The LMS for Elementary
Transforming the Experience for All
Trusted and Loved by 25 Million Educators, Students, and Families
Seesaw is the world’s leading elementary learning experience company, offering an award-winning platform and a suite of supplemental digital curriculum products to deliver joyful, accessible instruction through interactive lessons, digital portfolios, and two-way communication features.
Seesaw keeps everyone in the learning loop with continuous visibility into the student learning experience to support and celebrate their learning.
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“The impact was astounding! With Seesaw, our students could showcase their work in ways we hadn’t imagined before. Photos, videos, and written assignments came to life on this platform, allowing for a comprehensive view of their progress. Not only that, but Seesaw also opened up seamless communication channels between students, parents, and teachers.
- Fifth Grade Teacher
Melissa S. Newville, Pennsylvania
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Schools & Districts Use Seesaw For
Instruction: Enable teachers to deliver and create high-quality, standardsaligned supplemental instruction that encourages student voice and choice (including front-of-class, centers/stations, independent work). Lessons are aligned to 30+ core curriculum publishers.
Family Engagement: Engage families in the learning process through accessible two-way communication with text translation options in 100+ languages. Families gain insight into their student’s work and see learning made visible.
Digital Portfolios: Seesaw’s digital portfolios capture hands-on learning—like art, science, and music—and Seesaw’s digital activities, giving families and educators a visual scrapbook of each child’s daily, quarterly, and year-over-year growth.
Assessment & Data-Driven Decisions: Routinely assess student learning to glean meaningful insights into their understanding and make data-informed instructional decisions. Schools can also create custom auto-graded formative assessments with detailed reports.
Accessible & Differentiated Learning: Enable developmentally appropriate, accessible, and differentiated instruction to reach and engage all learners, and meet legal requirements for Multilingual Learners and Special Education students. Schools can support IEP & 504 accommodations and paperwork.
Your Trusted AI Partner for Elementary with best-in-class privacy and security on a platform intentionally designed for elementary.
Give your educators more time to focus on what matters moststudents. Our AI-powered tools provide real-time feedback, assist in lesson planning, and help personalize instruction, supporting both teacher effectiveness and student growth.
Seesaw Supports Accessible Classrooms
Seesaw supports Special Education programs and the diverse needs of students in all classrooms with built-in accommodations, award-winning and accessible multimodal tools, and evidence-based instructional resources. With Seesaw, teachers have the ability to capture learning all in one place, and provide real-time communication and visibility for families, co-teachers, and support staff. With over 2,400 Special Education activities available in the Seesaw community library, teachers have access to lessons and templates that effectively support a variety of accommodations and individual student needs. This empowers teachers to help students demonstrate their learning while keeping everyone in the loop all year long —not just during IEP meetings.
Benefits for Teachers Supporting IEPs and 504 Plans:
• Private notes on activities let teachers document insights for IEP meetings, visible only to teachers and co-teachers.
• Folders help organize evidence of learning and track individual growth; private folders are also available to teachers.
• Content can be assigned to individuals, groups, or the class based on accommodations.
• Edit and adjust Seesaw activities to meet individual student needs.
• Use photos/videos to document growth for goals related to motor skills and physical movement.
• Flexible groups enable content monitoring and assignment aligned with IEP goals.
• Create data collection templates to track specific goals and capture ratings along side student work.
• Access to over 2,400 Special Education activities in the Community Library.
IEP and 504 Evidence Collection
Benefits for the student:
• Written and audio directions, visuals, and modeling allow all students to access the content.
• Multimodal tools allow students to show what they know in the format that works for them. Nonverbal students can draw, and students with motor skill needs can record their voice.
• Focus Mode eliminates distractions on the canvas by limiting access to the specific tools selected by the teacher.
• Practice mode gives students a chance to practice in a safe space and get real-time feedback without a teacher present.
• Assessment and reflection templates help students focus on specific tools, making the process less overwhelming.
Benefits for the Family:
• A real-time view into the classroom with student progress means updates are not limited to IEP meetings.
• Teachers can send progress reports through messages for regular family check-ins.
• Practice mode enables learning to continue at home with real-time feedback.
• Videos allow teachers to model skills for families, ensuring consistent reinforcement at home.
• Real-time messaging allows families and teachers to address issues promptly.
