We ask for, and often receive, suggestions from our teachers and administrators for new products to add to our warehouse. While we try to keep our ear to the ground as far as new products that have a wide appeal and are something we can actually kit, there are lots of things out there that we just don’t know about. Sphero RVR+ is a great example of this.

We have quite a few items in our warehouse made by Sphero, but most of it seemed to be for our younger elementary students and their teachers. One area teacher reached out about Sphero RVR+ and we are pleased to now have these items on our shelves. Here’s a bit about Sphero RVR+ and how these robots can be incorporated into your classrooms.

All told, there 2 classroom sets for booking. Each set has six Sphero RVR+ programable robots, accessories, and an accompanying Educator Guide. The Educator Guide is in-depth and has CSDF standards aligned lessons. The robots are drivable right out of the box, packed with a diverse suite of sensors, and built for customization. RVR+ is expandable and made for novice to advanced learners in middle and high school.

Here's a bit more from the Sphero website:

​ENGAGE THE ENTIRE CLASS:
Support your learners with 6 RVR+ robots, accessories, and Educator Guides. 1 RVR+ engages 1-2 students, making it ideal for pair programming and collaboration.

​TEACH WITH CONFIDENCE:
The RVR+ Educator Guide contains tips for a successful cross-curricular rollout of RVR+ in your classroom as well as standards-aligned guided lessons and activities.

ENDLESS CLASSROOM POSSIBILITIES:
The free Sphero Edu app contains hundreds of activities to teach coding and computer science with RVR+, and advanced programmers can level up with Python using compatible 3rd-party hardware.

At this point, we only have 2 class sets on the shelves. If demand is high, we will certainly add more. Check them out and see if this might meet your teacher/student needs!

​By: Alexandra Freer, Coordinator for Media Resources

In the realm of early literacy education, the intersection of science and reading has never been more crucial. As educators and parents alike seek effective tools to nurture young readers, decodable books have emerged as a cornerstone of learning. Now, we are thrilled to announce the arrival of a new decodable book series in our warehouse, designed to align seamlessly with the Science of Reading.

The Decodables series is meticulously crafted to correspond with phonics instruction, allowing children to apply their growing knowledge of letter-sound relationships to decode words with confidence. This systematic approach not only enhances reading fluency but also builds a strong foundation in phonemic awareness and comprehension skills.

All told, there are six sets of books aligned to grade levels from Kindergarten to Second. Each book provides engaging stories that reinforce phonics principles at every turn. From simple sentences to more complex narratives, these books cater to various stages of reading development, ensuring that every child can progress at their own pace.

Why choose decodable books? The answer lies in their evidence-based approach. Backed by research in cognitive science and educational psychology, these books have proven instrumental in fostering early reading success. By offering children the tools they need to decode words independently, decodable books empower them to become proficient readers who delight in the magic of storytelling.

Explore our warehouse's newest addition, The Decodables, coming to our warehouse shelves this coming school year. Discover how this new decodable book series can make a transformative impact on young readers, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

By: Alexandra Freer, Coordinator for Media Resources