This is not the post I planned to share this week, nor is this a post I really ever planned to write. But it’s been a wild few weeks. I am not a distance-learning expert. However, like many teachers, I’ve been learning a lot. As I’ve been reading and learning, I’ve compiled a list of teacher tips, classroom ideas, and resources that can help you get your classroom and your students through this trying time. This post owes a tremendous debt to my PLN, who helped bring to light many of these resources.
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Teacher Tips
If you are looking for some wisdom from teachers who have distance-learning experience, here are some great tips.
- Firstly, Gina at AP Lit and More has this thoughtful post about the transition to online instruction. Of the posts linked here, this is the one that was the most impactful for me personally.
- I cannot figure out who in my twitter PLN shared this resource. but it is invalue. Lauren Fernandez has complied a list of “If I had to do it over again/what they wish I knew” advice. Furthermore, this advice comes from international teachers who have been learning from and dealing with COVID-19 closures for weeks. If you know who I can credit for sharing this, let me know!
- Similarly, Jim Burke shared this wide-ranging Google Doc that covers everything for information about COVID-19 to online resources to lesson ideas.
- In addition, Angela Sheffield wrote this article for Chalkbeat Indiana discussing her strategy for discussing COVID-19 with her students.
- Kate Martin shared strategies and her rationale for helping her own kids keep a schedule without school.
- Liz at Teach Between the Lines shared these tips and resources for Getting Started with E-Learning.
- The Teachers Pay Teachers blog shared 4 Strategies for Distance Learning.
- Danielle of Study All Knight shared this post about preparing for e-learning: How Teachers can Easily be Ready for E-Learning Days
- Christina at the Daring English Teacher shared these 10 Things to Consider for Remote Learning.
- Stephanie at Writing Mindset shared the letter she sent home to parents, which includes a suggested schedule and activities.
Lesson Ideas
In the next few months, a lot of teachers will be using the Internet to facilitate instruction. Here are some ideas for e-lessons.
Digital Tools
Technology has become an integral part of education. And technology will be a big part of most teachers’ response to going digital.
- Tami at Tech4Teaching.org has put together (and is adding to) a list of technology tools with free and reduced prices.
- In addition, Abby at Write on With Miss G. shared these free 20 Tech Tools to help with distance learning.
- Gimkit, a digital review and quiz tool like a more strategic form of Kahoot!, has expanded their offerings for teachers. My students are obsessed with Gimkit! This tool can help keep students engaged even from afar.
- Newsela has expanded their offerings to make their full collection free until the end of the school year. In the full collection, students can read across contents. And teachers can assign texts from specific grade levels and reading levels. This is a way to differentiate even at a distance. Thanks to Tyler on twitter for sharing this!
- In Mud and Ink Daily, Amanda shared this link to 12 Famous Museums [that] Offer Virtual Tours.
- Pernille Ripp shared information about Scholastic Learn at Home, which has free resources to keep students learning.
- Finally, Kimberly Howard on Twitter reminded me about the power of Hyperdocs. The Hyperdoc Girls, founders of Teachers Give Teachers, have countless, free hyperdocs ready for all contents. A HyperDoc is a “transformative, interactive Google Doc” that is intuitive for students. A HyperDoc is kind of like a one-stop shop for all parts of a lesson.
Listening Tools
Without classroom time, listening skills become even more important. So here are some ways to focus on listening skills while using distance-leaning.
- Betsy at Now Spark Creativity has this post about how to successfully use podcasts. For teachers, she also has a collection of innovative podcast recommendations.
- Additionally, Ashley at Building Book Love has suggestions for pairing podcasts with more traditional ELA content. She also has similar recommendations to inspire teachers.
- Similarly, Ashley at Teach Create Motivate has suggestions for how to use podcasts effectively.
- Listenwise is also a great tool for helping students practice their listening skills. Here are 3 Ways to Use Listenwise for Remote Learning.
Video
Video is often part of distance learning. So here are some great resources for using video.
- When Screencastify put a 5 minute limit on videos on the free plan, I switched to Loom. And in light of COVID-19, Loom has decided to make Loom Pro free for education. This is a great tool for recording videos for students.
- In addition, using lots of videos to facilitate instruction requires that students know how to learn from a recording. Melissa at Reading and Writing Haven has some suggestions for helping students with this.
- Ted Talks are a great resource. Of course, my favorite is “The Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. However, here are 9 more recommendations from Betsy at Now Spark Creativity.
- Similarly, TedEd is a free website that allows teachers to create lessons to accompany *any* YouTube video. Some of my favorites are “Comma Story,” “What is McCarthyism?,” and “What is Irony?.” These are more of my favorite videos for teaching ELA.
Low-Tech Options
Because equitable access is an important part of education, here are some low-tech options for teaching through COVID-19.
- Lauren Randazzo has an entire set of two-week lesson evergreen plans ready to go. Check it out here.
- Similarly, Betsy at Now Spark Creativity has a great list of suggestions for teaching without technology and across great distances.
Resources and Tools
- Firstly, here are 15 places to find high-quality new texts for students if you are away from the physical classroom for a long time.
- Cathy Hink shared this incredible Padlet with resources for teaching through COVID-19. This is a wonderful show of teacher solidarity!
- Teaching Tolerance has put together a growing lesson about combating the xenophobia and racism associated with COVID-19. Even if you do not teach this specific resource, read through the commentary to make sure your lessons, language, and communication remain social-justice focused.
- The New York Learning Network has been steadily releasing a yearlong writing curriculum. So that’s a great resource for ELA teachers. However, the more timely resource is this set of material for teaching about COVID-19.
- TNTP has put together a collection of digital resources, suggestions for using the resources, and suggestions for communication.
- The Florida Council of Independent Schools has compiled an impressive collection of resources, webinars, and information to help teachers and parents.
- National Geographic shared several resources, including an article about how to discuss COVID-19 with your own children. National Geographic KIDS shared a FAQ for similar questions and conversations. And KIDS also started a resources page with both entertaining and educational options for parents and teachers.
- Hilary’s Teaching Adventures shared 15 days worth of free resources.
- The School Library Journal has shared a “mini clearing house on coronavirus.” The SLJ has also shared this graphic-novel style post to help students understand and visualize what’s happening.
I hope these tools help you as we move through uncharted territory. Just reading about teachers’ options made me feel a little better. Forewarned is forearmed. Find my growing Pinterest Board of Distance Learning and COVID-19 related pins here. Stay healthy. And let me know how Moore English can help you through this time!
Image by Pixistock.
