#thinkcerca

ThinkCERCA is a great example of how technology can and should be used to benefit learning.  Its purpose is not solely to provide access to content, as most technology does, but rather, to give it great utility.  Students use ThinkCERCA to better understand concepts and then think critically to move through the framework.  It truly prepares them for the “real world” as they are expected to state a claim, find evidence, and then use reasoning to prove it – a process nearly all of us go through on a daily basis in the workforce.  While schools have been doing this for years on paper, the use of the technology allows for truly differentiated and personalized instruction, the use of engaging content that is current and relevant, and automatic grading that allows teachers to quickly and easily embed it in what they do.  The result is an engaged classroom that sees results, as ThinkCERCA has proven through numerous case studies and white papers.

In mid December, I had the pleasure of joining Eileen Murphy and the ThinkCERCA team on two school visits in the Chicago area – a cutting-edge charter school, Intrinsic,and a more traditional elementary school, John W. Garvy.  While I expected to see full adoption of ThinkCERCA at Intrinsic, a school built around technology, I was actually even more surprised by how integrated the program was at Garvy.  In all my years working in education, I’ve never seen a program so embedded in the curriculum, with students so eager to use it.  The level of engagement in the classrooms was more than palpable.  In fact, when the ThinkCERCA team asked some questions about the program of the students, nearly every hand was up ready to give feedback. 

At Follett, a program like this, which helps develop literacy while improving engagement, is a perfect fit.  With our focus on improving reading, writing and vocabulary skills, and our vast library of engaging content that could truly support the CERCA model in an even more robust fashion, the opportunities for educators are endless.  Also, with our reach, even more students can benefit from the program and more teachers can see the amazing benefits. 

Summer of Learning with ThinkCERCA is a way for students to explore the world around them by reading informational texts, taking automated standards-aligned close reading assessments and making connections to novels they read! This Summer, the theme is "Technology & Society." We've provided students, grades 4-12 with book recommendations connecting to the topic. By pairing them with our awesome QuickCERCA lessons, students are able to explore the world around them through science, technology, and innovation!

Check out the handout below for you, your students, and your colleagues.