Focus Areas - Throughline Learning

Our Focus Areas

How can Throughline Learning support your needs?

My school is designated in need of Comprehensive Support & Improvement
I need a strong, multi-year, research-based plan aligned to our needs.

Partnership Example:

Throughline Learning supported two elementary schools in Woonsocket, RI identified for Comprehensive Support & Improvement (CSI). Each school prioritized practices within our Culturally Responsive & Sustaining Pedagogy framework and selected professional learning delivery models tailored to their needs.

Over three years, Bernon Heights Elementary School (BHES) focused on family engagement, differentiation, developing academic mindsets, critical thinking skills, and structuring writing instruction.

During the same time frame, Kevin K. Coleman Elementary School focused on family engagement, differentiated ELA instruction, a curriculum audit, student persistence, formative assessment, and structuring writing instruction.

Core Services:

Whole School PD workshops
Strategy-Based PLCs
Embedded 1:1 Teacher Coaching
Design Team Facilitation
Leadership Coaching
Student Experience Survey

Impact:

After 3 years of support, both schools improved performance above pre-pandemic levels and exited CSI.

In SY22, BHES was one of 4 schools out of 300 statewide to improve their state rating by 2 stars (from 1 to 3 on a 5 star rating scale).

From SY21 to SY23, BHES students improved 7 points on state literacy exams, and 13 points on state math exams — outperforming pre-pandemic achievement by over 4 points.

82% of teachers reported changing their instruction based on Throughline Learning professional learning services.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth in my students — and I’ve also seen a lot of growth in my teaching practices.” — Teacher, Bernon Heights Elementary School

We are noticing more behavior, self-regulation, and engagement challenges in classrooms
We need social-emotional strategies that can be integrated with academic instruction.

Partnership Example:

Our SELF (Social Emotional Learning Fellowship) cohort convenes teachers and leaders in a collaborative virtual setting. Participants discuss, support implementation, and debrief a tiered set of strategies across different roles and grade levels to support existing SEL frameworks and curricula.

Our strategy for social emotional and academic development spans class structures, small group routines, and de-escalation techniques to support both staff well-being and student self-regulation and management.

Core Services:

Depending on your entry point and SEL goals, Throughline Learning offers the following options:

SELF Cohort (individuals participate from different schools/districts)
Strategy-Based PLC: SEL (focused on school or district teams)

Impact:

“Participating in the SEL Cohort is a chance to learn about SEL supports from experts, colleagues, and other districts. I am grateful for the whole child approach, and how to integrate social and emotional development as part of overall instruction.” — SELF participant

I am excited to bring new strategies into my classroom that encourage adolescent students to appropriately identify and express their emotions! I appreciate discussing SEL with other educators who are passionate about incorporating these ideas into daily practice.” — SELF participant

“My biggest challenge is creating a proactive approach to student health and wellbeing regardless of student background or need. To accomplish this, I know I need to improve adult SEL capacity and I appreciate everything I am learning in the fellowship.” — SELF participant

We want to know how students feel about themselves as learners — and their classroom experiences
I need a tool that can surface disaggregated student perspectives and help our school set specific goals.

Partnership Example:

Our partners leverage our validated Student Experience Survey (SES) to elevate the perspectives of students, strengthen data literacy with their school teams, and inform a more holistic understanding of school success.

Initial survey results triangulated with attendance, behavioral, or interim assessment data have flagged student groups or profiles that are not feeling particularly well-served by current school or classroom conditions.

Equipped with this data, school leaders assemble intentional students for focus group sessions to more deeply explore questions about motivations, perspectives, and creative solutions. Discussion themes center targeted strategies, and ongoing formative assessment tracks the impact of implementation.

The SES is currently part of over 90% of Throughline Learning school partnerships.