ESSA Tier III Evidence
Students who had more family visits to their work had statistically significantly higher reading and math scores compared to students who had fewer family visits.
Universal Design for Learning in Action!
• Engagement
• Representation
• Action & Expression
Writing
Multimodal tools enable equitable participation, student agency, and support accommodations
Speaking
Listening
Accessible & Flexible
Reading
Seesaw Supports:
• Web version screen readers
• Speech to Text or Dictation
• Custom voice instructions and label options
• Colors, contrasts, and fonts
• Close captioning
“Seesaw equips schools and districts with evidence-based tools to implement MultiTiered Systems of Support, engage all learners, and promote the holistic well-being of children.
I love that I can record the non-verbal responses of my students with Seesaw when they work with other paras and adults in my SPED classroom. I can observe their interactions and also share it with other stakeholders such as specialists and the student’s families.
“
- Liann Cheong, K-5 Special Education Teacher, Riverwood Elementary, North Carolina
“With Seesaw it is easy to adjust the activity to meet the needs of all my students: EL, Gifted, SPED, etc. I can easily modify lessons that allow each of them to learn at their level. The best part -- they all think they are doing the same thing - no one is embarrassed or feel entitled because all their needs are being met by Seesaw.
- Melanie Lilly, Third Grade Teacher, Birchcrest Elementary, Nebraska “
“I love watching my special needs students learn and grow. They become independent learners and are more confident with their abilities. They are able to express their ideas/answers and be creative with their assignments. Seesaw has opened up opportunities that other programs do not.
- Sandi Stimpert, 4-6 Educational Specialist (Sped Teacher) Hollingworth Elementary, California
How to Collect and Share Evidence of Learning for IEPs
1 Create a folder and title it Evidence for IEP/504
4 Use Seesaw tools to address the issue. In this case, use focus mode to limit distractions.
2 Take a photo of the student’s work and file it in the evidence folder.
5 Assign the altered activity to the individual student.
3 Record a private note to log something specific to share at an upcoming IEP or parent meeting.
6 Provide progress updates by making the post visible to the family. They can comment back or message you privately.
Support Equity & Access & Diverse Learners
Universal Design for Learning in Action!
• Engagement
• Representation
• Action & Expression
Multimodal tools enable equitable participation, student agency, and support accommodations
Digital Portfolios Document Learning
Capture growth to support IEP/504 documentation
Accessible & Flexible
Family Support for Students
Seesaw Supports:
• Web version screen readers
• Speech to Text or Dictation
• Custom voice instructions and label options
• Colors, contrasts and font s
• Close captioning
AI-Powered Communications translated into 100+ languages
Assessment & Data-Driven Insight
Monitoring progress, comprehension and self-reflection
Universal Design for Learning Guidelines in Action with Seesaw
Trusted and loved by 25 million educators, students, and families worldwide, Seesaw is the only elementary learning experience platform, offering a suite of award-winning tools, resources, and curriculum for teachers to deliver joyful, inclusive instruction to support educators in applying the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines to their instruction.
Multimodal Learning
Seesaw’s Learning Experience Platform encourages student voice and choice through intuitive and open-ended multimodal learning tools that empower students of all ages to showcase, build and reflect on their knowledge.
• Optimize individual choice and autonomy
• Vary the methods of response and navigation
• Support decoding of text, mathematical notation, and symbols
• Illustrate through multiple media
• Use multiple tools for construction and composition
• Build fluencies with graduated levels of support in the form of models and scaffolds to support practice and performance
Differentiation Simplified
Seesaw’s integrated support features like written & audio instructions, clear visuals and modeling tools formative assessments, and student groups enable developmentally appropriate instruction to reach and engage all learners.
• Offer ways of customizing the display of information
• Vary demands and resources to optimize challenge
• Offer alternatives for auditory and visual information
Engaging Instruction
Equip teachers with ready-to-teach PreK-6 standards-aligned lessons designed by curriculum experts that utilize Seesaw’s powerful learning tools - available in both English and Spanish. Teachers and administrators can also create their own resources leveraging Seesaw’s learning tools.
