Tips for Teaching Your Students At a Distance

If you would have ever asked me if I would be sitting in a meeting spread out 6 feet away from my co-workers listening to our state and district plan to teach our students from a distance for the next month, I never would have guessed I would be. But, that is exactly where I was yesterday at 8 A.M.

Because this is completely uncharted territory, and we are making this up as we go, I figured I would share some tips for teaching your students at a distance that I have figured out in this last 24 or so hours.  If you have any ideas to share, please feel free to in the comments below, because we are all in this together!

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1. Take care of YOU!

As teachers we tend to put the needs of everyone else above our own, and I know this situation will be no different.  We will spend the next month (or more) worried about our students, (are they learning, are they safe, do they have enough to eat?).  That is just what we do.  But, as you have probably all ready been told, it is hard to fill others' buckets when our own bucket is depleted.  That is why my first tip for teaching during this challenging time is to take care of you!

1. Get plenty of rest.

2. Drink plenty of water and eat as healthy as you can during this time.

3. Take time to yourself - this is a great time to read that novel you've been putting off since you got it last Christmas! You can even get a free 30 day subscription to Kindle if you don't have enough books to read.

4. Resist the urge to be a news junkie - limit news and social media consumption right now.  I don't know about you, but I tend to freak myself out with information overload.  I have decided to limit myself to 30 minutes of news at night and Facebook posts that are only about things I love - teaching ideas, funny videos, etc.

5. Don't compare!  I have many on-line friends in other schools or districts who don't have to go in at all, or who are still in school.  There are so many considerations with this - just stay in your lane and focus on what YOU need to do for your students and your family!

2. Keep it Simple

Yes, that good ol' K.I.S.S. principle!  Restrain yourself from the urge to send all of the links, all of the copies, and all of the free resources that are bombarding you now.  You don't know what kind of situation each of your students is in during this precarious time.  Some may be home alone, others may be sent to daycare situations where they don't have access to internet.  Some have three siblings who are also vying for the internet during the day and possibly don't have more than one computer (if one at all).

My solution was to use Class Dojo to handle the majority of assignments because it is something my parents have been using all year and not a new program that they had to learn.  Keep it simple.

I shared links to my resources that I use ALL YEAR long - again trying to keep it something that the students already know how to do.

I sent my daily math review, my homework packets (I send home a daily sheet from 180 Days Reading and 180 Days math), and reading logs for the next few weeks.

That is it!  I have sent additional resources for fun, like some color by number math facts sheets, and some math games, but I have told parents to mostly worry about keeping their children safe and secure during this time.

Bonus FREEBIE

You can grab an addition and multiplication sample of my Unicorn math facts sets free here.


The full unicorn math facts sets are listed below:

Unicorn addition facts color by number

Unicorn multiplication facts color by number

If you own any of my resources, feel free to send them to parents however you need to - this is a trying time and we need to stick together!

Families can also get a FREE month of Kindle just for signing up! This might be a great way for them to keep up on their reading if they don't have enough books at home!

Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans

3. Use video.

I sent a video to my students yesterday, just to say hi and let them know that I was ok and still would be working with them distantly for the time being.  I also video recorded myself reviewing our homework so that they could check their work.

I plan on sharing mini video lessons throughout this time period.  I am sharing videos on my Class Dojo app and on a Facebook group that I set up for my classroom.  You can do the same or even send email videos.

I know many of us do not like the idea of videoing ourselves, but your students will really appreciate seeing your face as reassurance during this scary time! I am even going to be brave enough to share the video I made for them with you to help show you it's not as bad as you think!

4. Share Your Day.

Your students have been used to seeing you every weekday all school year, this sudden departure may be challenging for them, particularly since many of us didn't get to say "good-bye" before the long break. Take the time to share little bits of your day and what you are doing.

My students always comment about my lunch - how I always eat salad EVERY DAY!  I sent a picture on Class Dojo of my salad yesterday.  They loved it and some even shared their own lunch menus with me.  Just one of those little things to keep the relationship building even when we can't be with them.

I will be sharing things around my house such as my pet bearded dragon, my own boys, and my "temporary classroom/work-space".  I will also be encouraging them to share things from their day as well.

5. Manage Your Expectations

I've touched on this briefly, but, we don't know what circumstances each of our students or parents are dealing with at the moment.  They may have child care issues, employment issues, fear, etc.  We definitely DO NOT need to add to this burden with our teaching expectations.

Per our district policy, we need to make contact with each student and parent each day.  That is my ONLY solid expectation right now.  If you need a copy of this contact form, email me at kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net and I will send it to you! :)

If they get the work done I sent home - awesome! If they do above and beyond - even better! If their parent goes completely off course and does their own thing - fantastic! Maybe they need to do this to help ease their fears and stresses.  Let them!

I am not going to hold their individual circumstances against them, and neither should you!  Most states are making concessions because this is all NEW to all of us!

Those are just a few of my tips based on day 2 of this crazy experience of teaching my students remotely!  I will be sharing more tips and ideas as I have them here on the blog, on my Facebook page, and through email.  If you have any PLEASE share with me as well!

Before you go - head on over to my giveaway page to enter our current giveaways for Teachers pay Teachers gift cards! I know those will come in handy right now!

Hang in there teachers!  We've got this!