SAS Portal Help Desk
Materials & Resources Questions
- Where do all of the Materials & Resources on the portal come from?
- I'm not getting results for some of my searches. Am I doing something wrong?
- How can I search for specific types of resources?
- What is Voluntary Model Curriculum? Is this the curriculum for my grade level?
- What are Learning Progressions?
Where do all of the Materials & Resources on the portal come from?
The Materials & Resources on the SAS portal come from content providers. We maintain partnerships with several outstanding community, cultural, and educational institutions. We also receive submissions from educators across the Commonwealth who are interested in sharing their high-quality instructional resources, such as lesson and unit plans. Whether the content is provided by a partnering organization or an educator, it undergoes a stringent Quality Review process before it is included in the portal. Please see the SAS Materials and Resources Keyword Search List (Click here for PDF document) for keywords to use when searching for content from our partners.
I'm not getting results for some of my searches. Am I doing something wrong?
Our search is reliant upon keywords. Whenever you perform a search, please be sure to use multiple keywords for your chosen topic. For example, if you are searching for the term Native American, you may also want to try American Indian as well as the name of specific tribe(s), or other terminology (e.g., longhouse, papoose, wigwam).
Can I search for specific types of resources?
You can select specific types on content that you may be interested in by placing a checkmark next to them on the Advanced Search tab within Materials & Resources.
What is Voluntary Model Curriculum? Is this the curriculum for my grade level?
The Voluntary Model Curriculum (VMC) are sample unit and lesson plans built upon selected learning progressions. They do not comprise a complete year-long curriculum. Each Unit Plan represents a segment of the learning progression focused on critical topic/theme. Each Lesson Plan is a written guide that specifically outlines the intended learning outcomes within the Unit.
What are Learning Progressions?
A learning progression is a road or pathway that students travel as they progress toward mastery of the skills needed for career and college readiness. Each road follows a route composed of a collection of building blocks that are defined by the content standards for a subject. Along the road there will be many major mile-posts; these mile-posts are the building blocks or foundational content standards (assessment anchors as defined by eligible content) students will need to master as they progress toward the mastery of more sophisticated skills. The mile-posts will show what comes before and after a particular point (eligible content) along the road. These mile-posts may not necessarily be linear, but they will articulate movement forward. Ultimately, learning progressions provide teachers with the opportunity to determine whether students have navigated successfully through the mile-posts and are able to move forward along the road to career and college readiness.
