School Closure Resources for High School Educators
School closures have changed what high school looks like across the country. Here are 5 resources to help you navigate these uncharted waters.
We know you feel a tremendous responsibility to students and families looking to you for support in these uncertain times. But we also know how resilient educators are, especially when facing big challenges. So, go shine like we know you will.
This special issue includes high school resources for remote learning that inspired and encouraged us this week. We’ll continue to bring you relevant resources as we take this journey together.
TEACH: LIKE YOU’VE NEVER TAUGHT BEFORE
How do you teach a class without a classroom? Adjust your approach. It doesn’t need to be perfect to help your students make the most of this time. Here are some resources that can help along the way:
- Supporting Students During COVID-19Emerson Collective curated this collection of remote learning resources for school leaders, teachers, students, and families.
- School Closure Resource HubTranscend Education’s continuously updated resource hub includes everything from remote working best practices and lesson plan guides to crisis planning and stories from schools navigating school closures.
- Virtual Learning Products and ExperiencesTeach For All shares insights about what makes virtual learning impactful, inclusive and community focused. Learn 12 tips that cover everything from making online learning feel personal to managing feedback loops.
- 130+ Amazing Online Learning ResourcesWe Are Teachers created one of the most comprehensive lists of resources we’ve seen so far. Browse available tools and resources that support your students’ needs best.
- Join the Conversation
Teach for the Future is a Facebook Group we created so educators can lean on each other for support. Right now, they’re talking about how our response to the Coronavirus pandemic could change our education system for the better.
LEAD: LIKE YOU’VE NEVER LED BEFORE
When you’re leading an entire school community during a crisis, your plan is the roadmap to the light at the end of the tunnel. Be the fearless leader your staff already knows you are. Here are some resources you can use for guidance:
- COVID-19 Resource HubInstruction Partners created a starting point for school and system leaders to support student care and continued learning.
- COVID-19 Resources for Staying ConnectedGlobal Online Academy created resources for designing classes for online learning, guides for school leader discussions, and even a four-day course for students that uses a Coronavirus case study.
- Emergency Management, School Safety, and Crisis Planning
AASA: The School Superintendents Association is continuously updating their website with state, district, federal, and shared resources from across the nation. - Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights issued a fact sheet to help school leaders comply with civil rights statutes and regulations as they respond to COVID-19 concerns.
COLLABORATE: TOOLS FOR COMMUNICATION
You don’t need a physical space to collaborate. Thankfully, there are a slew of ways to make collaboration easier. As teachers, students, and families adjust to remote learning, communication is key. Here are some tools to help:
- Best Student-Collaboration ToolsCommon Sense Media’s list of tools students can use to collaborate cover everything from productivity to creativity.
- Best Messaging Apps and Websites for Students, Teachers, and ParentsThis list of online resources, also from Common Sense, support sending assignments and progress reports, as well as communicating with teachers and families.
SERVE: TOOLS FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
This is a crucial time to help students who are especially vulnerable due to school closures. Here are some resources that will help you continue to support their success in this new learning environment:
- 6 Steps Schools Can Take to Address Educational Equity
The Education Trust-NY’s recommendations outline exact measures schools can take to support instructional equity. - Coronavirus: Multilingual Resources for SchoolsColorín Colorado created resources that ensure English Language Learners are included in all communications—available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
- Maintaining Quality of Life, Learning, and Performance
Center On Online Learning and Students With Disabilities is creating strategies to support students with disabilities and encouraging teachers to let them know how they can assist. - Supporting Undocumented Students & FamiliesImmSchools created a guide for undocumented students and families in Texas and New York City, who are especially vulnerable during this time.
- Best Special Education Apps and WebsitesCommon Sense developed a list of the best apps and websites that can support learning for a range of disabilities, including resources for the visually impaired, students living with autism, and more.
- Accessible Materials for All StudentsThe State Education Technology Directors Association released a list of resources for supporting students with IEPs or 504 plans. The list also includes tips for special education teachers, administrators, and tech directors.
COPE: TOOLS FOR SEL AND WELLNESS
Here are a few resources to help students and families cope during this transition:
- Providing Stability in a Time of Crisis
Harvard Graduate School of Education created a guide to help families and students stay calm and ready to learn. - SEL Resources During COVID-19The Collaborative for Social-Emotional Learning developed a resource guide on how to cope with a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, and stress. Browse resources created for families, educators, and policymakers.
- Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus
The National Traumatic Stress Network created a comprehensive guide that not only includes details about coronavirus but also guidelines for hygiene, medical care, and coping.
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FOSTERING CONNECTION FROM A DISTANCE
It’s more important now than ever to create a sense of community. If you’re looking for a place to do that with educators who get what you’re going through, join the conversations going on in our Facebook Group, Teach for the Future.
We are energized by the innovation, ingenuity, and enthusiasm of people like you who are working tirelessly to address this new reality for the learners you serve. We’ll continue to listen intently to educators, students, families, and communities as we move forward, together, with urgency, empathy, and humility.
In the days and weeks ahead, we will continue sharing what we learn. And if you have a high school resource to add or a point of view to share, please send it to us at [email protected]. Your stories will help all of us build a sense of community and connection.
