Use of The Quick Glance Reference Guide

The Quick Glance is a very unique product that we designed nearly 25 years ago. We struggled with understanding how students were supposed to grow through the years, so we literally cut a California Framework up and laid it out on our living room floor. We used a friend to help us design the original product that looked like we made it in our — well, in our living room. Within a year we went to print and The Quick Glance was born. The standards have changed, but the usefulness and the purpose have not. The classroom struggle is real and we have been in these trenches for nearly 60 combined years. We still use The Quick Glance multiple times per week.

We have sold nearly 30,000 units since 2001. We are so very grateful for the nearly 150 school districts that have bought from us throughout our history!

Who is the best target for The Quick Glance Bundle? Any California elementary school educator! It is super simple to use and it takes the most difficult and complex tool — the Frameworks — and makes them ENTIRELY accessible to the newest or most veteran teacher around.

With everything online, do people still need a hard copy of the standards? Yes. We understand that times have changed, but our sales have increased during this transition to the digital age because, believe it or not, responsible and serious educators LOVE to actually hold and touch The Quick Glance. There is just something about having it all in one single place — it's amazing and can be reassuring to see what we must teach each year. Remember, as educators we have a responsibility to have FIDELITY to the standards, not our TEs. The Quick Glance helps keep us in check.

For whom is it intended and how should it be used? See below! 

The uses of our books are unlimited. Here are some of the ways that we use them and see them used throughout our school year.

District Office: Curriculum and Instruction Superintendents, Elementary Curriculum Directors, English Language Directors and Coaches, Literacy and Math Coaches, Special Education Coordinators, Induction Coaches and Directors, Directors and Coaches of Staff Development, and MTSS Directors and Liasons.

The District Administrators and Coaches listed above should consider our product for any training related to curriculum development and implementation. We believe that when our educational leaders have a greater working knowledge of grade-level expectations, those under them can be held increasingly more responsible for fidelity to the teaching standards. Districts should equip their team members who work throughout their district with site administrators and teaching professionals.

Site Administration and Leadership: Principals, Literacy and Math Coaches 

The site-level leadership team is so critical for driving academic achievement. The Right Way Company believes that leadership sets the standard — no pun intended. When we, as classroom practitioners, see our administration and academic leaders working with the standards, we buy in to the commitment. All trainings at the school site, including PLCs, should require a Quick Glance in the hands of the practitioners. Leadership teams continuously evaluate and analyze data, which highlights areas of needed improvement. These areas can quite literally be traced back to standards that are poorly or under-taught or skipped entirely. Furthermore, any new program being introduced to the campus through coaches should be evaluated through the Quick Glance lens. How does the program address the STANDARDS? If it doesn't, perhaps the team should reconsider using it.

The Classroom Teacher 

The classroom teacher makes all the magic happen. Well, it's not magic of course — it's actually just hard work. The key to making it in this profession is to find the balance between working hard and working smart for the benefit of our students, their families, the school, and the district. It is extremely rewarding to see students move through the standards over time. When we plan, we have The Quick Glance readily available — but why? For me, I want to know that I am addressing the standards when I teach. I want to have a close working relationship with the standard that is driving the lessons. I refer to it as I talk to my first graders — yes, even at this age I teach them that we have a goal to strive towards. I don't always get them there, but at least we move in that direction throughout the year. Other practical uses include our site trainings that I mentioned above. I feel more comfortable having the document with me to rapidly access if the topic of standards comes up. It fits nicely in a tote or backpack for ease of carrying to meetings. I have it out for all of my Parent-Teacher Conferences to show parents where their child currently is and where the grade-level goal is. Obviously we have to have The Quick Glance for any type of vertical planning as well as any PLCs. It is hard to explain what standards are important if you do not have them in your hands. Overall, The Quick Glance is the best tool I use to aid in my day-to-day planning.

College of Education and Teacher Prepatory Faculty, Student Teachers and Supervisors

Every college in California that is currently preparing elementary educators should offer The Quick Glance to all of their students. In 2019 I went back to college and obtained my multiple subject credential to add to my special education credential; during that time I used The Quick Glance frequently. I shared them with my professors and they all loved it! In fact they encouraged their Multiple Subject candidates to purchase one. Deans and professors should have them as a required tool for the next generation of teachers, especially as they prepare for their EdTPA. The Quick Glance is very helpful in lesson design. By the way, I passed my EdTPA and The Quick Glance was a big reason why.