Ontario News from ExploreLearning : For Administrators

Welcome to the ExploreLearning Ontario Blog

Link to ExploreLearning.com and

Welcome Teachers and Coordinators!     

My name is Stephen Lippa and this is my first blog post. 

I never imagined that I would start writing a blog. In the past, I have not been sure I have enough interesting things to say that would draw a readership. What I have learned is "a readership" is not the point. First of all, I have come to truly believe that there is great personal value in reflecting on the experiences and people that you encounter. As a teacher, I have always believed in the value of reflection; but that has almost always been a personal and private experience.  A blog is a great way to capture ideas and simply make those ideas avaialable for others to find value. Throughout my career I have personally witnessed the power of teachers coaching teachers to learn new skills. There is no better way for us to grow professionally than to actively engage in reflection and professional discourse. A blog is professional discourse with those you may never meet.  

The purpose of this ExploreLearning Ontario Blog is to post resources, engage in conversation, document success & challenges and share announcements connected to my efforts to support Ontario coordinators and teachers as they integrate Gizmos and Reflex into their teaching practice. ExploreLearning makes great tools to differentiate instruction and reach students in new ways. My hope is that I can make the integration of these tools easier and more successful by facilitating the sharing of ideas and resources.                      

Email: slippa@explorelearning.com      Phone: 1 866 882 4141 x263

I need more information to get started.   Need your Username?   Forgot your Username?

Looking for French translations of Gizmo lesson materials?

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   *NEW*   Grade 9 Gap Closing Supports now available  (last updated: May 28, 2012 by Stephen Lippa)

   

   *NEW*   Smarter Science Supports now available  (last updated: June 1, 2012 by Stephen Lippa) 

This award honors the best overall education technology solution for curriculum and content for students in K-12 learning environments.

Gizmos won the same award in 2009, and this year's award marks ExploreLearnng's 5th CODiE win. The CODiE Awards recognize leaders and innovators across the software, digital content and education technology industries. We are honored to be included among these leaders.

The SIIA CODiE Awards website has a list of all the 2012 Award Winners.

 

 

Response to Intervention (RTI) with Reflex

Several of the Institue of Education Sciences recommendations for implementing effective Response to Intervention (RTI) programs provide some great supporting arguments for using Reflex with students who have gaps in mathematical understanding.

"Research on instructional and assessment techniques (differentiated instruction and response to intervention) ... continue to drive initiatives to help close achievement gaps for students with special education needs." (Read more)

    Special Education Policy and Programs Branch Ministry of Education, Ontario

  Have a look at the specifics in this flyer. (Download RTI Flyer)

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cambium Learning Technologies Crowding the CODiE Finalist List

Cambium Learning Technologies Receive Finalist Honors in Seven Categories for Prestigious Software & Information Industry CODiE Awards

Cambium Learning Group, Inc. [Nasdaq: ABCD], the leading educational company focused primarily on serving the needs of at-risk and special student populations, announced today that three companies within its Cambium Learning Technologies division, ExploreLearning, Learning A-Z and Kurzweil Educational Systems, received finalist honors in seven education categories for the prestigious CODiE^™ Awards.

Established by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the CODiEs recognize excellence and achievement in the business software, digital content, and education technology industries.

“The finalist honors bestowed by SIIA on the Cambium Learning Technologies business unit are a testament to Cambium Learning Group’s commitment to leverage technology to serve schools, teachers and students so that every child can reach their potential.” 

           Ron Klausner, CEO, Cambium Learning Group, Inc.

The following Cambium Learning Technologies products are 2012 finalists:

Best K-12 Instructional Solution & Best Education Game or Simulation		Best Mathematics Instructional Solution
Best Science/Health Instructional Solution		Best Reading/English Instructional Solution & Best K-12 Course or Learning Management Solution
Best Instructional Solution for Special Needs Students

 

 

We Stopped Dreaming

When was the last time you heard a child say,"I want to be an astronaut when I grow up?" When was the last time that you heard a anyone express a lofty goal? 

 

I just love this video...oftentimes, we take for granted the things that really matter and easily dismiss just how valuable they are. NASA's budget is so small ("4/10ths of a percent of a tax dollar") in comparision to the other things that our governments fund in the interest of perserving the economy. And yet, it is an easy target to slash. Why is that?

"The 850 million dollar US bank bailout was equivelent to the entire 50 year running budget of NASA"

How much is dreaming worth? A long term vision - an unwavering belief in possibility. How much is it worth for our students to develop big dreams?

Sometimes I feel that I have a giant dream connected with my work with Ontario math teachers. I truly believe there are solutions to the challenges in getting students to believe math is relavant and, in fact, fun. I believe that if we all took a stand and convicted to - NO ONE will be an discouraged math learner - it could become a reality.

Instead, we look to the reasons why it is impossible and accept mediocrity. It is so much easier to look at the possibility of something delivering immeasurable, but somewhat intangible good, and dismiss it as something we cannot afford. Much more difficult to strive to maintain an unwavering belief in possibility.

The dream of success is always worth what it costs and, sadly, it never goes on sale.

Reflex exceeds 1 million logins in 7 months!

ExploreLearning announced today that Reflex, our new program helping students develop math fact fluency, has reached one million student logins. In that time, students have solved over 125 million math facts. These milestones have been achieved in the seven months since the product was launched in April 2011.

“Math fact fluency is a central pillar of elementary mathematics education,” says David Shuster, Ph.D., Founder and Publisher of ExploreLearning. “With over 125 million facts solved in one million Reflex student sessions to date, Reflex is helping a lot of kids gain confidence in their abilities as they learn their math facts.  The fact that they are doing it by playing games and having fun is the icing on the cake.”

Check out the comments and results from our Ontario pilot schools:  Download Reflex Ontario Flyer

Recently published success stories in The Sault Star and Huron Superior Catholic DSB website.

Looking for more info on the importance of math facts to student success? Have a look at this article written by Marian Small in the Ontario Math Gazette:  Download Miriam Small (Math Facts)

Looking for more evidence? Check out the results we have had in Arkansas and Texas!