Understanding title I requirements

Title I is a part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This emphasized the role that family engagement plays in education. Schools who received Title I funding have a set of requirements they have to follow:

• They must develop a written family engagement plan with input from their families.
• They must offer regular opportunities for families to participate in school.
• They must provide accessible information and resources to support learning at home.
• They must conduct annual meetings to inform families about all of the above.

These requirements are simply the foundation for ensuring that families are a productive part of the learning process. Schools can go a set further and deliver evidence-based strategies in their schools.

Evidence-based family engagement strategies

Positive effects on student outcomes can be sourced to many things. One key measure is the level of engagement that families have. Strong family engagement has been proven to result in higher academic achievement.

1. Establish Two-Way Communication Channels

Schools who establish sound two way communication channels engage their families deeper. These parent-teacher communication strategies are especially vital in Title I schools where access and equity are priorities. These channels should be culturally responsive ensuring that access is not a barrier. Providing information in multiple languages, ensuring translation tools are available, and being mindful of community practices deepens this connection.

2. Actively Build Home-School Connections

Activating your families to support learning at home is a proven growth tactic. Schools find success by offering family workshops on core subjects to equip your families with the tools they need. Family nights that have take-home kits or activities to ensure the learning is carried with them home and families are on the same page.

3. Create a Welcoming School Environment

The school environment not only affects the mindset of students, it also affects your families. Creating spaces where families feel welcomed to join and participate is critical for their engagement. Creating events at school that are low pressure and focused on fun helps to demystify and apprehension. Events such as donuts and dads, fun Fridays, or wacky weeks are great ways to invite families into the building.

4. Build Community Partnerships

Tapping into your community provides you with more resources that fit into more of your family’s lives. Establish connections with local businesses, libraries, or non-profit organizations to help expand your resources. This also establishes a cultural responsiveness with families when you have a strong connection with local resources.

5. Prioritize Student-Led Engagement

Passing the baton to students is one of the best ways to build academic success in your schools. This is also a powerful way of connecting families to learning through shared experiences and celebrations. Schools who do this best go beyond the typical student led conference. They have student-led fun nights, showcases, or fairs that involve families. This not only benefits students, but allows families to see their child in a new light.

Success stories from title I schools

Don’t take this success just from what you are reading. There are countless examples of how family engagement through Title I funding made a significant impact. Here are a few testimonials to note:

• A school in California with a large multilingual population launched “Family Learning Nights” in multiple languages, pairing parents with bilingual educators. The program led to higher confidence among families in supporting student literacy at home.
• A school located near Washington, D.C., has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to family engagement since joining the Family Engagement Partnership (FEP) in 2016. Through these initiatives, they have observed increased participation in school events, improved satisfaction among students, families, and teachers, and a more welcoming school environment.
• A school in Texas saw a 40% increase in parent participation after introducing Seesaw as a digital portfolio and communication tool. Families reported feeling more connected to their children’s learning and better equipped to support them at home.

A call to action

Family engagement is a commitment. It is not a one-size-fits-all system. It required intentional planning, flexible ideas, and a commitment to improvement. Leverage the resources you have to establish evidence based structures. Create partnerships with your families that empower learners and lead to improved academic outcomes. Take your next steps today to create family engagement that is a catalyst for your students’ success.

The post Family Engagement Strategies That Empower All Learners appeared first on Seesaw | Elementary Learning Experience Platform.

The research-backed impact of family engagement

As any educator knows, engaged families lead to more growth. Research shows that students thrive academically and emotionally when families are authentically engaged in their children’s education.

• Students with involved families are 40% more likely to earn A grades and score higher on standardized tests (Henderson & Mapp, 2002)
• Family engagement reduces absenteeism by up to 24% (Epstein & Sheldon, 2002)
• Family involvement correlates with higher levels of student motivation and self-efficacy (Fan & Williams, 2010)

Family engagement should not be overlooked as a nice addition to have. It needs to be thought of as an essential tool for improving student growth and academic success.

Overcoming common engagement barriers

Barriers in the way of strong engagement are ever present, but there are some solutions that will help overcome them.

