New technology-based curriculum teaches students language arts and critical thinking.

Bruce Wilson
Language Arts and Technology
eSchoolNews.com
October, 2007
Current Event # 2


SRA/ McGraw hill has announced that it is keeping up with 21st century skills ( specifically critical thinking skills) with a new reading and language arts curriculum called Imagine It! What is different about this curriculum is that it uses technology to teach elementary school students reading through virtual role playing.
Students can pretend to be a newsreporter researching another country, a fashion designer for an ancient civilization or a entrepeneur creating a new business. With each role students have to do research on the internet as well as practice their writing.According to McGraw hill the program also has a set of tools to make teaching, planning and assessment more efficient. Click to preview it
In reviewing this program I was impressed that the program assessed children to make for differentiated instruction. The program teaches writing through SRSD (self regulated strategy development) This program guides children through higher level cognitive processes in writing. The alliance for excellence in education praised this writing system as the most effective.
I also liked that the program incorporates the smartboard and guides the students through preset websites. I am going to ask for a demo so I can look at it more closely.
To view the article New technology-based curriculum teaches students language arts and critical thinking.
To view Imagine It!