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Helping Children Learn in Uncertain Times

From the CEO - Joel Zarrow, Ph.D.

The world has changed. School districts across the country are making massive efforts to deal with the impact of the pandemic. From continuing to meet students’ nutritional needs through food distribution efforts to grappling with uneven access to digital technology in a time of virtual instruction, the number and complexity of challenges facing our public education system is as unprecedented as the pandemic itself.

At CLI, we are continuing to work shoulder-to-shoulder with school districts to help accelerate the transition from in-classroom instruction to at-home instruction. We are supporting teachers to understand what it takes to deliver effective online instruction. We are helping to strengthen the connection between teacher online instruction and at-home support by providing caregivers with learning guides full of activities and tips linked to the lesson objective of the teacher’s online instruction. We are dramatically increasing the resources available to teachers and families on LEARN, our web-based learning platform. In just the last two weeks, we have seen traffic up 50%. There’s a lot for adults to learn to enable children to learn in these disruptive times, and we’re making sure we’re doing everything we can to help.

There is so much we don’t know about the other side of “the curve.” When we will be there? How many people will be impacted? What might a new normal look like? We do know, however, that children and families in the communities we serve will face the greatest challenges with the fewest resources. We do know that the opportunity gap will widen and inequities will deepen, especially if we do not step in with everything we’ve got.
The world has changed, but the mission remains the same. We are deeply grateful for those who support out work with teachers and children. It matters now more than ever.
Be Well,
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Joel Zarrow, CEO

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Gratitude Corner

  • B&N Trugman Charitable Trust
  • Barra Foundation
  • Donely Foundation
  • Mark and Lori Fife
  • Jeanne and Dov Haselkorn
  • James P. and Brenda S.
  • Grusecki Family Foundation
  • McMaster-Carr Supply Company
  • Gerald Mosely
  • Moss Foundation
  • Edmund and Megan Pantuliano
  • Lilli Petruzzelli
  • Pew Charitable Trusts
  • Publix Super Markets, Inc.
  • Steans Family Foundation
  • United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

Tools for Virtual Teaching:

CLI's LEARN Platform

Looking for teaching tips to help students at home? Parents and educators alike have free access to LEARN.cli.org, our online learning resource center. With free videos, lesson plans, writing prompts, guided reading sessions, teaching strategies and book recommendations, LEARN gives parents and teachers a variety of ways to keep their children engaged as they work from home. 

Check out LEARN here! >>
JUMP!

Spotlight: A Book List for Learning at Home

Whether you are a teacher planning a virtual read aloud with your students or a parent snuggling up with your kids at home, we’ve curated a list of wonderful children’s books for students from Pre-K to 3rd grade. 

Check out the list here! >>
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Shoutout to Our Educators

Educators Across the Country Take Read Alouds Online

We invite you to enjoy this video provided by one of our teachers, Ms. Gilmore, reading This Pigeon Needs a Bath.

CLI’s mission is to help students become powerful readers, writers and thinkers. And, nothing we do would be possible without the hard work of the teachers. Today across the country, as a significant number of us adapt to working and learning remotely, teachers and educators are doing read alouds from home so that their students can stay engaged and keep learning.
See the video! >>
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A Special Thank You To Our Donors

During this unprecedented time, CLI is playing a key role in helping teachers understand and master virtual instruction and online learning. Our coaches are providing virtual coaching and our content team is busy creating additional digital resources at the request of school districts from across the country. We would not be able to do this work without you and your continued support as donors, partners and volunteers. On behalf of the entire CLI team, thank you

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