• Language Differences: Families with limited English proficiency may feel uncomfortable or unable to participate fully.
  • Solution: Translate materials thoughtfully, use visual supports, change the reading level with AI tools, or if possible provide professional interpreters (not relying on children).
• Negative School Experiences: Many parents carry their own negative school memories with them.
  • Solution: Create positive, low-pressure initial interactions focused on relationship-building rather than academics. Grow your relationships with families just like you do in your classroom.
• Technology Access: Digital divides continue to impact many communities.
  • Solution: Provide multiple communication channels, and conduct technology access surveys. Make these low-pressure and proactive in identifying the best communication plan.
• Time Constraints: Working families, especially those with multiple jobs or non-traditional hours, may struggle to attend in-person events.
  • Solution: Offer flexible scheduling, recorded sessions or messages, and asynchronous participation options.
• Cultural Misunderstandings: Different expectations about the parent-teacher relationship can create unintended friction
  • Solution: Understand the cultural and family expectations present in your classroom and adapt approaches accordingly.

These steps create parent-teacher communication strategies that go beyond newsletters and build authentic relationships.

Metrics that reflect connected families

Moving beyond success metrics like “newsletter open rates” or “event attendance” will pave the way to a better connection. Establishing meaningful family engagement can be measured through:

1. Frequency of Quality Two-Direction Communication
   • Frequency of family-initiated conversations
   • Depth of information exchange about student learning
   • Family comfort level in sharing concerns or asking questions
2. Willingness to Support a Home Learning Environment
   • Increased family awareness of current learning topics
   • Development of home routines that support learning
   • Family confidence in supporting learning at home
3. A Partnership for Decision-Making
   • Family participation in educational growth
   • Influence of family input on classroom practices
   • Shared goal-setting between teachers and families
4. The Sense of Community
   • Cross-family connections and support networks
   • Family-to-family mentorship opportunities
   • Collective problem-solving among school community members

Moving beyond the newsletter

As we challenge ourselves to explore why educators should move to deeper and more meaningful connections, consider these starting points:

• Host in person, or virtual “coffee chats” where families can connect informally with teachers and each other
• Create interactive learning experiences where students can easily share their work with families. This is a practical example of connecting families to learning through interactive communication methods.
• Develop personalized communication plans based on family’s preferences and needs
• Establish regular feedback loops to continuously improve engagement systems
• Build authentic relationships before focusing on academic content or expectations

Remember that effective family engagement isn’t about adding more to educators’ already full plates. It’s about transforming how we approach our communication and partnership with families to create more meaningful, impactful connections.

Next week: “The Psychology of Family Engagement and Why It Matters“

The post Going Beyond the Class Newsletter for Stronger, Connected Family Experiences appeared first on Seesaw | Elementary Learning Experience Platform.

At Seesaw we believe the student’s experience matters, offering diverse multimodal tools that cater to different learning styles. The platform engages students by giving them voice and choice in their learning journey, allowing them to interact with content in ways that resonate with them. They can easily share their progress with peers, teachers, and family members, building a strong support network that celebrates their achievements and fosters their growth. Even students who may not yet be able to read, write, or speak can communicate and express their needs through our accessible tools. Additionally, Multilingual Learners benefit from visual and audio aids, as well as support from family members, with translation capabilities in over 100 languages to help them master English.

Here’s how Seesaw enables students to experience learning:

I can get into Seesaw quickly with a QR code so I don’t have to remember a passcode.

I feel like I know our classroom routines because it’s easy to find what I need to work on.

I have lots of fun with my assignments because I get to choose from different tools to show what I know, like a camera, microphone, or pencil.

I like showing off my digital portfolio with my friends.

The post The Experience Matters appeared first on Seesaw | Elementary Learning Experience Platform.

Supporting military families across distances

Military families often face the challenge of parents being deployed far from home. Seesaw keeps these families connected by allowing them to engage with their child’s learning in real-time. Seesaw has become one of the most effective parent-teacher communication tools for military families navigating deployments and relocations. Jessica Neal, a Pre-K teacher at a military school, shares, “We are a military school, so parents are often away but can still feel connected to their student.” Whether overseas or stationed in another part of the country, military parents stay up-to-date with their child’s progress, photos, and activities.

Elaine Shindelar, a reading teacher, recalls how Seesaw brightened the life of a student whose father was deployed. “The fact that the dad could leave a voice comment on the student’s work brought the BIGGEST smiles each time,” she shares. It’s moments like these that showcase how Seesaw isn’t just a learning tool—it’s a lifeline that strengthens family bonds during challenging times.

Wioletta Chwal, an ESL teacher, echoes this sentiment. “Seesaw made it possible for her dad to see all the activities and photos of her learning. The family was so grateful that he was able to share the student’s learning experiences, even oceans away.” Seesaw helps bridge the gap for families separated by military service, offering a sense of normalcy and connection in uncertain times.

