Materials and Resources

In this section, you’ll have access to all the materials used throughout Circles of Reflection as well as a list of important terms to know and the Resource Bank.

Materials

Below are the different materials used in Circles of Reflection: A Toolkit for SEAs. Some of the materials have different versions for each Circle, some are only used in one Circle, and some are introduced in one Circle and then continued in others.

  • The Facilitation Guides provide detailed information for leading and organizing each Circle, including agendas, preparation timelines, and a run of show.
  • The Presentation Slides are useful for leading the group through the three Circles and can be modified to match the Reflection Questions and to meet the needs of the state.
  • The Reflection Questions are organized by six categories and help highlight the current support being provided by the SEA and where more support is needed. The questions and categories are flexible and can be adjusted to meet the needs of the state and Tribe(s).
  • The Native Education Data Pack provides a list of elements to consider when compiling data to share with participants during the Circles. The completed pack should provide statistical information and context related to Native students, teachers, communities, etc. in the state. You can find this resource in the Facilitation Guide: First Circle.
  • The SEA 90-Day Action Plan Template is a notetaking tool that helps organize priorities and logistics for the short-term goals established during the Third Circle. You can find this resource in the Facilitation Guide: Third Circle.
  • The Ambitious Goals Template is a notetaking tool that provides a place to document long-term goals established during the Third Circle. You can find this resource in the Facilitation Guide: Third Circle.

Use the following Circles to access links to the materials.

The First Circle of Reflection
The Second Circle of Reflection
The Third Circle of Reflection

Terms to Know

These terms are used throughout the Toolkit and represent meanings unique to this context.

  • Effective: The SEA’s effort (e.g., policy, program, practice, initiative) can achieve its intended results.
  • Impactful: The SEA’s effort results in significant benefit to Native students.
  • Local education agency (LEA): A public authority responsible for the supervision of public and secondary schools within a city, county, or district.
  • Resource Bank: A collection of literature reviews, tools, and more that can support learning about advocating for Native students as well as the 90-day action plans and longer term goals.
  • State: A term used to encompass all U.S. states and jurisdictions.
  • State education agency (SEA): A public authority responsible for the state or jurisdiction supervision of public primary and secondary schools.
  • Tribal education department (TED): A department that is primarily responsible for supporting Tribal students’ elementary and secondary education. TED is used in this toolkit to encompass all Tribal education departments, Tribal education agencies, and Tribal leaders.

The Resource Bank

Another way Circles of Reflection has benefited me is through my teachers. I have teachers that are now able to reach out and utilize some of the Tribal resources and some of our local Indian healthcare resources…And through that collaboration, it has increased our students’ achievement and performance and their peers’ achievements too

Rich Pawpa Broken Arrow Public Schools

Resource Bank

The Resource Bank provides online access to synthesized literature reviews, a directory of resources, and other useful tools from the Native Education Collaborative. These are especially helpful in the creation and implementation of the 90-day action plans and identification of longer term goals as well as ongoing collaborative work between the SEA, LEAs, and TEDs.

Synthesized Literature Reviews, Quick References, and Infographics

The Resource Bank includes six literature review briefs that were developed by experts in Native education based on extensive analysis of key research findings and reports from the field. They correlate with the six categories, are designed to help build the capacity of SEAs, LEAs, and TEDs, and include inspired infographics and quick references, summarizing the information.

Explained in the What You Need to Know to Get Started section, the six categories include:

  • Native Culture and Language
  • Tribal Consultation and Sovereignty
  • Effective Teachers and Leaders
  • College and Career Readiness and Access
  • Physical and Behavioral Health
  • Identification and Support of Promising Programs and Practices

Directory of Resources

We scanned existing research and reports to identify promising practices and resources focused on the six categories listed above.

Directory of Resources

The Directory of Resources is an online compilation of these relevant tools and programs developed by a variety of organizations engaged with the education of Native students. The directory is also organized by the six categories and includes descriptions, links to the resources, and links to the organizations that developed the resources. This supplemental information can be considered while reviewing relevant data, identifying specific needs, and eventually, in the overall design and implementation of the action plans—a process that includes ongoing, collaborative work between the SEA, LEAs, and TEDs.