Planning for this new school year will be unlike any other. Teachers will no doubt be juggling discussions and expectations around social distancing, remote learning, and the social emotional needs of their students. This month’s resources aim to help teachers plan for an uncertain year while still creating welcoming and exciting learning environments for their students.
Many teachers have been asking for ideas, tutorials, and support in setting up their digital classrooms. We’ve answered some of the frequently asked questions below.
How can I send materials, lessons, & communications to students?
The following FREE online platforms are some of our favorite user-friendly options for setting up online learning. Click the link below for set up tutorials!
How do I find resources for the grade level & subjects I teach?
The links below are sorted by subject area and are broken down into elementary and middle & high school levels. Remember, you can link the resources you find here into a digital classroom (see tutorials above)!
The site, WideOpenSchool.org,was created by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that rates education and entertainment content for children, with help from dozens of partner educational companies. The site brings together content from some amazing companies to help students, teachers and families find free, quality resources while school buildings are closed.
Who can I reach out to about purchasing devices for my students?
Demand is high for devices at this time. We will update this section with more contacts as we find them. Check back in regularly to see what options are available.
Enjoy free standard shipping site-wide and a 30-day hassle free return or exchange policy.
For large order requests or unique inquiries please contact stepupforstudents@hp.comto be connected with a dedicated Account Manager.
Microsoft®- Email Dave.Patel@microsoft.com to inquire about devices & pricing options from Microsoft as well as free licenses for Office 365 Education that include Microsoft Teams!
Due to the unprecedented situation nationwide, we know you are most likely in the process of exploring & implementing online and remote learning options for your students in the coming weeks. To help with this planning, we’ve compiled resources that may help you to navigate these uncharted waters. Feel free to walk through the steps below as you and your school decide what plan will work best for your students & families.
*Please note: We will continue to update the links below as we find new information and resources. (Updated on 3/26/20)
Step 1: What should I know about online learning before I jump in?
March is National Reading Month as well as Women’s History Month. This month we wanted to provide resources in celebration of both! We’ve also added a section this month with professional development resources & support for students with special needs. Check out the awesome resources below!
Do you need more variety in your classroom library? Visit theEpic! website hereto gain access to a digital library of books that are free for educators!
This course “Self Compassion for Educators” from Mindful Schools is designed for educators, caregivers, and those who work in service of youth. It is designed to help participants explore the importance of compassion and break the cycle of negative thoughts and responses in the classroom. This course is associated with a cost, but offers up to 3 graduate level credits. Learn more about this course and others here!
Resources for Students with Special Needs
do2Learn is an amazing database of resources for supporting students with special needs. Click here to explore!
Today is the first day of Black Lives Matter at School week and the first week of Black History Month. We know that teachers are working toward representation and inclusion every day in their classrooms. Here are some resources to help you foster critical conversations in your classroom and continue to create an inclusive environment in your school. We hope you can use these resources all year long!
With holiday parties, parent nights, school-wide performances, and end of term exams coming up, it’s easy to get buried under a mountain of grading and planning this month! We’d like to share some strategies that will ease the stress of grading and help you make the most of your planning time all year.
Create your to do list the day or night before. During your planning time, choose 2-3 items you know you can get done and set a time limit for each. Use the timer on your phone to keep yourself on task. Shut the door and get things done!
Don’t Try to Grade Everything
There is a purpose for every assignment or activity in your class, but that does not mean every assignment or activity needs to be recorded for a grade. Consider checking some assignments for understanding, while grading and providing detailed feedback on others. Consider providing quick feedback via a sticky note rubric- click here to learn more!
Utilize a Copy Box
Use a folder or an inbox on your desk to place the master copies of the pages you need for the next week. Resist the urge to go make copies as soon as you finish one lesson. Collect your copies during your planning time and then save 5-10 minutes at the end of your time to go make the copies.
Choose One Day to Stay Late
As teachers we are notorious for coming in early and staying late. Consider choosing just one day a week to stay late. During this time, you can work after students are gone, distraction free, to finish any grading, planning, or copying that needs to be done for the following week.
Teachers: Have you heard about Algebra Nation?
Accessible anywhere and anytime, Algebra Nation offers an individualized approach to teaching and learning Middle Grades Math, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2.
You’re invited to join the Step Up For Students SuperFans program. Become a social ambassador for Step Up and help us spread awareness of our scholarship programs.
When you sign up, we will send you our most exciting news through email to share with your friends and followers. You choose where you share our content. You can share it through email, on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or all of the above. Sharing our posts helps not only spread the word about Step Up to those who need it most, but it could also benefit your private school.
The best part? The more you share and participate, the more points you’ll earn towards a monthly giveaway. This month we’re giving away a $20 Target gift card and one Step Up’s new promotional items of your choosing (from a selection).
To join now, click on the link below and connect with one of your social networks.
