Tips from Virtual Educators on Supporting Students Remotely
Many teachers are navigating shifting to remote learning for the first time, and we know it can be a lot to handle, especially at first. We’ve collected advice from our coach team who all work virtually, all teachers or former teachers, from across the country.
Big Picture:
Find creative ways to stay connected and show that you care
Consistency of communication is key
Allow yourself space to fail and learn from mistakes
Build routines for yourself and for your students
Seek to understand what students are going through
Advice from the coach team:
"This abrupt change can feel overwhelming - but online learning can allow students to go at their own pace and exercise more creative learning. Think of larger assignments or projects students can work on over the next two weeks, break it up into parts, and (if possible) schedule online or phone check-ins to see how they are doing with the assignment. This is a great opportunity for students to come back to your classroom feeling refreshed and enriched."
- Mrs. Vakharia, High School Social Science & World Languages teacher
“Take a deep breath. Breathe. There is no blueprint on how to handle this situation, but we're in this together. Try to be mindful that your students may be facing anxiety because of the disruption of school routines and may be worrying about their families health, food security, and finances. The best thing is to offer them words of comfort. You can do that by simply letting them know you are here for them. Ask how they’re doing, how they're feeling, how their families are doing. Let them share details about their day and share details about yours as well. Encourage them to journal their day to day activities to remember this in a few years. Start a discussion board where your prompt is simply: What did you do today? How did you feel? Emphasize that although we are practicing social distancing, we are still very much connected.”
- Ms. Zavala, Coach & Former Middle School Teacher
“It can feel overwhelming to suddenly have to teach in a way that's new to you. Take a deep breath. Remember, this is how our students feel a lot of the time-- new things can be scary, annoying, and frustrating. Allow yourself to fail, learn from mistakes, and find the humor along the way. You don't have to do everything perfectly. Just show up, be yourself, and reach out to your students the best you can.”
- Ms. Talty, K-12 Art Teacher
“Something I'm thinking about as I support my school with our virtual learning plan is a focus on stability. What routines can we keep up virtually? For instance, having students complete a daily playlist of activities gives them a little stability to rely on during very uncertain times. Another example, for younger kiddos, could be a daily welcome video from their teacher or building principal that states what they'll be learning today or an activity they can practice at home. Finally, I'm keeping front-and-center in my mind that so many of our students face challenges during this time, such as access to food or childcare responsibilities for younger siblings. Sending students love and checking in on them is so vital during this time, even if it's virtually.”
- Mr. Mishleau, Former 1st - 4th Grade/Middle School Teacher & Director of Personalized Learning
“My advice for teachers would be to continue supporting and encouraging your students in every way you can, including maintaining regular communication. Not every student has a home they are happy to be at during this time, so consider calling them to check in and offer your words of support. I know content is important, but during these challenging and confusing times, it’s important to focus on the relationships we have built with our students.”
- Ms. Albers, High School Math Teacher