Use this guide to strengthen classroom environments across your whole school, not just one room at a time. It draws on program review ratings, which describe how far along a program is, and offers next steps for each stage: emerging, developing, proficient, and exemplary. For each stage you get concrete leadership moves, such as setting clear expectations for visual access, using a shared walkthrough tool, or turning strong classrooms into model sites. Use it to guide coaching, plan professional learning, and keep classroom quality consistent over time.
Because of your selected audience type, you may also enjoy the following related resources.
A checklist elementary teachers use to review a Grades 1-5 library that supports ASL and English reading, deaf and hard of hearing identity, and books children actually use.
A reading list you can use to ground classroom-environment decisions in evidence, with studies on visual access, ASL/English instruction, and culturally sustaining practice.
A self-check teachers use to build a classroom with visual access, real ASL and English use, Deaf culture, a rich library, and a safe climate for deaf and hard of hearing students.