As our teacher colleagues continue to navigate this year of firsts, we here at UnboundEd want to share resources, old and new, to help along the journey. We stand with every educator working to disrupt systemic racism by providing students of color meaningful, engaging, and affirming grade-level instruction.
Sharpening Your Equity Lens
This summer, some members of our team collaborated on the EdTrust Equitable Mathematics Toolkit. Since its release, we have been uncovering much about challenging white supremacy and building deep conceptual understanding for marginalized groups. We’ve also been quite taken by this investigative report from APMReports, called What the Words Say, a critical reminder that the science of reading is an equity issue; that all students deserve explicit instruction in vocabulary and foundational skills, including a systematic approach to phonics. Finally, this interview with Zaretta Hammond offers excellent advice on how to employ culturally responsive practices remotely.
Understanding the Current Moment
We’ve also been finding it essential to understand what’s happening, nationally, in terms of educator practices, experiences, and outlooks. This Reuters piece about how schools have responded to the Black Lives Matter movement in their curriculum has been insightful. We’ve also been compelled by Teaching the Pandemic, relating the ways teachers are using the pandemic as a “teachable moment.” RAND has also been a useful resource for us. First, their spring report, Teaching and Leading Through a Pandemic, offered keen insights into the experiences and mindsets of both teachers and school leaders at the onset of COVID-19. They also recently released results from the American Instructional Resources Survey, offering key findings and recommendations for how educators use instructional materials and what kinds of support they receive.
Making the Most of Remote Learning
Some helpful resources were released this summer to support remote, hybrid, and in-person instruction. We have been combing through the meaningful resources developed by CGCS, CCSSO, and Student Achievement Partners for ideas on how to lead through our present challenges, adapt instructional materials, and support students with unfinished learning. Annenberg’s EdResearch for Recovery, which includes briefs summarizing the evidence base to support smart instructional and structures moves this fall, is another useful resource.
Taking Care of Ourselves
Self-care matters more than ever, especially when the separation between work and life can often be blurred. The 2020 Teachers of the Year share how they practice self-care. We hope you find ways to recharge and create the environments that help you be your best self and best educator. We’re glad to be here with you along the way.