TexQuest X-Press
Important Reminder from TSLAC
The Talking Book Program (TBP) provides free library services for Texans of all ages who have a visual, physical, or reading disability. Want physical materials? TBP has audio, braille, and large print books and magazines. Prefer digital materials? TBP includes access to BARD, an online service with over 150,000 titles ready to download to a phone, tablet, or computer. No wait times and no due dates. To learn more, visit our website: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/application/index.html
TeachingBooks
If you are looking for teaching ideas that support literacy instruction, the TeachingBooks Teaching Ideas page offers timely topics, early childhood instructional support, ready-to-use ideas, and conversation and instructional support. Explore resources for jumping-off points that deepen discussions, inspire reading interest, and support connections to books and authors. Easily share and include in your instructional plans, newsletters, and social media.
REMINDER: The Texas State Library and Archives Commission has partnered with TeachingBooks to help educators efficiently document the titles in classroom and library collections. The tools, support, and training provided through this initiative are made available to all Texas teachers at no cost. This tool also includes enhancements to TeachingBooks’ custom reading lists feature—watch this tutorial to learn about custom reading lists.
- Registration Link for access to the Texas Collection Analysis Initiative (this step is required as TeachingBooks will need to assign access to the requesting educator)
ProQuest SIRS Discoverer
ProQuest staff recently added the following:
- 380+ articles, graphics and images, with publication dates later than July 9, 2024, selected by editors.
- New ‘Issues’ topics added (for a total of 85 issues):
- Overtourism: Is reducing the number of tourists the best way to manage overtourism?
- Outdoor Cats: Should pet cats be allowed outdoors?
- All 350 Animal Facts pages have been reviewed and updated where necessary.
In addition, they've updated educator materials on their provider support page.
Learn360
Plan out your school year with Learn360's calendar feature. Located in the three-line drop-down menu, the calendar feature highlights historical birthdates, holidays, and awareness days. Integrate Learn360 content into your daily schedule and turn every day into a celebration!
The staff at Learn360 recently updated existing content and added new content to their provider support page to include training and marketing materials. These updates and new additions make it even easier to train students and educators on the Learn360 product and use ready-made marketing materials.
Gale
Gale staff create monthly Curriculum Corner blog posts that contain content spotlights, social studies, STEAM, ELA, and elementary updates with lesson ideas, and so much more. The current Curriculum Corner contains spooky season activities, presidential election lessons for all levels, and a new TikTok claim evidence reason lesson, to name a few. Be sure to sign up to receive the Curriculum Corners and stay up-to-date on all things Gale. Not only will you receive the current edition, but you may view all previous Curriculum Connections towards the bottom of the blog post.
EBSCO LearningExpress
As usual, the LearningExpress team at EBSCO has once again added plenty of content to assist Texas students on their road to success.
Recently added content:
- English Language Arts Skills: Texas
- APA7 Quick Guide: In-text Citations
- APA7 Quick Guide: Building a Reference List
- MLA9 Quick Guide: In-text Citations
- MLA9 Quick Guide: Works Cited
- Career Exploration
- Program Entrance Exam: Two (2) PSB-RN practice exams
- Prepare for College
- AP U.S. Government and Politics: Three (3) flashcard decks
- AP U.S. Government and Politics: Two (2) practice exams
- ACT English Practice Tests: Four (4) additional practice tests have been added
- High School Success Skills
- Information Literacy Skills
- Social Media Literacy
- Research Basics: Information Literacy (new microlessons)
- Math & Science Skills: Texas
- Circulatory System microlessons
Britannica
Britannica recently introduced the TeachBritannica site that empowers teachers with tools and resources to ignite student learning across educational settings. Educators will find instructional strategies, lesson minis for all levels, graphic organizers, and more. Be sure to take a look at the plethora of premade activities and lessons that are sure to support students' learning.
In September, Britannica launched a new interface for the Elementary and Middle School products. The tools were reorganized into a Navigator type layout for easy access to all features. In addition, the option to toggle between English and Spanish was added to the Early Elementary product and can be found in the upper left-hand corner of the article.
TexQuest Program
TexQuest is a statewide digital resources program that provides anytime, anywhere access to high quality, authoritative digital resources to all educators, students, and students' immediate families in Texas K-12 public schools and open enrollment charter schools. Supported, in part, by appropriations from the Texas State Legislature, Texas districts pay a small per student membership fee to gain access to TexQuest resources from the providers listed on this page.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission administers all aspects of the TexQuest program and is responsible for the selection and coordination of all TexQuest resources, as well as district invoicing.
Education Service Center, Region 20 serves as the TexQuest Support Center and is responsible for help desk, technical assistance, outreach, communication, and training to support the program.