutes), which is broken down into Engaging the Reader (10 minutes) and Introduction Learning Target (10 minutes); Work Time (10 minutes), which comprises Engaging the Reader Part II (10 minutes); and, Closing and Assessment (5 minutes), which comprises the Debrief: Revisiting Learning Targets and Creating Partner Discussion Criteria.
  • Each lesson includes a title that names the literacy skills students will work on as well as the content, long-term learning targets that name the standards addressed in the lesson, supporting learning targets that specifically name what learning will take place in the lesson, ongoing assessment to be used as formative assessments, an agenda to map out the day’s outline, and teaching notes that guide teachers on how to prepare for the lesson. Also included are lesson vocabulary that list both academic and content words being addressed in the lesson, lesson materials, a Meeting Student’s Needs column to suggest differentiation and scaffolding, and all supporting materials that include student-facing materials to be distributed to students.

Indicator 3b

2 / 2

The teacher and student can reasonably complete the content within a regular school year, and the pacing allows for maximum student understanding.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet expectations that the teacher and student can reasonably complete the content within a regular school year, and the pacing allows for maximum student understanding.

  • Each Module provides approximately eight weeks of instruction. Four modules make up a year of instruction which provides approximately 32 weeks of instruction.
  • The total number of lessons of available for Grade 7 is 238. However, teachers are given a choice which two modules they want to exclude. For example, the teacher can select Module 2A or Module 2B and Module 3A or 3B. Therefore, the total number of lessons taught range between 159 and 161 which is a reasonable number of lessons to complete during a school year.
  • This pacing allows for maximum student understanding. Time is built in for teachers to modify lessons to tailor to their student’s needs. The program allows flexibility for teachers to rely on professional judgment to modify pacing.

Indicator 3c

2 / 2

The student resources include ample review and practice resources, clear directions, and explanation, and correct labeling of reference aids (e.g., visuals, maps, etc.).

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet expectations that the student resources include ample review and practice resources, clear directions, and explanation, and correct labeling of reference aids (e.g., visuals, maps, etc.).

Materials include but are not limited to graphic organizers, note catchers, text dependent questions, word-catchers, reference charts, anchor charts, unit assessments, supporting excerpts or texts, close read guides, jigsaw question strips, essay rubrics, reference aids, model writings, entrance and exit tickets, teacher reference sheets, vocabulary words lists and definitions, feedback forms, and writing prompts.

  • Module 3, Unit 1, lesson 1, includes a Powerful Stories anchor chart and a note-catcher. Lesson 7 includes clear directions for second read of the text and a close read guide with note-taker. Also included is a Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes reference sheet.
  • Module 4A, Unit 1, lesson 1, includes a notices and wonders note catcher, a gallery walk teacher reference, a supporting text, a vocabulary anchor chart, an informational text structure map graphic organizer with teacher reference model, a gist note taker, a vocabulary note taker, and a text and questions chart. Lesson 6 includes a digital revolution text structure graphic organizer, an excerpt note taker, a teacher reference close read guide, and a model brain development anchor chart. Lesson 10 includes a text excerpt, End-of-Unit Assessment directions with chart and questions, End-of-Unit Assessment teacher reference.

Student resources include clear directions. Activities that are completed with teacher guidance have directions included in the teacher lesson plan notes. Resources that are completed independently or in small groups without direct teacher guidance include clear directions and explanations so that the task can be completed.

  • In Module 1, Unit 3, lesson 4, the lesson includes a peer critique expectations and directions form written clearly: directions include, "Partner: Gives feedback based on rubric criteria: "I like how you ____. You might consider____."
  • In Module 2A, Unit 1, lesson 5, the lesson includes an entry task with the following directions: "Use your Reader's Notes from Chapters 6 and 7 of Lyddie to answer the questions below."
  • In Module 3, Unit 2, lesson 2, the lesson includes a T-chart with the following directions clearly written: "Write each word in the column that it belongs in. Complete this task with a partner."

Reference aids including glossaries, photographs, anchor charts, and handouts are clearly labeled as such at the top and in the teacher’s materials. Reference aids are labeled correctly.

  • In Module 4A, Unit 3, lesson 7, an example of student material reference aids can be found on page 154.

Indicator 3d

2 / 2

Materials include publisher-produced alignment documentation of the standards addressed by specific questions, tasks, and assessment items.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectations for materials including publisher-produced alignment documentation of the standards addressed by specific questions, tasks, and assessment items.

Alignment to the CCSS is documented in multiple places in the curriculum. CCSS standards are documented on the Grade 6-8 Curriculum Map, at the module level, at the unit level, and in the Teacher's notes for each lesson in the form of Long-Term Learning Targets. Alignment for all assessments are also provided in the Curriculum Overview.

