5 Resources To Navigate the Hybrid and Remote Learning School Year

This is a school year like no other with the introduction of hybrid and remote learning. Here are a few resources to help you navigate these uncharted waters.

By Team XQ

This month, we want to highlight how to help students become masters of all fundamental literaciesone of our XQ Learner Goals, which aim to help students be fully prepared for the future.

We hope these resources will help you focus on cultivating critical readers, compelling writers, and analytical thinkers. Whether your school is continuing remote learning, returning to in-person classes, or doing a hybrid of the two, let’s build the academic core necessary to prepare for college, career, and life.

1. APPLY: Reopening Resources for More Equitable Schools

In this moment, we must reinvent education. We compiled resources to help educators center equity in their reopening plans.

Why it matters: As schools make decisions to continue remote learning, reopen their school buildings, or work through a hybrid model — we want to make sure that all young people get the support they need to succeed.

We’ve compiled resources for:

  • Reopening with equity and inclusivity at the center
  • Optimal teaching and learning
  • Engaging families in education
  • Social-emotional learning
  • Examples of schools moving education forward

Extra credit: School Reopening Resources, Tips, and Example for Educators →

2. LEARN: What Do School Meals Look Like in COVID-19?

School meals are critical to students’ well-being and readiness to learn.

Why it matters: COVID-19 has placed additional pressure on school nutrition programs. These programs must adapt and work even harder to ensure that every kid who needs a school meal gets one.

We’ll tell you…

  • What you need to know about school meals
  • How school meals will work this fall
  • How to support school meals

Extra credit: What Will School Meals Look Like with School Reopenings and COVID-19 →

3. DEBATE: Is a High-Quality Education a Civil Right?

“Changing education on the scale that’s necessary requires shifting how we see the right of education and how we see the denial of this right.” – XQ Founder and CEO Russlynn Ali

Why it matters: XQ’s Russlynn Ali joins civil rights icons Danny Glover, Bob Moses, Mark Rosenbaum, and BJ Walker, as well as youth activist Jamarria Hall to discuss a Detroit lawsuit addressing conditions in public schools. The lawsuit reignited the argument around the need to educate all children to (at minimum) a 21st century standard of basic literacy.

All students deserve, and our nation requires that they receive, a high-quality education.

  • Is the right to a high-quality education enforceable?
  • Did you know this question is still up for debate in our legal system?

Extra credit: Do Students Have a Civil Right to a High-Quality Education? →

4. CHANGE: Decolonizing America’s History Textbooks

We must change how American history is taught and learned.

Why it matters: “America’s history is complex, contradictory, confusing, and often quite ugly. However, we choose to teach a simplified, pacified, and whitewashed version to our young people.”

We need to teach our students in a way that contextualizes the racism and equity issues in our country’s history. Here’s why:

  • Better informed voters, leaders, and activists
  • More knowledgeable policymakers and politicians
  • Students (especially students of color) will feel affirmed in their education

Extra credit: It’s Time to Start Decolonizing America’s History Textbooks →

5. TRANSFORM: Culturally Relevant Teaching

Former educator and XQ’s curriculum designer and writer Ann-Katherine Kimble walks us through her journey to culturally relevant teaching and gives us a comprehensive guide on how you can do so in your school.

Why it matters: “Teaching everyone’s perspective and voice is simply the right thing to do. It builds empathy so that students have a better understanding of people who do not look like them.”

How can educators cultivate culturally responsive teaching?

  • Change WHAT and HOW you teach
  • Include more culturally-aligned curriculum
  • Make your classroom an inclusive environment

Extra credit: A Teacher’s Journey Towards Culturally Relevant Teaching Practices →

XQ X-TRA
Amplifying and Celebrating Teachers.

Looking for additional resources? Want to connect with your amazing fellow educators? Check out our Best of Teachers Instagram page! Every day we feature educators who use their voices to stand up for their students and schools. If you or an educator you know wants to be featured, tag us @bestofteachers on Instagram!