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)
www.edtechease.com (website)
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