Benchmark Education Company Launches Connected English and Spanish Comprehensive Literacy Programs

NEW ROCHELLE, NY, Oct. 12, 2016—Literacy publisher Benchmark Education released two new connected grades K-6 English language arts, English learner, and Spanish language arts programs— Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante ®2018. Available now in print and digital hybrid formats, these literacy programs provide teachers with a forward-thinking, carefully-mapped instructional design, driven by the instructional shifts in literacy, and built to prepare today’s learners for college and careers. Parallel and equitable in content, resources, and access, the programs provide authentic literature and engaging informational text in both English and Spanish. A connected set of designated English learner instructional resources reflect the latest research, paving the way for an innovative and effective approach to English learner instruction.

Four 21st Century educational thought leaders Adria Klein, Linda Hoyt, Peter Afflerbach, and Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes studied the needs of students and educators in diverse classrooms across the country. Their findings, research, and professional insight led to the development of Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante, embodying the new shifts in literacy instruction and preparing children for college and careers.

“Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante were built from the ground up to reflect the key shifts in English language arts,” explained Tom Reycraft, President of Benchmark Education Company. “The programs provide students with the tools to take apart complex texts and uncover layers of meaning while working with academic language. Students’ learning is grounded in finding and using text evidence when reading, writing, and speaking… preparing them for the types of reading, writing, and speaking they will do in college and careers. The programs’ topic-based organization helps students meet the expectation that they will build deep content knowledge through content-rich nonfiction.” Texas Benchmark Workshop and Texas Benchmark Taller were developed by recognized pedagogical leaders, including Linda Hoyt, Adria Klein, Debbie Whitt Jarzombek, Wiley Blevins, Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes, and many others—all instructional innovators whose professional work is grounded in real-world classroom practice. In addition, each modular workshop is supported with professional development provided by trainers who are experts in comprehensive literacy.

The unique instructional design of Benchmark Advance and Adelante provide a synergy for learning and meaning-making experiences for children to read and write in context, corresponding to the reality of real-world expectations for college and career readiness. Vertically aligned topic-based units provide a structure for students to build rich content knowledge as they develop their literacy skills throughout their elementary school careers. Each unit is woven together using an essential question, as students explore each topic using both literary and informational texts. The topics are aligned to literary themes, social studies topics, and Next Generation Science Standards topics.

Focused English language learner resources pair with the English language arts and Spanish language arts instruction in a powerful way. The resources were built to amplify the on-level text. Instead of simplifying the level of language for English learners, the resources serve as a scaffold to the on-level text, providing visual support and “chunking” of the text to gain access to the text and accelerate their language skills.

“Benchmark Advance and Adelante were built to reflect new standards for literacy and language,” stated Adria Klein, Professor Emeritus, California State University, San Bernardino. “This support provides seamless integration of English and Spanish language arts in a variety of instructional settings. These programs reflect the effective strategies and rigorous expectations that can make a true difference for English learners.”

A variety of assessment options are available for teachers that provide data and insight into each child’s unique learning gaps. Students take assessments online via the programs’ rich digital platform where reports and prescriptive information is provided to support and accelerate instruction toward mastery. Tiered intervention tools are provided and address each of the Foundational Skills so that teachers can intervene and support students as needed.

“By addressing the key instructional shifts and taking a forward-thinking approach to English learner instruction, we are preparing all students for college, careers, and to be competitive in a global society,” said Tom Reycraft, President of Benchmark Education Company. “It is an exciting time in education and it thrills me to know that “Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante are helping teachers deliver instruction that will provide all students with the habits and skills required to succeed in their bright futures ahead.”

Both “Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante are available now through Benchmark Education. For more information or to request a live demonstration, educators can visit http://www.benchmarkeducation.com/find-a-rep.html.

ABOUT BENCHMARK EDUCATION COMPANY

Headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, Benchmark Education Company is a leading publisher of PreK-12 core, supplemental, and intervention literacy resources in English and Spanish. These resources are supported by instructional technology solutions as well as onsite and online customized professional development training for teachers and administrators. Benchmark Education’s print and online resources are research-based and differentiated to support all learners in a wide variety of instructional settings. In addition to extensive educational use in the USA, Benchmark Education resources are also used in schools and training centers in Europe, the Middle East, Canada, South America, and Asia.