Preparing for the school year
Resources to support educators, however or wherever
As educators nationwide continue to navigate the ongoing challenges of teaching during an unprecedented time, we know peer support is crucial. Furthermore, we’ve seen many educators contemplate how to incorporate a racial justice lens with their students to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment. We’ve gathered some information below to help educators find and build community, discover anti-racism resources, and learn about other tools to support them and their learning communities.
Plan, Prepare & Respond
Find school guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Find or build your teacher community
Start or join a Facebook Group with your peers for support.
Stay connected on Instagram
Take care of you
Focus on your personal wellness with these resources for educators.
Community wellness resources
Instagram wellness guides
Resources for you and your students
Discover materials to support your instruction and your students.
Anti-racism resources to drive towards racial equity and justice with your students
Community anti-racism resources
Instagram anti-racism guides
Food security
If your school’s students or families are looking for more information on local resources such as religious institutions and food banks, students and families can reach out to 211.
Mental health support for students
Use these Instagram Guides from Boys and Girls Club of America, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and Child Mind Institute to support students who benefit from mental health services.
Educational equity
Children who are 2e (twice-exceptional) possess exceptional talents as well as learning differences such as ADHD or dyslexia, requiring a unique education approach – especially during distance learning. REEL’s Supporting 2e Distance Learners online resource kit offers guidance for educators of these 2e students.
Disaster Preparedness
Disasters and disruptions can happen anytime, anywhere leaving little time, if any, to prepare. Involving youth in disaster preparedness can increase their awareness, teach them to respond, and help serve as a messenger to their households. Find modules on types of disasters, how to prepare, and how to get involved here.
Reliable internet access
As remote learning continues, access to reliable internet is a precursor for students to gain access to their education. Find support from EveryoneOn.
Get Digital
As schools continue to use online learning platforms during this time, it’s important to ensure students, educators and families have the resources, tools and support to stay safe and healthy online. Get Digital teaches key digital citizenship and wellbeing skills, and empowers everyone to create safe, inclusive and supportive online communities. Explore more Get Digital Resources.
Tech Prep
As students spend more time online, it’s important we remind them of their potential to be the creators behind the technology they are using. Tech Prep, a free online resource hub in English, Spanish and Portuguese, can help students, as well as parents and guardians, learn what computer science is, the kinds of jobs available to computer programmers, and how to begin learning to code. Get started with Tech Prep.
Blueprint Educators Portal
Teach your students practical skills related to marketing a brand on Facebook and Instagram. Browse lesson plans, presentation slides, facilitator notes and study guides for all levels (from Career and Technical Education, community college, university and graduate), including a 10-week course to guide synchronous class sessions online. Learn more on the Blueprint Educator Portal.
Pressure to be Perfect
Pressure to be Perfect, developed in collaboration between the JED Foundation and Instagram, is a free online resource to support positive and intentional teen expression on Instagram. With guides for both teens and their parents, Pressure to be Perfect is about helping you decode the images you see online, understand how you feel about the content and people you come across, and develop a sense of what you want to share and when. Learn more about Pressure to be Perfect.
Engineer for the Week
Engineer for the Week (EFTW) is a free STEM program that introduces historically underrepresented learners (ages 11-18) to engineering. Over the course of 10-15 hours, adult facilitators guide learners to build tech prototypes that address a social issue of their choice. Upon completing the program, learners gain a better understanding of engineering, develop creative and critical thinking skills and create a project with purpose. Learn more about Engineer for the Week and sign up to receive more information.
Beats Unlocked
Beats Unlocked is a Facebook initiative that brings beat-making and coding to life through a virtual workshop that unlocks STEAM opportunities for middle and high school students in underrepresented communities. In partnership with CodeHS, learners create musical beats using block-based coding in javascript and ultimately participate in a beats battle where they showcase their work. Through this experience, Beats Unlocked provides an outlet for creative expression while building confidence and computer science skills. Learn more and register for a workshop online!
Tools to connect your community
Explore technology solutions to keep enabling your learning communities.
Any Recommendations?
If you would like to recommend a resource, please let us know. We will continue to add to this list as we hear from the education community about the tools and resources needed to get through these unprecedented times.
This resource hub was created to provide users with a community of resources and support. All resources, entities and logos are property of their respective owners and are used for identification and educational purposes only. No affiliation or endorsement is implied or should be inferred.