Out-of-State and international family connections

For children with parents living out of state or grandparents living internationally, staying connected to their education can feel impossible. But with Seesaw, distance is no longer a barrier. Melissa Montgomery, a first-grade teacher, describes how Seesaw acted as the glue for a child with divorced parents living in different locations. “Seesaw was the glue for all parties to see, check, and know how their child was doing at school regardless of which home they were with during the school week,” she explains. Both parents can actively engage in their child’s learning with Seesaw. Even those unable to attend conferences in person can give feedback and encouragement.

Seesaw also connects students with family members abroad. “Family members from out of state or out of the country could see their child or grandchild’s work,” says Montgomery. This global connection allows families to share in their child’s accomplishments. Regardless of where they are, Seesaw creates a supportive learning environment.

Inclusive communication for families with limited english proficiency

For many families, language can be a significant barrier to staying involved in their child’s education. Seesaw’s translation feature breaks down this barrier by instantly translating messages, making communication seamless between teachers and non-English-speaking families. Kelly Benne, a third-grade teacher, experienced this first hand with refugee families from Russia and Ukraine. “It was wonderful being able to send communication to their parents in their native language. This took one of the stressors off of the table,” she explains.

Similarly, Pamela Hinton, a special education teacher, highlights how Seesaw transformed communication with families who speak little to no English. “When I found out that Seesaw messaging was instantly translated for parents, it was a game changer,” she says. Parents who previously felt disconnected from their child’s school were suddenly able to participate, respond, and stay engaged. By connecting families to student learning across languages, Seesaw ensures no family is left out of their child’s educational journey.

Equitable support for divorced parents

Seesaw offers a way to keep both parents involved in their child’s education, no matter where they live. Melissa Sheffer, a fifth-grade teacher, recalls how Seesaw’s digital portfolios became a source of support and connection for these families. “Seesaw has become more than just a tool; it is a source of support and inclusivity for these families,” she says.

Kelsey Moore, a fourth-grade teacher, shares a similar story. “Seesaw allowed the dad to stay connected to his son by not only being involved in his learning by ‘seeing’ his learning, but also by staying connected through daily comments,” she says. For divorced parents, Seesaw provides a platform that ensures they both can engage in their child’s learning, no matter the physical distance.

Seesaw: connecting families, fostering success

Seesaw goes beyond being just a digital portfolio or a classroom tool. It’s a bridge that connects families to their child’s learning, regardless of the circumstances. From military families and those with limited English proficiency to out-of-state relatives and blended households, Seesaw makes it possible for everyone to stay involved. Families who use Seesaw not only see their child’s progress but also actively contribute to their educational journey.

This unique connection creates a powerful support system, ensuring every student feels encouraged and valued. Families are true partners in their child’s learning journey, and staying in the loop is something every family deserves to experience.

Title I, Part A: Parent & family engagement

In addition to these personal stories, Seesaw helps schools meet federal Title I, Part A: Parent & Family Engagement requirements. Title I programs provide funding and emphasize outreach, involvement, and communication with families in schools with high numbers of low-income students. Seesaw’s features empower schools to foster strong partnerships between families and educators through visibility into student learning, two-way communication, and family access. Schools that actively engage families through tools like Seesaw often see improved student outcomes. Benefits include higher attendance, better grades, and a more positive school climate and so much more.

To learn more about how Seesaw supports Title I parent and family engagement, visit this resource.

The post How Seesaw Keeps All Families in the Learning Loop appeared first on Seesaw | Elementary Learning Experience Platform.

In order to build strong  two-way communication and collaboration between families and schools, educators must take a proactive approach. Some impactful and proactive strategies include:

• Establish relationships that go beyond the classroom
• Shift from one-way announcements to two-way, empathetic discussions
• Equip families with tools and knowledge to reinforce learning at home

As educators, our role extends beyond the classroom. We need to invest time cultivating personal connections, actively listening to parents, and equipping families with curricular knowledge.  This empowers families to become active participants in their child’s education. In this blog, we outline a three-step process for building effective partnerships between families and teachers.

Step 1: meet with your families

Start with personal connections with students and families to build trust and engage families in the learning process. One proven way to build a positive relationship is to initiate it during a face-to-face event. This can be done in person or through a video platform like Zoom, Google Meet. This ensures you are also growing connections with working families. Devalin Jackson, a SFUSD admin, shared how they purposefully partner with after school programs and government services, such as the boys and girls club or the public library, to ensure that families and students are connected. “We are all serving the same folks, let’s ensure that resources are getting back to our students and families”. Meeting your families where they are is an opportunity to provide parents with information about the curriculum and classroom expectations and set up critical technology connections.

