Teaching relies so heavily on connection – connecting with students, colleagues, families and more!

After the last couple years we’ve had, I thought it would be best to keep some of the digital connection ideas in a permanent spot WITH some for face-to-face for back to school!

Digital Connection

✰ Allow them to see or hear you! Whether that is through live sessions, recorded videos, or through Google Chat, allow students to hear your “voice” and support (keeping in mind they may not be getting this at home).

✰ Create classroom-based activities for students to participate in. For example, one of my colleagues started a kindness word thread on her Google Classroom. Students must post a kindness word and the next person has to do the same but with the last letter of the previous word on the thread. This allows them to connect with their peers and have them read what others are posting.

☆ Engage them through live streams (i.e., zoo, aquarium) It serves a dual purpose – to keep them engaged while I setup between activities and it also works as a reinforcer.

Face-To-Face

✰ Make a point to spend time with each student, no matter how small!

✰ Create a welcoming community in your classroom by sitting down once a day as a class to answer a question, have a discussion or simply say how they’re feeling.

✰ Engage through group discussions, role play or collaboration activities.

Both

✰ Create activities with their interests in mind and don’t be afraid to share yours too!

✰ Create school-wide activities. Digitally: We did a Google Form for students to play Guess That Staff Bitmoji. In person: assemblies, activity days or fun guessing games!

✰ Continue to be your best self so you have room to welcome connections with all of your students!

Some ways to connect:

Kate ♡