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In socially connected learning, students are encouraged and able to make meaningful, supportive connections with teachers, experts, peers, and the content of their learning to persist, deepen commitment, and co-create together. Explore practical strategies that:

Peer learning and collaboration
Relationship and trust building
Family engagement and involvement
Community and civic connection

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Photo of teacher aide standing at table and speaking with a group of seated students

LPS Richmond

Tiered Student Supports

Multiple non-teacher support options to increase ownership of student learning
Photo of student working on laptop with teacher and other students in background

ReNEW DTA Academy

Students Choose Learning Objectives

Providing students choice in what they learn to increase engagement
Photo closeup of laptop screen showing mastery data

ReNEW DTA Academy

Sharing Mastery Data Transparently Across the Class

Allowing students to see each other’s scores to better enable student support and growth
Two elementary school students work together on a project at a table

Example: Mix It Up! The Benefits of Mixed-Ability Groups (IgnitED Research)

This video shares evidence from the learning sciences and a practitioner perspective about the benefits of mixed-ability student groups
Photo of teacher standing in front of class teaching to group of seated students

Roots Elementary

Scheduled Ongoing Large Group Instruction

Large group instruction frequently used to meet common needs and instruct efficiently
image of 3-before-me.png

Wheatley Education Campus

3 Before Me

Utilizing peer support to build culture and agency
image of 19.png

Norwood Public Schools

Expectations Ensure Engagement

Outlining clear expectations for small-group work in remote settings
Photo closeup of student working with device with teacher and another student in background

CICS West Belden

Multiple Methods of Support

Use of peers, teachers, and online resources to offer choice in support
View of classroom bulletin board with post-it notes; bulletin board reads, "Why We Love Arena 8"

Bronx Arena High School

Arenas (Four-Hour Time Blocks)

Large blocks of time that enable students to work through their courses with flexible, personalized supports
Photo of high-school classroom

LPS Richmond

Common Launch

Opening class with shared problem solving to create a culture focused on growth
Two students sit on couch, reading from tablets

Lovett Elementary School

Accountability Partners

Student meetings with a partner to help them meet learning goals
Screenshot of workspace with virtual sticky notes in various colored, layered atop one another. The visible sticky notes read: can teachers within subject areas do more cross-planning and instruction? Have at-home students collaborate for discussions together. Combine the “back-to-normal” with the “new curriculum” by having teachers collaborate on more project-based across content areas so that the courses aren’t siloed during this time. Co-Design future learning experiences with students to explore new ways of learning (and to build ownership). Can an assignment be envisioning a new normal? What do the students wish for?

Virtual Collaboration with Jamboard

Bringing sticky-note activities into the virtual world
Photo of two students working together on laptops and in conversation

Pleasant View Elementary School

Student Choice of Work Partners

Students can choose to partner with other students to improve their learning experience
Photo of small group of students seated and working together

Roots Elementary

Daily, Weekly, and Long-Term Student Groupings

Employing multiple grouping approaches to meet immediate needs as well as provide stable working teams
Photo of two student partners working together on laptops

ReNEW DTA Academy

Partnering Choice

Allowing students to choose how they work best to increase productivity
Students sit together in classroom, looking at laptops, while one looks up and raises his hand

Example: Learner-Led Classroom Management (IgnitED Research)

This video shares evidence from the learning sciences and a practitioner perspective around classroom management.
image of VirtualTokenSystem-strat.png

Virtual Award System

Reinforcing positive behaviors by offering a choice of reward
Two students look together at laptop, one wears a green lanyard

Alpha Public Schools

Green Lanyards

Giving students leadership roles to build culture and collaboration
Students sit grouped at tables with technology

Valor Collegiate Academies

Multiple Methods of Student Groupings

Mixing a variety of grouping strategies based on students’ needs
Student placing colorful blocks into black tray

Locust Grove Middle School

Makerspaces

Large classrooms with resources to support students’ project-based learning
Photo of student arm writing in notebook with laptop in background

LPS Richmond

Daily and Weekly Goal-Setting

Students review their data to determine goals for the day and week
Example of a Flex Friday menu with ideas listed in different colors

Lovett Elementary School

Lovett's Flex Fridays

Addressing student learning needs outside core content areas
Photo of teacher seated at front of class with group of students seated in front and copying teacher patting head

Roots Elementary

Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Groups

Differentiated groups to enhance different learning experiences
Photo of teacher speaking to large class of students

ReNEW DTA Academy

Teacher-Led Large Group Instruction

Teaching to large heterogeneous groups to maximize efficiency
Two students look at each other as they speak, smiling

