How do we connect with our students in a virtual education setting?

Hi everyone!

How do we connect with our students when we are working with them in a virtual setting? Here are some ideas to build that strong foundation for trusting relationships!

1. SNAIL MAIL

Send your students post cards, letters, or cards to say hello and drop a compliment! I stocked up on blank greeting cards every year and usually put them in my classroom mailboxes, but this is the same idea. When my students received a handwritten note, they were thrilled. Many parents told me that the kids kept their cards on display in the house, others kept the cards in their desks at school as a reminder that they are respected and loved. Send them mail! They'll go nuts, I promise you.

2. MORNING MEETING

Responsive Classroom is just good teaching. I love it. I love that our staff has been trained in Responsive Classroom! Morning Meeting is a cornerstone of the program, focusing on social emotional learning. Teachers express that Morning Meeting sets the stage for kids and teachers to connect, develop respect in the classroom, and bond. We all know kids work hard for teachers they connect with AND LIKE. 

So, keep it going. Maybe not every day, but try to have a class meeting once a week on Zoom or Google Meet. Get the kids together.Use fun activities like, "Would You Rather?" or  "This or That?" Make it fun so the kids participate and want to come back for the next meeting. If you can't have synchronous meetings, use a platform like flipgrid to record themselves and watch their peers. We did this last spring and had a theme each day: Minute to Win in challenge Mondays, Talk About It Tuesdays, Would You Rather Wednesdays, Think About it Thursdays, and Free for All Fridays!

3. BE ORGANIZED, STRUCTURED, and CONSISTENT

If the kids understand your expectations, know what they need to do in your class, and feel comfortable asking you questions, you're winning. At our school, we're using the same style choice boards across grade levels, everyone is using Google Classroom, and grade level teams have decided on the same organizational styles for their Google Classrooms. Consistency is key.

Let me know in the comments how you're connecting with kids during virtual teaching!