RESOURCE: Everything You Need to Get Your Distance Classroom Up and Running

We have spent a lot of time in HomeRoom so far setting foundations for effective distance learning – articulating our values and priorities in this new age of teaching, figuring out what aspects of our practices can go online easily and what needs to change, and communicating new expectations with families. Today’s featured resource will make sure you have everything you need as we lean into the new daily grind of distance learning.

Our “Process and Tools for Setting Up Distance Learning” is your one-stop shop for everything you need to get your distance learning classroom(s) in fighting form. A plethora of tech tools, tutorials, and content sources for a variety of subject areas and grade levels can be found all on this handy one-pager. 

While thorough, this list is by no means exhaustive! Send us your distance learning “must-haves” and we’ll feature them in a future issue.

Physical Education: Going the Distance While Social Distancing

Staying on target for math or Language Arts is tricky enough, but how do you manage a subject like Physical Education when you and your students can't be physically present? As tempting as it may be to let it fall by the wayside as a non-core subject, there’s a strong argument to be made that P.E. has never been more

VIDEO: How to Teach Remotely with a Google Slides HyperDocs

Many teachers have been relying on HyperDocs – self-contained, project-based lesson documents that guide students through external resources – for years now, as they’re great for differentiation and student engagement, and can be adapted for any subject area or grade level. In the age of distance learning, however, they’re quickly becoming an essential tool to master, especially for schools like Gateway, where we have committed to only grading asynchronous, self-paced assignments and activities in the interest of equity.

Our resident expert, Sam Kary, will guide you through the basics of developing and implementing wow-worthy HyperDocs in this blog post and video, with sample resources included. Stay tuned next week for more detailed tips and tricks in Part 2!

LINK: IFSEL’s Social Emotional Learning Tips for Distance Learning

Ask a teacher how shelter in place is going and the one thing you are most likely to hear is “I miss the kids!” And though they may be reluctant to admit it, students miss their teachers and classmates as well. Zoom and other video tools are wonderful, but it’s still very difficult to replicate the spontaneous joy or silliness that tends to erupt in a live classroom. And sadly, we know that it’s our most vulnerable students, for whom the stability and community of school is most important, who are bearing the brunt of school closures practically, socially and emotionally.

With all that in mind, the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning has compiled a primer on ways teachers can continue to strengthen relationships with students and among students to help those needs get met in these difficult times. The document uses the acronym REALM to identify things we can do every time we interact with students to demonstrate that we are still a community and we still care about each other:

• Rituals - Check-ins or other low-stakes routines

• Energize - Incorporate movement into lessons

• Appreciation - Show gratitude and encourage students to do the same

• Lighten - Find opportunities for games and other silliness

• Mindfulness - Take a moment to have your students check in with themselves and their feelings.

In-depth examples of these practices, along with a wealth of additional SEL online resources, can be found here.

You Deserve A Night at the Opera

Exercise, mindfulness and gratitude journaling are all wonderful forms of self-care, but you know what else totally counts? Watching sumptuously dressed performers sing about sex and death while you enjoy some of that quarantine wine you so thoughtfully secured for yourself. If you haven’t been taking advantage of the Metropolitan Opera’s nightly streams, make this the week you check it out. The broadcasts are high quality, fully subtitled, and the Met’s website has a ton of additional materials to provide context and enhance your appreciation of each show. Break out your evening wear or put on your comfiest pajamas and enjoy being a fancy patron of the arts for a night.