I use the same Google Form throughout the link, and I have my students check into every day. As a high school English teacher who is currently teaching more than 160 students remotely, the best advice I have, besides keeping these10 considerations in mind, is to use a Google Form to check in with your students daily. If a handful of students dominate a real-time class conversation, make sure you ask others to chime in and wait a good 15 to 20 seconds for responses. , a platform where you can browse public “debates” or create your own. I can export the data to Google Sheets to easily sort the information. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, or at www.stacypollack.com. 5 Free and Super Simple Ways to Create Trust and Lasting Connections with your Yoga Students 1. Host a virtual morning meeting. Answer questions about your job. Welcome students to your virtual classroom. Because so much of our face-to-face communication is nonverbal, not being able to see students’ faces or reactions online can feel a bit strange. The positive benefits increase when the technology delivers high-quality educational content. Connect using Houseparty, the video-calling app that makes for an easy and fun virtual gathering. These discussions thrive on interaction between group members, and this interaction can absolutely happen in the virtual classroom with live video tools. Ask students to reply with the emoji/character in the chat. This Form is fully editable, and you can customize it to suit your own needs! Tenets of Virtual Communication and Collaboration, III. For structure, Amanda’s instituted a Daily Check-In using Google Forms, records a screencast video using Loom of the day’s agenda, and shares a calendar with both daily and weekly perspectives. Students with high-efficacy teachers achieve at higher levels, show more motivation when learning and experience more positive emotions about learning. is all about building a classroom community and teaching soft skills. Differentiation idea: Provide an alternative to video responses for students who do not have access. You can also position the online chats as quick check-ins or informal time for students to connect . ! Principals hand out high-fives in the hallways. The, extension helps by allowing teachers to see students’ video thumbnails on a single grid, rather than just a list of names off to the side. It is very easy to use. When she transitioned to online learning, she began by pre-recording herself. Last week, students had to create a three minute news story detailing the juiciest character gossip from their books. Along with providing books through the public domain or after reading aloud the chapter of a current YA novel, share the audible link so students have access to the audio version. Then, share classmate responses through email. Can you call a family to deliver a morning announcement if they don't have access to high-speed internet? Again, make sure to check with your district before using Google Meet or initiating any kind of two-way communication with students. It can be tempting to try all the new things (like a class “Where I’m From Poem”! Get creative with these communications! Help your students get to know you with a kahoot. A time-stamped list of participants is exported to a spreadsheet, making it easy to log and reference later if needed. These are just a few fun ways to stay connected in a time where we need to teach people a little more and focus a bit less on academics. Second, Lauralee is still completing First Chapter Friday. Virtually go somewhere together. ... Connect students with authors and the stories behind their books via the session archives of the Everywhere Book Fest and other virtual book festivals. Students heard about Katniss Everdeen’s love triangle, the gossip surrounding the murder of Simon in One of Us is Lying, and the gossip about Matthew’s newest love interest in The Boy in the Black Suit. Career Village is a website where students are able to connect with experienced professionals in their field and learn more about their roles. Note that a different method may work with different classes. If you are hosting live lessons through a video conferencing platform, you can easily facilitate discussions. When you ask a question, students can not only reply, but they can also see their classmates’ responses and comment on them. For more tech tools and ideas to connect with your students online, head to Abby’s blog. Here are her hands-on tips for teachers to make the most of virtual learning: 1. Differentiation: Mail paper versions of class work and agendas, or if your school has meal delivery, see if work can be sent home with meals. It isn’t tied to course content or a course’s weekly flow. By Juliana LaBianca In fact, with a few free tools, Jenna from Doc Cop Teaching found an easy and fun way to make the magic of literature circles appear in the virtual classroom. coordinated a week-long Digital Spirit Week, and students could send in their pictures daily for the different themes like pajama day, school spirit day, and crazy sock day. Differentiation: Tanesha's ideas ARE differentiation techniques. Staci also uses the above mentioned Padlet layouts to help students, While we are not in the classroom with students at the moment, reading volume is still critically important. 