For most teachers, tackling STEM in the classroom can be a daunting endeavor. What is STEM? Where do I begin? How do I find lessons, activities, and experiments? How long will it take?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math. Three of the most important components of a good STEM lesson include:
Problem Solving or Challenge Based Learning
Real World Applications
Integration of Multiple Disciplines
The goal of STEM activities is to put students in the driver’s seat and encourage them to think critically to solve real world problems using ideas and concepts from many different subject areas while reflecting on their successes and their challenges.
It turns out incorporating STEM in the classroom can happen in all kinds of ways, not just in the form of complex experiments. November 8th is National STEM Day and we’ve dedicated this month’s post to helping you get started with STEM using 5 easy to implement ideas.
1. Start with a Book or an Article
Unsure of where to begin? Find a short book or an article that touches on a problem or STEM career you wish to highlight. Reading this story aloud with students can be a wonderful starting point to get students in the problem-solving mindset.
For Elementary Students- Consider books like Rosie Revere Engineer, by Angela Beaty, or The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds.
For Secondary Students- Consider starting with this PBS article about a 15-year-old student who invented a new test for the early detection of pancreatic cancer.
2. Create Maker Time and Maker Space
Set aside an area in your classroom for students to build and create. STEM Bins are an easy way to organize materials for students to build with.
Feeling more ambitious? Consider aSTEM subscription kit like this one!You’ll get new age appropriate STEM activities in the mail each month for students of any grade level!
Would you like to try out an awesome resource for elementary science activities aligned to NGSS for FREE for the rest of the year? Click here to check out MysteryScience! They are offering a free subscription to teachers through June of 2020.
4. Plan a Field Trip
No budget for field trips? TrySkype in the Classroom! You can take your class on a digital field trip to museums, national parks, laboratories,and even to the ocean floor!
Do you have hands on learners? The National Park Service offers “Traveling Trunks” that are filled with artifacts and hands on materials to learn about over 100 different topics and locations!
5. Expand on Careers & Real-World Workplaces
Have you heard of EVERFI? Step Up for Students is excited to share our continued partnership to bringEVERFI’s digital learning platform to your school at no cost. These Lessons are student-paced, grade themselves and come with supplemental lesson plans.
The courses address topics such as Character Education, Financial Literacy, Bullying Prevention, STEM education and many more.
Your school is already set up and has full access. 1) Visit EVERFI.com/register2) select Florida 3) type in the first part of your school name to get started. EVERFI also provides training and support to your teachers cost-free. Contact Liam Obrien at lobrien@everfi.comor 241-886-0690 with questions or to schedule a training for your staff.
We know teachers spend a lot of their own money buying supplies and resources for the classroom every year. We want to help offset some of that cost for you and #clearthelist by giving away four $25 Amazon gift cards! Click here to enter to win!!
Our post this month aims to provide you with some low cost ideas to increase classroom engagement! We’ve also partnered with a couple of educational companies that are offering discounts to our schools through September 30th. Check out the offers from Reading A-Z and Edmentum here!
4 Ways to Increase Classroom Engagement without Breaking the Bank
Meaning: To create buy-in, students first need to know why they are doing an activity.
For help communicating the objectives of your lesson or activity, check out this FREE printable posterthat can be laminated and displayed in your classroom. Update it with each new goal!
To find ideas for designing meaningful lessons, explore this articlefrom Texas Tech University.
Movement: Sitting still for hours during the school day completing book work does little to engage students. Find ways to add movement to your lessons!
Meet-ups: Allowing students to collaborate with their peers helps them process new information and apply what they’ve learned.
Write some of your favorite simple collaborative activities on popsicle sticks and choose one during the lesson to add variety and allow students to process the information from the lesson!
Monitoring Learning: Students need to know where they are in relation to their goals. Help students monitor their learning through formative assessments.
With the start of school quickly approaching, we wanted to provide some resources for your pre-planning needs! Explore our unit planning resources to get a jump on the year. Learn about ways to create a positive classroom culture from day one! Get to know your students in a way that helps you plan instruction. Plan creative ways to communicate procedures & expectations to make the most of the first few days of school!
Check out our free training from the Office of Student Learning on “Unpacking Unit Plans to Communicate Clear Learning Goals” or “Planning, Presenting, and Understanding New Knowledge.” See the instructions to register below!
Unsure about how to communicate procedures? Check out a few video examples of teachers on the first day of school in elementary,middle, and high school.
To Register for training from the Office of Student Learning:
Click on the Lesson Planning or Classroom Management.
Register for a course in your region. Trainings are currently being scheduled and more will be added throughout the year. If you are interested in hosting any of these trainings at your school, contact your regional coordinator!
Planning for this new school year will be unlike any other. Teachers will no doubt be juggling discussions and expectations around social distancing, remote learning, and the social emotional needs of their students. This month’s resources aim to help teachers plan for an uncertain year while still creating welcoming and exciting learning environments for their students.