A productive year between teachers, students, and families begins with these initial face-to-face interactions. In order to facilitate open communication channels, teachers, students, and parents need to be able to put a name to a face as soon as possible. It demonstrates a teacher’s commitment to knowing their students beyond just names on a roster when they try to connect in person first.

GOING DEEPER- It is important that you make the best use of your opportunities to connect with families. Do you have other departments in your district that benefit from stronger family engagement, and how can you work with them? Are there agencies outside your schools that you can work with to enhance your relationships with families? 

Step 2: move from one-way to two-way conversations

Teachers’ two-way dialogue is the key to parent-teacher communication. When teachers desire to engage families in deeper and more meaningful ways, two-way dialogue is the key. When teachers open these conversations, they demonstrate care and promote collaboration with families. Teachers may not be aware of their students’ strengths, challenges, or interests but parents are. Families can provide helpful insights to the teacher in how to best educate their child as an individual. 

Open communication allows parents to benefit beyond simply sharing their perspective and insight into their child. They gain a deeper understanding of the curriculum, classroom dynamics, and how they can reinforce lessons at home through regular communication with teachers. Students can be supported better and in a more expansive way. It is important for teachers, students, and parents to have the opportunity to discuss learning often and easily. Starting with this foundation allows families and teachers to work together as a team to ensure each child has what they need in order to succeed academically and emotionally.

GOING DEEPER- Make sure you keep a close eye on the conversations you are having with your families. Do you have families who are not engaged? Have you set clear expectations and norms around communication? Can families easily ask you questions or provide input?

Step 3: engage families in the learning process

Parental support of learning at home is undoubtedly beneficial for improving student achievement. A teacher’s insight and ability to inform parents about what their child is working on in school is an important step. Many classrooms go a step further and share how families can practice needed skills outside of school. Teachers empower families to become active partners in their child’s education through family engagement strategies in schools.

Reinforcing skills at home can have a huge impact on a child’s growth. Teachers empower families to become active partners in their child’s education creating a bond focused on the students academic growth. Teachers can shift to this focus by providing families with a transparent look into how each student is progressing and clearly communicating ways that families can use to support in-home learning aligned with the curriculum. Parents learn concrete ways to work with the teacher to assist their students in mastering academic milestones and developmental milestones by receiving this information.

Families are always seeking transparency when it comes to learning. It is important for families to be aware of where their child is academically and how they can support that growth. All too often academic performance is distilled into a test score or grade.  A visual portfolio provides families with a deeper understanding of what is happening in the classroom, as well as the opportunity for the teacher to tell families how to support their child’s learning at home with Seesaw. See how Seesaw helps connect families to learning.

GOING DEEPER- How will you engage your families in the learning process? What is your plan to inform families of their child’s progress? What support do you need from families to ensure that students are learning at their highest ability?

In conclusion

A positive relationship between home and school plays a tremendous role in improving student achievement. Establishing an in-person connection, opening lines of communication, and giving families insight into what takes place during the school day are great strategies to proactively build a partnership. Remember, every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen these critical relationships. 

As you launch on your family connection journey, consider leveraging a tool like Seesaw that can seamlessly facilitate communication and provide visibility into learning. 

“Parents are not just notified of what’s going on or what grade their child got… they are able to see the learning taking place,” said Josh Ehret, Instructional Technology Specialist at Wichita Public Schools.

The investment you make into building these relationships will provide you rewards in student achievement, family engagement, and overall educational satisfaction. A tool like Seesaw that can seamlessly facilitate communication and connect families to learning. Start building trusting relationships today and watch your classroom transform. Discover more benefits of family engagement in schools with Seesaw.

Did you love these ideas and want to learn more ways to engage families? Read the next blog here!

The post 3-Steps to Building Trusting Relationships with All Families appeared first on Seesaw | Elementary Learning Experience Platform.

Instructional Strategies for Gradual Release and Active Learning

The gradual release of responsibility¹ is an instructional framework where teachers slowly release responsibility of learning to students over time. Teachers begin by describing learning objectives, modeling and thinking aloud to demonstrate key vocabulary and skills, and highlighting the relevance of the lesson. Students observe, make connections, and discuss initial learning with classmates. In this stage, teachers should explicitly teach² routines to support cognition and comprehension. Seesaw Lessons aid teachers with this crucial explicit instruction. Every lesson begins by introducing important new vocabulary and modeling skills through visuals, audio, video, and more.

