Pearson Digital Learning Introduces Waterford Early Math & Science Levels Two and Three.MESA, Ariz. -- Adaptive, Computer-based Instruction for First and Second Graders Teaches Math and Science Skills, and Fosters Curiosity in Students of All Abilities At the National Education Computing Conference opening today in New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded , Pearson Digital Learning announces Level Two and Level Three of the Waterford Early Math & Science(TM) program, adaptive computer-based instruction developed by the nonprofit Waterford Institute. Waterford Early Math & Science (WEMS WEMS Winnipeg Early Music Society WEMS Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System ) fosters hands-on exploration and inquiry-based learning Inquiry based learning describes a range of philosophical, curricular and pedagogical approaches to teaching. Its core premises include the requirement that learning should be based around student questions. , giving students a solid foundation in basic math skills and science content as well as creative problem solving Creative problem solving is the mental process of creating a solution to a problem. It is a special form of problem solving in which the solution is independently created rather than learned with assistance. Creative problem solving requires more than just knowledge and thinking. . The introduction of Levels Two and Three, which are designed for first and second grade students, respectively, follows the successful implementation of Level One in preschool and kindergarten classrooms across the country. Using research-based software that adapts to the student's learning pace, each of the program's three levels provides a full year of daily instructional activities, as well as take-home books, videotapes, CDs, and audiocassettes to extend the learning process. "Each Waterford computer is like having another teacher in the classroom, working one on one with students," said Dr. Barbara Wright
Barbara Wright is a prolific translator of recent French literature. , principal at Commons Lane Elementary in Florissant, Mo. "In math and science, I'm amazed a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. at what students can do simply because they've been on Waterford. For example, one second grade teacher was having a class discussion during a science lesson and students started talking about the food chain. They hadn't yet seen that concept anywhere except in the Waterford Early Math & Science program. Students' reactions to the program let you know that they're excited about learning -- and that they're paying attention Noun 1. paying attention - paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people); "his attentiveness to her wishes"; "he spends without heed to the consequences" attentiveness, heed, regard ." Each level of WEMS is broken down into four areas: daily activities, number concepts, abstract concepts, and science. The curriculum's progression is a combination of new concepts, reviewed concepts, and assessments that ensure mastery for each objective. The math portion of the program provides instruction, practice, application, extension activities, and review to help students achieve competency in both number skills and abstract thinking before moving to higher math objectives. The science lessons, which are based on the idea that all students can be scientists, combine music, art, stories, and interactive experiments with virtual science tools to engage students while they learn about their world. Level Two and Level Three Content WEMS Level Two features 125 math objectives and 52 science objectives. It includes math concepts such as addition and subtraction subtraction, fundamental operation of arithmetic; the inverse of addition. If a and b are real numbers (see number), then the number a−b is that number (called the difference) which when added to b (the subtractor) equals , skip counting Skip counting is a mathematics technique taught in place of formal multiplication in standards-based mathematics textbooks such as TERC. Another similar method is coloring in squares in a 100s chart to show multiplication patterns. , ordinal numbers The number that identifies the sequence of an item, for example, record #34. Contrast with cardinal number. , expanded notation, length and weight, graphing, and probability. Level Two's science concepts include such topics as matter, gravity, animals, food chains, plants, ecosystems, weather and seasons, air and water conservation, and health. Level Three contains 52 math objectives and 30 science objectives. It includes math concepts such as place value, number patterns, subtraction with and without regrouping, multiplication, division, and perimeter. It also includes science topics such as light and electricity, heat, life cycles and growth, inherited and learned traits, moon patterns, fossils, and natural resources. In addition, Levels Two and Three include new features such as Story Problem Strategies which provide students with additional ways to apply strategies they have learned, and Mental Math Games and Speed Games to help students develop speed and accuracy in basic facts. Individual and Class Summary Reports WEMS Two and Three also offer expanded individual and class summary reports that provide more information to the teacher. The individual reports show information such as each student's and the class's average score percentage; the student's minutes and the class's average minutes; the recommended number of minutes the student should have completed; the number of objectives mastered; the total number of objectives; the student's average score percentage for each concept; and a detailed view of each concept including the objective, latest score the student earned, number of attempts, and date of last attempt. The class summary report displays students' average score on activities and the average number of minutes spent on the courseware. It also provides each student's name, average percentage, number of minutes the student has spent on the program, cumulative objectives mastered, and the objective the student is currently working on. About Pearson Digital Learning Working side by side with educators for over 40 years, Pearson Digital Learning is the leader in proven, comprehensive technologies for preK-12 education. Reaching more than 20 million students annually, our products include: the SuccessMaker(R) Enterprise and NovaNET(R) educational courseware; the KnowledgeBox(R) digital learning system; the Concert(TM) solution for integrated instructional management, assessment and decision-support; and the SASIxp(TM) student information system. Pearson Digital Learning is also the exclusive distributor for the Waterford Early Reading Program(TM) and Waterford Early Math & Science(TM), adaptive computer-based instruction developed by the Waterford Institute. Pearson Digital Learning is part of Pearson Education Pearson Education is an international publisher of textbooks and other educational material, such as multimedia learning tools. Pearson Education is part of Pearson PLC. It is headquartered in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :PSO PSO - Oracle Parallel Server ), the world's leading integrated education The Integrated Education movement in Northern Ireland is an attempt to bring together children, parents and teachers from both Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions, the aim being to provide a balanced education, while allowing the opportunity to understand and respect all company. More information can be found at: http://www.PearsonDigital.com/. |
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