• Optimize relevance, value, and authenticity
• Activate or supply background knowledge
• Maximize transfer and generalization of knowledge by embedding new ideas in familiar contexts
• Promote understanding across languages
• Facilitate personal coping skills and strategies
• Promote expectations and beliefs that optimize motivation
Assessment and Data-driven Insights
Seesaw’s assessment tools combine the time savings of auto-grading with the power of multimodal tools to get deeper insights into student learning and provide targeted support and guide instruction.
• Increase mastery-oriented feedback
• Enhance capacity for monitoring progress
• Facilitate student comprehension monitoring and self-reflection
Student and Family Engagement
Support seamless collaboration between all the adults in a student’s life and engage families in the learning process through inclusive two-way communication that provides a true window into the classroom.
• Foster collaboration and community
• Use multiple media for communication
• Facilitate managing information and resources
• Facilitate capacity for managing resources
Seesaw Helps Educators Put the UDL Framework into Practice
Teachers said that their students are empowered to take ownership of their work while using Seesaw
Teachers said Seesaw improves learning outcomes in subjects they practice using Seesaw
Teachers said Seesaw helps them deliver engaging instructional experiences to their students
*ResultsfromApril2023Seesawsurveyofnearly1,000educatorswhouseSeesawweeklyormonthly.
www.seesaw.com
Engaging learners with Seesaw lessons Engagement
Welcoming Interests & Identities
Sustaining Effort & Persistence
Commenting and messaging on student work in 100+ languages
Trusted by 25 million educators, students, and families worldwide, Seesaw is the premier elementary learning experience platform. Seesaw’s comprehensive suite of award-winning tools, resources, and curriculum empower teachers to deliver joyful and inclusive instruction. Our platform supports educators in seamlessly applying the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines, enhancing the learning experience for every student.
Representation
Perception
Zoom, video & audio controls, closed captioning
Language & Symbols
Read-with-Me
Emotional Capacity
Character building activities
Building Knowledge
Present-to-Class with templates
Expression & Communication Multimodal Tools
Strategy Development Digital Portfolio
Infinite possibilities of Seesaw and UDL helps educators put the UDL framework into practice
Validation & Certifications
Teachers said Seesaw improves learning outcomes in subjects they practice using Seesaw 96%
Teachers said Seesaw helps them deliver engagiing instructional experiences to their students 98%
92%
Teachers said that their students are empowered to take ownership of their work while using Seesaw
Seesaw ELD: Enhancing Language Development for English Learners
Growth in English Learner Population & the ELD Curriculum Landscape
English learners are the fastest-growing demographic of students across the U.S., making English language development (ELD) a high-priority area for schools and districts across the United States and the globe. Currently, there are many models of English language instruction in practice. Some programs for ELD focus solely on English acquisition in isolation - learning English for the sake of learning English. However, recent research cited by WIDA shows that what is most important is for students to acquire language through content area knowledge - this helps English learners access gradelevel appropriate content in different subjects (science, social studies, math etc.) while simultaneously learning English.
According to a 2008 report by Education Northwest, the overarching characteristics of English learners (ELs) and English language development include:
• ELs move through different stages as they acquire English proficiency and, at all stages, need comprehensible input.
• Fluency in everyday conversation is insufficient to ensure access to academic texts and tasks.
• Instruction that helps them meet content standards is critical.
• ELs bring a rich background and cultural knowledge to school, but these may differ from the mainstream expectations in the area where they live.
• Assessments are most effective when they measure both language proficiency and content knowledge.
• The same approach to learning to read and write applies to ELs and non-ELs, but ELs need additional instructional support.
• Many literacy skills transfer across languages.
Seesaw ELD Curriculum Solution
Seesaw ELD Overview
Seesaw ELD is a supplemental program based on the latest research - teaching language through the content areas. The content serves the ELD models found throughout schools across the globe. Our research foundation and pedagogical approach follow the WIDA Framework, Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model, and state content standards.
The lessons were developed alongside language and content area experts in math, English language arts (ELA), social studies, and science to help ELs meet gradelevel expectations. Lessons are broken down in a way that is easy for teachers to use based on the needs of the students – helping teachers scaffold and implement content – and provide a variety of ways to model, use, practice, and embody the language using our multimodal tools. Students have a safe space to practice English and get immediate feedback, all while honoring the experiences the child brings to the classroom.
