Distance Learning: 4 Great Ways To Start the School Year

Many of us are just weeks away from starting a new school year. This year is going to be drastically different for most of us, though. Many of us will be starting the school year virtually. This is something most of us did not imagine happening. But, here we are trying to prepare ourselves as we embark on this new way of teaching and learning.

We all have so many unanswered questions about everything from logistics, online platforms to use, hours online, funding, supplies, making emotional connections with our students and families. The list goes on and on. Everyone is experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. Most things, about this situation, are out of our control, so it is important to focus on what we CAN control. 

4  POSITIVE WAYS TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR 

1. Have students record a video about what they are excited about for the upcoming year. This is a great way for students to share their personalities in a safe environment, while allowing them to express their wonders, excitements and/or concerns for the year. FlipGrid is a great way for students to share and respond to each other's videos.

2. Create digital portfolios with Google Sites. This is a school year not to be forgotten. With Google Sites, students can create a digital portfolio and post work they are proud of during the year and reflect on it. They can use video or audio recordings to post and comment on their work. This option provides students a more natural and comfortable way to communicate, opposed to the traditional form of writing. As a teacher, it will give better insight to how students feel about their work, and allow room to adjust teaching strategies and support students where they need it most.

3. Build routines to lower anxiety levels of students and parents. When environments are predictable, brains will be calmer. Just like in the classroom, students like routines. The same applies to the online classroom. Students need to know what to expect, where to get their lessons and how to submit them. Parents need to know class expectations, so they can help their child while learning at home too. Start to build these routines on day one!

4. Take first day of school pictures to document this unprecedented time. Email first day of school signs for students to hold and have parents take their picture. Parents can email the pictures and then teachers can create an online board with the pictures to build classroom community. 

You can get access to this FREE resource by putting your email into the pop up form that is on your screen when you first come to my blog. You will be emailed a password and gain access to this resource, as well as, many more distance learning resources, which you can download for FREE!