Zoom Virtual Scavenger Hunt

We know that our students need an emotional connection to the classroom and content.  So...how do we create a community in an online environment? This is not an easy question.  Several weeks ago, I watched a teacher engage her students in a scavenger hunt on Zoom.  The teacher read a clue/riddle and then she called out, "3, 2, 1....go!"  Students ran throughout their houses looking for the answer to the riddle.  I created my own version (all-ages version).  I will be looking for more ways to create a classroom community. I would love for you to try this activity and share your experiences. 

Scavenger Link

Daily Individual Responsibilities vs. Family Jobs

COVID-19 has forced us to look at education in new ways.  I see educators across the nation who demonstrate creativity and innovation in the virtual classroom.  This is inspiring! Many school districts are finding that students who have a broad set of soft skills are very successful in an online environment. Soft skills do not appear overnight;; they are developed over time.  Our Zoom meetings are evolving and becoming lessons that help students; organize assignments, study strategies, and how to communicate with adults for extra support (virtual office hours, small group instruction, and more).

This summer, we are taking the time to look at individual responsibilities vs. family jobs.  Individual job responsibilities often appear on a job chart (teeth care, showering, cleaning a bedroom, etc.).  How do we help our children see that they are needed and belong to a community?  Asking our children to consider a family job each day may help with this process (just a start).  A family works together to accomplish good for the whole (making a meal, garden work, mowing the lawn, dusting, etc.)  Vacuuming our car is a "family job."  Our car is continuously used to transport athletes and musicians to all of our community.  Family jobs are done in a group.  Each person helps to accomplish the "family job" to ease the workload.

Taking Responsibility Activity:

Online Learning

July 9th, 2020

COVID-19 has transformed the educational landscape.  Virtual learning is new to most educators. Online meetings, small group instruction, project-based assignments are new territory.  Students need many soft skills in order to be successful with online learning (responsibility, compromise, positive flexible attitude, teamwork, communication skills, leadership skills, decision making, and more). My goal is to share resources that will help educators in a virtual setting.  

1.  Zoom Communication Posters: These posters help students (grades K-5) with teachers.  Students hold up 8 1/2 x 11 posters to get the attention of the virtual host.  Poster link.

2. Online meetings need to have clear expectations.  Virtual learning is new to students and the expectations will need to be taught.  Below is a photo of an example expectation poster.  Managing your Zoom settings (mute participants, breakout groups, private chat) will also help you establish expectations in an online environment. 

Classroom Jobs

Classroom jobs allow student to have ownership, pride, and responsibility.  The mailbox, flag salute, and whiteboards are great jobs!  I like to create some unique jobs for the classroom.  Below are some ideas.

Classroom Activity Directors:  The students help organize class parties and decorations.

Banker:  Bankers help with classroom "bucks" earned for our class store.

Calendar:  Student (s) helps keep our classroom calendar up to date.  (assemblies, holidays, etc.)

Mail: Student (s) deliver corrected papers and notices to classroom mailboxes.

Librarian:  Student (s) take books from our "return bucket"  and re- shelve the books.

Game Closet:  Student (s) help organize classroom games.

Computer Manager/Tech:  Students (s) turn computers "off" at the end of the day.  They also help students with computer needs.

Consultant:  Student (s) helps other students with classroom questions or skill work.

There are so many more jobs that can be created.  There is an application that students use to apply for a job.  (Found at TPT Store).  The application can be done each semester or annually.