To Teach from Home [S1 E4]
We are living through history in the making.
No one thought that at some point during the 2020 school year, we’d just all up and, well, LEAVE. Abandon our classrooms and leave that one coffee mug we forgot about sitting on the back table frozen in time. We’ve had some time to adjust, to readjust, and to think about the future, so we put together some reflections on our experiences so far in the eLearning journey during COVID-19.
One of my favorite activities so far has been a group annotation of this political cartoon using the Chrome extension Kami.
How things are going…so far
So everything is changing. We were not expecting this episode to be on our agenda, but here we are. Here’s what we’ve reflected on so far in our eLearning journey.
What have you learned about yourself?
We’ve learned a lot about how much we crave structure and schedules…and how hard it is to find the consistency we’re used to. We’ve learned that we’re trying to keep it all together for a lot of people, but eventually we will crash and burn. Having patience with ourselves and the process is essential for survival. Also, Amanda still despises living in the Midwest.
What have you learned about your students?
We’ve learned that our students miss us and that we can bond, even through the distance. We’ve also learned that some kids are better at connecting across the distance than others. Our students are in dire need of our empathy and we’re trying so hard to meet them where they are.
What is your best eLearning advice?
Providing consistency and structure seem to be the best things that we’ve learned and we’ve heard from others. In reality, it seems that most of our best practices in live teaching are the same in remote teaching. Be there for the kids, find systems that work, and teach them every day.
For more detailed answers, be sure to check out our episode!
We sweep into crisis control mode quickly, but eventually, the crash and burn hit. We need to take care of each other.
Here’s a peek at Marie’s daily “to-do” slides that she’s using with eLearning.
What our listeners have to say
Our wonderful listeners, aka YOU, shared some of your own answers to these questions and we think they could really help you think through this process. Here’s what you had to say!
What have you learned about yourself?
@ejordana_ “I love putting together curriculum”
@aghoying “I hate being tied to a computer, and I didn’t realize how many steps I got in while just “teaching”
@mrs_marler “I can adapt and do my job but still focus on my real priorities and what brings me joy. Balance is so much more important that I thought it was 2 weeks ago
@elizabethhomme “Even though this is hard, I really love coming up with creative solutions and making resources
@eileen_marie13 I am much more comfortable changing things up on the fly than I thought I was
What have you learned about your students?
@ejordana_” When they’re out of their element, they shut down”
@mrs_marler “They appreciate me more than I thought”
@beccaclairejones “They secretly crave structure...lots more engagement than I expected!”
@jennlp2004 “only about 10 out of 100 kids are getting on Google classroom. Zoom...3 attended.”
@eileen_marie13 “They are much more capable of handling change than anyone gives them credit for”
Best advice from your eLearning experience?
@aghoying “You don’t have to be accessible 24/7”
@eileen_marie13 “Meet the kids where they’re at. That might mean stopping my planned assignment to just talk”
Whether you’re a new teacher looking for someone help you see the light or a veteran stuck in a rut, we’re here for you! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and join our email list for updates, freebies, and inspo!
SHOW LINKS:
Help your students design a “Work from Home” schedule for themselves
Shana @helloteacherlady ‘s Daily Agenda slides:
The Caffeinated Classroom YouTube: videos for support:
One day at a time, we will keep moving forward. With a little help from our friends, compassion for students, and doing the best we can, we’ll all get through this together!
To check out what Amanda’s up to outside of Brave New Teaching, head over to her website or Instagram pages to fill up on some clever teaching ideas. Amanda also has a Teachers Pay Teachers online store with lots of ready-to-teach products for you.
And to check out Marie’s busy teacher life, be sure to check out her YouTube channel where she vlogs and posts videos about all the teacher things, her Instagram, and her Teachers Pay Teachers store!