The grade-level curriculum map lists all assessments and which standards are being assessed. This map also includes a chart that illustrates which standards are being assessed in each module. These maps can be found for each grade level at eleducation.org.

At the beginning of each module there is a Week-at-a-Glance chart as well as a Unit-at-a-Glance chart that provides teachers with an overview of standards taught and assessed in each lesson. At the beginning of each module there is a module overview—a description of assessments which includes the performance task, Mid-Unit Assessments, and End-of-Unit Assessments. This overview includes standards being assessed in each assessment. The performance task, Mid-Unit Assessment, and End-of-Unit Assessment for each module includes alignment documentation of the standards addressed.

  • In Module 1, Unit 3, lesson 6, the performance task provides long-term learning targets in the lesson (page 84) and on the student-facing material (page 88).
  • In Module 2A, Unit 1, the Assessments Overview is found on pages 21-22.
  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, the Week-at-a-Glance chart is found on page 13. Unit-at-a-Glance is found on page 35.
  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, lesson 5, the long-term learning targets assessed are provided in the lesson (page 135) and on the student-facing material for the mid-unit assessment (page 145).

Indicator 3e

Narrative Only

The visual design (whether in print or digital) is not distracting or chaotic, but supports students in engaging thoughtfully with the subject.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 contain visual design (whether in print or digital) that is not distracting or chaotic, but supports students in engaging thoughtfully with the subject.

The material design is simple and consistent. All modules are comprised of materials that display a simple design and include adequate space to capture thoughts as needed. The font, size, margins, and spacing are consistent and readable. All modules include graphic organizers that are easy to read and understand. There are no distracting images, and the layout of the student consumables is clear and concise.

Criterion 3.2: Teacher Planning

8 / 8

Materials support teacher learning and understanding of the Standards.

The instructional materials meet expectations for teacher learning and understanding of the standards. The materials include a teacher's edition with annotations and suggestions on how to present the content. The materials include adult-level explanations and examples and explanations of the role of specific standards in the context of the overall materials. The instructional approaches of the program are explained in the context of the overall curriculum. Although few strategies for informing stakeholders about the program and about how they can support student progress and achievement are provided, overall, the materials do support teacher learning and understanding of the standards.

Narrative Only

Indicator 3f

2 / 2

Materials contain a teacher's edition with ample and useful annotations and suggestions on how to present the content in the student edition and in the ancillary materials. Where applicable, materials include teacher guidance for the use of embedded technology to support and enhance student learning.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectation for materials containing a teacher's edition with ample and useful annotations and suggestions on how to present the content in the student edition and in the ancillary materials. Where applicable, materials include teacher guidance for the use of embedded technology to support and enhance student learning.

Materials include a teacher’s edition that provides teaching notes for each lesson. These notes provide an overview of the lesson, directives for the teacher, and explanations of what learning will occur. The notes also give suggestions of specific actions teachers can take to promote learning or plan for future learning. Materials also include student “listen for” statements in lessons. These "listen for" statements provide teachers with model student answers to ensure students are on target.

  • Module 2A, Unit 1, lesson 5 includes a note to the teacher to listen for students to identify the character’s problem-solving skills, determination, and courage to ensure that students are comprehending.
  • Module 3, Unit 1, lesson 3 includes suggestions for maximizing student understanding: "If students produce strong sandwiches, consider asking permission to display and explain their work as a model, for example, under a document camera. You could also have selected students repeat to the entire class strong work in the Back-to-Back and Face-to-Face protocol."
  • Module 3, Unit 1, Lesson 7 explains the lessons purpose in the teaching notes on page 183. The notes clearly explain the purpose of the lesson, what will happen in the lesson, and for the teacher to consider referring to previous discussions to better understand the text. The teacher is also prompted to prepare for the lesson by taping four quote cards under students’ desks in advance and review the excerpt for the lesson.
  • Module 3, Unit 1, lesson 9 includes the document, "A Close Reading Guide, Second Read," that includes guidance on how to support students during reading.
  • Module 4B, Unit 2, lesson 12 includes guidance to support students that need practice with oral response or extend processing time. The teacher’s notes state, “Consider selecting students ahead of time for cold calls. Those who need practice in oral response or extended processing time can be told the prompt before class begins to prepare for their participation."

Technology is listed and/or suggested when appropriate in the section Resources and Links and Multimedia.

