COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Texas State Board of Education recently announced the new instructional materials it approved for use in public school classrooms across Texas beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.
After an extensive review period, the board adopted new materials for handwriting, spelling (English and Spanish), English and Spanish language arts and reading, English learners language arts and personal financial literacy.
Zaner-Bloser, an educational solutions company that provides handwriting, spelling and other literacy resources to schools nationwide, had both of its programs approved for adoption: Spelling Connections and Zaner-Bloser Handwriting (offered in English and Spanish). The programs meet 100 percent of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in spelling and handwriting.
“Texas schools have been using Zaner-Bloser instructional materials for 25 years,” said Diane Dunbar, Texas field manager for Zaner-Bloser. “We’re thrilled that the State Board of Education recognizes that our research-based spelling and handwriting programs give Texas students the resources they need to shine academically.”
Spelling Connections provides explicit spelling instruction for students in grades one through six. Daily practice, differentiated word groups and proven instructional methods form the foundation for Spelling Connections.
Zaner-Bloser Handwriting for grades kindergarten through five focuses on the “Keys to Legibility” – the size, shape, spacing and slant of letters. Using this skills-focused program, teachers can help their students master handwriting in fewer than 15 minutes a day.
Research shows that pairing spelling and handwriting instruction benefits students. The skills build upon each other to improve writing fluency and reading ability. Spelling and handwriting instruction can also help children with dyslexia.
“Because poor spelling is often a telltale sign of dyslexia, teaching spelling is critical,” said Dr. Richard Gentry, an educational consultant and author of Spelling Connections. “Monitoring each student’s spelling development is often the first indicator for early intervention or referral to a specialist. In addition, scientific evidence shows handwriting instruction benefits reading development, so handwriting is also a dyslexic-specific intervention.”
In addition to publishing educational materials, Zaner-Bloser also sponsors the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest, now in its 28th year. Thousands of Texas students participate in the contest, which recognizes students from kindergarten through eighth grade for handwriting excellence.
Texas educators can learn more about the Texas adoption and access free samples and resources by visiting www.zaner-bloser.com/texas.
