CLASS WEBSITE

I've used variations of this design for my class website since I started teaching at Paterson Public Schools in 2012.

Students, parents and caregivers can always see what's going on in class through the website, which now links to Google Classroom. Because of the 1:1 Chromebook ratio and G Suite at school, my students are used to working online all the time.

In the beginning of the year, I always give a Welcome Survey. This year 100% of my students reported that they had 24/7 internet access at home.

Students know that in our class, "if it isn't posted, it doesn't exist." Technology keeps us in sync and literally on the same page. The phone number on the homepage of my website goes to my Google Voice number, and my students know that if they call or text before 9 P.M., I will get back to them.

With COVID-19, we had to migrate to all-remote, all the time. There was no "barrier to entry" with my students about how to use the tools because Google Classroom was the context for instruction from the first day of school. Our learning curve was flat.

In April, I wrote a reflection about the experience of teaching and learning this way. (You can access it only if you have PPS credentials.) Click away!