  • In Module 1, Unit 1, lesson 2, the Meeting Students’ Needs column suggest that for students who struggle with complex vocabulary, consider adding visual images to the definition to the Reader’s Dictionary. To further support ELLs, consider providing definitions of challenging vocabulary in the student’s home language. Resources such as Google Translate and bilingual translation dictionaries can help.
  • In Module 4B, Unit 1 under Resources and Links on page 24 there is a link provided to a site to search for images with licenses to reuse. http://search.creativecommons.org/.

Indicator 3g

2 / 2

Materials contain a teacher's edition that contains full, adult-level explanations and examples of the more advanced literacy concepts so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, as necessary.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectation of materials containing a teacher’s edition that contains full, adult-level explanations and examples of the more advanced literacy concepts so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, as necessary.

Materials include teachers notes and other documents that explain and give rationales for teacher actions, accommodations, pacing, instructional materials, and resources.

  • The "Preparing to Teach a Module: Guidance for Coaches and Teacher Leaders" document found at eleducation.org explains how to prepare to teach a module and give a guidance timeline with detailed direction.
  • The "Assessment Design in Expeditionary Learning Grades 3-8 Curriculum" document outlines the step-by-step process for designing effective assessments aligned to the CCSS.
  • The "Help Students Read Closely" document explains the close reading process and explicitly demonstrates how a teacher plans for a close read lesson.
  • The "Writing Instruction in Expeditionary Learning Grades 3-8 ELA Curriculum" document explains the how and why of Expeditionary Learning’s approach to writing instruction.

Explanations and examples can also be found in the lesson narratives, the Meeting Student's Needs section, and in Preparation and Materials for each lesson.

  • In Module 1, Unit 3, lesson 1, the lesson provides a rationale for using graphic organizers and recording forms: "Graphic organizers and recording forms engage students more actively and provide scaffolding that is especially critical for learners with lower levels of language proficiency and/or learning."
  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, lesson 2, the lesson contains an explanation regarding the importance of a teacher reading a complex text aloud: "Hearing a complex text read slowly, fluently, and without interruption or explanation promotes fluency and comprehension for students. They are hearing a strong reader read the text aloud with accuracy and expression and are simultaneously looking at and thinking about the words on the printed page. "
  • In Module 3, Unit 1, lesson 2, the lesson includes a rationale for the use of guiding questions: " Guiding Questions provide motivation for student engagement in the topic and give a purpose to reading a text closely."

Indicator 3h

2 / 2

Materials contain a teacher's edition that explains the role of the specific ELA/literacy standards in the context of the overall curriculum.

The materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet expectations for materials containing a teacher’s edition that explains the role of the specific ELA/literacy standards in the context of the overall curriculum.

Materials include a document, “Preface to the Modules" found on eleducation.org. The preface includes an introduction to how the materials address the Common Core shifts as well as a detailed account of how the CCSS standards have a role in the curriculum.

  • The introduction to the preface states, “Expeditionary Learning’s Grades 3–8 ELA Curriculum has been designed by teachers for teachers to meet the needs and demands of the Common Core State Standards: to address and bring to life the shifts in teaching and learning required by the CCSS. To prepare students for college and the workplace, where they will be expected to read a high volume of complex informational text and write informational text, the shifts highlight the need for students to learn and practice these skills early on. This curriculum has been designed to make this learning process engaging with compelling topics, texts, and tasks.”

Each module contains a Module Overview which provides a summary to show how different ELA standards are applied to develop knowledge and expertise in content areas.

  • In Module 1, the overview states, “In this eight-week module, students explore the experiences of people of Southern Sudan during and after the Second Sudanese Civil War. They build proficiency in using textual evidence to support ideas in their writing, both in shorter responses and in an extended essay. In Unit 1, students begin the novel A Long Walk to Water (720L) by Linda Sue Park. Students will read closely to practice citing evidence and drawing inferences from this compelling text as they begin to analyze and contrast the points of view of the two central characters, Salva and Nya. They also will read informational text to gather evidence on the perspectives of the Dinka and Nuer tribes of Southern Sudan. In Unit 2, students will read the remainder of the novel, focusing on the commonalities between Salva and Nya in relation to the novel’s theme: how individuals survive in challenging environments. (The main characters’ journeys are fraught with challenges imposed by the environment, including the lack of safe drinking water, threats posed by animals, and the constant scarcity of food. They are also challenged by political and social environments.) As in Unit 1, students will read this literature closely alongside complex informational texts (focusing on background on Sudan and factual accounts of the experiences of refugees from the Second Sudanese Civil War). Unit 2 culminates with a literary analysis essay about the theme of survival. Unit 3 brings students back to a deep exploration of character and point of view: students will combine their research about Sudan with specific quotes from A Long Walk to Water as they craft a research-based two-voice poem, comparing and contrasting the points of view of the two main characters, Salva and Nya. The two-voice poem gives students an opportunity to use both their analysis of the characters and theme in the novel and their research about the experiences of the people of Southern Sudan during the Second Sudanese Civil War. This task addresses NYSP12 ELA Standards RL.7.6, RL.7.11, W.7.3a, d, W.7.4, W.7.5, W.7.8, W.7.9, L.7.1, and L.7.2.”

