With the ever evolving world of education, teachers and students are relying on online platforms for teaching and learning now more than ever. Tina Quinonez, 6th-grade teacher at Chaparral, has taken this shift in stride, using her Canvas course to create a virtual classroom that is as organized and engaging as her in-person classroom. Let's take a closer look at how Tina has harnessed the power of Canvas to provide students and parents with a seamless learning experience. First, let's look at a screen shot of her home page in Canvas:
When you enter Tina's Canvas course, you are greeted by a charming Bitmoji virtual classroom scene. This scene bears a striking resemblance to her physical classroom, creating a sense of familiarity for her students. But Tina doesn't stop there; she keeps her virtual classroom up to date by referencing the current week of school, listing announcements, and detailing the content or skills that will be covered during the week. For instance, if it's week 9, you'll find the week number displayed prominently, along with a list of events scheduled for that week. This clear communication is essential for students to stay on top of their studies and for parents to actively support their child's learning.
Tina has designed her Canvas course for easy navigation. Under the Bitmoji scene, you'll find a series of buttons that are hyperlinks, each leading to a different resource or page:
Teacher Contact Information: A direct link to reach out to Tina for any questions or concerns.
6th Grade Daily Bell Schedule: A reference to the daily class schedule, ensuring students are always on time.
Important Links and Documents: Here, you'll find essential documents like the supply list, instructions for logging into Office 365, Alek's math login information, and a multiplication chart.
Math Manipulative Room: A virtual math manipulative room where students can access various online tools to enhance their understanding of mathematical concepts.
Math Interactive Notebook: An updated virtual copy of students' interactive notebooks via Google Slides, helping them keep track of their progress.
Brain Break Activities: Short, engaging activities that provide students with mental breaks during their learning journey.
Math Game Activities: A treasure trove of math games to make learning more fun and interactive.
Recorded Video Lessons: Recorded videos of each day's lesson are available for students and parents to revisit for extra support or clarification.
Growth Mindset Resources: A section dedicated to fostering a growth mindset in students, promoting resilience and a positive attitude towards learning.
Past Week's Assignments: Access to assignments and materials from the past week up to the beginning of the school year, ensuring students can review and catch up when needed.
Tina's meticulous organization of her Canvas course is a testament to her commitment to her students' success. By providing easy access to resources, schedules, and lesson materials, she empowers her students to take charge of their learning journey. Moreover, this level of organization extends a helping hand to parents, allowing them to actively support their child's education. Tina's Canvas course is a shining example of how technology can be harnessed to create an engaging, organized, and effective learning experience for students and their families. This shows that teachers like Tina are dedicated to using new tools and methods to give their students the best education possible.