Valor Collegiate Academies

Incorporating Expressions of Gratitude into the School Day

Giving “Appreciations” to emphasize that gratitude for others is part of building healthy relationships
Student speaks, gesturing, while two students look on

Bronx Arena High School

Activity-Based Collaborative Learning Labs

Specific time set aside each morning for students to focus on an additional subject of interest
image of RemoteJobs_strat.png

Cedar Rapids Community School District

Remote Classroom Jobs

Creating classroom jobs for students in remote learning environments
Students smile, talk with books in front of them

Cisco Junior High School

Multiple Options for Working with Partners

Students can frequently choose whether they want to work with others on assignments, and have choices in their learning partners
This is a photo of students working together to provide support to each other.

Remote Buddy Projects

Grouping in-person and remote students together for projects
image of RemPathways_strat2.png

Remote Pathways

Virtual, small groups for a personalized experience and support
Photo closeup of student work demonstrating mastery

ReNEW DTA Academy

Mastery Videos

Students creating videos to demonstrate their knowledge of a standard
Photo of teacher working with two students on their laptops

LPS Richmond

Flexible Daily Small Group Instruction

Customized groupings to address learning needs and create team experts for specific learning objectives
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Defining Clear Roles in Group Work

Supporting each student to be successful and collaborative during small-group time
Student points at laptop while another looks on

Valor Collegiate Academies

Student Support Structures for Personalized Learning

Providing multiple types of support to balance students’ needs and teachers’ time
Photo of teacher working with small group of students around a table

LPS Richmond

Heterogeneous Teams

Teacher-assigned student teams to support a variety of skill levels
Photo of teacher working with a group of students at table in classroom

Roots Elementary

6-8 Week Learning Groups

Periodic benchmark assessments to determine student progress and adjust student learning paths
Eight students stand with teacher in front of white board, smiling

Lovett Elementary School

Full Inclusion of Students with Learning Disabilities

Providing special education resources to students with additional need in general education classrooms
Photo of table with various worksheets laid out for students

LPS Richmond

Team Work Tables

Tables grouped throughout class to enable small groups and improve team orientation
image of MutedShareAloud_strat.png

Cedar Rapids Community School District

Muted Share-Aloud

Providing flexibility for camera use during synchronous lessons
Elementary students stand in line, leaning on each other

Trailblazer Elementary School

Trailblazer's Cross Grade-Level Teams

Working in teams across multiple grade levels to create more flexibility
A small group of students listen to their teacher talking

Pleasant View Elementary School

Multi-Pronged Student Support Structure

Providing structure and multiple options to support struggling students
Shot of a student's back as he looks at a bulletin board with various words on it

Interactive Visual Vocabulary

Building understanding of vocabulary through visual means
Photo of creative classroom with flexible groups of students

CICS West Belden

Flexible Grouping

Combining students to differentiate instruction
Photo of two students working together with notebooks and laptop computers

ReNEW DTA Academy

Student Support Structures

Creating a structure of supports to help struggling students
Two students stand close together, one with arm draped over the other's arm, holding Valor school sign

Valor Collegiate Academies

Shared Commitments of the School Community

Creating common expectations for what it means to be a Valor student through “The Valor Commitments”
Student stands at white board in front of class

Cisco Junior High School

Student-Led Learning Activities

Creating opportunities for students to learn from each other
Photo of poster reading Respect is not a Gift, You have to earn it

ReNEW DTA Academy

Emphasis on Life Skill Development

Teaching and practicing skills that go beyond 8th grade math
Photo of multiple groups of students seated around tables in a classroom

LPS Richmond

Class Competitions

Unit and daily goal-completion competitions to engage and motivate students
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Digital Demonstrations

Gather evidence of student learning from student work shared digitally
Student writes on paper in front of laptop

Bronx Arena High School

Senior Portfolios

Culminating projects that seniors design, work through, and present to demonstrate high levels of learning self-management
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Intrinsic Schools

Accountable Talk Stems

Providing students a structure to engage in discussions
Students working at desks and on laptops scattered throughout a classroom

Pleasant View Elementary School

Flexible Working Groups

Create targeted small groups to differentiate instruction
image of AmtrakCars-strat.png

Norwood Public Schools

Amtrak Learning Cars

Offering students a variety of work environments to mimic in-class learning
Two students work inside classroom, looking at laptop together

Lovett Elementary School

Student Choice of Learning Partners

Enabling students to determine how they work best and trusting the choice they make