Indicator 3i

2 / 2

Materials contain explanations of the instructional approaches of the program and identification of the research-based strategies.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectations for materials containing explanations of the instructional approaches of the program and identifying research-based strategies.

Materials include online resources found on eleducation.org that provide explanations of the instructional approaches and identify research-based strategies. The preface to the modules includes how materials address the Common Core shifts, provides research, explains the story and structure of the modules, and explains how the materials integrate reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language strands through lessons, assessments, engagement strategies, and differentiation.

  • The “Introduction to Preface to the Modules: Introduction to Grades 3–8 ELA Curriculum” document states, “Some structures, approaches, and strategies may be new to teachers. The materials have been designed to guide teachers carefully through the process of building students’ skills and knowledge in alignment with the standards. The modules also have been designed to build teacher capacity, so that as teachers become more familiar with the structures and strategies, they can adapt the materials to the needs of their specific students.”
  • The “Preface to the Modules: Introduction to Grades 3–8 ELA Curriculum” document states, "Expeditionary Learning’s instructional practices emphasize student inquiry, critical thinking, and craftsmanship. In these ELA modules, students engage in original research and deep interdisciplinary investigations of rich academic topics, using their learning to create authentic, high-quality, academic products to share with outside audiences."
  • Materials provide links to other resources websites that include a research document, “The Importance of Increasing the Volume of Reading.” This document explains research that supports increasing the volume of reading as well as rigor and relevance.

Indicator 3j

Narrative Only

Materials contain strategies for informing all stakeholders, including students, parents, or caregivers about the ELA/literacy program and suggestions for how they can help support student progress and achievement.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectations for materials containing strategies for informing stakeholders, including students, parents, or caregivers, about the ELA/literacy program but provide few suggestions for how they can help support student progress and achievement.

  • In Module 1, Unit 1, the Performance Task on page 26 in the section Options for Teacher suggests that "Students may present their stories to members of the school community."
  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, lesson 9, the Meeting Students' Needs section suggests that teachers communicated with the cooperating service providers about students who will receive accommodations for assessments.
  • In Module 4A, Unit 4, lesson 2, the Meeting Students’ Needs section suggests that teachers invite coordinating service providers to your class to check in with students who need more reading support. This is an opportunity to ensure that students comprehend their independent reading and monitor their practice.

Criterion 3.3: Assessment

8 / 8

Materials offer teachers resources and tools to collect ongoing data about student progress on the Standards.

The instructional materials meet expectations for providing teacher resources and tools to collect ongoing data about student progress on the standards. Formative and summative assessment opportunities are provided throughout the materials. All assessments clearly indicate which standards are being emphasized, and teachers are provided guidance on how to interpret student performance and suggestions for follow-up. Routines and opportunities to monitor student progress are included throughout the materials.

Narrative Only
Narrative Only

Indicator 3k

2 / 2

Materials regularly and systematically offer assessment opportunities that genuinely measure student progress.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectations for materials regularly and systematically offering assessment opportunities that genuinely measure student progress. Each module incorporates seven formal assessments, in addition to daily opportunities to check for understanding via homework, entry and exit tickets, and in class assignments.

The formal assessments are broken into three categories which include Mid-Unit Assessments, End-of-Unit Assessments, and a Culminating Performance Task.

  • Mid-Unit Assessments are on-demand, tied to standards addressed in the first half of the unit, are a checkpoint before teacher’s progress to the second half of the unit, and usually emphasize reading.
  • End-of-Unit Assessments are on-demand, tied to standards addressed throughout the unit, assess understanding of both content and skills, and usually emphasize writing.
  • Culminating Performance Tasks take place over the course of Unit 3, are tied to standards addressed across Units 1 and 2, are aligned to a mode of writing, always involve writing from sources and citing evidence, and always require research to build and present knowledge.
    • Module 4B Mid-Unit Assessments include: Unit 1, “The Water Crisis Isn’t Global. It’s Local”: Listening for Main Ideas and Supporting Details; Unit 2, Simulated Research Task: Water Management Strategies; and Unit 3, Final Draft of Position Paper. The End-of-Unit Assessments include: Unit 1, We Need to Pay More Attention to Water: Tracing and Evaluating Arguments in Text and Video; Unit 2, Making a Claim about Water Management, and Unit 3, Final Draft of Position Paper and Reflection on the Writing Process. The Culminating Performance Task that takes place in Unit 3 is a Visual Representation of the Position Paper.

