Remote Learning in Grades 3 - 5: What Does it Look Like?

  Nicole Zumpano from the Learning Technology Center and a number of tech coaches in Illinois assembled a great document called, "Return to Learn Playbook." One of the things I would like to share (in summary form) is what remote learning looks like at different grade levels. This week, I'll be looking at grades 3-5.

When it comes to engaging these tweens, here are some things to consider:

• Use a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning
• Make communication of all sorts clear for the learners as well as the parents/caregivers (might want to consider having "annotated" instructions for the adults for the younger kids in this group especially)
• Consider having office hours where you are simply online and available for questions
• Focus on using a few tools that kids are familiar with; add new tools slowly and one at a time
• Create short audio and/or video instructions, comments, and feedback to supplement written
• Allow for social interaction between teacher/students and student/student
• Create routines so kids and families know what to expect during a live session
• Give younger students opportunities to practice online behaviors -- how to mute/unmute, chat, raise hand, etc. Older students won't necessarily need time to practice, but they should know what the expectations are.
• Share assessment criteria with families so they know what to look for while their child is learning
• Provide help guides for online tools to parents/caregivers
• Offer/set time limits, especially for offline work
• Find opportunities to meet with each student individually in order to build relationships
• Keep open communication with parents/caregivers
• Communicate via email and/or phone calls
• Model online behavior for students
• Watch for nonverbal cues of disengagement (acting silly, not looking at camera, being distracted by things around them)
• Use choice boards or hyperdocs to offer students choice in their learning
• Create interactive lessons using tools that make this easy to do (see suggestions below)

Wondering what tools to use? Here are some ideas that you might already be familiar with!

• Google Classroom
• EdPuzzle
• Padlet
• Flipgrid
• Kahoot
• PearDeck
• Nearpod
• Poll Everywhere
• Book Creator
• Hyperdocs
• Google Slides
• Loom
• Quizizz
• Google Forms
• Socrative
• Gmail
• Remind
• Google Sites
• Screencastify
  

Remote Learning in K-2 -- What Does it Look Like?

 Nicole Zumpano from the Learning Technology Center and a number of tech coaches in Illinois assembled a great document called, "Return to Learn Playbook." One of the things I would like to share (in summary form) is what remote learning looks like at different grade levels. This week, I'll be looking at grades K-2.

When it comes to engaging the youngest of our learners, here are some things to consider:

• Use a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning
• Make communication of all sorts clear for the learners as well as the parents/caregivers (might want to consider having "annotated" instructions for the adults)
• Consider having office hours where you are simply online and available for questions
• Focus on using a few tools that kids are familiar with; add new tools slowly and one at a time
• Create audio and/or video instructions, comments, and feedback
• Allow for social interaction between teacher/students and student/student
• Create routines so kids and families know what to expect during a live session
• Give students opportunities to practice online behaviors -- how to mute/unmute, chat, raise hand, etc.
• Share assessment criteria with families so they know what to look for while their child is learning
• Provide help guides for online tools to parents/caregivers
• Offer/set time limits, especially for offline work
• Find opportunities to meet with each student individually in order to build relationships
• Keep open communication with parents/caregivers
• Model online behavior for students
• Watch for nonverbal cues of disengagement (acting silly, not looking at camera, being distracted by things around them)

Wondering what tools to use? Here are some ideas that you might already be familiar with!

• Seesaw
• Google Meet
• Flipgrid
• Screencastify/Loom
• Padlet
• Book Creator

Cool Tool Alert -- Page Eraser

 Have you ever taken a screen shot of a web page but had to edit it because there was material on it that was inappropriate for students? Or have you ever projected a web page -- including a YouTube video -- that had inappropriate images, advertising, or language on it? This is the bane of many teachers' existence! None of us want to show things to our students that are not school appropriate! How can we do this easily, especially when we have no idea what surprising ads a web page holds for us?

Enter the Page Eraser Chrome Extension!

This Chrome extension allows you to click one time on the icon to turn the tool on, then simply click on any element on the web page you DON'T want displayed! And voila -- it's gone! Refreshing the page will bring back all erased elements! It's really that easy!

Check out the Page Eraser extension in action in the video below!