Courseware Back-to-School Planning Guide

Whether you’re implementing Courseware’s standards-aligned secondary digital curricula for the first time or picking up where you left off at the end of last year, we want you to have the resources you need to start the new academic year strong. 

We’ve put together a guide to preview our newest content, point you in the right direction for successful implementation, and spotlight new customer testimonials and the latest research to give you confidence that Courseware can keep your students engaged and on track to graduate. 

Reimagine Secondary Education  

Ever-evolving graduation requirements vary across the country, and school and district administrators need curricula aligned to their state’s standards. Edmentum’s first-time credit, credit recovery, and CTE programs prepare graduates for a future economy with learning opportunities that prioritize engagement, real-world experiences, personalization, and flexibility. 

Furthermore, Portrait of a Graduate legislation is redefining what student success looks like—elevating skills like critical thinking, innovative problem solving, effective communication, and more. We’re meeting the increased demand for robust, quality CTE offerings by releasing 12 new middle school career-focused semesters and 48 new high school CTE semesters that promote career exploration, build durable and technical skills, and connect more students to bright futures. 

Get On the Road to Success Day 1 

Make sure your staff and students have what they need once the school year begins. A great place to start is by reviewing our Getting Started pages for Administrators or Instructors. Here you’ll find info on: 

• Adding and removing users 
• Reviewing, archiving, and creating custom courses 
• Revisiting learner and instructor controls 
• Editing pacing calendars 
• Creating and retiring course sections 
   

Employ Best Practices for Implementation Success 

Customize Courses for Specific Student Needs 

Curriculum is developed to state and national standards as well as research-based design principles from day one, but when it comes to understanding the specific needs of your students and adjusting to the scope and sequence of your specific district, customization is key. Courseware’s custom course builder unlocks efficient modifications to combine, rearrange, omit, and even add in your own assignments to make courses your own. Explore more quick tips for credit recovery program design to maximize your use of Courseware.  

Stay on Track with Pacing and Progress 

How are students pacing toward course goals? Will they finish on time? These are just a few of the questions that our pacing and progress metrics help educators and students answer. For educators, these insights keep you a step ahead of classroom trends and help shape regular, timely check ins when students need it most. For students, the visibility facilitates greater student agency and gives students powerful tools to develop time management skills. 

Build Strong Study Habits with Guided Notes 

When learning new material, it’s helpful to have a study guide handy to help analyze and retain information. Our Guided Notes, or interactive PDFs, are designed to serve as instructional scaffolding and help students slow down, meaningfully interact with the material they're learning, and break down information into consumable pieces to improve retention and reduce cognitive load. Guided Notes are just one of a variety of engagement tools to turn instruction into long-term learning. 

Expand Course Options and Flexibility

Our 500+ course offerings can be employed for first-time credit, credit recovery, and expanding course options, but what if you don’t have a teacher to cover the course you’re hoping to offer? Online school options, like Edmentum’s EdOptions Academy, provide a personalized and flexible path to course access, while offering the same caliber of quality instruction using Courseware curriculum. Consider five different student needs to listen for to decide if this option is right for your district.

Get Inspired by Fellow Educators Making an Impact 

Achieve Success in Critical Gateway Courses

We know that meeting students with program options that stand up to the highest standards for quality and effectiveness is your priority. New ESSA Tier 2 evidence found that the use of Courseware Algebra 1 and English 1 was positively related to math and reading achievement on NWEA® MAP® Growth™ assessments.

Provide Flexible Options to Graduation

“We get all different kinds of kids from all different walks of life. We provide an alternate solution, which is Edmentum Courseware, to give them another shot—a different way of doing things—because not all kids learn the same.”   

—Mark Synnott, District Coordinator for Education Services, Perris Union High School District 

At Perris Union High School District in California, Courseware's flexibility and adaptability have been transformative, allowing educators to revolutionize learning and ensure that every student, regardless of their learning style or circumstances, can succeed. 

To find success with your own Courseware implementation, check out our planning and success toolkits: 

• Digital Curriculum Toolkit: Revolutionize classroom learning, offer more challenging courses, or prepare your students for college and career success. 
• Credit Recovery Toolkit: Build a credit recovery program with our top tools and resources to help get your students back on track. 
• Career & Technical Education Toolkit: Prepare your students for college and career with these CTE tools and ideas. 
   

Remember, as the year ramps up, we’re here to support you each step of the way. Visit our back-to-school page to learn more about what’s new, register for a webinar, and make the most of all of your Edmentum programs. 

This post was originally published July 2019 and has been updated.