Daily formative assessment opportunities are included in lessons as well as the unit overviews.

  • In Module 1, Unit 1, the overview on pages 33-28 includes an Ongoing Assessments chart that lists assessment opportunities in lessons. For example, lesson 9 on page 36 lists a written self-reflection, world café charts, and prewriting ideas.
  • In Module 2A, Unit 1, lesson 4 students show a Fist to Five Self-Assessment to address the learning target, “By engaging in discussion with my partner, I can analyze one section of Lyddie to deepen my understanding of the plot, characters, and setting.”
  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, lesson 1 students respond to tasks in journals to show their understanding of how to make inferences about the central ideas of "Nadia's Hands" and begin building a definition about identity.
  • In Module 3, Unit 1, lesson 12 students complete an exit ticket which is a self-assessment for student reflection and to measure progress.
  • In Module 4A, Unit 3, lesson 3 students complete and exit ticket to show where they are in the Steps to Writing a Paper. Teachers collect the exit tickets to monitor student progress.

Indicator 3l

Narrative Only

The purpose/use of each assessment is clear:

Indicator 3l.i

2 / 2

Assessments clearly denote which standards are being emphasized.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the requirement for assessments clearly denoting which standards are being emphasized.


Each formal assessment emphasizes the same standards as the accompanying lessons. Standards are also provided in the unit overview and other planning materials. Formative assessment occurs throughout unit lessons and are connected to the standards addressed in the lesson.

  • In Module 1, Unit 3, lesson 6 the Final Performance Task gives students a chance to demonstrate their understanding of the characters and issues of survival by crafting and presenting a two-voice poem assessing CCSS -ELA RL.7.6, Rl.7.11, W.7.3a, W.7.3d, W.7.4, W.7.5, W.7.8, W.7.9. L.7.1, and L.7.2. Standards are denoted on the Assessment Overview page and in lesson 9 as long-term targets.
  • In Module 2B, Unit 3, lesson 9 the End-of-Unit Assessment has students complete their research on the use of stereotypical gender roles in advertisements and synthesize their findings into several paragraphs in which they acknowledge their sources assessing CCSS-ELA W.7.7 and W.7.8. Standards are denoted on the Assessment Overview page and in lesson 9 as long-term targets.
  • In Module 3, Unit 1, lesson 5, the Mid-Unit Assessment has students read a text about Frederick Douglass, then answer questions in which they analyze the text and support their conclusions with evidence from the text assessing CCSS-ELA RI.7.1. Standards are denoted on the Assessment Overview page and in lesson 5 as long-term targets.

Indicator 3l.ii

2 / 2

Assessments provide sufficient guidance to teachers for interpreting student performance and suggestions for follow-up.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectations of assessments providing sufficient guidance to teachers for interpreting student performance and suggestions for follow-up.


Materials provide sufficient guidance to teachers for interpreting student performance.

  • In Module 2A, Unit 3, lesson 5, teachers are provided with guidance and direction around assessing the performance of struggling students; the Meeting Student’s Needs column states, "For students who struggle, consider checking on their answer to Question 1 before they continue. Mark their answer correct or incorrect, then let them know which supporting research question they should use to guide the rest of their assessment."
  • In Module 2B,Unit 1, lesson 5 the lesson includes guidance around next steps for the Mid- Unit Assessment and explains that students will correct their own assessments.
  • In Module 3, Unit 2, lesson 7 teachers are given guidance around the scoring of the Mid- Unit Assessment. The lesson notes state, “In determining grades, Part 1 of the Mid-Unit 2 Assessment should count much less heavily than Part 2.”

Materials provide suggestions for follow-up.

  • In Module 3, Unit 3, lesson 11, the teacher’s notes state, “If a group is having trouble, you may suggest they look for metaphors or a phrase that pulls them. This is a good way to identify powerful elements. Or they may want to look for turning point in a character’s development.”
  • In Module 4B, Unit 3, lesson 6, the Meeting Students’ Needs column states, “Students who indicated that they did not meet the learning targets proficiently may benefit from an opportunity to revise their work before sharing it with a wider audience.”

Indicator 3m

2 / 2

Materials should include routines and guidance that point out opportunities to monitor student progress.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectation for including routines and guidance that point out opportunities to monitor student progress.

