TeachTown vs. Unique Learning System

I have actually recommended it to another teacher in a different district for her autism program since she could level and pace it easily and also easily collect IEP data without stressing out her students with extra work. Unique Learning System is also a good program for our autism program because it is consistent with all core subjects, making is very routine based.

Incentivized

• Differentiated into 3 levels but cover the same assignment.
• Ability to assign lessons for the week or the unit to help streamline planning. I can adjust as the unit goes on if needed.
• Keeps scores and data from their daily unit lessons.
• Unit pre and post tests are mirrored for good data collection.
• Benchmarks tie into lessons.
• I can get data for IEP goals too.

• Unique Learning System's materials in the science and social studies areas aren't "fluffy" as other areas, but they are continuously adding materials
• The layout of the website isn't the most user friendly, but most teachers are able to navigate easily after an initial training
• The administrator side of things isn't super straightforward, reports can be confusing to find/run, but the one on one meetings always provide clarity.

Incentivized

I appreciate all the various resources that Unique Learning System has to offer. However, due to my limited interaction with other resources similar to Unique Learning System I do not know enough to compare it against other programs. I also am not a person in charge of renewing Unique Learning System for my organization.

Incentivized

I still find it difficult to track student progress within Unique Learning System using unit checkpoints. Scores seem to disappear and I end up giving pre-tests again at the end for some students. I need a step by step visual for using GPS and how to use it to plan for IEPS. I find it difficult to change student modifications on the spot when I see the student can do more on a given day with less support. Planning for math is more difficult for me - the units seems disjointed and without comprehesnive lesson planning support. Recipes and Experiments are difficult - many fails from recipes or experiments that don't seem to be classroom tested. It is expensive on a teacher's budget to run trials for expensive recipe ingredients.

Incentivized

errors will show up

Incentivized

there have been few issues with login or glitches

Incentivized

The individuals helping have always been great. The response to requests for changes in functionality or reporting less so.

Incentivized

it was all over the place hard to follow along

Incentivized

good product

Incentivized

Unique Learning System is far superior to Newsela. The symbol support alone makes Unique Learning System much more appropriate for my students. One thing that I like about Newsela is the integrated comprehension questions within the reading. The students cannot advance until they get the questions correct, and I think that is a valuable way to reinforce their reading attentiveness.

Incentivized

todays weather would not load sometimes

Incentivized

• Time on planning - Unique Learning System provides a great pacing guide and lesson plans to use for all of its content. We have made a pace that makes the most sense for us, but are able to pull from the lesson plans different activities, modifications and accommodations, leveling ideas, resources, communication boards, standards, and objectives to provide to our administration.
• Data collection for SPMs - As Polaris keeps track of mastered and progressing goals, our administration is able to open our Polaris account and see in one small snapshot how our learners are doing towards our department goals.
• Quarterly Progress Reports - As all of our data for learners towards their IEP goals are housed in one spot and there is a "progress report" feature embedded within Polaris, it took the job of creating progress reports from taking several days and many hours to 2-3 hours for my roster of 15 learners. It has saved me so much time and energy.

Incentivized