Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1278320
ANNA CORDERO California Virtual Educators United Seventh grade math and history teacher at California Virtual Academies • Monitor interactions and behavior. I keep binders for all of my students; it can be harder to keep track of everyone online. I might note that Suzy loves purple and use that in a lesson or connect with her by wearing purple. Or I may jot down that Johnny isn't talking at all. I might ask him to check in with me after class to make sure that everything is all right. It's hard to know if someone is in a seventh grade funk or something is really wrong, so I'm always checking in. • Use private messaging. Let's say I'm doing a vocabulary lesson and see some- one struggling. I can send them a private message and help them figure it out, or they can ask me a private question. It's a great way to build trust on Zoom or any live platform and help students keep up. • Create "community space" for students to share things. You can ask simple questions like "What's your favorite snack?" to get discussions started. It paves the way for more meaningful discussions later, such as sharing that a family member is struggling with COVID or other challenges. In this way, students build trust and community with each other. They can also post artwork or poems to showcase their creativity. • Have hangout time. My students and I go on virtual field trips and have movie afternoons. Last year students wanted to watch Call of the Wild together. They had to turn off their devices and I'd pause the movie and ask questions occasion- ally to make sure everybody was focused. It is a nice way to bond. "It's hard to know if someone is in a seventh grade funk or something is really wrong, so I'm always checking in." —Anna Cordero @Bored_Teachers @teachcreatemotivate @learningwithlarkin 35 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0