Materials include an "Appendix: Protocols and Strategies" that includes multiple procedures to monitor student progress. Protocols and Strategies that focus on Checking for Understanding and Ongoing Assessment include Admit and Exit Tickets, Catch and Release, Cold Call, Equity Sticks, Fist-to-Five, Four Corners, Go-Around, Guided Practice, Human Bar Graph, No Opt Out, Presentation Quizzes, Red Light, Green Light, Tracking Progress, Turn and Talk, and White Boards. These protocols and strategies are used in the majority of lessons to monitor student progress.

Materials include routine checks embedded in lessons to help teachers monitor student understanding.

  • In Module 1, Unit 1, lesson 5, a note in the Homework section suggests that teachers give individualized feedback to each student about his or her progress on the learning target, such as “I can cite several pieces of text-based evidence to support my analysis.”
  • In Module 3, Unit 3, lesson 3, the teaching notes state, “At the end of class today, students hand in their My Children’s Book Plan. Use this, along with the exit ticket, to identify students who may need additional time or support in this important first step.”
  • In Module 4B, Unit 2, lesson 2, the lesson debrief includes a “Fist to Five” checking for understanding for students to self-assess themselves on the learning target.

Indicator 3n

Narrative Only

Materials indicate how students are accountable for independent reading based on student choice and interest to build stamina, confidence, and motivation.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 indicate how students are accountable for independent reading based on student choice and interest to build stamina, confidence, and motivation.

Independent reading is built into units and lessons with independent reading check-ins built in. Time is allotted for students to choose independent reading books and check-ins with graphic organizers are clearly evident.

  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, lesson 7, students are provided independent reading as part of their homework assignment.
  • In Module 3, Unit 2, lesson 5, the teacher's guide suggests that the teacher use the Independent Reading Status Check located on page 150 during the lesson for each individual student.
  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, lesson 10, students participate in an independent reading celebration to highlight the texts that they have read.
  • In Module 3, Unit 2, lesson 7, students have an Independent Reading Check-in with the teacher to review their independent reading progress.
  • In Module 4B, Unit 3, lesson 5 students can use the Independent Reading Cheat Sheet Planner to capture their thinking. Students are held accountable for their reading by using the cheat sheet during the next day's lesson when students share out their thinking recorded the day prior during the current lesson.

Criterion 3.4: Differentiation

9 / 10

Materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners so that they demonstrate independent ability with grade-level standards.

The instructional materials meet expectations for providing teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners so that they demonstrate independent ability with grade-level standards. The materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners and opportunities for teachers to use a variety of grouping strategies. Materials regularly provide support for students who read, write, speak, or listen below grade level or in a language other than English, but additional extensions and advanced opportunities are needed for students who read, write, speak, or listen above grade level.

Indicator 3o

2 / 2

Materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners so the content is accessible to all learners and supports them in meeting or exceeding the grade-level standards.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meets the expectations for providing teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of range of learners so that the content is accessible to all learners and supports them in meeting or exceeding the grade-level standards.

Materials provide supports noted within the lesson and also in the Meeting Students’ Needs column to provide teachers with multiple strategies for supporting all learners. Resources are provided on eleducation.org to meet the needs of students.

  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, lesson 2 the Meeting the Students’ Needs column states, “Discussing and clarifying the language of learning targets helps build academic vocabulary.”
  • In Module 3, Unit 2, lesson 5, the Meeting the Students’ Needs column states, “Many students will benefit from seeing questions posted on the board via a document camera, but reveal questions one at a time to keep students focused on the question at hand.” This same lesson also includes the note, “For students who continue to struggle with third read questions, consider omitting some of the questions required for homework. Students can then focus on given quality answers to a few questions rather than struggling to answer all of them.”
  • In Module 3, Unit 2, lesson 2, the Meeting Students’ Needs column states, “During this work time, you may want to pull a small group of students to support them in answering the questions and determining the meaning of vocabulary words. Some students will need more guided practice before they are ready for independent work.”
  • In Module 4A, Unit 2, lesson 9, the Meeting Students’ Needs column states, “If students struggle to write or select strong supporting research questions, consider providing question stems or model questions for them to modify for their research.”
  • At eleduation.org the document "Common Core Interventions for Adolescent Readers" suggests interventions for students who are struggling.

Indicator 3p

4 / 4

Materials regularly provide all students, including those who read, write, speak, or listen below grade level, or in a language other than English, with extensive opportunities to work with grade level text and meet or exceed grade-level standards.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet expectations for materials regularly providing all students, including those who read, write, speak, or listen below grade level, or in a language other than English, with extensive opportunities to work with grade-level text and meet or exceed grade-level standards. All students engage in the same complex text. Scaffolds are provided so that all students can access the complex texts and meet or exceed grade level standards.

