Setting up spaces and resources at home
Big picture of curriculum while getting going online
Get kids to help be the tech experts
Synchronous vs. asynchronous learning--go for a hybrid
Setting up partnerships and groups to get over the loneliness
Checking in with students to see how it's going
Developing protocols to manage all the technology
Flipping your lessons
Checking in with families + equity
Check back for video minilessons and updates at Read the World Distance Learning.
This is a library of resources for kids, families, teachers, and librarians to make sure that reading & learning can happen anywhere this spring. Some of you may be out of school as communities try to prevent the spread of a virus known as COVID-19.
Writing a letter is hardly a revolutionary idea, but I find that in times like these my instinct is to fill the uncertain space around us with reassurance and advice. And while reassurance and advice are both really important right now, for me starting with asking the students how they are managing this feels like it has created a solid platform from which to teach from in this new space. So many students have already been thankful that a teacher was asking after them and taking their thoughts, worries, and needs into consideration, and many have offered some of the best suggestions I've seen so far.
Last week Jennifer Serravallo sat down with Kristin Ziemke to discuss distance learning and shared ideas for navigating uncertainty. Listen in as they discuss equity, access, safety and digital best practice. To watch the full screen version click here.
Wonderopolis is free and easy to use with 2,500+ articles on all kinds of curious questions. A question of the day blog that provides answers to frequently asked student questions. Includes texts with a read-to-me function and a paired video.
A collection of current event articles that are adapted from vetted news sources like The Washington Post, Scientific American, and the Associated Press. Available in Spanish and English, these digital articles span history, science, and ELA.
Daily articles and activities to give students a range of reading.
News articles curated by the Smithsonian covering a variety of topics.. Features an adjustable text difficulty.
Learn Zillion includes interactive WriteAlong videos for targeted writing and grammar interventions, as well as other short (3-10 minute) videos intended for teacher and student use focused on targeted concepts and skills. It is organized by topic, connects to Common Core standards, and includes videos on opinion, argumentative, informational, and narrative writing.
Click on the adjacent image to access a list of 36 short stories (the text of each story linked!) you might weave into your online instruction.