Seesaw ELD – A Look Inside
The Seesaw ELD curriculum leverages the power of Seesaw’s Learning Experience Platform, including family messages translated into 100+ languages, multimodal tools and activities that address all 4 modalities of language – listening, speaking, reading and writing, student portfolios to track growth over time, and many opportunities to practice, reflect, and assess content knowledge and language acquisition.
Seesaw ELD focuses on learning language within the context of grade-level content and integrating the latest research. The curriculum honors students’ home language experiences by incorporating these into
classroom activities using our multimodal tools. Seesaw ELD emphasizes collaborative protocols to provide ample opportunities for student interaction and dialogue. Additionally, the program includes comprehensive resources to support effective implementation.
Bridging Language Barriers with Families
Seesaw’s communication tools are lauded by schools and districts for their ability to bridge language barriers between school and home, with the ability to share student work, give a window into the classroom, and automatically translate messages into over 100 languages.
““When I first started using Seesaw my 4th grade class spoke 7 different languages. Seesaw helps keep parents from all languages and cultures engaged in their child’s learning. It helps to break down the walls of the classroom and allows my parents to feel involved at school even if they are unable to attend in-class events during school hours.”
- Gabrielle Z., Teacher, California
Levels of Language Acquisition per Lesson
Seesaw ELD Pilot Study
Study Overview
Before the official launch of Seesaw ELD in July 2024, Seesaw conducted a pilot study across 5 United States elementary schools in California and Wisconsin. Students who participated in the study spoke Spanish, Tagalog, Hindi, or Punjabi as their primary languages at home. The study included teacher pre- and post-lesson surveys, an in-class observation, student pre- and post-assessments, and a teacher post-study interview.
Results
Teacher Surveys and Feedback
In their post-instruction survey, 100% of teachers said that they would recommend Seesaw ELD lessons to other teachers with English learners, the lessons were age appropriate for their students, and the lessons would work well for all K-5 EL students.
One study participant, an elementary ELL resource teacher in California, noted that her students “increased their confidence with speaking and their ability to selfcorrect their pronunciation” and that “after completing multiple lessons, my students were more willing to talk with their peers.”
Carmen Baisman, an ELL instructional assistant in California, particularly liked the ability for students to record themselves, noting that “One of my students is typically reluctant to speak in class, but they recorded multiple times during the ELD lessons.”
“It was very interactive, so the students could drag, move, record, listen to their voices and even take pictures of real life objects inside the classroom of things they were learning about. Students were able to apply what they were learning to their environment.” (Carmen Baisman, ELL Instructional Assistant, California)
In the lesson observations, the teachers were clearly engaged with the lessons. They modeled pronunciation and guided students through the Practice sections, encouraging them to say each vocabulary word and to use full sentences. Most of the teachers created additional materials to extend the activities and support their newcomer students.
““Student s who weren’t saying many words in English are now saying some of the words. Those who were previously saying words are using those words in short sentences. I have also seen that their confidence in speaking English has grown in our small group.”
Student Engagement and Improved
Student engagement was demonstrated by high performance on the student work for each lesson. Based on the improvement in vocabulary from the pre- to postassessment, the ELD lessons were effective in teaching students common vocabulary words. Across all activities and formative assessments contained in the lessons, students’ average correct was 85.4%
During the classroom observations, the students were attentive and engaged in the activities. “The students really liked it…They were excited,” said Ms. Baisman. Marivic Allender, an Elementary ELD Teacher from California said that her students “loved the lessons, especially the matching, drawing, and photo activities.”
- Karly, Elementary Teacher, Madison, WI
Vocabulary Acquisition
““When we finished up with the activities as a large group, the next week, they remembered what they had learned and were able to help teach one of the students who was absent.”
- Karly, Elementary Teacher, Madison, WI
To understand the impact of each lesson on students’ vocabulary acquisition, an improvement score was calculated for each vocabulary word. Students who used the English vocabulary word in the post-assessment but not the pre-assessment were scored as improving for that item. The number of days between the pre- and postassessments varied from 1 to 7 days, with an average of 4.3 days. Over 50% of students demonstrated that they acquired new vocabulary after one lesson from the preto post-assessment for 13 of the 29 words included in the lessons.
Conclusion
The results of the pilot study on Seesaw ELD indicate that teachers and students liked the lessons and found them engaging. The teachers embraced the instructional design of the lessons and extended the activities to provide more practice on the vocabulary and sentence structures, and to introduce additional vocabulary.
