Success on standardized tests...critical thinking skills for life.

Performance Education has been providing educational materials for the under-served, but critically important discipline of Social Studies to teachers worldwide for over 12 years.

Our mission is to help Social Studies teachers Grades 6-12 help students achieve superior results in state tests and develop critical thinking skills by creating effective, affordable and comprehensive supplemental teaching materials based on Bloom's Taxonomy, and by providing brain games that engage children. Students achieve real and sustainable results when they use the knowledge gained as opposed to merely possessing it.

At P-E we focus exclusively on Social Studies because we feel the curriculum lets us discuss the pillars of society past, present and future and trains students in the five themes of citizenship: honesty, compassion, respect, responsibility, and courage. We can see where societies have crumbled due to lack of responsibility and honesty. We can see where people have impacted the world in massive ways through courage. And we can talk about the role of compassion and respect in societies through programs of health, wellness, freedom and prosperity.

Bloom’s Taxonomy and Collaborative Learning

Our materials are based on Bloom's Taxonomy because it is used to develop state standards and used to write state tests. Equally important, we believe in the concept of collaborative learning, a proven method in the development of critical thinking.Together they improve higher level learning and build skills for life.

Standardized tests are written using a very specific mode of critical thinking—Bloom's Taxonomy—which involves six specific mental operations:

  1. Recall—Remember the facts and define them
  2. Interpret—Understand the facts and translate them into your own words
  3. Apply—Use the rules in a new situation
  4. Analyze—Break down the facts using critical thinking skills
  5. Synthesize—Adding up the facts develops creative thinking skills
  6. Evaluate—Justifying a decision or course of action based on the facts 



Image courtesy of www.geibtechforlearning.org/

In order for students to become proficient in all six ways of thinking they need daily practice in Bloom’s Taxonomy. Utilizing  the concepts of "the whole class and collaborative learning," here’s how Performance Education products help students achieve the 6 levels of learning:

  • Students work in groups.
  • The class examines ONE concept ... from six different points of view: Recall, Interpret, Apply, Analyze, Synthesize, Evaluate
  • Students display their strengths. Those who memorize well serve as models for those who cannot. Those who interpret well serve as models for those who cannot. And so on.
  • Students improve upon their weaknesses.
  • Students become proficient in all Six Levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy and as a result do well on standardized tests.

The assumption is simple: If you truly understand a concept, you can demonstrate it in six different ways.

More testimonials…

  • Leanne in California: "You guys are making teaching so much easier and much more fun!"
  • Lewis in Alabama: “I am a big fan of your material. I am still loving the shipment from Performance Education that I received at the end of this past school year. I look forward to using the information in the upcoming year. Other teachers are jealous. I was elected as Teacher of the Year for my school this year.”
  • Marybeth in Michigan: “As a first year teacher, the website and emails have been an absolute savior in many cases. I appreciate the reminders that I am not alone and my frustrations and struggles are everyone else’s.”
  • Evelyn in South Korea: “I am currently teaching in South Korea and have passed your information on to our Social Studies department. You guys do such a great job of getting (teaching resources) to all of the educators out here.”

Contact Information
To learn more about why Grades 6–12 Social Studies teachers worldwide are discovering the value of using Performance Education teaching materials and resources in the classroom, get assistance, or inquire about our products, contact us:

Mailing Address:
Performance Education
3700 Millington Road
Free Union, VA 22940

E-mail Address:
info@performance-education.com

Phone Toll Free: 800-539-1607
Fax: 434-823-2832