Lesson one: it is HARD!
Newsflash!
While we engaged in remote learning last year, I don’t remember it being this exhausting! Maybe it’s because I have a better hang of it? Maybe it’s because I’m trying to do more to ensure the children are engaging, responding, comprehending and feeling part of our class community from a distance?
Whatever it is, like most teachers, I’m trying my utmost best to make sure I’m doing the most I can to make this emergency education situation anyway easier on parents.
This post will outline some things that I have learned in the last two weeks in remote learning, in an aim to help you in the weeks to come.
Schedule the children’s work
The schedule button has been an absolute game changer for me. It’s something I didn’t have during the last bought of remote learning, but something I really appreciate this time round.
In an ideal world, I’d have the week of work scheduled in advance, but I’m not there yet. Currently, I’m scheduling children’s work for two days in advance. This way, the children have their work distributed bang on 8.30am, meaning I can launch straight into corrections, giving feedback, phoning parents or planning engaging live lessons etc.
While I know not all children will be ready to engage in lessons at that time, it means my mind is at ease in terms of videos not uploading or work not ready for the few children that engage in the morning.
As I said in this Instagram post, the schedule button is the MVP of remote learning.
Use stickers to motivate children
Remote learning can only be difficult for children in terms of motivation. I find it hard to get motivated, so I can only imagine how the children feel. I’ve started to use stickers when giving them feedback on their work. From their responses on our live lessons, along with messages from parents, the children LOVE the digital stickers I’ve been attaching to their work.
I downloaded these FREE stickers from Education Through Creation website. She is an AMAZING teacher, who creates the most engaging resources. There are 17 in this pack, some as Gaeilge too. Definitely check them out!
Create a to-do list daily
It sounds so simple, but how many of us actually write down our to-do list everyday? I took inspiration from Muinteoir Cole on Instagram. Each day I make realistic lists for myself to achieve, between school work and house work and I feel like a new woman. I am the most productive I’ve been in months.
From things like: create Seesaw activity for Thursday, to fold laundry, to give feedback to posts, to go for a long walk, I genuinely feel like I’m achieving each day. In lockdown, time can often feel like it’s standing still, but when you tick items off a to-do list, it can honestly work wonders on your mind.
Start today! Make remote learning more bearable/productive for you!
Create a workspace
Having a place to work has changed my whole mindset towards working from home. This time round in remote learning, I’ve set up a work space in our spare room, whereas last time I worked from the couch, the kitchen table, the garden…wherever suited.
The advantages of having a workspace is that it allows you to shut the door at the end of the workday and leave work in that room/space. Which leads me to my next point- work the school day hours. Working from home can make the working hours blurry.
It’s so important to be able to separate school life from home life while working from home. I know some teachers take long breaks during the day, and make that time up later in the evening. Whatever works for you! But making sure you decide the hours you’re going to work and sticking to it is so important.
This post from Irish Primary Teacher says it all!
Keep things simple
Teachers spend hours generally preparing for lessons to be engaging, hands-on and purposeful. But now that we are remote teaching, there seems to be a lot of teachers, feeling the pressure to make lessons even more engaging than normal.
Remember, sometimes the most simple lessons are the most effective. Chances are, they’ll be easier on parents too. Playful Classroom has lots of ideas on Instagram of simple, fun activities: click here to see them.
Get some form of physical exercise each day
There’s a hundred and one reasons why not to do this. Reasons from being too busy, to too cold, to too much to do, to needing to rest.
Getting out in the fresh air every day has really helped me. It helps me to relax in the evenings. Even if I’m absolutely wrecked, I’ll force myself to get out as I know I’ll be better for it after.
There’s probably loads more that I’ve learned over the last two weeks, but these have been the main ones that have made a difference. Leave a comment below and let me know what has made remote teaching better for you.
All the best,
