Zearn

What is Zearn?

Zearn is an online program that provides standards-aligned independent digital math lessons. Zearn is founded on the belief that every kid is a math kid and there’s always a way in. When kids learn math as a few big ideas rather than a series of tricks, they can tackle any problem.

In the independent digital lessons, Zearn uses the concrete/pictorial/abstract (CPA) pedagogical strategy to help kids understand math concepts in an intuitive and tangible way and includes tier 1 intervention in every lesson. Personalized boosts scaffold learning exactly when kids need it, getting them to deep understanding, fast. Daily diagnostics provide real-time data so you know how your kids are progressing and when they need additional intervention. If students are struggling with concepts, Zearn will recommend foundational lessons for each concept, all coherently connected to core learning, that can be assigned.

Zearn’s research-backed and evidence-based approach to math learning helps teachers make sure every kid gets the opportunity to succeed. Zearn is one tool you can use to structure your targeted math time to provide meaningful activities for students to work on independently

Why do we use Zearn?

Students learning with Zearn Math develop a deep understanding of key grade-level math concepts, can connect those concepts to prior learnings, and are able to apply their knowledge flexibly and accurately when encountering new situations, contexts, and problems. All curricular materials reflect the core instructional shifts of mathematics—focus, coherence, and rigor—which are research-based and internationally benchmarked. These shifts ensure K–5 students build the critical arithmetic foundations that prepare them to extend algebraic thinking in middle school and explore more advanced mathematics in later grades.

The Zearn Math curriculum is green-lighted by EdReports, an independent nonprofit that conducts in-depth reviews of instructional materials. You can see the EdReports findings on Zearn here.

Getting Started with Zearn

In order to launch Zearn in your classroom, there are a few key supports that will help you get set-up and ready to go!

Use the getting started checklist. This one-pager is really helpful to ensure that you are ready to go with the understandings and materials you will need - as well as helping you create a plan for rolling out the platform with students. One key materials note - make sure students have headphones that work and their student notebooks before you launch - they will need both every day.

Make sure students are assigned to the right lessons to start the year! Go to your grade-levels' Targeted Math Unit 1 page and scroll down to where it says "Unit 1: Zearn Independent Lessons". This guidance will help you make sure students are starting the year with content aligned to core math instruction. For Zearn's recommendations for where to start students on Independent Digital lessons, read more here.

Use the video here to support students in logging on to Zearn with Clever. If students have a tricky time getting into Zearn via Clever, this can be a helpful tool for you and for them.

Use some of the resources here to get families involved with Zearn:
- Family Orientation Resources
- Family Zearn Webpage: English || Spanish
- Family Conference Resources

Independent Digital Lessons on Zearn

Once students have started accessing Zearn, use the resources below to ensure students get the most out of the independent digital lessons:

Make sure students are assigned to lessons aligned to core instruction! Go to your grade-levels' Targeted Math Unit page and scroll down to where it says "Unit XYZ: Zearn Independent Lessons". This guidance will help you make sure students are working on lessons aligned to core math instruction. Additionally, you can see the yearlong alignment between Ilustrative Math and Zearn Digital Lessons for your grade-level below. This video can help you ensure you have the right content assigned for each student.

ZearnIllustrativeMathK8Alignment.pdf

Bookmark additional foundational lessons! Using the Math Library, you can bookmark foundational lessons for students to complete, in addition to their on-grade-level work. Learn more about bookmarking foundational lessons here and how to determine which lessons to bookmark for individual students here!

Goal Setting Resources:
- Weekly Independent Lesson Goal Tracker - After students complete the Tower of Power and Exit Ticket, they use the Printed Goal Tracker to keep track of their progress toward their Independent Digital Lesson completion goals. Printed Lesson Trackers for each Mission are included in Zearn Workbooks or can be downloaded and printed individually from teacher accounts. Students also have access to digital tools to help them track their progress throughout the week and within individual lessons.
- Anchor Charts for Monitoring Class Progress - Classroom systems for setting Zearn Math goals and tracking Independent Digital Lesson progress each week can help motivate students to reach their learning goals. This is a printable option where teachers just need clothespins with student names so they can move up as they complete lessons during the week.
- Additional resources for Zearn goal setting + celebrating student progress (I love the weekly lesson celebration + the weekly lesson achievement certificates!)

Zearn Effective Data Practices

Teachers should login to their Zearn Reports at least once per week, if not more often, and focus on the Pace Report and Tower Alert Report.

Using the Pace Report first, teachers can closely monitor lesson completion and identify if students are falling behind or moving ahead. The Pace Report tracks a classroom and individual students’ progress against the four-lessons-a-week goal. It shows a real-time view of how many Independent Digital Lessons each student has completed, their time to complete each Independent Digital Lesson, and their aggregate weekly time spent.

If you see a student is falling behind, the next Report to check is the Tower Alert Report. If a student is struggling in the Tower of Power, the independent practice portion of an Independent Digital Lesson, they receive scaffolded remediation the moment they need it; this is called a Boost. If a student struggles multiple times in the same Tower, a Tower Alert is generated for their teacher. The Tower Alert reports which Independent Digital Lesson the student struggled in, when they struggled, and whether they have completed that Tower and moved on to the next Independent Digital Lesson. Using the Tower Alert Report will help teachers identify which students are struggling in which lesson, and determine if a student is struggling productively or unproductively, and then intervene accordingly.

For more supports and resources around Zearn data reports, click here.

Additional Zearn Resources + Tools

See the resources below for additional tools to continue growing your practice with Zearn!

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