8 Strategies for Building Connectedness Virtually, What the Research Says About In-Person and Virtual Connectedness. Don’t forget to ask students “Why?” after because this can be the best part of the conversation. Her very first job was as a gymnastics coach. She walks students through the process of prioritizing their time and planning ahead using templates found in her free Time Management resource. found an easy and fun way to make the magic of literature circles appear in the virtual classroom. For example, you can have students message the student above/below them on the participants lists or to the left/right on the grid view of screens. And right now, it’s the way of the present. This can allow for students, caregivers, or fellow teachers to connect with you to ask questions, share how they are feeling, or just say hello. If sending work back to you is not an option, students or parents can take a picture of the work and email it back. The Google Meet Grid View extension helps by allowing teachers to see students’ video thumbnails on a single grid, rather than just a list of names off to the side. So, can educators still promote student belonging in virtual spaces? Then have students add their ideas with evidence and explanations within each column. She is intentional in providing students opportunities to interrogate their core beliefs about an ideal (e)learning environment, and developing life-long career habits. Social media, phone calls, Skype, Google Hangouts and FaceTime are tried and true methods of staying connected but there are a few new and innovative ways to catch up and have fun together. With this option, you’ll have to setup individual Google Meets and label them for each group so the students know which one to attend. Differentiation: For students who cannot attend online classes, see if your school has an easy way to deliver paper copies. Connect students with either other students or with adults who can tutor them in different subjects over the phone or on video chat. You’ll learn how to use your current communication channels and set up alternate communication channels to connect with your community. Meaningful Mementos: Using Seesaw or Flipgrid, have students show and tell about a personal artifact from their life. resource. Staci from Donut Lovin’ Teacher likes to use Padlet to create, connect, and collaborate with students. Get your students in tune with one another by encouraging them to contribute to a collaborative playlist. Another great digital platform is Padlet, and it is completely free as long as you don’t plan to have more than three active Padlets at a time. We fell in love with teaching because our goal was to reach the human beings who enter our classrooms everyday. I refuse to give up hope that we can still bring magic to our classrooms, even from a distance. Zoom has a unique function for setting up breakout rooms. can help you connect with students even when they aren’t in class. Here are Emily's best tips for using FlipGrid in the online classroom: Create fun, creative prompts: Emily's students post one FlipGrid each week in response to their reading. It might also be helpful to schedule the group presentations at different times so you can attend all meetings. You and your students can go together (or asynchronously) to museums in Sao Paulo and Paris, watch live footage of animals at a zoo, or walk through Yellowstone National Park. As a certified reading specialist, Melissa has no shortage of ideas for using books to build relationships with students and create positive classroom cultures for older students. A great way to encourage and help students feel safe to express their true selves in your class, is to model this by introducing yourself in a meaningful way. Posted Sep 30, 2015 Let’s say you’re practicing character analysis, make different columns such as personality, appearance, thoughts, and interactions with others. ... Have students design a virtual locker to reflect their interests. Share the mailing address with your group and challenge everyone to send one card/letter. Social media, phone calls, Skype, Google Hangouts and FaceTime are tried and true methods of staying connected but there are a few new and innovative ways to catch up and have fun together. They may have restrictions or additional guidelines to follow. Differentiation idea: Use Audible or Sora for students who need or prefer audio books. How about writing? You don't have to be. resource so that students can share book recommendations and inspiration with peers. Dedicate one to two hours per week to holding office hours in a video conference or chat room. Get to know your student’s names. We know that our kids (and maybe...admittedly, ourselves haha) are getting more and more into TikTok. is another helpful tool that allows students to virtually raise their hands and indicate how they’re feeling via pop-up emojis. By doing these two things, she hopes to establish a foundation for learning to happen. She also recommends responding to the parts of the video that make you smile! Record and share videos or audio clips. You’ll be surprised at how many students respond to each other. Differentiation idea: For students who struggle to make it to a Google Meet at a specific time, record your meeting to share through Google Classroom or email later. The fun part is seeing how students choose to share their commentary! You can learn more and read about Shana’s favorite Chrome extensions for teachers and students, Because so much of our face-to-face communication is nonverbal, not being able to see students’ faces or reactions online can feel a bit strange. The creative digital learning projects provide the perfect opportunity for students and teachers to connect by showing off their creations together through digital platforms. Having low-key connection time like this is a good way to relax and bond without focusing too much on work or team building. to hold weekly “office hours.” Students can pop in to ask questions about the week’s assignments or just to say hi and share what’s going on in their lives. Below are 5 of my favorite ways to virtually connect and engage with students in ways that support learning and well-being. Reduced staff in a hybrid school model may mean special area teachers are no longer able to teach traditionally. Offering