Building Classroom Community - When You are Distance Teaching

What does classroom community look like when you aren't even in the classroom?  How can you build relationships when you are distance teaching?

 It may seem daunting to think about continuing to grow relationships with your students while we are all teaching remotely, but it is possible!

Here are some tips and ideas for building your classroom community from a distance.

1. Reach-out and Check in with students AND parents.

The most important thing right now is to check-in regularly with your students and their parents while you can't see them in class.  Consider using a service like Class Dojo or Classtag to send daily check-in messages with your families.  Pick 3-4 students a day to reach out to personally so that it isn't quite as big a chore.

2. Host Social Gatherings via video

Consider hosting virtual meetings via Zoom or Google Hangouts just for the purpose of letting your students socialize with each other.  You might play fun games such as virtual scavenger hunts or Would You Rather? 

Provide opportunities for those students who are unable to attend the meetings (due to parent work, or lack of devices) to participate in some way.  Maybe they can pre-record a video, or write a letter to be shared with the other students.

3. Co-Create Classroom Rules and Norms

Just like at the beginning of the school year when you created classroom rules and norms with your students, you may want to do this again for the on-line environment.  What are some rules for taking turns while talking?  How do we encourage equal participation?  What types of comments should we leave our classmates if we are collaborating on-line?

4. Continue Classroom Rituals Such as Read Alouds and Morning Meetings

Consider continuing some of the classroom rituals you may have already had in place virtually.  If you had a morning meeting, host a weekly one using a virtual meeting.  If you had a question of the day, consider using a padlet to have students answer remotely.  Many teachers are continuing to read stories to their students each day via Facebook groups or YouTube.

5. Let Students Share Their Lives

I don't know about you, but I have seen more pets, siblings, favorite toys, and even more glimpses into the lives of my students than ever before thanks to Zoom!  Whether through Zoom or emailed pictures, have your students share the things in their lives right now that are important to them.  My students have found more in common with each other as they share.

I share with them too!  Like this picture of our bearded dragon, who looks like he is ready to give a news report.  Pictures like this also make great writing prompts!

I also shared this picture of my son, Luke with a bear!

I shared how we took this picture on my Facebook page here.  If you aren't already following there, be sure to follow for even more teaching ideas, memes, tips, and more!

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