What Teachers Are Saying About Mirrors & Windows

We received the following endorsement of Mirrors & Windows from a teacher in Elma, WA, who is using the program. Our thanks to Deanne Woita for taking the time to send in her comments.

1—Elma High School adopted the Mirrors and Windows program mainly because we had been so happy with the previous EMC program: Literature and the Language Arts. In fact, we banked our funding for the year of our adoption and waited for the new EMC book to be published. The selection of literature is excellent, as are the leveled questions at the end of selections. I appreciate that these questions are directly focused on specific thinking skills and are clearly labeled by these skills. The teacher materials allow so much individualization. I can target reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, specific reading, and career-building skills in every unit. I can use the Mirrors and Windows audio library to have students listen to professional readers if I want them to hear the text aloud. I can individualize assignments for my special education students, my ESL students and my most gifted students without having to create these lessons myself. There are prepared PowerPoint lessons and other electronic support, including a year-long planner and Exam View test creator. I have never had so many options, nor so much auxiliary material help, as I have now with the Mirrors and Windows program. Plus, we have received excellent, personalized customer service with EMC.

2— 1) The slow release or reading responsibility is a wonderful way to organize genres in Level V. For example, I used a short story to teach the plot elements, then discussed the story with students as a class. Next, I had students read, on their own, the next story and helped them analyze the story for the plot elements. Finally, I had them select a story from all the additional choices in the textbook and analyze it for the plot elements on their own.

2) I used the prepared PowerPoint to help teach the main elements of fiction. Students need visuals to help cement their learning.

3) I have enjoyed using the Exam View program to create various versions of the same test to help eliminate the possibility of cheating.

3—Of all the novel sets I have ever used in my teaching career, the EMC Access Editions are by far the best. They contain author and historical background. They have vocabulary assistance and a glossary for students to use. They have questions in the margins to help students with their comprehension. There are plot summaries at the ends, identifying the key plot points. Often there is supplementary material, including newspaper articles, poems, essays, etc. that tie directly to the historical or thematic elements of the novel. I love these editions!!!

Elma High School
1235 Monte-Elma Road
Elma, WA 98541
Deanne Woita