Hey Fast Llama's!
When we are in our regular classroom world, developing, practicing and consistently adhering to systems, routines and procedures is the most important thing you can do for your students and for yourself. Using and being consistent with these practices builds rapport with your students, because it lets students know where they stand and it sets them up for success. (we think about ways to save them from their middle school selves). The brain loves pattern (craves it actually) and when our classroom experience for students is reliable, it calms their amygdala's and that's a big win for long term memory. Lastly, when students know how the classroom works, they become more autonomous (that's less work for you down the road).
I once heard a teacher say they didn't have time to teach these practices, because they needed to get to the content... but, not taking time now, will cost you time later (and sanity). Wouldn't it make sense to have an efficiently running classroom would mean MORE time for content later? It does to me...
So, let's talk about systems, procedures and routines in the virtual world. Virtual teaching and Face to Face teaching have more in common than you might think. It's all about OCC (being Overt, Clear and Consistent).
Here are some ideas:
1. Label your course clearly, so that students know exactly where to go for each class period. And, remember, all those labels, AO, ICS, K, or H mean little to a middle schooler. I also learned this week that 6th graders may not necessarily know that Phys Ed, or even Physical Education is in fact their P.E. class. So think about their middle school brains, and how it looks to them.
2. Use folders - Use one folder for each day of the week, then subfolders for each step in the teaching cycle. (Thank you for Megan Horner and Kat Lapid in science for sharing the idea of labeling the folders Step 1, Step 2, etc. ). Trying to limit the steps to 6 or 7.
3. Create a folder template in your Resources or Master Course, this helps eliminate all this folder creation every day.
4. Encourage other grade level teachers to use the same system school wide.
5. Narrate your videos or live teaching with procedural setups. Like, this... "you have 30 seconds to get a pencil and your notebook," or "you will need map pencils or markers, I will wait 30 seconds, while you get them together". You could also say reminders, like, "I will see you each morning at 9:05 am sharp!" This narration and pause benefits the Face to Face kids too.
6. Have a clean beginning and clean close. Create a tradition at the beginning of class, students can say good morning in chat or wave... have an official sign off that you say each day! Even Carol Baskin started off each video with a specific catch phrase, and guess what? it became popular. Hearing this at each beginning of class is like a hug to their brains... it's good stuff.
7. Keep it positive. If you want students to log in on time, make it worth it to do so and reward and celebrate their effort in doing so. Challenge students to wear a certain color to class and have it match the Face to Face kids, or have a show and tell object to share. Have snack time Fridays, if they have earned it... Keep it positive that you want to see the virtual students each day and let them see their in school classmates. There is hard work in school, but also joy and connections.
All the while you are talking to your virtual students, the face to face students sitting in class are also following along. They benefit from the narration and traditions too.
Have a great week and I am rooting for your success!
