Teaching online has become a very normal thing in the recent months. We are all rocking and rolling with virtually teaching, I mean it is our new normal. I spent a year pre-pandemic teaching online and little did I know it would become my jam. I actually like teaching online better than in person, but let’s keep that between us. As I listen to teachers who hate teaching virtually I creige because I enjoy it so much. See how I am helping teachers create amazing virtual classroom. I know it can be a lot so here are a few 3 essentials for your virtual classroom that I use in my class each day to maintain a “normal” experience for my students.
Make sure your Lighting is on Point
This was one of the most important things I learned teaching online. Sometimes I would have new students come into class whom I was meeting for the first time. Being well lit ensured students could see me, and my facial expressions. Students have a hard time reading our body language and facial expression online so making sure we are well lit will help them to read our cues better.
Lighting gets overlooked in virtual classrooms. Having the right lighting will make you appear looking more like yourself on camera. If you are a person of color this is especially important. If the light is not bright enough you could appear darker than normal.You want to provide students with as much of a realistic, normal experience as possible. Plus no one wants to be on a dark google meet, creepy. I use a large ring light and a small ring light that attaches to my laptop.
I am teaching ways to create Better Virtual Classroom experiences for teachers, students and parents in my Better Virtual Classroom Course, join the waitlist here.
Games and Fun and Fun and Games
I hear teachers say all the time, “I shouldn’t have to entertain my students.” I totally get that, everything is not going to be fun, but the things that can be should be. This creates a nice balance in our virtual classrooms. Google meet games / These are fun games you play throughout the day. These simple games keep up the students’ energy and give them a break after completing a difficult task. I start each class meeting with a fun game. I use these games to get my students to come to class on time. Since we play at the beginning of each class if a student is late they don’t get to play. We have scavenger hunts, riddles, pictionary and a few others.
Agenda Slides Keep Everyone in the Loop
Agenda Slides are essential for your virtual classroom or some sort of communication tool. I love their versatility. Use Agenda slides to ensure students know what we are doing each week. I also send a screenshot to parents each week so they know what their child is doing from day to day. I list homework, topics for the week and test dates. These can even be used in in-person class.These were created with google slide so editing is easy. I print them out and post them on a board so students know what we are doing each week. If you want an even simpler option check out these fillable newsletters that can be digital or printed. The biggest advantage of agenda slides are that you don’t have to constantly tell students what you’re doing each day and parents know what homework is assigned for each day and the test for each week.
These are my top 3 essentials you need for your virtual classroom. I teach ways to create better virtual classroom experiences for teachers, students and parents in my Better Virtual Classroom Course, join the waitlist here. Teachers to ensure your students have a great virtual experience be sure your lighting is on point,you have games and fun and fun and games but most of all save time and a million questions by using agenda slides to keep everyone in the loop.