Holt McDougal Larson Traditional Series

Name: Holt McDougal Larson Traditional Series
Brand: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

MathGrades 9–12

About This Curriculum

A rigorous middle and high school math curriculum that includes Common Core Standards and prepares students for STEM careers, developed by Ron Larson and co-authors with emphasis on multimedia integration.

What makes it unique: Emphasis on active learning with hands-on games and activities; flexible lesson development tools; multimedia integration pioneered by Ron Larson

Holt McDougal Larson Traditional Series: Standards-Focused High School Math

A traditional high school mathematics curriculum (Grades 9-12) published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, developed by Ron Larson with emphasis on multimedia integration and STEM preparation. The curriculum aims to align with Common Core Standards while maintaining a conventional instructional approach.

Best for

High school teachers seeking a traditional math curriculum approach, though alignment issues may require supplementation

Evaluation Criteria

1 concern · 8 insufficient evidence

Sequencing ApproachConcern

EdReports found significant issues with the curriculum's focus and coherence in alignment to grade-level standards.

EdReports rated Gateway 1 (Focus & Coherence) as 'Does Not Meet Expectations,' indicating problems with appropriate sequencing and emphasis on major mathematical work

Word ProblemsInsufficient Evidence

No specific evidence about systematic word problem instruction in the high school curriculum.

While the related Key to... series mentioned in Cathy Duffy's review includes word problems, there's no specific information about word problem instruction in the Larson Traditional Series itself

Worked ExamplesInsufficient Evidence

No evidence available regarding the use of worked examples or step-by-step modeling.

The available reviews do not discuss the presence or quality of worked examples in the curriculum materials

Teacher TrainingInsufficient Evidence

No evidence of comprehensive teacher training or professional development materials.

The reviews do not mention teacher guides with mathematical background or pedagogical support beyond basic answer keys

Direct InstructionInsufficient Evidence

As a traditional curriculum, it likely supports direct instruction approaches, but specific evidence is lacking.

The curriculum is described as following a 'traditional' pedagogy, which typically aligns with direct instruction methods, but no specific instructional guidance is detailed in the reviews

Retrieval PracticeInsufficient Evidence

No information available about retrieval practice or spaced review components.

Neither review addresses whether the curriculum includes regular cumulative review or retrieval practice opportunities

Assessment DiagnosticInsufficient Evidence

No information available about diagnostic assessments or formative assessment tools.

The available reviews do not discuss assessment components or tools for identifying student learning gaps

Visual RepresentationsInsufficient Evidence

The curriculum includes multimedia integration, suggesting some visual support, but specifics are unclear.

The curriculum description mentions 'emphasis on multimedia integration,' but no details are provided about specific visual models or representations used

Conceptual Procedural BalanceInsufficient Evidence

Unable to determine the balance between conceptual understanding and procedural fluency from available evidence.

Neither EdReports nor the Cathy Duffy review provides specific information about how this curriculum balances concepts with procedures

Sources: edreports.org, cathyduffyreviews.com