We ♥️ Our Teachers!
A new school year typically comes with a surge of energy and optimism for teachers and students alike. With the widespread shift to online learning during the 2020-2021 school year, this year is going to be different. Teachers will be faced with unique challenges and students will experience the growing pains that come with a transition from a face-to-face to an online learning environment. To help teacher candidates acclimate to this environment, we tapped into the expertise of our Field Placement Faculty. Their advice—paired with the creativity, resiliency, and passion exhibited by our teacher candidates—is sure to help inspire a successful school year.
Remote Learning Insight and Support for Teacher Candidates
How can teacher candidates best prepare for an uncertain school year?
While our teacher candidates present widely varying levels of teaching experience, I believe that striving to keep a positive attitude is key. Maintaining strong communication with Supervising Practitioners and colleagues will be vital. Collaboration in teaching is always essential, and interaction with a Professional Learning Network will never be more valuable. Every teacher candidate will benefit from taking it slow and asking questions. Requesting help before letting oneself become overwhelmed appears key to successful navigation in this unchartered territory.
— DEBORAH KOLLING
As we begin what is sure to be an unforgettable school year, I encourage teacher candidates to think outside the box. Create ways to engage your students and get them excited about the content they are teaching. If a teacher brings their excitement to the lessons, students are sure to feel the same!
— HOLLY BROSS
Familiarize yourself with their school systems’ plans. Most systems have plans based on the level of exposure for each state. The options are at times color-coded based on severity of COVID-19. They include the obvious options of remote/online learning, diminished classrooms with social distancing and masks, and even a combination of both.
Investigate various podcasts or webinars that are offering support and help keeping students motivated, engaged, and connected during challenges like this. Some suggestions are: edtechteacher.org, teachingstrategies.com/blog/webinars, cec.sped.org, onlinelearningconsortium.org/learn/webinars.
Connect with their Supervising Practitioner and building principal. Offer assistance in preparation for the upcoming year. Often times with so much unknown there is a welcoming for new ideas or giving an extra hand.
— CATHY WYETH
Part of being a great teacher is being flexible and reflective, and adaptable; the uncertainty of these times makes those traits even more essential! A growth mindset and positive attitude will go a long way!
— EMILY GANNON
What are your top recommendations for engaging students in an online setting?
I believe that the better a teacher knows his or her students, the higher the level of student engagement a teacher can maintain. The investment of time and effort in getting to know one’s students as the school year begins, not only academically, but personally, strongly pays off throughout the remainder of the year. This is still possible through remote personalized touch points; individual student interaction is irreplaceable. Through video chats, emails, or phone calls, learning students’ individual interests, favorite activities and school subjects, and topics of curiosity. Considering these in future connections and instructional planning will positively impact student engagement.
— DEBORAH KOLLING
I recommend starting each lesson with a creative hook! Maybe you will show a short video clip or come on screen in some kind of costume. You want your kiddos to be interested in what you are sharing. Also, make sure your lessons aren’t too long. Keep in mind that sustaining attention on the computer is even more challenging than in the classroom. One suggestion is using a timer for each part of your lesson to stay on track.
— HOLLY BROSS
To engage students, research Responsive Classroom techniques. This will help to build a community classroom and set expectations (www.responsiveclassroom.org/tips-activity-ideas).
Establish good communication with the students you will work with. Follow up with phone calls and use small group Zooms to review information as needed. This shows that you value their effort and hear their needs.
Connect with students by recognizing their need to share. Students also need some lead on activities to capture their attention and pull them into learning. A simple joke, game or activity can be a good beginning.
Always have a model of what they are going to produce or map out the plan. Showing a suggestion can spark their creativity and innovativeness. Trying to incorporate their issues and interests is key. In an online setting it is not the grade that will be motivating but connecting to something they can see as being useful and interest-provoking for doing even further learning.
Focus on content and not comprehension skills and make learning as interactive as possible.
— CATHY WYETH
Be willing to try new things, and give yourself grace when thing don’t work out exactly how you planned. Also, it’s easy for teachers to fall into the trap of bearing the brunt of the learning and doing most of the work. Although it may look a little different in an online setting, continue to facilitate opportunities for your students to explore, create, collaborate, teach, etc.
— EMILY GANNON
What work/life balance advice can you offer?
Acknowledge not being able to successfully fulfill your academic, personal, and professional responsibilities at the same time. Maintaining a routine will support a sense of structure and calm. Set aside certain hours of the day for what is most important to you as well as essential tasks and determine technology time limits. Maintain daily habits supporting self-care; be sure to address your own social, mental, and physical health needs. Spend at least a minimal amount of time daily doing something that you enjoy and make space for reflecting on those things that still bring you hope and joy (gratitude).
— DEBORAH KOLLING
Finding this balance is HARD. I think if you dedicate a certain amount of time each day to college, but have flexibility with when this time occurs, you will have much success!!! We are all in this together—best of luck!
— HOLLY BROSS
Prioritize your responsibilities in each part of your life. Review these at least once a week to make revisions. At the beginning of the term, discuss courses, requirements from Instructor, and clinical expectations with Supervising Practitioner and Principal. Create a draft of times that could be used to complete your observations and lessons for the clinical courses.
Establish some boundaries between your personal and professional life. Make sure that you have time specifically devoted to family and set times to focus on academic expectations. Don’t stress because it will only cause more stress. Have clear times for school work and recognize that your focus has limits requiring breaks. Limit how much time you think about work while at home and vice versa.
— CATHY WYETH
Balance is a struggle for me, too. My best advice is to give yourself grace. Set high expectations for yourself, but also be realistic about what you can do/give. Also, it may seem a bit counterintuitive, but I’ve found that adding self-care to my day (exercise, chat with a friend, time outside, etc) drastically increases my productivity. It may seem like there’s not enough time in the day, but dedicating time to prioritize yourself and your mental and physical health makes the rest of the balancing act a bit more manageable.