Amplify CKLA® FAQ

Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions page, where we’ve compiled a list of Amplify CKLA questions that are most commonly asked by you! This page is updated periodically. Please check here for answers to commonly asked questions. 

Getting started

Getting started FAQs

Q: Can I print Teacher Guides online?
A: The Teacher Guides for Units 1-4 are printable from the Professional Resource site at ckla.amplify.com/professionallearning. After logging into the PL site, teachers will see a button towards the bottom of the page: “Printable Teacher Guides and Activity Books.”

Q: About how much time should I plan in my schedule each day for CKLA lessons?
A: CKLA is a full 90-120 minute program.. For K–2, it is broken into 45-50 minutes for Skills and 45-50 minutes for Knowledge. In grades 3–5, the separate strands are combined into one program but still should take 90-120 minutes to complete.

Q: How does a teacher access the Teacher Resource site? 
A: Access to the Teacher Resource site is included with any CKLA teacher license. Teachers can log in at ckla.amplify.com/home.

Q: What audio is available in CKLA K–5?
A: The Student Readers in K–5 are available in an e-book and audiobook version via the CKLA Student Hub and the Teacher Resource site. We also have the recorded Read-Alouds available on the Teacher Resource site.

Q: Do we have a list of items that teachers need that are not included in the CKLA materials?
A: There’s a Master Supply List for each grade level on the Teacher Resource site. 

Q: Where can Sample Pacing Calendars be found for CKLA?
A: The Pacing Guides can be found on the Teacher Resource site in each grade level under Planning Documents.

Q: With K–2 very clearly defined between Skills and Knowledge, how are Grades 3–5 set up?
A: Skills and Knowledge are separated in Grades K-–2 to avoid cognitive overload with our younger students. In Grades 3–5, those two strands become one integrated strand that teaches ELA skills while developing background knowledge. Each 3–5 lesson is going to be formatted a little differently depending on what is being addressed. One lesson may have reading and language (spelling/grammar/morphology) components and the next lesson may have reading and writing components, and at times they will see all three in a lesson.

Q: How can CKLA be used for interventions using small group instruction? 
A: Teachers and students can utilize the additional skills lessons for K–2, as well as Pausing Point activities for small group instruction for K–5. If they use DIBELS, they can also have a small group instruction that should be utilized for intervention purposes. Since Amplify is a Tier 1 curriculum, it’s important to have the conversation with teachers and leaders around teaching core intervention vs. teaching to the test.

Q: Does Amplify Skills have resources for Tier 2 and Tier 3 Instruction?
A: The Assessment and Remediation Guides in K–2 and the Intervention Toolkit provide activities, resources, and planning information based on student need but do not provide specific Tier 2 and Tier 3 guidance. Tier 3 students don’t necessarily need different materials; their intervention treatment is more about frequency, duration, and group size. Those determinations should be made by the school intervention team.

Q: Is there an overview of CKLA Skills alignment by grade level?
A: Go to the Professional Learning site. You should be able to find them by typing “curriculum map” in the top right search box. This Curriculum Map may also be a helpful resource.

Q: Are benchmark assessments for CKLA all paper and pencil?
A: Yes, the benchmark assessments in CKLA are all paper and pencil.

Q: What does small group work look like in CKLA?
A: Small group instruction is included in the 60 minutes of the K–2 Skills strand. In many of the lessons, the Teacher Guide will ask the teacher to break the class into two groups: one being a group that needs more intensive support and a second group that is able to complete work independently. Teachers make those decisions based on our benchmark assessments and other data points the school may utilize. Also, each Skills lesson includes Additional Practice materials for students who need more support in specific skills from that lesson and can be used as needed. 

In Grades 3–5, there are a variety of grouping suggestions that include small group or partner reading. The Lesson at a Glance charts at the beginning of each lesson provide our recommendations, but they can be adjusted based on classroom needs. If teachers need more intensive intervention materials, we have the Assessment and Remediation Guide (ARG), Decoding and Encoding Remediation Guide (DERS), and the Intervention Toolkit on the Teacher Resource site. This is typically used outside of the CKLA block during an intervention time. Students also work in small groups on projects throughout the program as well. 

Q: How do small group work and whole group instruction fit into the CKLA Knowledge Strand for K–2 and 3–5?
A: Read-Alouds are done in whole group settings since students don’t have a copy of the text to read. However, students work in small groups at times on a variety of activities before/after the Read-Alouds and during the application lesson component. Pausing Point days and Culminating Activities are a great opportunity for teachers to work in small groups. Remediation opportunities include targeting review activities, revising lesson applications, and rereading and discussing select Read-Alouds.

Data

Data FAQs

Q: Do teachers receive data on students’ Vocab App performance? 
A: The Vocab App in the CKLA Student Hub for Grades 3–5 does provide teachers with some reporting functions. You can read more about it on page 5 of the Teacher Experience.  

Student usage

Student usage FAQs

Q: Is there a way to share the Knowledge Builder videos?
A: The Knowledge Builder videos can be played through the Teacher Resource site or through the CKLA Student Hub. 

Q: How can a teacher provide absent students with the read alouds that they miss?
A: The read alouds are recorded on the Teacher Resource site. It’s under every knowledge unit.

Finding help

Finding help FAQs

Q: What information can I pass along to caregivers about Amplify CKLA?
A: Efficient and effective communication with families and caregivers is important. Although students can share their work with their parents, including teacher feedback, we do not provide parent/caregiver access to the platform. Instead, we recommend parents learn more on our Caregiver site.

Q: How can I get help?
A: First, visit our help library to search for articles with answers to your program questions. Need an answer fast? Chat with us! Click the orange icon while logged into the curriculum to get immediate help in the middle of the school day.