@mshoofs_kinders #seesawlearning #seesawpartner @seesawlearning ♬ original sound – Lauren

The gradual release of learning continues through opportunities for students to respond to teacher’s questions and practice new skills with teacher and peer support. Magic happens when students engage in active learning activities with partners and independently. Through investigation, creative activities, discussion, and reflection³, students are able to connect new learning to prior knowledge and transfer learning into longer-term memory.

The Seesaw Library has thousands of activities to help teachers and students engage in investigation and capture creating learning in the real world on a digital platform. Built in prompts spark engaging discussions and questions. Multimodal tools empower students to engage in hands-on learning experiences and select their preferred method for showcasing it.

Seesaw’s elementary Computer Science curriculum empowers both teachers and students to observe, learn, and apply computer science skills to their everyday lives. Teachers can leverage the instructional videos and example coding programs to explicitly model coding skills and vocabulary. Students collaboratively and independently reflect on their interests and create coding projects such as an animated story, game, dance, and more to share with their learning community. Seesaw Lessons help teachers transfer the responsibility of learning to students over time while engaging students in rich active learning experiences.

Some coding with @bishopkinder today using @ScratchJr! Introduced coding using Code Crew lesson from @Seesaw Library. Then we used ? to create ourselves as a character and coded ourselves to move across the background. Great job, coders! ?? pic.twitter.com/jkAqSOB9oF

— Traci Piltz ? (@TraciPiltz) September 18, 2023

Multimodal and Interdisciplinary Instruction

Multimodal instruction is the practice of using multiple formats–such as text, visuals, video, audio, hands-on experiments, and movement–to activate students’ thinking in multiple ways, leading to deeper connections and skill mastery. Students often receive multimodal instruction (inputs), but only text-based opportunities to show their understanding (outputs). This presents teachers with a conundrum: how might they tap into what’s going on in their students’ heads?

Teachers often have a narrow window into students’ understanding. Worksheets and assessments offer written insights. Small group and 1:1 oral assessments provide additional insights, but are often time-consuming to implement routinely. 

Alternatively, these eight thinking moves⁴ can help teachers tap into their students’ heads to get a fuller picture of student understanding while empowering students to build new ideas and connections:

1. Observe closely and describe what is there
2. Share explanations
3. Reason with evidence
4. Make connections
5. Consider different points of view and perspectives
6. Understand deeply and draw conclusions
7. Wonder and ask questions
8. Investigate

Students often engage in many of these thinking moves, but are not given opportunities to capture or share their learning with others. Seesaw’s portfolio with multimodal tools makes it easy for teachers to leverage these eight thinking moves. Learners can capture their wonderings, observations, evidence, and reasoning using their choice of tools: drawing, text, audio, video, and more.

Learning new knowledge also requires different cognitive pathways. Quick checks for understanding reveal short-term memory cognition, but how might teachers tap into students’ longer-term memory and mastery of learning? The key is interdisciplinary, project- or inquiry-based learning.

With Seesaw Lessons, students engage in a variety of activities to activate these pathways that focus on attention, memory, reasoning, communication, and visualization. When students are able to engage in digital inquiry⁵ and apply learning across subjects or to the real-world⁶, they develop a more complex, transferrable understanding. These practices empower them to use rather than simply acquire knowledge.

Incorporating Formative Assessment and Providing Immediate Feedback

Formative assessments provide insights to teachers and students about their learning to inform instruction. Immediate feedback⁷ empowers students to self-correct and redirect their learning. This type of feedback also boosts students’ self-esteem and identities as students⁸. Researchers Carol Dweck, David Yeager, and Jo Boaler refer to this boost of self-esteem and identities as a growth mindset⁹. When students have a growth mindset and reflect on their learning, they realize they can learn almost anything when they persevere and try new things.

Formative assessment helps teachers encourage their students’ growth mindsets. Teachers can better differentiate and support their students with timely, actionable feedback. Their can create small groups or engage students in collaborative activities¹⁰ to reinforce skills and their growth mindsets.