Resources are provided on eleducation.org to meet the needs of students who are below grade level or an English Language Learner with opportunities to work with grade level text and meet or exceed grade level standards.

  • The "Common Core Interventions for Adolescent Readers" document located on eleducation.org suggests interventions for students who are struggling.
  • The "A Guide to Support English Language Learners" document located on eleducation.org provides strategies for scaffolding learning for students who read, write, speak, or listen in a language other than English.

Materials provide supports noted within the lesson and also in the Meeting Students’ Needs column to provide teachers with multiple strategies for supporting all learners.

  • In Module 1, Unit 3, lesson 3 the student materials include two versions of a two-voice poem planner graphic organizer, one having more scaffolding to support students who need additional support.
  • In Module 2A, Unit 3, lesson 2, the Meeting the Students’ Needs column states, “To support English language learners, consider posting the definitions of vocabulary relevant to research for the duration of this unit.”
  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, lesson 3, the Meeting Student’s Needs column states, “Consider pairing students with emergent literacy, such as ELLS, heterogeneously with a more proficient student; pulling a small group to explicitly model these strategies in a more intensive or supportive setting; or having the ELL teacher push into this lesson specifically. You might also consider modifying any homework text with inserted activities, worksheets, or annotated text that would assist them in putting these strategies into place for themselves.”
  • In Module 3, Unit 2, lesson 2, the Meeting Student’s Needs column states, “During this work time, you may want to pull a small group of students to support them in answering the questions and determining the meaning of vocabulary words. Some students will need more guided practice before they are ready for independent work."

Indicator 3q

1 / 2

Materials regularly include extensions and/or more advanced opportunities for students who read, write, speak, or listen above grade level.

Materials reviewed for Grade 7 partially meet the requirements for regularly including extensions and/or more advanced opportunities for students who read, write, speak, or listen above grade level.

Materials regularly include optional extensions in the unit overviews that provide advanced opportunities for students in a variety of modalities. In unit overviews each unit includes optional experts, fieldwork, service suggestions, and extensions to provide more advanced opportunities.

  • In Module 1, Unit 1, the following optional opportunities for students are provided: Experts: Invite experts to come speak to the class about the connection between the Lost Boys of Sudan and your state. Locate refugees from Sudan to come and answer the questions students generate. Service: Coordinate a local refugee center to inquire about service opportunities. Extensions: Social Studies teachers may complement this unit with a focus on similar guiding questions, which were developed form the Social Studies Core Curriculum; see guiding questions above. Science teachers may directly connect with this unit with a focus on science Display Core Idea LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, as written in the Next Generation Science Standards. Science teachers could use the Sudanese environment as a case study for analysis of interdependence in a particular biome.
  • In Module 1, Unit 3, the following optional opportunities for students are provided: Arrange for a local writer to visit the class and discuss the process of writing a poem or give students advice on their own work. Fieldwork: Arrange for students to attend a poetry reading. Service: Arrange for students to present their poems to an outside group such as a writer’s club, a library’s writer showcase meeting, other classes within the school, the district’s school board, a school PTO meeting, etc. Extensions: With social studies’ teachers, look for connections to studies of Africa, refugee issues, and immigration acclimation to a new country; With art, drama or music teachers, look for ways to connect African cultural arts to the understanding of these two characters’ voices in the poems as well as possible uses of music and art in presentation of the two-voice poems (page 8).

In daily lessons, limited teacher notes or Meeting Students’ Needs notes refer to extensions or more advanced opportunities for above-level students than to those on level or below level.

  • In Module 2B, Unit 1, the Meeting Students’ Needs column states, “If students produce strong sandwiches, consider asking permission to display and explain their work as a model.”
  • In Module 3, Unit 1, lesson 7, the Meeting Students’ Needs column states, “Consider offering selected, shorter or longer passages to specific groups based on the readiness and needs of the group. This provides an opportunity for students to read a complex text within the seventh grade-level span, but it differentiates the length of the text, not the complexity. Longer passages provide an opportunity for students reading above grade level to be challenged with a larger quantity of complex text."

Indicator 3r

2 / 2

Materials provide opportunities for teachers to use a variety of grouping strategies.

Materials reviewed meet the expectations of providing ample opportunities for teachers to use grouping strategies during lessons.

Grouping strategies are explained in detail in the document "Appendix: Protocols and Strategies."

