Reflections

This time last year I wrote a blog post entitled Reflection. Sound familiar? Yes, I chose to use the same title but added an “s.” Why? Because for most weeks of the last few months I have written social media posts and even a blog post about what I have learned during quarantine, distance learning teaching. This morning I woke up and needed some closure on this time period.

Yesterday was the last day of school at my main client school and I spent the afternoon gathering materials and computers that were being dropped off by families. This was bittersweet as I got to see some students and parents. Some I had seen at our car parade a few weeks ago but some I had not seen since mid-March.

The questions started as I drove home:

How to “open” this school and all schools in August?
What does “open” even mean?
How to assess where the students need to start? Review? Support?
Did we get back all the materials? Need to count and then order.
Do we add platforms to the typical school day so that if we have to close for a time we are ready?
Go-Bags for the students in case of closure? What to put in them?
What worked during distance teaching? What to change?

Then came the reflections:

Learning Continues…
Every day Google Meets worked well with middle school.
Would add more Google Meets to a schedule for 4th and 5th grade.
Would include more small group and 1-1 Meets for K-3rd grade. This was a helpful way to do formative assessment.
Meet with parents in person at the start of school to set the expectations for work submittal in case we close again.
‘Do with Me’ instructional videos worked really well with K-2nd grade.
Google Meets with teachers works to maintain connections and support.
Texts and emails to connect with parents always is effective for good relationships, in school or out.
A platform for younger students (Maybe Seesaw) for video responses or work turn in.
Google Classroom is efffective in school or out for older students.
Loom or Screencastify work well for instructional videos (need premium subscription). May work well for video responses from older students.
There is no one way to remote teach effectively.

Big reflection >>>>> To make meaningful connections on a regular basis works great in and out of school!

Links to previous blog posts mentioned:

What I Have Learned: https://edtechease.com2020/04/05/what-i-have-learned/

Reflection: https://edtechease.com2020/02/02/year-end-reflections/

What have you learned? Share in one of the ways below. If you are looking for some ideas for your children – feel free to contact me.

Join me in July for a virtual workshop: Digital Citizenship – How Do I Teach This? Information on the website.

swladis@edtechease.com (email)

@edtechease (Twitter and Instagram)