Quick Start Guides: What They Are and How to Use Them

What are the Somos Quick Start Guides?

The Somos Quick Start Guides outline the essential first steps for using the Somos Curriculum well. They help clarify instructional priorities, surface common early missteps, and support alignment with acquisition-driven practices.

They are designed as an on-ramp, not a replacement for professional learning or coaching.

There are two versions:

• Quick Start Guide for Teachers
  Written for classroom teachers who are new to Somos. This guide focuses on instructional priorities, planning considerations, and mindset shifts that support comprehension-based teaching from day one.
  • You’ll find this guide in each unit folder under Reference Materials, labeled REF_Quick Start Guide for TEACHERS.

• Quick Start Guide for Instructional Leaders
  Designed for department heads, instructional coaches, administrators, and others supporting Somos implementation. This guide focuses on conditions for success, planning and alignment considerations, and how to support teachers in acquisition-aligned ways.
  • You’ll find this guide in each unit folder under Reference Materials, labeled REF_Quick Start Guide for INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS.

How should these guides be used?

The Quick Start Guides are meant to be:

• A starting point for teachers opening their first Somos unit

• A shared reference for teams and leaders working toward alignment

• A helpful reset if implementation has started to feel confusing or heavy

They work best when paired with ongoing learning and support.

Want to learn more or ask questions?

There are several ways to continue learning and get support from The Comprehensible Classroom (c2):

• Helpdesk Articles
  Browse our searchable helpdesk for answers to common questions about Somos, acquisition-driven instruction, and classroom practice.
  https://comprehensibleclassroom.freshdesk.com/support/home

• Professional Learning: formal and informal options
  Learn more about in-person and virtual professional learning for teachers, instructional leaders, and departments.
  https://comprehensibleclassroom.com/professional-learning

• Free Resources
  Read blog posts and access other free resources that support thoughtful, sustainable implementation.
  https://comprehensibleclassroom.com/blog

• Keep in Touch! 
  For the most up-to-date information about products, professional learning, and more, be sure and subscribe to our newsletters.
  https://comprehensibleclassroom.com/newsletter

If you’re unsure where to start or what kind of support would be most helpful for your context, we’re happy to help you think it through- reach out to training@comprehensibleclassroom.com!