Schools across Texas are right now choosing instructional programs for next school year, and the public can get a sneak preview of the new, more rigorous pre-K materials on Tuesday. The state's youngest students will head back to school with brand new materials in the fall, and Pearson's Opening the World of Learning (OWL) program, approved for use across the state, will be on display at the capitol.
The OWL program consists of new, more rigorous digital and print instructional materials, as teachers and school districts across the state recognize that early learning is more important than ever to prepare students for college and the workforce.
Pearson's pre-K program will be available for parents, public officials, educators and media to preview at the state capitol in Austin on Tuesday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Pearson's Pre-K program, heavily integrated with math, was developed by early childhood education experts as compelling new research* shows early exposure to math affects students' chances of going to college.
Texas schools have been using their current Pre-K materials since 2003. OWL, a comprehensive Pre-K curriculum designed for Texas classrooms, will help teachers effectively introduce math concepts and set children on a path to college readiness.
Dr. Juanita Copley is the authority on using math in the classroom to prepare pre-Kindergarten students for success in Kindergarten and beyond. Dr. Copley was instrumental in the development of OWL, which integrates math and science along with language development and other critical skills for students throughout its lessons.
"What children learn in their early years can set them on a path for lifelong success," said Dr. Copley, a veteran teacher of nearly 40 years and professor emeritus of education at the University of Houston. "Children's brains are growing at a rapid rate in the pre-school years, and immersing them in math, science, reading, and more -- inviting them to become explorers of their world -- helps them to not only learn facts and figures, but to recognize their own ability to learn and discover throughout their school years."
Aligned to the state's Pre-K curriculum guidelines, OWL provides an exhaustive list of resources to help children, whether English-speakers or not, develop English vocabulary at an amazing rate of 3,000-4,000 words, which research shows is critical to best prepare children for Kindergarten and long-term school success. Math and science are embedded into OWL's vocabulary, reading and other instruction.
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