?AMAZED by the new formative assessment tools in @Seesaw! It took me less than 3 minutes to make an exit ticket using the ?AI BOT! Instant Ss feedback, self-grading & data by class or broken down by individual Ss! The possibilities are ENDLESS! #cbgroveland #seesawlearning pic.twitter.com/IY822rq9nK

— Lindsay Toub (@miss_toub) September 18, 2023

Seesaw’s Formative Assessment feature provides students with immediate feedback¹¹ on multiple-choice, drag and drop, and poll assessments. These quick checks provide students with immediate feedback and the teacher with insights to scaffold or extend learning. When these formative assessments are paired with more open-ended multimodal tools, teachers can get a more holistic picture of students’ understanding. Additionally, teachers can create their own activities with formative assessment or grab standards-aligned, ready-to-go lessons with this tool in the Seesaw Library.

INSERT LESSON PREVIEW IFRAME OR IMAGE AND DELETE THIS TEXT

Culturally Responsive Teaching

Culturally responsive teaching honors and encourages students to connect their cultures, languages, interests, and life experiences to what they’re learning at school. Student strengths are celebrated and nurtured, leading to an increased sense of belonging¹².

 

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A post shared by Marisa | 5th grade teacher (@teachwellandsel)

Seesaw Lessons help students see themselves in their learning through diverse characters, stories, and experiences¹³. Activities help them build empathy, see diverse learners like themselves, and make connections to everyday life¹⁴. Extra care has been given to diverse representation in our computer science collections, as a historically homogeneous field. Students learn digital leadership, coding, and computational thinking skills alongside diverse characters. Lessons collections like Careers in Computer Science, Story Pirates: Story Sparks, and What’s My Job highlight real-life individuals working in a variety of professions, helping students better imagine themselves as digital innovators¹⁵, with intersectional, complex identities.

 

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Students also draw from funds of knowledge¹⁶, a wealth of diverse experiences and skills, in which they can share to enrich the diversity of their classroom. Seesaw’s portfolio with multimodal tools empower learners to showcase their learning in their preferred way. Every lesson in the Seesaw Library is equipped with audio directions in English and Spanish to increase access and support learners. Spanish lessons include fully translated text, audio, video, and visuals to support multilingual learners practicing and sharing their learning. These learners have access to screen, video, and audio recording tools to orally rehearse before sharing.

 

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Fostering Family Engagement

Family engagement research¹⁷ shows the impact of engaging families as co-owners of student outcomes. Families are the experts on their child’s interests and cultural experiences. When there are natural ways to bring that expertise to and from the classroom, students are able to connect new information with their experiences and background knowledge, leading to deeper learning. There are high gains in student achievement when parents are informed of what their child is learning and how to support them at home. Consistent outreach to parents (messaging and sending resources to support the child at home) result in high student achievement. Teachers want to engage with their families to support their students, but reaching every family is complex and time-intensive.

Seesaw helps teachers save that time. Once families are connected to their student, they can participate in their child’s learning by viewing their portfolio, commenting on progress, messaging with teachers, and participating in family activities. Teachers can choose to message student work examples to families, or families can already automatically see their child’s work once it is approved and added to their journals. Teachers invest time in the initial setup so that families are automatically kept in the loop every time their child creates something new in Seesaw.

Families can tap into their funds of knowledge and contribute to classroom culture and their child’s learning by commenting on their child’s work and messaging with the teacher. Messages and comments translate into over 100 languages, increasing accessibility. Families can stay up-to-date with classroom events and follow up on student learning at home. Teachers can send reminders or share helpful resources for families to utilize to support their child at home.

Seesaw Lessons also include activities designed to be completed with partners at home or school. These activities explain the importance of this activity or domain to their child’s development. Videos and instructions model for parents how to support and engage in the activities with their child. At Seesaw, families are essential partners to students’ growth. Teachers can easily engage with families with ready-to-go resources, student portfolio work, and messaging tools.

 

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Conclusion

Seesaw is the one learning platform all teachers need to spark engaging, personalized learning for every student and family in meaningful ways. Check out our free Quick Start Guides for teachers and Messages guides for teachers and families to bring multimodal tools, culturally responsive lessons, active learning opportunities; formative assessments; and family engagement practices into your classroom today. Rest assured that you are integrating research-based best practices into your pedagogy by integrating Seesaw into your daily instruction.