  • The Appendix includes grouping protocols and strategies such as Back-to-Back and Face-to-Face, Carousel Brainstorm, Chalk Talk, Concentric Circles (Inner Circle/Outer Circle), Discussion Appointments, Final Word, Fishbowl, Gallery Walk/Hosted Gallery Walk, Give One, Get One, Move On (GoGoMo), Infer the Topic, Interactive Word Wall, Jigsaw, Mystery Quotes, Peer Critique, Praise, Question, Suggestion, Quiz-Quiz-Trade, Rank-Talk-Write, Say Something, Science Talks, Socratic Seminar, Take a Stand, Tea Party, Think-Pair-Share, and World Café.

Lessons include grouping strategies regularly during instruction.

  • In Module 2A, Unit 3, lesson 2, students work in triads to complete research question strips.
  • In Module 2B, Unit 3, lesson 3, students jigsaw learning and also participate in a “One-Example Go-Round” to discuss media techniques they are familiar with.
  • In Module 3, Unit 2, lesson 2, students participate in a peer critique to give feedback while writing an argument essay.
  • In Module 4A, Unit 2, lesson 13, students host a discussion with a partner to discuss research about daily entertainment screen time.

Criterion 3.5: Technology Use

Narrative Only

Materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning. Digital materials are accessible and available in multiple platforms.

The instructional materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning. Materials reviewed are compatible with multiple Internet browsers and operating systems, follow universal programming style, and are accessible on tables and mobile devices. Materials support the effective use of technology throughout modules and lessons and can be easily customized for individual learners when downloaded and modified as a word document. Materials do not support the use of adaptive or other technological innovations and do not include or reference technology that provides opportunities for teachers and/or students to collaborate with each other.

Narrative Only
Narrative Only
Narrative Only
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Indicator 3s

Narrative Only

Digital materials (either included as supplementary to a textbook or as part of a digital curriculum) are web-based, compatible with multiple Internet browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.), "platform neutral" (i.e., are compatible with multiple operating systems such as Windows and Apple and are not proprietary to any single platform), follow universal programming style, and allow the use of tablets and mobile devices.

The instructions materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet expectations that digital materials (either included as supplementary to a textbook or as part of a digital curriculum) are web-based, compatible with multiple Internet browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.), “platform neutral” (i.e., are compatible with multiple operating systems such as Windows and Apple and are not proprietary to any single platform), follow universal programming style, and allow the use of tablets and mobile devices.

The curriculum modules are all available for free download at the Expeditionary Learning website. Each module can be downloaded as one folder. Each folder contains Word and PDF files and folders for each individual unit in the module. Lessons can also be viewed online instead of being downloaded.

The Resources tab of the Expeditionary Learning website provides links to Curriculum Overview Documents, Supplementary Curriculum Documents, Teaching Guides, and videos.

Accessibility was tested on Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, an Android phone, an iPhone, and an iPad. All access was successful.

Indicator 3t

Narrative Only

Materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning, drawing attention to evidence and texts as appropriate.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 support effective use of technology to enhance student learning, drawing attention to evidence and texts as appropriate.

Technology is used throughout modules and lessons to enhance student learning and draw attention to evidence and texts.

  • In Module 2A, Unit 2, lesson 1, students are introduced to the guiding question of the unit and use technology to examine and discuss images of working conditions and to build background knowledge on Cesar Chavez.
  • In Module 2B, Unit 3, lesson 12, students study how an author uses technology purposefully to communicate his message and they also use it as a guide to aid in the planning of their counter ads.
  • In Module 3, Unit 1, lesson 15, students use a notetaker to gather evidence from the webisode, “Frederick Douglass Text from Freedom: A History of US.” The webisode text is also included for student reference.
  • In Module 4B, Unit 2, lesson 16, students examine a visual display using a document camera to identify its use in a presentation.

Indicator 3u

Narrative Only

Materials can be easily customized for individual learners.

Indicator 3u.i

Narrative Only

Digital materials include opportunities for teachers to personalize learning for all students, using adaptive or other technological innovations.

The instructional materials do not meet expectations that digital materials include opportunities for teachers to personalize learning for all students, using adaptive or other technological innovations. Adaptive or other technological innovations are not included in the instructional materials. The only digital instructional materials provided are documents which teachers can edit themselves.

Indicator 3u.ii

Narrative Only

Materials can be easily customized for local use.

The materials reviewed include opportunities for teachers to personalize learning for all students. The materials can be downloaded from eleducation.org as Microsoft Word documents. These documents can then be edited as necessary to support student learning.

Indicator 3v

Narrative Only

Materials include or reference technology that provides opportunities for teachers and/or students to collaborate with each other (e.g. websites, discussion groups, webinars, etc.).

Materials do not include or reference technology that provides opportunities for teachers and/or students to collaborate. Professional development is offered at eleducation.org, but does not include observable means of collaboration.