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Educator November GLEAM Newsletter

Educator November GLEAM Newsletter

Educator Newsletter - Volume 9 - November 2024

In this Issue:

Literacy Vision

What is GLEAM?

What are the intended outcomes of the GLEAM grant?

Celebrating Student Learning

Family Engagement

Professional Learning

Literacy Vision

All Barnstable Public School students deserve joyful and inclusive learning environments that pave the way to continuous learning, curiosity, change-making and meaningful engagement with the world around them. We aspire to create a learning community with students and educators engaging in challenging, authentic, adventurous, meaningful, and affirming experiences so that learning, independence, and achievement may flourish for all.


Learning in literacy will include speaking, listening, reading, reasoning, and writing that provides opportunities for students to


  • engage with complex texts, about thought-provoking topics, which reflect their own experiences and those of others
  • communicate effectively with others and think critically about their learning through speaking, listening, and various modes of writing
  • strengthen foundational skills and build knowledge to support comprehension
  • develop civic mindedness that prepares them to make meaningful contributions in their communities and beyond
  • experience connections in the content and literacy instruction in various educational settings within a student’s day


Our goal is to create learning environments where educators and students achieve more than they imagined possible.

What is GLEAM?

Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts (GLEAM) is a 2.5-year grant

(through the 24-25 SY) designed to support schools to implement components of

a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) for ELA/Literacy which have been

shown to promote equity of access and achievement for all students. We are in our final year of the grant in grades K-5.

What are the intended outcomes of the GLEAM grant?

Deep and lasting improvements in literacy instruction for all students, especially for those who have been historically underservedADD - The 2024-2025 school year CKLA implementation information

Celebrating Student Learning

Here are a few CKLA celebrations that were shared on the BPS Facebook page. Be on the lookout for information in the school and teacher communications.

Grade 2 at Hyannis West finished a unit on Tall Tales and exaggerations. They celebrated by having flapjacks with Paul Bunyan.

BWB kindergarteners practiced their rainy day nursery rhymes.

As a culminating activity for Grade 3 Unit 1, Hyannis West students had a tea party with families. The tea party was a reflection of the themes presented in the Wind and the Willows and upon reading Alice in Wonderland.

Professional Learning

Throughout this year, K-5 educators and leaders are participating in a variety of professional learning opportunities to implement the new curriculum, CKLA, aligned to two priorities.


Priority 1: All teachers will consistently implement CKLA curriculum with integrity to provide all students with opportunities to engage in high quality reading foundational skills and knowledge building literacy experiences.


Priority 2: All district and school instructional leaders and teachers will use a variety of data sources to make informed strategic decisions to provide all students with responsive, tailored instruction.

Educator Resources for Family Engagement

There are many ways families can engage in the new curriculum and support their child’s literacy development.

  • CKLA Unit letters are shared at the beginning of each unit to provide an overview of the content and skills the students will learn.
  • CKLA Take-home letters and activity pages are sent home during each unit to provide an opportunity for literacy practice at home.
  • Students have access to the online platform, Amplify CKLA, in Clever. This video walks through the features of K–5 Student Home. Visit the Barnstable Public Schools webpage for steps to log into Clever.
  • Families can also access the Amplify Caregivers Hub.
The Teaching and Learning Office