Core Services:

Student Experience Survey administration
Optional: Analysis aligned with other data measures
Student focus groups
Data and Implementation meetings to discuss results and next steps

Impact:

"Students who rated themselves lower on questions like 'I can do well on all my classwork, even when it’s difficult' also had lower results on their MAP assessments. Results helped us intentionally focus on strengthening students’ academic confidence before moving to academic interventions." — Stephanie Garcia, Throughline Learning

“Student Experience Survey results have really opened my eyes to how my students are feeling about their learning” — Educator, Central Falls School District

"One partner school examined the intersection of disciplinary and SES data, finding extremely low trends for special education students assigned in-school suspension. Targeted strategies to improve student belonging, wellness, and confidence set students on a much more positive trajectory." — Karina Rodriguez, Throughline Learning

Our students struggle with the rigor of our high-quality curriculum
We need strategies to support greater student persistence and deeper thinking.

Partnership Example:

The focus of our SY23 work at Baychester Middle School in the Bronx, NY was a set of math thinking and problem-solving routines. Our protocol separates the development of thinking skills from content skills. The process supports SEL, academic mindsets, and collaborative learning.

Students are provided with tools to name where they are struggling and the kind of help they require to get unstuck. Teachers provide specific feedback, resources, and scaffolded support. Offering students the space and language to share their thinking builds their confidence and success, but also provides them with routines that can be widely applied to other subjects and real-life situations.

Core Services:

Strategy-Based PLCs: Thinking Routines
Embedded 1:1 Teacher Coaching
Teacher PD Workshops: CRSP Cognitive Development domain
Student Experience Survey

Impact:

“Creating routines around math conversations made it much easier to clarify misconceptions and praise strong problem solving skills.” — Math Teacher, Baychester Middle School

100% of participating teachers agreed that PLC sessions were valuable

Students in the high achievement category of the MAP math assessment increased 7 points; students in the low achievement category decreased 9 points.

Students reported a 30% increase on the survey question: “I can make myself smarter.”

We just completed an Equity Audit
We need culturally responsive instructional strategies that can be integrated across grade levels and subject areas to increase equity.

Partnership Example:

The Throughline Learning Team supported the district of Norwood Public Schools in Massachusetts to operationalize instructional priorities that emerged from their Equity Audit and strategic plan. Initial training of the district team and school committee led to school-based professional learning and capacity building assistance to support internal instructional rounds.

Instructional strategies were tailored to the unique priorities at each school, and implementation was supported by embedded teacher coaching and the facilitation of common planning time.

Core Services:

Teacher PD Workshops
Leader PD Workshops
Strategy-Based PLCs: focus areas selected by school teams
Student Experience Survey

Impact:

“The instructional strategies and resources are fantastic, and the space to share, plan, and learn collaboratively with my colleagues is invaluable.”
— 2023 Participant

"Throughline Learning’s professional development is right in sync with our district's needs. Through their support, each year, more of our staff have been bringing these strategies to their classrooms to benefit our students."
— Assistant Superintendent, Norwood Public Schools

"I am so grateful for the authenticity and care that Throughline Learning brought to our group. Strategies and takeaways from our time have immediately been implemented, made me realize where I can continue to grow, and truly allowed me to embrace my role with a renewed sense of purpose and passion." — Teacher

Our school has identified many students in need of Tier 2 invention
We need help launching quality tutoring programs in math and ELA.

Partnership Example:

In a 2024 partnership with Reservoir Avenue Elementary School in Providence, RI, Throughline Learning trained 6 caregivers and community members to support math tutoring for 20 identified students. Students met with their tutor three times a week for 30 minutes during Tier 2 intervention time.

Leveraging a high-quality tutoring platform, the tutor role focused on building student confidence, sense of belonging, and persistence while supporting increased academic skills.

Core Services:

Throughline Learning’s Community Educator Tutoring Model
Community Educator Coordinator Coaching
Student Experience Survey

Impact:

“Our students are incredibly smart and excited, and I just want to support that however I can.” — Community Tutor

“I truly believe that this approach helps us maximize untapped potential to develop a workforce directly from our community. Teachers are noticing the shift in student engagement, I'm seeing community educators grow in their practice, and I'm very happy with what we're seeing.” — Principal

“[Tutoring is] good, good, good every single day. I’m somehow more comfortable with my tutor.” — Student

Academic impact data: coming soon.

