Distance Learning Bonanza! DL Strategies, Tips, etc.

There are so many resources concerning distance learning instruction for teachers!

With all that’s out there, I wanted to create a list for myself, coworkers, and for other teachers AND parents that would like to read up on Distance Learning. My list is currently heavy on the Social Emotional Learning strategies/needs/lessons for students in DL. SEL is SOOOOOOOO important. I’d like to remind everyone of a few things to consider:

1. What is happening right now with Covid-19, with protests, with our country, is TRAUMATIC for all of us and that includes children. Each child’s Social Emotional Learning is extremely important; it’s always important but really, really important right now.
2. The student’s work environment is going to make a difference. Some students may flourish in a noisy, busy environment while others need quiet and space to concentrate. Many kids without IEPs or any special needs designation will still be affected by the environment they’re trying to work in at home.
3. Many adults have very negative views of school and education because of something negative that took place to them in school. Pushing students too hard or too much could be detrimental, they could end up becoming an adult who hates learning! We want LIFELONG LEARNERS, we want students to enjoy learning. Be cautious, go back and read #1.
4. Communication with students AND parents is going to be extremely important. I’m guessing that I’ll be making a few hundred phone calls the first few weeks just to check in, help students and parents with tech issues, talking about procedures, etc. I’ve gotten myself a little free phone from my provider, it’ll cost $10/month and then I don’t have to use my private number. I know there are other ways of doing this with VoIP services, Google phone, etc. If you’ve got the goods on how to do that, please share.

If you have any great videos or links, please share them in the comments*.

• The CASEL Guide to Schoolwide Social and Emotional Learning – Schoolwide SEL helps students excel academically, build stronger relationships, and lead happier, healthier, more fulfilling lives.
• Lessons for SEL – It contains 150 ready-made lessons. Each lesson only takes 6 minutes and can be used as prompts during restorative circles, as warm-up activities for whole group or small groups, or as a think-pair-share activity – the options are limitless!
• Social and Emotional Learning is More Important Now than Ever – How to Promote Your Child’s Social and Emotional Development with At-Home Activities.
• Tools for Teachers – Educator-created lessons, activities, strategies, and professional development to help tailor instruction and boost learning.
• Transforming Education – TransformEd partners with school systems to support educators in fostering the development of the whole child so that all students, particularly those from underserved populations, can thrive. This also includes a Teacher Self-Check Tool on SEL practices. And a handy SEL Integration wheel.
• Social Science Space – Five Tips for Designing Remote or Asynchronous Learning.
• Cult of Pedagogy – Distance Learning: A Gently Curated Collection of Resources for Teachers (**THIS ONE IS GREAT IF YOU’RE NOT EXPERIENCED WITH TECH EDUCATION AT ALL, COMPLETELY NEW TO TABLETS IN THE CLASSROOM, ETC. LOTS OF GREAT STUFF).
• Edutopia – Keeping Students Engaged in Digital Learning; Whether you’re new to teaching online or a veteran, these six tips can help you make sure your students stay connected and immersed in learning.
• Edutopia – How to Make Effective Videos for Learning.
• WCCUSD Distance Learning Guide – Parent/Family Distance Learning guide.
• Acton-Boxborough Regional School District – ABRSD Student Guidelines for Remote Learning with Video Conferencing Tools.
• Netiquette – A Student’s Guide That to Digital Etiquette.
• Forbes – 7 Tips To Help Make Remote Learning More Effective.
• EdSurge – How Brain Research Helped Retool Our School Schedule for Remote Learning.
• QM Emergency Remote Instruction Checklist – The Quality Matters Emergency Remote Instruction (ERI) Checklist is a tiered list of considerations, tips, and actionable strategies to enact during an institutional move to temporary remote instruction of classroom-based courses.
• Remote Learning Resource – Setting Norms
• Responsive Classroom – Strategies for Cultivating a Classroom That Represents Students.
• Edutopia – Revising Your Teaching Philosophy for This Crisis.
• 3 Tips for Developing Culturally Responsive Remote Learning Norms – Creating classroom norms is critical at the start of the school year, and whether we like it or not, the transition to remote learning is like starting a whole new school year.
• How to Create an Interactive Bitmoji Classroom
• Astley Education – NGGYU Basics.