Across the nation, educators are being asked to teach students of all ages remotely and to provide students with purposeful and meaningful educational opportunities, all without setting foot on campus. Although educators are offered professional development on incorporating technology in the classroom, the current pandemic is asking teachers to adapt more quickly and with less training than expected. In the face of change, teachers will rise to the occasion to meet the ever-changing needs of our students.
Taking education virtual is much easier said—and written about—than done. EdSurge has created a guide, “Navigating Uncertain Times: How Schools Can Cope With Coronavirus,” to help educators, parents and anyone else seeking advice during an abrupt and turbulent transit. Resources are being made available as quickly as possible to help navigate these unchartered waters. A helpful tip is to create routines and rhythms for children at home. Regardless of whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator or anything in between, check out how to teach effectively online and work productively remotely.
As education delivery continues to change over the next few weeks and months, educators will be learning best practices for distance teaching.
Here are a few things to expect:
CHANGE IN ROUTINES
During this time that students will not be attending school, many may feel anxious or struggle without familiar routines and procedures. Routines provide stability to students and this disruption could have negative repercussions.
As a teacher, you may be their true constant. While classroom doors are shut, it’s important to try and remain as consistent as possible. This may require establishing new routines. The most important thing is to maintain a positive connection with your students. A great starting place is to make home phone calls to parents of the students in your homeroom class.
PHONE CALL CONSIDERATIONS
Here are some guidelines on what to ask:
- Check in on each family and ask if all members are emotionally and physical healthy. If you identity anyone in need, your district many have resources available to help.
- Ask parents if they have access to internet and computers. This will allow you to make sure you are prepared for lesson planning. For any student/s without the necessary equipment for distance learning, please check in with your district to see what may be loaned or provided.
- Tell parents to check their email often and visit the school and district websites frequently, as information from the school will be continuously updated.
- With parent permission, ask to speak to the child. Tell them you are thinking about them and planning lessons for them. Explain to them that school is changing, not ending. Reassure students that you will continue to be their teacher.
USING GOOGLE CLASSROOM
There will be many adjustments to transition to a remote classroom. Google Classroom is an excellent resource with which many students already familiar and know how to use. If you already have Google Classroom set up, great! You’re one step ahead. If you have not yet started with Google Classroom, no worries. It’s pretty simple to get started. Google also has a video conferencing tool called Google Hangout. This tool supports group conferences where you can meet with students online for some quality face time with one another. As the remote learning progresses, you may decide to create whole group and small group Google Hangouts, working with different students on specific learning goals.
OTHER WEB BASED METHODS
Google Classroom is just one of many excellent tools out there. There are video conferencing services available which you might find useful when looking for ways to connect with your students. Zoom, for example, is a great web-based video conferencing platform which allows many students to connect at the same time. Zoom is temporarily lifting the 40-minute time limit on free Basic accounts for schools affected by COVID-19. If this sounds like a helpful resource, visit the Zoom website for sign-up details.
Additional Virtual Teaching Resources:
- KQED Mindshift outlined strategies to accommodate to remote learning environments and tools for a smooth transition. KQED is also offering daily 15-minute webinars for teachers to help them get started using PBS Learning Media resources (compatible with Google Classroom).
- Common Sense Education has published a set of resources for teachers to prepare for school closures, including collaboration tools and lesson resources.
- The International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) has published 10 strategies for online learning to help teachers who are making their classrooms virtual for the first time.
- Newsela published a how-to guide on preparing for distance learning.
More Resources for Teaching Online
Lots of sharing going on here and on their Facebook page http://learneverywhere.org/
Other resources –
- Helping Teachers and Leaders Make the Switch to Remote Learning (Microsoft 365)
- Practical Actions to Prepare for Continued Student Learning (Instruction Partners)
- AT&T Underwrites SETDA eLearning Coalition Amidst COVID-19 Virus (State Educational Technology Directors Association)
- Zoom Offering Teleconferencing to Schools for Free (Forbes)
- School COVID-19 Resource Hub (Instruction Partners)
Resources to Expand Access To Prepare for Distance Learning
- Helping Teachers and Leaders Make the Switch to Remote Learning (Microsoft 365)
- Practical Actions to Prepare for Continued Student Learning (Instruction Partners)
- Zoom Offering Teleconferencing to Schools for Free (Forbes)
- School COVID-19 Resource Hub (Instruction Partners)
Sample Distance Learning Plans from School Districts and CMOs
- Approaches to Instruction During School Closure (Charter School Growth Fund)
- Success Academies Learning Plan Resources & FAQ (Success Academies)
- Success Academies Ongoing Learning Workshops (Robertson Center & (Success Academies)
- Chicago Public Schools, Enrichment Learning Resources (CPS)
- Renton Public Schools (Washington state), Students & Families Page
- Remote Learning Framework Webinar (Success Academies)
- Achievement First Covid-19 Response
- Baltimore City Public Schools At Home Learning Packets
- Indianapolis Public Schools District Wide Home Learning Resources
- Instructional Continuity Plan for Emergency School Closures (Miami-Dade County Public Schools)
- KIPP DC Remote Learning Resources
- Seton Education Partners’ At Home Learning Resources
- Uncommon Schools New Jersey grades K-4 Work Packets
- Uncommon Schools New Jersey grades 5-8 Work Packets
- Seton Education Partners’ At Home Learning Resources
- Multilingual Resources for Schools (Colorin Colorado)
Resources for Getting Connected to the Internet
- Free Internet Access to WiFi for K12 and College Student Households (Charter Communications)
- Comcast Free Internet Offer
Online Learning Programs
- Resources for Learning from Home During COVID-19 School Closures (Thomas B Fordham Institute)
- Homeschool Quick Start Guide (HSLDA)
- Resources for Learning at Home When Schools Close (TNTP)
- Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to Schools Closings
- Khan Academy: Parent Quick Start Guide
- Khan Academy: Free Online Learning Tool
- Core Knowledge Online Curriculum (Core Knowledge)
- Scholastic Learn at Home (Scholastic)
- Knowledge on the Go Collection (Eureka Math)
- Interactive Reading Lessons (Reading A to Z)
- Comprehensive Online Learning Lessons (IXL Learning)
- School Closure Learning Guide–worksheets, book lists, etc. (GreatSchools.org)
- Free Multilingual Learning Texts to Support At Home Learning (FASTalk)
- Playworks Game Library- Indoor Physical Activity Games (Playworks)
- Distance Learning Resources (Zearn)
High School, Advanced Placement, SAT & ACT Updates
- Take tuition-free, high-quality courses online from top professors for credit (Modern States)
- AP Updates (College Board)
- Free SAT Practice (College Board & Kahn Academy)
- Free Online Ivy League Courses
More resources from the Texas Teachers team!
- Readworks.org-reading passage practice
- Epic books-kids can read, have stories read to them, and watch educational videos
- Prodigy-super fun math practice that is set in a wizard world
- Sports illustrated KIDS-great for social studies
- Smithsonian for kids-great for social studies and science
- PBSkids.org-various practice
- Sheppard software-learning games in all subjects
- Arthubforkids-fun drawing videos
- Freckle-practice for ELA and math
- No Red Ink- grammar and writing
- NewsELA– Solutions for every subject, every student
- ABC Mouse- Early Learning Academy
- Amazing Educational Resources– Links to tons of other online learning options/resources
