Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 Resource Database

NTACT is aware that state and local education and service providers are challenged by the current health concerns, closings, restrictions, and fluid reopening plans associated with COVID19. As educators, service providers, students, and families are considering the 2020-2021 school year. NTACT has added resources shared from practitioners and families, as well as promising practice in transition.

The Unified Young readers Club is a great inclusive activity for a younger audience and accompanies Special Olympics Young Athletes play with books and study guides that support teachers as they address such topics as inclusion, awareness, friendship, bullying, and acceptance to audiences of both students with and without intellectual disabilities. Each book has a theme that relates to multiple state academic standards, and aligns with the precepts of positive school climate initiatives.

The purpose of Inclusion Tiles is to support understanding of the true meaning of diversity and meaningful inclusion. Meaningful inclusion is hard to put into words and action, and these tiles help to start the conversation and support people of all ages along their inclusion journey.

In the time of widespread virtual and distance learning models, leadership and training opportunities for students may look different, but it is essential that inclusive youth leadership remains a priority among schools, educators, and students. To provide an easily accessible opportunity to build upon this key component, the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® team is offering four FREE Digital Inclusive Youth Summits for high school and college-aged students during the 2020-2021 school year

This Voices from the Field video shares the experiences of four teachers in the Exceptional Children department in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as they adjusted to delivering instruction during COVID-19 restrictions. They discuss the importance of communicating with families, how they have adapted virtual instruction and used instructional materials, their thoughts for continuing efforts in fall 2020, and their advice for other teachers.

Find tip sheets and blog posts on how to use storybook conversations to engage in STEM learning with young children. The tip sheets include question prompts, related activities, and adaptations.

Families may start to feel “stuck” during distance learning. This resource offers strategies and tools to help families and students get “unstuck” when frustrated with distance learning.

Many classrooms use morning meetings to check-in with students and lay out the goals of the day, and this is still possible with asynchronous distance learning or work packets that go home. See elementary and middle school examples of a morning meeting check-in.

This website from the National Science Foundation, offers STEM activities for learners of all ages that can be practiced online.

This website features resources including videos and documents topics from on science, nature, history and more.

This website includes daily schedules, quizzes, and other tools and resources to prepare students and families for remote and virtual learning. Experts are also available for office hours to answer questions through virtual mediums.

Presents the early math skills that children will need to have when they enter school, and how everyday interactions and informal activities done at home can help build those skills.

This article from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) describes specific considerations and strategies for parents when supporting their students with disabilities in beginning online instruction.

The Learning Lab provides teachers access to millions of digital resources from across the Smithsonian's museums, research centers, libraries, archives, and more. Collections include lessons, activities, and recommended resources made by Smithsonian museum educators and classroom teachers and are supported by trainings, office hours, and models of best practice.

Code.org offers supports for teachers currently teaching these computer science courses and provides resources to help students learn from home.