Coordinate Classroom Check-ins

Distance learning doesn’t have to be so distant! Host classroom check-ins with virtual meeting platforms, like Google Hangouts or Zoom, to offer students a space to connect with classmates, ask questions, and share their experiences. Share your screen to teach a mini-lesson with a Newsela text or review upcoming assignments, so students feel comfortable and confident.

Parent Involvement

Parents-- are your children using Newsela for distance learning? We're thinking of you, too! Take a look at this overview of Newsela for parents as well as this video explaining how assignments work. Teachers-- if you're looking to give parents a little more information about Newsela, you forward them this family letter.

Keep up Communication

Communicating with students on an individual basis can help ensure they feel connected and supported. Newsela’s Activity Feed can help you stay on top of recent student actions, so you can quickly review and respond.

Communicating with students on an individual basis can help ensure they feel connected and supported. Newsela’s Activity Feed can help you stay on top of recent student actions, so you can quickly review and respond.

Annotations are a powerful tool to open up a digital dialogue. Encourage students to share their thinking, express confusion, and ask questions directly on the text.

The Write activity can help students reflect and debrief after a learning task. Edit and customize the prompt to create space for students to share successes and challenges they may be experiencing with remote learning.

Connect to Community

How can we keep a sense of classroom community, while students are learning from home? Consider posing this question to students and involving them in the problem-solving. Connect them with texts that highlight the importance of community and inspire them to think critically.