References

1. Fisher, Douglas, and Nancy Frey. Better Learning through Structured Teaching: A Framework for the Gradual Release of Responsibility. ASCD, 2008. https://files.ascd.org/staticfiles/ascd/pdf/siteASCD/publications/books/Better-Learning-Through-Structured-Teaching-3ed-sample-chapters.pdf
2. Pearson, P. D., & Gallagher, M. C. (1983). The instruction of reading comprehension. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 8(3), 317–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-476X(83)90019-X
3. Resnick, Mitchel, and Ken Robinson. Lifelong Kindergarten : Cultivating Creativity through Projects, Passion, Peers, and Play. Cambridge, Massachusetts, The Mit Press, 2018. https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262536134/lifelong-kindergarten/
4. Ritchhart, Ron, et al. Making Thinking Visible: How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners. San Francisco, Ca, Jossey-Bass, 2011. https://pz.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Chapter%201%20MTV%20Ritchhart%20Sample.pdf
5. Coiro, Julie, et al. From Curiosity to Deep Learning: Personal Digital Inquiry in Grades K-5. Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Stenhouse Publishers, 2019. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED596069
6. Repko, Allen F. “Assessing Interdisciplinary Learning Outcomes.” Academic Exchange Quarterly, Fall 2008, p.171-178. https://interdisciplinarystudies.org/docs/syllabi/Assessing_Interdisiplinary_Learning_Outcomes_(Allen_F._Repko).pdf
7. Fyfe, E. R., & Rittle-Johnson, B. (2016). The benefits of computer-generated feedback for mathematics problem solving. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 147, 140–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2016.03.009
8. Black, Paul, and Dylan Wiliam. “Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards through Classroom Assessment.” Phi Delta Kappan, vol. 92, no. 1, Sept. 2010, pp. 81–90, https://doi.org/10.1177/003172171009200119.
9. Dweck, Carol S., and David S. Yeager. “Mindsets: A View from Two Eras.” Perspectives on Psychological Science, vol. 14, no. 3, Feb. 2019, p. 174569161880416, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6594552/, https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691618804166.
10. Boaler, J. (2000) (Ed) Multiple Perspectives on Mathematics Teaching and Learning. Ablex Publishing: Westport, CT. (pp 171-200). https://www.youcubed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Chapter-7-of-Multiple-Perspectives-on-Mathematics-Teaching-and-Learning.pdf
11. Butler, A. C., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). Feedback enhances the positive effects and reduces the negative effects of multiple-choice testing. Memory & Cognition, 36(3), 604–616. https://doi.org/10.3758/mc.36.3.604
12. Cohn-Vargas, Becki, et al. Belonging and Inclusion in Identity Safe Schools. Corwin Press, 17 Aug. 2021. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED614224
13. Morris, T. T., Dorling, D., Davies, N. M., & Davey Smith, G. (2021). Associations between school enjoyment at age 6 and later educational achievement: Evidence from a UK cohort study. Npj Science of Learning, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-021-00092-w
14. Ryoo, Jean J. “Pedagogy That Supports Computer Science for All.” ACM Transactions on Computing Education, vol. 19, no. 4, 16 July 2019, pp. 1–23, https://doi.org/10.1145/3322210.
15. Kimberly A. Scott, Kimberly M. Sheridan & Kevin Clark (2015) Culturally responsive computing: a theory revisited, Learning, Media and Technology, 40:4, 412-436, DOI: 10.1080/17439884.2014.924966. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17439884.2014.924966?journalCode=cjem20
16. González, N., Moll, L. C., & Amanti, C. (Eds.). (2005). Funds of knowledge: Theorizing practices in households, communities, and classrooms. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2005-06807-000
17. Henderson, Anne T, et al. A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement. Austin, Tex., National Center For Family & Community Connections With Schools, 2002. https://sedl.org/connections/resources/evidence.pdf

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Pick one word that is your focus or intention this school year.

Lindsay: Embrace

What are some traditions or superstitions you have for the first day of school?

Lindsay: I love reading students the book “Don’t Eat Your Classmates” on the first day of school. It’s fun and silly and gets everyone laughing.

How does Seesaw bring learning to life in your classroom?

Lindsay: It gives students an authentic reason to do their work. Students are so excited to share their writing, reading, creations, etc. with others.

What is the best advice someone ever gave you?

Lindsay: A wonderful mentor of mine taught me to have high expectations for all students. It’s made such a difference in my teaching.

How do you use Seesaw to connect with families?

Lindsay: I love that parents can see first-hand what we are doing in the classroom. It’s like being a fly on the wall. I love it and so do they!

If you were able to have an unlimited amount of something for your classroom, what would it be and why?

Lindsay: Fine point dry-erase markers. My students use these every day and we can never have enough.

Share one Seesaw goosebumps moment. Was there a time learning was captured on Seesaw that gave you goosebumps?

