Prioritizing Learning Amidst COVID: Essential Guidance for Schools and Parents

In this webinar, co-moderated by Ambika Kapur of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Yolie Flores of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, we introduced the GLR Network to the important work of Student Achievement Partners and SeekCommonGround, two national partners whose efforts are helping to maximize student learning in this challenging time posed by the pandemic. Together, they have developed the Priority Instructional Content and Family Guides as a resource for school districts and families. Recognizing the high levels of unfinished learning experienced by most students, these resources offer educators guidance on the most essential curriculum content in literacy and math by grade-level and give families information about what grade-level work looks like. 

Sandra Alberti, Senior Fellow at Student Achievement Partners, shared highlights of the Priority Instructional Content, focused on K-12 mathematics and ELA. Aligned to state standards, this resource offers educators strategic choices about which content to prioritize and supports coherent and equitable teaching and learning. By grade level, the Priority Instructional Content highlights where to focus, provides considerations for addressing priority grade-level content and remaining grade-level content, and provides sample actions for facilitating social, emotional, and academic development. 

Sandy Boyd, CEO of SeekCommonGround, discussed the draft Family Guides, developed for grades K-5 (6-12 coming soon). The guides, aligned to the Priority Instructional Content, help adults working with children learn what students should be able to do, grade by grade, in math and literacy. In addition to the essential things students should be learning, the Guides offer ways to reinforce that learning with everyday activities, tips for talking to teachers and resources available online that match the most important content. The Family Guides were informed by the suggestions offered by many who responded to the nationwide survey for feedback. 

A key feature of both the priority Instructional Content and Family Guides is that any district school or organization using them are welcome to personalize both resources by adding their name and logo. 

Commentator Dr. Martha Bruckner of the Metro Omaha Educational Consortium (MOEC) and former GLR community lead in Council Bluffs, Iowa, offered valuable insights and feedback, particularly around ways to help disseminate these two critical resources across the GLR Network and beyond.