Curriculum Associates' New 'Ready™ New York CCLS' Program Makes It Easier for Teachers to Meet Latest NYSED Changes

Educational publisher is first to create tools to comply with new state requirement

NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Curriculum Associates' newest offering, Ready™ New York CCLS (Common Core Learning Standards), will include material that addresses the latest changes to the state's 2013 mathematics tests announced in late August by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). These tests could include specific content from the previous grade's curriculum, in addition to on-grade content. This information was accompanied by a chart assigning each CCLS to the September–April or May–June instructional period to help educators understand what content will appear on the 2013 tests and what content will appear on the following year's tests.  

To make it easier for teachers in New York to comply with the new state requirement, Curriculum Associates' Ready New York CCLS Instruction Student Books will include additional lessons to address the previous grade's May–June CCLS content, making this the only product of its kind to provide complete coverage of all tested mathematics standards without the need to purchase books from other grade levels.

"We continuously push with our products and services to make it easier for teachers to teach and students to learn. As part of that commitment, we do the in-depth research to create materials that are tailored to meet the specific requirements in New York State, including last-minute changes like these," said Rob Waldron, President and CEO of Curriculum Associates. "This important addition to Ready New York CCLS will make it much easier for students and teachers to focus on the content itself instead of spending valuable time trying to figure out which additional standards they need to cover—or materials they need to address those standards."

While the Ready New York CCLS online Toolbox enables teachers to reference previous years' material for foundational lessons and support for more complex lessons, having these additional lessons in the print product that specifically cover the previous grade's May–June CCLS standards will make it that much easier for students and teachers to review necessary skills that students will need to be comfortable and familiar with for their state exams.

Ready New York CCLS is an all-new print program that was built specifically for the Common Core Learning Standards. The program offers students in grades 3–8 rigorous instruction and practice in mathematics and English Language Arts while also offering teachers multi-level resources and tools to easily implement these lessons. Ready New York CCLS uses a proven-effective gradual-release approach that builds student confidence and supports mastery of complex standards, and includes full-length practice tests and interim assessments. Every lesson focuses on a specific standard, allowing teachers the ability to cover each standard when and where it fits in their curriculum and the flexibility to revisit standards as their students' needs dictate.

The math program addresses the Common Core's emphasis on conceptual understanding through reasoning, modeling, and discussion that explores the structure of mathematics, while also developing students' procedural fluency. Lessons strengthen students' ability to use higher-order thinking to solve multi-step problems, problems with more than one correct answer, and problems requiring analysis and explanation. The Standards for Mathematical Practice are embedded throughout the instruction.

Ready New York CCLS also includes an English Language Arts series that meets the text complexity expectations of the CCLS by using multiple leveling criteria as recommended in the Common Core documentation. In addition, it uses an extensive amount of authentic text from acclaimed authors and publications, incorporates a wide range of informational and literary genres, and demands close reading and frequent interaction with the text. Lesson themes build on and deepen understanding of grade-level social studies and science standards.

Teacher Resource Books support teachers with strong embedded professional development, including step-by-step lesson plans and best-practice tips to learn the new approaches to teaching the Common Core. The online Teacher Toolbox provides teachers with invaluable, easy-to-use resources to differentiate instruction and reteach prerequisite skills students may not have mastered in earlier grade levels.

Pricing and Availability
The complete Ready New York CCLS Achievement Package for grades 3–8, which includes 25 Instruction Student Books, 25 Practice Student Books, one Teacher Resource Book, and one 1-year Toolbox subscription, can be pre-ordered now at an introductory price of $359 per subject/per grade ($379 in NYC). Student Book Sets can be purchased separately. Grades K–2 will also be available for purchase in Spring 2013.

For more information, please visit http://www.readyNY.com

Ready New York CCLS can also be connected with i-Ready™ Diagnostic & Instruction, a valid and reliable online program that enables teachers to pinpoint needs through assessment and provide automated individualized instruction to students. Special pricing is available. For more information, please visit http://www.i-ready.com/empower.

About Curriculum Associates
Founded in 1969, privately owned Curriculum Associates, LLC, designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screening and assessment tools, and data management resources. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students. For company and product information, visit Curriculum Associates on the Web at http://www.CurriculumAssociates.com or call 800-225-0248.

SOURCE Curriculum Associates