The creation of a continuum of supports is not merely a one-time exercise for a professional development day but a collaborative endeavor focused on surfacing collective practices across the school. Teachers, educational assistants, administrators, and other team members all contribute their expertise, forging a document that resonates with the collective wisdom of the school. It's not about perfection; it's about meaningful contributions and ongoing refinement.
But how do we ensure that this thoughtfully co-created continuum doesn't languish in obscurity, relegated to the confines of a forgotten filing cabinet or in an unrecoverable folder on a computer? Let's explore some strategies that could breathe life into the continuum and ensure its active utilization.
Visibility is Key
First and foremost, visibility is key. Print it, laminate it, post it on every available surface—staff rooms, meeting spaces, classrooms. Make it an omnipresent reminder of commitment to student success. Imagine the impact of a continuum placemat adorning every teacher's bulletin board, a tangible symbol of the strategies at their disposal.
Here is an example from Connaught School in Medicine Hat, AB shown below, consider posting up the most highly impactful interventions, accommodations and strategies from the school’s continuum. It’s a great way to use the environment to provide the answer to the question “so what should we do?” within view of the entire team for ease of use. The second photo is from Central School in Taber, AB, where the tiers are a permanent fixture of their meeting space!
Embedding the Continuum in Ongoing Conversations
But visibility alone isn't enough; we must foster a culture where the continuum becomes ingrained in daily conversations and problem-solving endeavors. Whether it's discussing student goals, collaborating with parents, or conducting classroom walkthroughs, the continuum should be a compass, guiding actions and decisions.
Sense of Ownership and Commitment
Cultivating a sense of ownership among teachers and staff is essential to the use of the continuum of supports. Providing opportunities for staff to contribute to the development and refinement of the continuum will ensure that it reflects their expertise and experiences. This sense of ownership breeds commitment and investment in its utilization.
Articulating Tier One
One effective strategy for enhancing and refining your continuum is the identification of non-negotiables—Tier one practices that are universally adopted across classrooms. These non-negotiables serve as benchmarks for quality instruction, and their implementation should be visible during classroom walkthroughs. Teachers feel empowered to contribute to the definition of these non-negotiables, fostering a sense of collaboration and shared responsibility.
At Buck Mountain Central School, they co-created observables using a simple process to describe Tier 1 practices in their school focused on building positive relationships. This ensures common language and common understanding among all staff members.
Interactive Continuums of Support
Leverage technology to make the continuum interactive and dynamic. QR codes linked to detailed descriptions of each practice can provide additional context and guidance. Creating a continuum of supports in a slide deck can promote ease of links and create the depth of understanding in regards to the identified strategies.
The following is Ecole Notre Dame Elementary Literacy Continuum of Supportswhich they created using Google slides. This format provides an effective layering of understanding as well as the potential for scaffolded learning around all of the strategies at each tier of the continuum.
Share the Continuum
Once your continuum is formatted it then can be shared with parents and the school community. It demonstrates the depth and breadth of the expertise and supports available to all learners in the school. It builds shared understanding and creates confidence in the school community as readers examine the plethora of supports engaged in the classrooms across the school. Share these resources in school newsletters, ensuring that the entire school community is informed and engaged in collective efforts.
The continuum of supports isn't just a static document; it's a living, breathing framework that guides actions and shapes practices. It's a testament to the commitment to student success and the unwavering dedication to continuous improvement.
If you have questions, resources or suggestions related to this concept, we would love to chat with you! Email us at or .
Overview of Continuum of Supports