personal information will help students connect with you and make it so you aren’t a robotic, online teacher. As a wonderful bonus, reading aloud has helped her to connect with her students online. Students will love visiting their virtual classroom. As a certified reading specialist, Melissa has no shortage of ideas for using books to build relationships with students and create positive classroom cultures for older students. For kids with access to technology, simple daily hellos via video might be the only time the student sees the teacher on some days—and that sense of connection is important to sustain. Many times in online courses students are a username while instructors become virtual computers responding back to questions and grading projects. for more links and resources for distance learning that are creative and require little prep/Internet access. Have your team members prepare any meal, and then connect for a virtual call while you eat and chat. Alternatively, you can share the PIN of the game. extension allows teachers to “take attendance” during a Google Meet session. Since she is not sharing these videos publically, she returned to reading modern YA literature for First Chapter Friday through a Google Meet. 1. 1. Instructors cannot shoehorn social and emotional student connection into a virtual class. We believe that there should be no limits to when and where you can learn, and we’re committed to helping educators facilitate distance learning and make it as impactful as a classroom experience. Knowing that you value team members on a personal level makes them feel more involved. Communication (with students and their caregivers) is a key component to helping students build a strong sense of belonging online. When you ask a question, students can not only reply, but they can also see their classmates’ responses and comment on them. Like many other teachers, I went through a brief period of mourning. ... Digital postcards or virtual cards in their email or DMs or texts can be a super fun way to connect. You can also include academic lessons or SEL strategies to try at home. "Students with a high sense of belonging are happier, healthier, and more engaged learners... and less likely to skip school, abuse substances, have emotional distress, or be involved in fighting or bullying behavior. To simulate daily or weekly announcements that students hear over the intercom, consider recording short video or audio clips and sending them out via email or text. One, Lauralee created a YouTube channel for her students where she reads the first chapter of books in the public domain. In this session, join Dr. Monica Burns as she takes you through strategies and technology tools to make this happen. This lets the teacher split your larger class meeting into smaller separate rooms. Create models: For each prompt Emily posts, she creates a model video response. Students love learning (and are often surprised) by how much they … Middle schoolers huddle together during homeroom to discuss their favorite TV shows as they wait to hear the morning announcements over the intercom. The would you rather activity asks students to evaluate choices and explain their thinking These questions are a great way to get a conversation started in a fun and interesting way. Perhaps you can host a spirit week for your ELA classroom. For students with little to no Internet access, ask for prompts that can be shared in class chats or to start virtual turn and talk discussions, then share classmates' answers via email. Students can also submit ideas about what they’d like to chat with their peers about. How can educators continue to foster a sense of belonging with students while schools are closed and learning has shifted online? Try to make sure your kids know you are thinking of them, care for them, and miss them. If you’re struggling with this disconnect and missing your students, try incorporating some form of online discussion. Encourage students to play around and have fun! The other platform she’s used is a Google extension called Kami. Create Facebook groups and invite students to join and contribute in some way. Having a designated role that they prepared ahead of time helps students feel more comfortable presenting in this new digital format. Communication is the most important thing for the deaf community. Frequent check-ins. Getting to know all your students and calling them by their preferred name and pronouns is one of the best ways to connect with your students. This lets the teacher split your larger class meeting into smaller separate rooms. If you work in student engagement, develop an Online Student … The first platform that’s helped create normalcy is utilizing Actively Learn - a digital reading platform that does it all (check it out in Amanda’s insta stories highlights for elearning!). Just remember, build a foundation, create stability, and then start to introduce new tools to students. Staci has so many ideas about how this could work with. Almost all of my kids showed up, and we don’t even officially start virtual learning until tomorrow!” -Frankie. We know that our kids (and maybe...admittedly, ourselves haha) are getting more and more into TikTok. Zoom has a unique function for setting up breakout rooms. For students who have limited access to books, Sora also has eBooks that can be borrowed for free. The community agreement is always presented as a “living” document that can be adjusted as needed. Many students need additional support with balancing their home and school responsibilities. Less is more. An Approach to Soft Skills - Tanesha takes a proactive approach in “teaching” students soft skills that will be valuable beyond the classroom. Fifth graders sit in a circle as their teacher leads them in a mindfulness exercise to start the day present