Riverbend Prep Equips Students with New Digital Resources for Engaging Science Education

Photo byKenny EliasononUnsplash

Charlotte, NC (Monday, August 26, 2024)—Students in Arizona’s Riverbend Prep will begin the 2024-2025 school year with a host of new digital resources from worldwide edtech leader Discovery Education in their digital backpacks. These resources support the efforts of educators to create rigorous learning experiences in the sciences that encourage student curiosity and interests and prepare them with the skills and knowledge to succeed in high school and beyond. 

Riverbend Prep is located in Laveen, Arizona, and serves approximately 300 students in grades K-8. Riverbend teachers utilize proven, research-based educational programs as part of a toolkit of best practices as they impart basic skills, particularly in reading, writing, and mathematics. In addition, Riverbend elementary and middle school students must also master challenging content in the humanities, the sciences, and the social sciences, as these subjects are critical to achieving success in high school, college, and adult life. 

To provide educators with the resources needed to create dynamic hands-on learning experiences that would meet the needs of Riverbends’ diverse student body, school leaders searched for a suite of research-based, digital and hardcopy resources aligned to Arizona’s K-12 Academic Standards for science. After a thorough review of available resources, Discovery Education’s Science Techbook was selected for use in all grades. 

Delivered through Discovery Education Experience—the curated collection of high-quality, grade-level appropriate digital content aligned to Arizona’s K-12 Academic Standards—Science Techbook is a K-12 core curriculum that includes engaging digital resources, hands-on activity kits, virtual investigations, and custom professional learning. This comprehensive resource includes ready-to use, phenomena-driven lessons that motivate students, powerful technology tools—such as toggle-on Spanish translation—that personalize access, and time-saving teacher tools that streamline prep and grading.  

Science Techbook is available in both print and digital formats, providing a seamless classroom experience complete with immersive, interactive ways to explore, including hands-on engineering activities, interactive labs, and STEM connections. Through its digital, print, and blended options, Science Techbook delivers a wide range of high-quality resources that support students as they discover how science is practiced in the real world while focusing on deeper understanding and application of grade-appropriate science content. 

Recently, Discovery Education’s Science Techbook was certified as meeting the rigorous, evidence-based ESSA Tier III standards set forth in Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). In addition, multiple studies show that regular use of Discovery Education Science Techbook in the classroom has many positive academic results for educators and students across a variety of districts and populations in the United States. This research and more can be found here. 

“Riverbend Prep believes that in order to make the world a better place, we need to prepare today’s students to serve as the next generation of policymakers, barrier breakers, caretakers, and innovators,” said Melissa Aguilar, Riverbend Prep’s Director of Academics. “These new resources provide our teachers a host of new tools that will help students experience the wonders of the natural world in ways that will prepare them with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in high school and beyond.” 

Riverbend educators using Discovery Education solutions will receive dedicated professional development from Discovery Education’s team of professional learning experts. These learning opportunities for teachers help schools recognize the full return on their edtech investment. Through Discovery Education’s interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction. Effective professional learning increases student engagement and supports the continued academic development of all students.

In addition, all educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources have access to the Discovery Educator Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Educator Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration. 

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.