Browsed by
Category: Distance learning

Classroom Agreements
Class Agreements for Remote Learning

Class Agreements for Remote Learning

Comments 0 Comment

Class agreements take the idea of classroom norms to a new level.  Sometimes known as social contracts, class agreements build community because they consider the needs of the students and teachers.  Students all participate in contributing ideas that help build a positive culture.  This is really different from typical classroom rules, which the teacher often sets with little input from the class. If students are in remote learning, class agreements are vitally important because they create a sense that all…

Read More Read More

Students participating in a virtual learning Zoom meeting
Remote Learning Norms That Help Students Succeed

Remote Learning Norms That Help Students Succeed

Comments 0 Comment

At the beginning of the school year, we as teachers routinely discuss our expectations for how students will behave so that we can  create a safe and respectful classroom environment.  Learning flourishes when students understand what they need to do and feel safe taking risks and trying new things.  This sets the tone for a classroom culture that supports learning.  Classroom norms provide structure and give students real tools for success. This is just as important in remote learning as…

Read More Read More

Find Your Own Philosophy
Your Philosophy of Education in Remote Learning

Your Philosophy of Education in Remote Learning

Comments 0 Comment

Note:  This post may contain affiliate links.  Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information. New teachers looking for their first teaching position spend countless hours considering their philosophy of education.  This is a question that almost always comes up during job interviews. Why this matters: At this moment in history, we are all feeling what it is like to be new teachers.  We are coming to terms with our core beliefs about what education is and how we can make…

Read More Read More

Home Office
Setting Up a Home Office for Remote Teaching

Setting Up a Home Office for Remote Teaching

Comments 0 Comment

Setting up a home office when you are teaching remotely can be a real game changer.  Home, at least my home, can be full of distractions.  It is really important to set up an environment that supports meaningful and engaging learning experiences.  This may be a serious step out of your comfort zone, but by paying attention to a few key factors, you can make remote learning work well for teacher and students.  In my opinion, this goes hand-in-hand with…

Read More Read More

Teacher self-care
Making Teacher Self-Care a Priority

Making Teacher Self-Care a Priority

Comments 0 Comment

Why Self-Care is Important I am slowly working my way through The Distance Learning Playbook by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie.  The first section of the book is on the fact that teacher need to practice consistent and intentional self-care.  In my opinion, this is just as important for homeschooling parents and parents of distance learners.  It’s super easy to get so busy working that you forget to rest, eat healthy meals, work out, and maintain social connections….

Read More Read More

Kindness
Why Kindness Really Matters Now

Why Kindness Really Matters Now

Comments 0 Comment

.A few years ago, I heard in passing about the beautiful commencement address that the short story writer George Saunders had given at Syracuse University.  In this speech, he talks about the fact that the things he regrets most in his life are failures of kindness. It’s a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but I’d say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder. If you have never read or heard…

Read More Read More

Distance Learning
Distance Learning: Asynchronous vs Synchronous

Distance Learning: Asynchronous vs Synchronous

Comments 0 Comment

As schools continue to develop plans for coping with the pandemic, educators have spent a lot of time discussing asynchronous learning and synchronous learning.  Colleges and universities have been using both forms of virtual instruction for a while.  Although integrating so much technology into K-12 education at the same time is daunting, it may lead to our students being really comfortable with virtual instruction in a way that their parent’s aren’t. What is Synchronous Learning? Synchronous learning is instruction that…

Read More Read More

Education and COVID-19
Education and COVID-19: Staying Out of the Dark Place

Education and COVID-19: Staying Out of the Dark Place

Comments 0 Comment

In recent days, I have been in a few different Facebook groups for parents and for teachers who are going to be teaching remotely this fall.  I have noticed that people have very strong opinions on the merits and problems with remote learning.  It’s fine to disagree but some of these discussions are falling into really dark sessions of complaining and blaming.  They also seem to get really political at times. I think that we are all struggling with fear…

Read More Read More

distance learning
How Homeschooling and Distance Learning Are Different

How Homeschooling and Distance Learning Are Different

Comments 0 Comment

With COVID-19 impacting pretty much all of society, school districts across the country are making some really serious decisions about distance learning and in-person instruction.    These decisions will ultimately affect the health of our children and families.  Parents in many places are choosing whether to send their kids back to school for in-person instruction or to choose remote learning.  I think we are all feeling the weight of these decisions. What is distance learning? Distance learning is basically instruction…

Read More Read More