5 Quick Tips for Teaching From Home

Well, teaching from home is unexpected, isn’t it?  Many students, parents, and teachers around the world have been suddenly thrust into the realm of teaching virtually due to COVID 19.  Some teachers are gleefully embracing the new tech tools and possibilities with joy, while others…are feeling nervous and overwhelmed.  ALL of us are missing our students immensely and feeling uncertain about what the rest of the school year holds.

Well, teacher friend, I am here to give you a big virtual hug and to tell you that you can totally handle this!  You are a TEACHER!  

Think back to those first years of teaching when you doubted yourself constantly.  You looked around at veteran teachers and wondered if you would ever reach their level of success.   

Or maybe you are a new teacher, and you were just getting a handle on your classroom.  Suddenly all the rules have changed.

Don’t worry.  The great news is that so many people are teaching from home now, and we can figure it out together! Educational and technological companies are reaching out and offering their services for free.  Teachers are sharing resources at reduced rates or even for free. Musicians are doing virtual concerts and yoga instructors are offering free classes.  There is support almost everywhere you look!

I am here to support you as well.  Guess what? I used to teach first grade virtually!  So, I am aware of the challenges and joys that come with teaching from home.  I have some tips to make this easier for you and your students.

Tip 1: Communicate with Families and Students

Communicating with families is more important than ever when teaching from home online!  Check on your students early and often. If one family has a question, chances are other families will too.  Consider creating an FAQ (frequently asked questions) page on your learning platform or send one out via email.  

If you have the opportunity, send a note in the mail to your students.  They will surely love getting some snail mail from you! If you need a quick printable, check these out. If you don’t have stamps on hand, you could create videos.  It doesn’t need to be lengthy. Just a quick hello will let your students know how much you care for them.

I use Class Dojo to message my families.  The best thing about using Dojo as a communication tool is that you can snap a picture and include it in the message.  Parents can do this too. This is a huge advantage if you are trying to help them navigate technology and you need to show them something.  Or, if they have a question, they can snap a pic and send it to you. So seriously helpful! 

Tip 2: Create Videos to Connect

Many teachers are making videos to keep in touch with students or to deliver instruction.  Now is the time to shine! Don’t worry about what you look like or if your hair is perfect.  Your students miss seeing you, and they will love you just the way you are! You may want to be a little extra animated on video, so they can feel your love and energy pouring through from the other end of the screen.

I am featuring mystery readers in my Google Classroom.  Many authors and publishing companies are allowing their books to be read in password-protected online classrooms, so I am creating videos of myself reading to students.  However, I am also trading videos with other staff members in my building. This way I can build some hype by asking students to check back each day to discover the new mystery reader!  I even got my family in on the fun and have asked my children and husband to create recordings!

If you really want to jazz things up, it might be fun to wear a silly hat or to film from different locations in your house.  You could even show off your precious pets. Using gestures, props or other visuals will make your videos engaging to students.  If you are not into video, you could always post a picture! All of these ideas will help you continue to build relationships with your students.

Tip 3: Less is More

During this time, you probably develop a less is more approach in terms of student workload.  Parents are busier and more stressed than ever. Some are navigating working from home for the first time ever, some are working extra long hours, while others are worried about losing their income stream.  

This is NOT the time to create piles of work.  Let me go ahead and repeat it. This is NOT the time.   Think carefully and curate assignments that are meaningful and engaging but not overly time-consuming.  If you pile the work on and students get behind, they will get frustrated and quit. That is the last thing any of us wants.  

Tip 4: Work as a Team

Chances are, distance learning and teaching are new to everyone on your team.  How can you work together to divide up the work? For example, I am creating Google Slides templates to use, while another teammate is creating Google forms for our assessments.  Besides, two heads are always better than one, am I right? 

Tip 5: Go Live!

Most importantly, you may want to schedule a time to meet up with your class live!  There is nothing like being able to actually chat with your students.  I am using a free service called Zoom. If you haven’t yet tried Zoom, here is a link.  The Techie Teacher made a fabulous FREE resource, to help guide your students through the process.  Check out her blog!

If you have any questions or need any help please reach out.  If you want to read about more ways to build relationships with students, check out this post.

If you haven’t had a chance yet, don’t forget to download my totally FREE checklist on preparing for your teaching observation. Let’s cast that anxiety aside as you walk through my step-by-step guide. I even provide a bonus checklist that you can use as your observation draws near.

Your life is what you make it, so get out there and be the rockstar teacher that you are destined to be!