The students’ engagement was demonstrated by their high performance on the student work for each lesson. Based on the improvement in vocabulary from the pre- to post-assessment, the ELD lessons in the pilot study were effective in teaching students common vocabulary words.
To learn more about Seesaw ELD, visit https://seesaw. com/english-language-development/
Acknowledgements
Language & Content Experts
Thank you to Dr. Kia McDaniel, Dr. Adria Klein, Dr. Ebony Shockley, Dr. Tamar Posner, Dr. Tahira DuPree Chase, Mary Starr, and Ed Lamprich for their consultation and contributions to the Seesaw ELD curriculum.
Pilot Study Research & Reporting
Thank you to Dr. Sherri Widen for planning and executing the pilot study summarized above.
Future-Ready Skills: From Elementary to High School
Career Exploration: Inspiring Futures from Early Learning to CTE Classrooms
Unlocking Potential: Tracking Competencies & Growth from Elementary to High School
Competency-based learning empowers students by focusing on mastery rather than time spent. Seesaw helps track progress and showcase growth across all grade levels. Educators can monitor development, personalize learning, and provide meaningful feedback and motivation to support continuous growth.
Seesaw’s badging stickers make it easy to track competencies and motivate students!
Seesaw’s Digital Portfolios
Track achievements through the educational journey, PK-12
Scan the QR code to learn more!
Early Learning & Career Exploration - Laying the Groundwork
Planting the Seeds of Success: How Early Career Exposure Ignites Lifelong Learning
Elementary School
What’s My Job?
Students engage with informational texts by exploring real-world careers through Seesaw’s multimodal tools, fostering critical thinking and connections between academic skills and real-life applications.
Lessons Include Elementary School
• The Digital Leaders (4-5)
• Computational Thinking (K-2)
• Computational Thinking Adventures (3-5)
• Code the World (K-2)
• Careers in Computer Science (K-5)
• STEAM: Design Thinking (3-5)
• What’s My Job? (2-5)
• I Have Goals (3-6)
Scan the QR code to launch a sample lesson!
Goal-Setting
Students set and track academic and personal goals through Seesaw’s interactive tools, fostering self-motivation, reflection, and a growth mindset in their learning journey.
These engaging activities provide a foundation for competency development, fostering a love of learning and preparing students for future success.
Building Skills for the Future - From Elementary to High School
Curiosity to Capability: Developing Key Skills Through the Years
Middle School
Goal-Setting
Students use Seesaw’s interactive tools to set and track both academic and personal goals, reflect on their progress, and help students select courses that align with their skills and interest.
Lessons Include Middle School
• Career Readiness - All About Me
• Hour of Code
• Computer Coding with Google
• Career Readiness - My Career High School
• Coding in any Career
• Hidden Figures: Women in Science
• The Road to Your Next Job
• Career Writing Prompt
• Future Choices
Scan the QR codes to launch a sample lesson! Middle School High School
High School
Creating a Portfolio of Work
Students use Seesaw’s multimodal tools to showcase their work and credentials, while also reflecting on career goals, and make decisions about their future education requirements and career options.
Seesaw’s digital portfolios capture students’ learning journeys, showcasing the skills and knowledge they’ve built over previous grades and preparing them for college and career success.
Competency-Based Learning Across the Nation
Leading the Way: Competency-Based Learning in Action
Many states are embracing competency-based learning and utilizing Seesaw to motivate students, track skills, collect evidence of learning, and ensure students gain essential 21st-century skills. The U.S. is actively implementing CompetencyBased Learning (CBL), with states referring to these programs by various names, including:
• Portrait of a Learner
• Portrait of a Graduate
• College & Career Readiness
• 21st Century Learning
www.seesaw.com | hello@seesaw.me
Competency-Based Learning Adoption*
* Includes state, district, and/or school-level implementations.
Are you ready to inspire and equip students for tomorrow? Contact us today to learn how Seesaw can support your competency-based learning initiatives.
Portrait of a Learner (6)
Portrait of a Graduate (42) College & Career Readiness (2)
To learn more about our award-winning instructional platform grounded in research and designed by experts, please visit: https://seesaw.com/awards-press/
