Student engagement is always number one, but when it comes to virtual teaching how do we make that happen?
Here are some of the ways I make that happen in my virtual classroom.
Play Games
Sometimes we just need to play. In my morning sessions I start each session off with a game. This gets the kids excited and ready to learn. Try these strategies with your in-person students. My first rule is “get outta bed”, yes I say it just like that!. When students are in bed they are super relaxed and ready to close their eyes. Not on my watch, the first game is always something that requires them to get moving. Scavenger hunts are their favorite!
Keep it Simple
I keep the lessons simple but interactive. Nearpod is one of my virtual teaching gems! I always have a Nearpod lesson for the day. Each day I simply build on that lesson to keep it interactive for the student but simple for me to use and prepare for the week.
Give them some Responsibility
Having class jobs is super tough online but we have managed to have just a few. Each day I have a new student who makes sure I hit the record button on the google meets. I also have a student who counts how many students are online in the morning and afternoon meets. I use this cool site called wheelofnames.com. Just type in each student’s name and spin the wheel.
Be Super Prepared
When I am teaching I always want to be over prepared but when I am teaching online I HAVE to be completely prepared for anything. As I teach I sometimes find teachable moments. I love these moments. In my classroom I can pop over to the cabinet and grab the tool I need in no time, but online… once you leave that screen, it’s over! You have lost your audience. I keep a white board, dry erase markers, paper, notecards, markers and anything I think could need in reaching distance. Always prepare more than I need for each lesson.
Let your Bitmoji Classroom keep them engaged when you’re offline
When you are done teaching for the day and the assignments have all been handed out, all the emails have been sent and you’ve said “Mute your mic!” a billion times, send those kiddos to your bitmoji classroom for some fun, but worthy downtime. Create a bitmoji classroom for your student to use anytime. Add fun but educational website, frequently visited sites, like epic or a link to the google classroom. Also, add a place for resources like your school’s website and khan academy. Don’t worry about creating one from scratch you can use my template.
These are just a few ways I am engaging students online. We play games to get them ready to learn. I keep my lessons simple. I give my students some responsibility. I come to class super prepared and I let my bitmoji classroom do the work, when I’m offline!! My hope is that this will help make virtual teaching a bit easier. I know you have some great tips to share and we’d love to hear them! Just tag@makingitworkeducation on Facebook or Instagram, or leave us a comment below!!
