Creating and Nurturing a Culture of Community Virtually: Make it FUN!
Zoom and Google Suite also offer the ability to connect to and see one or more person at a time, with a gaggle of tools allow the sharing of everything from screens to ideas... but stops short of the sharing of germs.
If your organization already has access to these tools (Zoom is now offering free accounts to all educators!), here are some ideas that others are utilizing in order to stay connected to their students/staffs, beyond teaching lessons:
Spirit Week Style Ideas for Virtual Learning:
· Show us your pet· Wear your favorite school appropriate jammies· Wear a school appropriate costume (80's, Super Hero, etc.)
Gathering Beyond the Lesson:
· Host a virtual lunch break for your students where they can share their favorite school appropriate YouTube videos or TikToks
· Host a virtual tea party: everyone can show their fun tea cups or baked goods and dress up in tea party attire
· Host an arts and crafts session and ask your students if they would like to host one, too! (Learning new crafts or hobbies from each other during this time would be a relief to many parents!)
· Set up breakout rooms in Zoom for students to meet with each other and work together on projects of interest