Daily Schedules

One of the most difficult things about transitioning to an online environment is keeping a schedule. It is so easy to get distracted by things going on at home, or just wanting to sit in front of the TV to work. I highly recommend setting a schedule for yourself and encouraging your students to set one too.

For teachers:

I have heard that many districts require students to log in for attendance by a certain time each day, so you can use that a the beginning of your day if you'd like, but here's a rough outline of what your day may look like -

8:30 am - Sit down at your computer prepared to work. That includes having changed out of your PJs and into something that's comfortable but presentable on a video call. Check emails/communication, meet with colleagues, etc.

9 am - 11:30 am - Run lectures, break out sessions, tutoring sessions, assign independent work, etc. (don't forget to take breaks!!)

11:30 am - 12:15 pm - Walk away from your computer, read a book, or take a walk outside.

12:15 pm - 2:30 pm - Plan for the next day, upload docs/presentations/notes etc. for students.

2:30 pm - Log out!

This is not a typical schedule for online teachers, but it is something you can follow for the time being. You cannot be too hard on yourself during these times, remember to spend time with family and enjoy some time outside when it's nice out!

For students: 

Again this is just a suggestion, it can be adjusted based on the attendance requirements and how the teacher's schedule looks for the day.

8:45 am - Log in for attendance. Prepare any writing or note-taking materials you may need.

9 am - 11:30 am - Follow the instructions for the day, attend teacher lectures, participate in activities as assigned, take notes. Don't forget to take breaks - message your teacher when you walk away from your computer.

11:30 am - 12:15 pm - Eat a healthy lunch, go outside and play or stretch your legs by taking a walk.

12:15 pm - 1:30 pm - Complete any necessary work as assigned or to catch up on missing assignments.

1:30 - 2:30 pm - Read (This is a long time so be sure to take breaks when needed!)

2:30 pm - Log out!

Teachers and paras in our school attend a morning "huddle" each day to talk about things going on, issues that need to be addressed, etc. Teachers spend most of their day in one-on-one meetings with students and sometimes in small group tutoring sessions. When they are not with a student there are phone calls, texts, IMs, and emails going out to students to check in. Teachers have the opportunity at the end of the day to do some of the necessary paperwork and planning and Fridays are set aside for staff meetings, PD, department meetings, planning, and grading.

Set up a schedule that works for you and stick to it. Give your day some sort of consistency and if you have your own kids at home this will help keep everyone on track!

Being on Camera!

Listening to yourself on a conference call or a recording is weird and intimidating. I have been an online teacher for nearly 10 years and I am just now getting to the point where I can sit down and record a quick video and be satisfied with it!!

You will want to record video for your students so they can look back on what you covered that day in class or to give them asynchronous directions for a project or activity for the day. My favorite recording platform is Screencast-o-matic, but Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and many others will also work.

Last year I posted tips on intervention to my Facebook page at least once a week. I would prep a short topic to talk about and then just force myself to turn on the camera and record. I'm not going to lie - I did record some of them a few times before I actually went "live" or uploaded my video - a little practice never hurt anyone!

Here's a short video I uploaded last year:

Before recording yourself, keep these tips in mind:

• Be prepared: Where are you going to navigate on your screen? Do you need a visual or presentation to guide your topic?
• Remember that you are human: mistakes will be made and it's okay to leave those in your recording, students don't want to see a robot teach them anyway!
• Be confident: you know what you're talking about so don't forget to present yourself that way.
• If it helps, post a picture of your class or a group of people above your computer so when you're recording you can look at it.

Also, check out this article called "How to be more confident on camera: My 5-step recipe revealed" for more ideas!!