Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, SpringBoard addresses the standards for grades 6-8. In the Sample Materials section of this website, you will see how the Student Editions present the standards, so students know exactly what they are expected to learn and how their assigned activities will help them learn the needed concepts and skills.
SpringBoard has been designed and developed to provide teachers with great flexibility. They can use the program’s daily learning targets, strategies, and suggested steps to adjust and adapt instruction to meet students’ needs.
Parts of the SpringBoard ELA program have been designed to cover specific texts but flexibility is built-in so school districts can choose additional literature. Students will deeply study one novel, one drama, and several short works in their entirety in each grade level. Writing and Grammar Workshops also provide several opportunities for learners to take part in guided reading of fiction, literary nonfiction, and informational texts. Each unit also includes many suggestions for outside reading and Literature Circles will give learners the opportunity to analyze and discuss their outside reading. Independent reading materials are curated and recommended within the program and teachers can also recommend additional reading.
Yes. In fact, the program uses strategies proven by extensive research to best support ELLs and other students with special needs. These techniques are woven in all student and teacher materials. Differentiated instruction suggestions and support strategies are included in all Teacher Editions and are highlighted at the point of use for teachers. Classroom Word Walls, Graphic Organizers, explicit writing instruction, and oral language strategies give ELLs many opportunities to practice effective communications. The English Language Development (ELD) components of SpringBoard are designed to give students the resources they need to interact in meaningful ways, make meaning of texts, and express themselves effectively in collaborative academic discussions, both in written and oral forms. You can see all the sample materials for grades 6-8 here.
SpringBoard uses a wide range of assessments in each unit:
- Most activities include writing prompts and reading assignments.
- Students will thoroughly learn about the writing process, with writing featured prominently in every Embedded Assessment.
- Writing Workshops will give your child feedback on specific writing styles.
- Grammar Workshops will help your child develop skills in writing for academic purposes – and that’s important for college and careers.
- Every SpringBoard unit includes several informal assessments, such as Key Ideas and Details questions and Check Your Understanding questions.
- Students’ reading skills will also be evaluated through end-of-unit assessments.
- Students have access to technology-enhanced assessment items that mirror the types of questions found of California’s SBAC Assessment.
Yes. SpringBoard emphasizes class discussion, collaboration, and debate. That’s why the program includes Writing Groups, Socratic Seminars, debates, group presentations, oral presentations, and performance.
The program’s Digital editions for students include interactive, multimedia tools that today’s students love to use, such as highlighting and marking text, note-taking, and other ways to interact with text. Teachers also have sophisticated digital tools to use in communicating with students and developing lessons that are technologically more engaging for 21st century learners.
The program’s developers use qualitative, quantitative, and reader/task measures to evaluate text complexity. The list of exemplar texts in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Appendix B guided text selection and text types recommended by the standards are covered.
Yes. Grammar instruction is included in all Student Editions. Language and Writer’s Craft exercises are included in many activities. Your child can also build strong grammar skills by using the program’s online grammar exercises. The SpringBoard Grammar Handbook will give your child clear, understandable explanations of usage and grammar concepts.
Literary and academic vocabulary is highlighted at the beginning of every unit, and your child will find vocabulary support as terms arise in the texts they are reading.
Assessments point out areas of need and strength so teachers can intervene or accelerate students based on individual needs. Teachers also have multiple options for differentiating instruction at each step of every unit. The Teachers Editions also feature in-depth guidance on adapting the curriculum to provide additional learning for accelerated students and review and practice for students who may need additional help.