We want to make our curriculum relevant to a diverse student population
We’d like to build our capacity to increase the range of stories and perspectives in our lessons.

Partnership Example:

Our partnership with Greater Commonwealth Virtual School (GCVS) in MA centers around school goals of building community, fostering connection, and deepening student engagement.

All high school teachers at GCVS completed Throughline Learning’s curriculum reflection, exploring which perspectives are represented in current curriculum materials and taking action to better honor the student identities present in their classrooms.

Teachers implemented strategies to intentionally diversify lesson sources and perspectives, solicit student feedback, and incorporate students’ cultures and interests into their coursework.

While teachers typically do not have control over curriculum selection decisions, this work demonstrated how small enhancements can make a big difference in student feelings of relevance and engagement.

Core Services:

Strategy-Based PLCs: Curriculum Reflection
1:1 Teacher Coaching
Student Experience Survey

Impact:

“Our Throughline partnership has been transformational. Our coach has helped teachers create trusting, inclusive, student-centered class communities, and improved students’ willingness to engage in productive struggle and take academic risks.” - GCVS Principal

100% of GCVS high school teachers completed curriculum reflection; 87% implemented strategies presented

GCVS student perspectives on curriculum relevance and representation increased 14%.

“I have been implementing the practices and have seen great growth. I have many students ‘stepping into the stretch zone’. ” — Teacher

“If a student feels part of the learning, they will engage... For the most part, all students engaged with our new way to discuss and debate.” — Teacher

“I am even more passionate about this work than ever! I will be working with a new teacher next year and I look forward to improving our curriculum.” — Teacher

Our data shows that we could be doing a better job supporting our students in special education
We need training for our special education team to strengthen student mindsets and confidence.

Partnership Example:

Since SY23, the Throughline Learning Team has worked with special educators across the district of Johnston Public Schools. 17% of Johnston students qualify for special education services.

The partnership began with a focus on building persistence and data-driven differentiation practices in special education learning environments. Year 2 centered on thinking routines and student goal setting to increase ownership and agency.

Core Services:

Strategy-Based PLCs: instructional focus areas selected by partner
Student Experience Survey

Impact:

“Many of my students progressed at least 10 levels in reading this year, which really empowered them to want to read more. Their parents are telling me ‘they want to go to the library, they want to read books at home, we’ve never experienced this before.’”
— Special Educator, Johnston Public Schools

94% of participating teachers implemented a new strategy

The percentage of students with IEPs in the high growth category on the STAR interim assessment increased 16 points.

My teachers are overwhelmed by a wide range of student needs and learner variability
We’re looking for strategies around differentiation, feedback, and reflection.

Partnership Example:

Noticing significant and growing ranges of grade level ability within many classrooms, the leadership team at Mt. Hope High School in Bristol, RI named differentiation as a school-wide priority area in SY24.

Throughline Learning coaches set the stage by presenting strategies to increase student persistence and engagement, demonstrating the power of starting with low stakes tasks before aligning strategies with academic activities.

Coaches then introduced 4 ways to differentiate lessons — by content, process, product, or environment — and empowered teachers to decide which strategy to employ in their classrooms. Instructional rounds led by the school team support observation and feedback around these new practices.

Core Services:

Teacher PD Workshops
Leader Coaching
Instructional Rounds
Strategy-Based PLCs: Data-driven Differentiation and Feedback & Reflection

Impact:

“Today’s session was the most useful example of PD I’ve attended in 28+ years.” — SY24 PD Participant

“At the end of the session, we asked questions about specific scenarios and the Throughline Learning presenters shared some great feedback! The two presenters were awesome…kind, professional, engaging, positive, and realistic.” - SY24 PD Participant

“The session was very informative, with great resources. I will definitely be using the toolbox.” — SY24 PD Participant

Please see our case study page for evidence of impact at Coleman Elementary.

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Our Focus Areas

How can Throughline Learning support your needs?

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