and focused. “While virtual teaching requires many of the same skills needed to effectively teach in a brick and mortar classroom — academic expertise, teamwork, organization, creativity, and of course love for learning and for students — there are strategies that are particularly helpful when trying to reach students with whom you may never see face-to-face,” says Beach. ... Connect with students individually: It can be difficult to gauge how students are faring without seeing them in person, so connecting individually is very important. of the day’s agenda, and shares a calendar with both daily and weekly perspectives. Forge partnerships in the community; it truly takes a village. Host a virtual morning meeting. Schedule a demo with our team or give us a call at  (617)-356-8123. The New York Public Library has also recently released free access to their digital collections. Teachers can also set the tone for students and give them a sense of hope in times of uncertainty. It took a set of costumes, funny voices, and made-up characters for Jamie Ewing, a K-5 science teacher at P.S. Due to COVID-19, we have to distance ourselves to lessen the spread of the virus. Use Twitter to invite students to virtual programming, and encourage them to re-tweet and bring classmates. After students complete the reflection process, she administers a class survey that combines standing agreements with ideas captured from student reflections. There are a few ways you could do this. She also suggests shared listening experiences through podcasts because not only are podcasts free and easily accessible during distance learning, but they also provide fantastic online discussion opportunities! Differentiation Idea: Use the print screen feature on your computer keyboard to screen shot a Padlet conversation to share with students through email if their Internet access is limited. Before deciding on which route to take, you should check with your school district about their policies and expectations. Kami allows users to upload documents or images and convert them to PDFs that can be annotated in dozens of ways. Simply having students write their responses instead of creating a video is easy. Innovate and Collaborate . Log on to the aquarium, … Not only is connectedness linked to better academic outcomes, but students who feel connected to school are less likely to skip school, abuse substances, have emotional distress, or be involved in fighting or bullying behavior. Treat it as a course characteristic, not a standalone item. She recommends sharing specific feedback about student’s analysis. The creative digital learning projects provide the perfect opportunity for students and teachers to connect by showing off their creations together through digital platforms. Netflix Party is a Chrome extension that allows users with Netflix accounts to watch movies together at the same time. By doing these two things, she hopes to establish a foundation for learning to happen. 5 Ways to Stay Connected Virtually Communication and connection is the most important thing for the deaf community. If you are late to the Bitmoji party, welcome! Allow your unique personality to shine … for distance learning. Many educators recommend rotating through groups of students each day to make the phone calls manageable. Emily Aierstok, from Read it. Staci Lamb from The Engaging Station coordinated a week-long Digital Spirit Week, and students could send in their pictures daily for the different themes like pajama day, school spirit day, and crazy sock day. The app also comes with a few games, like "Heads Up!" 1. Using Google Forms for daily or attendance check-ins has many benefits. Respond with Emojis/Characters: Post a multiple choice question on the screen, and designate each answer with an emoji or character (*!~+). Download this toolkit to access templates on Google Forms and Google Slides for "notes of gratitude.". As an English teacher experienced with grades 6-12 and a current instructional coach, Melissa recommends focusing on what is most important right now. You can find directions for setting up a Google Meet here. Last week, students had to create a three minute news story detailing the juiciest character gossip from their books. Compile these notes in a slide deck or on your classroom website to share with students, caregivers, and staff. In typical classroom life, routines are an important way to build connection. In this post, we'll explore research on belonging and connectedness, the key tenets of virtual communication for educators, and effective strategies for building virtual connectedness. To simulate daily or weekly announcements that students hear over the... 3. Classroom Community Agreement– Tanesha prioritizes time for students to reflect on the feel of the classroom they want to be true. This one is a game changer. Engaging group discussions can happen outside of the classroom! Some of these sessions can be group sessions, while others might need to be one-on-one. Send snail mail. Can you provide a pen-and-paper option for a virtual activity?". That way, students who are sharing devices with siblings or parents won't be left out. As of right now, the snail mail system is still up and running… While you still can, send your kids something in the mail! Google Meet is another free resource for video chats. This session will also include an overview of how to set up … Getting your group together to watch a show or a movie and chat through it is an awesome and fun way to stay connected. Along with providing books through the public domain or after reading aloud the chapter of a current YA novel, share the audible link so students have access to the audio version. Having a designated role that they prepared ahead of time helps students feel more comfortable presenting in this new digital format. 