Thread by @Jstevens009

OK, so here are some things I learned (many the hard way) about the first week of Distance Learning. Feel free to add as you see fit:

1. Something is going to fail. The sooner you understand that, the better.
2. When it fails, the kids will roll with it. I've never met a more patient group of teenagers.
3. Kids REALLY want to be in person for live instruction, and I feel for them.

4. Teachers REALLY want to be in person for live instruction.
5. Distance Learning is NOT live instruction in a digital format. It's *much* different, and requires more careful planning.
6. Parents, guardians, and other non-students will pass by your chat. Act accordingly.

7. You're on a hot mic, especially when you make a mistake with attendance (whoopsieee)
8. It's worth *asking* students to turn their video on if they're comfortable, but that's where it ends for me.
9. It's ok to ask a kid to put a shirt on.
10. PJ's? Sweatshirts? They're good.

11. When you share your screen, give students time to go back and do it on their own; they are watching you first!
12. Breathe. Y'all, you're going to be ok.
13. Checking on a colleague during your prep (or downtime) is therapeutic to everyone. Do that. Be a good person.

14. Realize that kids are going to lose internet connection, or have a hard time logging in. Be patient.
15. Humor is not the same in person as it is in a video chat... yet. (still working on that)
16. Connect with students early and often.

17. Here's the intro slide I asked students to complete. It doubled as a way to check to make sure they knew how to copy a Google thing, complete it, change share settings, and turn it in.
docs.google.com/presentation/d…

18. Give students something content-related early.
Yes, it's important to build relationships, and I think that it can be done WHILE building content mastery. We did an "intro to Desmos" that was fantastic.
teacher.desmos.com/activitybuilde…
19. Take attendance. And realize you'll screw up

20. Afford yourself, and your students, the grace to figure out this new landscape of Forced Distance Learning.

It isn't going to be easy, and it isn't the best, but we are making the most of it. Give yourself the space to sit back and realize that you (yes, YOU) are doing great

21. Use breakout rooms, if possible! A room of 44 strangers is intimidating, and a room of 2-3 strangers is much less so. I have been using breakout rooms, then jumping into each one, checking in on *every* student by name, then moving along.

22. Don't leave a 2-liter jug of water at your feet. You'll end up spilling it all over the tile floor, then rush to find a mop.
#MondayMonday

23. In Canvas, you can't just copy and paste the links from one class to another. Thanks to my students for helping me fix it.
#Humble

24. Teach your kids how to take breaks. We have 90 minute periods, and I *do not* want them working the entire time. Even had to Old-Man-Fist-Shake them today for admitting that they didn't get up and move around.

Humans weren't designed to be sedentary creatures!!!

25. Stuff like this is going to happen. Show patience and be understanding.

26. Teachers, be prepared to be as much of tech support for your students as your are instructional facilitator. The amount of emails/Reminds/messages I have fielded in the past 2 weeks is BoNkErS.

Now is the time to embrace the tech because, well, ya kinda have to.

27. Don't expect to start on time. We are finishing Week 3 of full Forced Remote Learning, and I've yet to have quorum in any of my classes within the first 5 minutes. I've been patient, thanking people for persevering when they do make it through the tech issues.

28. Don't be a jerk. Accept late work. Now is not the time to "teach kids responsibility" no matter what grade they're in. Things are bananas right now.
So again, don't be a jerk.