Lindsay: I love when students hear a recording of their reading from the beginning of the year and compare it with one at the end. It’s so fun to hear their excitement and surprise.

What is the best compliment you could get from a student or a parent?

Lindsay: “When they tell me how impressed they are with the amount of growth they’ve seen from their child.”

What would your students be surprised to find out about you?

Lindsay: That I have written a book for teachers about teaching reading! I’m so excited to share my new book with my students this coming year. I’ll tell them about how I wanted to be a writer when I was a kid and now I finally am one. I hope this inspires them to reach for their goals and dreams.

Share a notable teaching moment that you still think about today.

Lindsay: The moment one of my students excitedly exclaimed, “Mrs. Kemeny! I am ACTUALLY READING THE WORDS!” I can still hear his voice and see the look on his face. Best moment ever.

What/who inspired you to become an educator?

Lindsay: I was a serious dancer when I was younger and would often perform in school assemblies. It was being in those schools that made me realize I wanted to be a teacher.

If you could take your students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them? And why?

Lindsay: I’d say an educational tour of Disneyland, but to be honest…I’d be way too stressed about losing a student there! Haha. Since I love teaching reading, maybe Powell’s Bookstore in Portland which is the largest independent bookstore in the world. And then I’d pair that trip with something fun like an aquarium or the coast.

Join Lindsay Kemeny at Connect 2023!

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Every child develops at their own pace. Yet there are a handful of skills that help students jump into their learning journey with confidence – referred to as kindergarten readiness.

WHAT IS KINDERGARTEN READINESS?

Kindergarten readiness means students have the social, emotional, physical, and foundational thinking skills to learn in a school setting. That’s a lot of skills to get ready! We’re here to help.

Here’s our complete kindergarten readiness checklist.

Bonus: Students can build these skills in interactive ways with their families. Yup, no worksheets! Keep reading for free lessons that build readiness skills through fun games and hands-on activities.

KINDERGARTEN READINESS CHECKLIST

Foundational Building Blocks

☐ I sleep 10-12 hours a night
☐ I can dress myself
☐ I can use the bathroom and wash-up on my own
☐ I can introduce myself with my name and how old I am
☐ I can follow simple directions

Gross and Fine Motor Skills

☐ I can run, hop, skip, jump, and climb stairs
☐ I can bounce a ball and try to catch it
☐ I can use child scissors
☐ I can make marks that look like letters
☐ I can put a simple puzzle together

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

☐ I can be away from my family without getting overly upset
☐ I can play with other children
☐ I can pay attention for 5 minutes during an adult-led activity

Reading and Oral Language

☐ I can listen to stories
☐ I know how books work
☐ I can say the alphabet and know the names of most letters
☐ I know letters make sounds and can recognize some
☐ I know when two words rhyme
☐ I can draw a picture to share an idea
☐ I can talk in full sentences
☐ I can follow two-step directions

Mathematical Thinking

☐ I can count 10 objects
☐ I understand ‘more than’ and ‘less than’
☐ I recognize and can name basic shapes like squares, triangles, and circles
☐ I can arrange 4 objects from smallest to biggest
☐ I can name and point to primary colors
☐ I can try different strategies to solve problems

GETTING READY FOR KINDERGARTEN

Kindergarten readiness involves academic skills as well as physical, self-care, and social and emotional skills. Because success in school involves more than just ABCs and 123s. Whether a child has preschool experience or not, we can ensure they feel welcome in school and excited to learn from day one. The benefits of a kindergarten checklist include helping families ensure their child is developing the necessary skills and identifying areas where they might need more support.

Check out these 5 FREE Seesaw lessons that build skills from each readiness category.

FOLLOW ME GAME

Students practice listening and following directions while playing a game.

Get the Lesson →

SCULPTING MY NAME

Students build fine motor skills by sculpting their names with play dough.

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FEELINGS CHARADES

Students practice identifying and naming different emotions.

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MY FAMILY IS SPECIAL

Students practice oral language skills by describing why their family is special to them.

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COUNT AROUND YOUR HOME

Students practice counting in sequence by counting steps around their home.

Get the Lesson →

Building kindergarten readiness skills with Seesaw supports students in preschool programs and at home, engages families as powerful partners, and captures learning in a digital portfolio. This allows kindergarten teachers to gain valuable insights to differentiate instruction and build home-to-school connections before the school year even begins!

Explore our complete Building to Kindergarten collection in the Seesaw Resource Library here.

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