12 Creative Ways to Connect with Students Online, With the pressure of high-stakes testing taken off your plate, now is the perfect time to add creative learning selections to your virtual menu! Read how Kahoot! The. Copy the link and share with your students – via email, via your LMS, or other messengers. Give feedback: FlipGrid makes it easy to leave quick video feedback. A time-stamped list of participants is exported to a spreadsheet, making it easy to log and reference later if needed. From preserving student-teacher 1:1s to bringing lessons to life in the virtual classroom, it ... Connect with students individually: It can be difficult to gauge how students are faring without seeing them in person, so connecting individually is very important. Finally, Amanda’s team has decided to give writing assessments that look almost identical to ones that students have already done, just with a few updates. to access templates for virtual morning announcements. Emily models how to use the whiteboard option to write out a response or even draw an animated response. I was mourning the loss of my physical classroom and I was missing my students terribly, but there was something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on--something that staring at a computer screen and posting assignments on Google Classroom could not replace. Thankfully, in the world of modern technology there are still ways to virtually stay connected to family, friends and loved ones during this period. Learn it., uses. Anchor charts: On a Padlet shelf, content can be organized in columns. With this option, you’ll have to setup individual Google Meets and label them for each group so the students know which one to attend. If you have students who tend to dominate the conversation during in-person discussions, they’re going to dominate virtually as well. Give students with limited access the opportunity to create questions that students on Padlet can answer. Ensure online learners still feel connected and part of the university. Finally, Amanda’s team has decided to give writing assessments that look almost identical to ones that students have already done, just with a few updates. as a tool for keeping the magic alive in the distance learning classroom. 11 Fun Games to Play on Zoom That Will Amp up Your Next Virtual Party Whether you prefer trivia, Bingo, word games, or card games, there's a way to play online. The first platform that’s helped create normalcy is utilizing, - a digital reading platform that does it all (check it out in, highlights for elearning!). A virtual learning environment also allows students to work at their own pace. The regular workday still applies, so colleagues should respect when you end your day virtually and log off — the same way as when you leave the office. Partnerships have helped with free school supplies, clothing, field trips, and incentives. Small Business Guide to Health Insurance. If they’re going to be on it anyway, imagine how much fun and creativity they could demonstrate by blending content into short TikToks. 6. Emily instructs students how to use FlipGrid to create short, creative video responses to their reading. Learn it., uses FlipGrid as a tool for keeping the magic alive in the distance learning classroom. Keep reading to find out how you can use Kahoot! You can suggest ice breakers or games to keep the conversation going. Ask them to enter their answer only after the timer has sounded. Shana Ramin from Hello, Teacher Lady is currently using Google Meet to hold weekly “office hours.” Students can pop in to ask questions about the week’s assignments or just to say hi and share what’s going on in their lives. While engaging for two minutes may not always work in the virtual world, find quick ways to connect such as sending a private message during live video conferencing or writing a personal message along with feedback on a piece of their work. Offer audio book apps like Audible and Sora to make reading more accessible. For students with few books at home or limited Internet access, print and share paper copies of short stories from the public domain. and hopefully hear a new author, genre, and book. If you feel like your discussions are flopping, try one of these fun strategies: Flood The Chat: Ask students a question, and set a timer. Students should be able to work ahead if they are able to complete lessons independently or take higher level courses if they have met the prerequisites. This regular communication and collaboration … Virtual education is the way of the future. This includes ensuring managers can access a full range of tools for connecting with virtual … For even more ideas for creating magic in the classroom, check out Emily's post on Building a Community Read Aloud. “While virtual teaching requires many of the same skills needed to effectively teach in a brick and mortar classroom — academic expertise, teamwork, organization, creativity, and of course love for learning and for students — there are strategies that are particularly helpful when trying to reach students with whom you may never see face-to-face,” says Beach. The other platform she’s used is a Google extension called Kami. For students who struggle with access, encourage them to submit questions or quotes for literature circle discussions. Here are three simple tips to help students make the transition from traditional to online easier: Tip #1: Create a Community … The responses were so relevant and creative. March 16, 2020 at 10:15am. Over the course of a week, ask students to submit notes of appreciation about their peers. With the pressure of high-stakes testing taken off your plate, now is the perfect time to add creative learning selections to your virtual menu! Most importantly, Tanesha gives herself and students grace when it comes to remote learning!