Welcome to Quarter Four

Six weeks. That's all that I have left with my seniors. Time is fleeting, and our final days together will be filled with final speeches, prom, and memories they will carry into their post-secondary pursuits. The word of the year has been full - full of activity, full of growth, and full of joy. While I still see students acclimating to the new normal in this endemic phase of COVID, our community seems relatively back to pre-COVID practices. The year feels normal - classrooms are noisy, and students are engaging in typical high school activities in and out of the classroom. 

These students are still trying to find balance, executive functioning skills, and adhere to deadlines so lax in uncertain lockdowns and more restrictive times. How do we make the best use of our final few weeks together? What skills must they refine before crossing the football field during graduation? Most importantly, how do I empower them to be literate and effective communicators in any endeavor they pursue? 

The fourth quarter is a sprint, so let's start running toward those final goals. 

This spring break, I took time to reexamine my learning targets and goals for the final two units of the semester. Using backward planning, I mapped out the time needed to complete their last two assessments and incorporated time to practice to reach mastery. Backward planning is so essential, especially as time is limited. While the day-to-day plan may shift and be revised, the overarching direction of the remainder of the course is needed. With a plan, we will maximize our time together. Plans also allow us to focus, evaluate, and shift approaches as necessary to help students reach the finish line with strength. 

Still, there is always time to foster relationships and encourage students to value their connections with their peers, teachers, and school. 

Building relationships is one of our most significant investments. While a silly bellringer sometimes feels off track, these moments to bond, collaborate, and share yield some of the most substantial results. When students feel connected to their teachers, peers, and the school environment, they are more successful academically and far more likely to retain what they have learned. 

The adage that people won't remember what we said but will remember how we made them feel applies here. My students probably won't remember the exact terminology for Monroe's Motivated Sequence. Still, their connectedness to the course and our time together will give them the confidence to logically and effectively apply persuasive appeals. I hope they can use their voices clearly, concisely, and confidently. I also hope they will remember that most communication is listening and adapting to their audiences. Our relationships matter, and as teachers, we can model the power of relationships in our daily lives with our students. No matter what comes next for them, this interpersonal skill will open doors and make their lives richer every day. 

The weather is somewhat unpredictable in the spring in the Chicagoland area, so wear layers -- and plan for the unexpected to occur both in and out of the classroom. 

A lesson I share with students on the first and last day of my class is that it's essential to live in the present but plan for the future. We should never wish away time. While we all could look ahead and say, "I can't wait until summer," or "Life will be so much better when ____ part of my life is done." Wishing away time, however, prevents us from appreciating every moment and every phase of life. My seniors often get overwhelmed by wishing away their senior year, but it is important to enjoy the present. Still, planning ahead, applying for scholarships, and taking advantage of opportunities such as internships, career shadowing, and extracurricular experiences can help students develop skills leading to further post-secondary possibilities. 

Finally, let's listen to those around us and appreciate the beauty of spring -- and each person. 

In the rush of the final quarter, it is easy to keep moving without valuing the people and moments around us. We can all learn so much from each person we encounter. My students this semester are particularly goofy. They bring larger-than-life energy to the classroom every period. They are in an exciting phase of their lives as they make significant decisions about their futures and share their hopes for what is to come. 

Our stories are woven together, if even for a moment. May we see the best in each other and blend our current paths to leave a beautiful legacy behind us. The best way to empower others is to help them see the best in themselves, realize what they are capable of, and show how much their stories matter. The next chapter is an exciting one, but it's still unwritten. I hope my students take the skills they gained in high school to make that chapter joyful.

There's No Place Like... The Journey

Newton's first law of motion state that an object in motion stays in motion. I argue that that should be the law of efficiency instead of motion. Keep moving until the task is done. As we near spring break, efficiency and focus start to wane. My students are holding on as we travel down that golden brick road toward the magical place known as spring break. In my early years of teaching, I often saw the world in black and white. We were on target to accomplish all the goals I so meticulously crafted at the beginning of the school year, or we were wasting time, and an impending twister would swoop us and take us completely off course. We'd never reach our destination if we strayed off the path for a moment, right? *Cue dramatic special effects.*

While a decade or so of experience and three children later has taught me that efficiency and effective teaching is so nuanced. An array of strategies and approaches must be taken to see the full-color spectrum and the magic of learning. Moments of being sidetracked to discover a new idea or take a different path lead to incredible results far greater than checking an item off the list. Learning is about the journey - not the destination. Just as Dorothy discovers in The Wizard of Oz, what we learn along the way and who we learn it with has a far greater impact than reaching a mythical emerald city (or perfectly achieving goals). What we as educators can help our students realize is that they have the power within themselves to achieve greatness, but they have to believe it, too.

Creating an effective student learning experience is like the characters Dorothy meets in Frank Baum's classic story. Truly gaining knowledge takes brains, heart, courage, and a touch of shenanigans along the way.

First and foremost, cultivating the best learning experiences for students takes brains.

Okay, I am the first to self-deprecate and poke fun at myself for needing to have the "perfect" lesson plans three months ahead of schedule. I am a person who needs a plan. Sidenote: Yes, I'm even the person who schedules "fun" with my family, but seriously… anyone who knows Team Sukow knows we are constantly laughing. Scheduled fun is more exciting than it sounds!

Like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, we would only know which direction to go with careful thought into the overall curriculum. Having an intended path helps guide the experience. A clear path gives us something to strive for and work toward and helps students recognize the bigger picture. Learning targets feel tedious to craft but are essential in planning a course's day-to-day and overall scope and sequence. The best-laid plans, however, include contingencies, options, and flexibility. The Scarecrow constantly loses his stuffing, but he's ready to put himself back together at any time.

As we create the overall framework and direction of a lesson, we need to remember that relationships come first.

When Dorothy and the Scarecrow walk along, they immediately bond and learn to rely on each other as they encounter surprises on the yellow brick road. When meeting the Tin Man, our protagonists immediately act to help their new friend. They demonstrate heart and show there is always time to build relationships, even when an end goal is set. When the Tin Man first is reanimated, however, he is rusty and has a harsh perspective of the world in which he has been frozen.

As teachers, we all have our moments of frustration. So do our students. SEL is such a critical part of the learning process. From learning executive functioning skills (or learning to walk again as the Tin Man literally) to being vulnerable and sharing our life experiences as we learn, our emotions are the invests that help our students to be not only ready to learn but also ready to venture out of the academic forest into the emerald beyond known as the real world.

Preparing students for the real world also takes great courage, as our world and what our students will face constantly evolves.

Change is the only constant in life. In a world with ever-evolving technology still reeling from post-pandemic effects, we must bravely face the obstacles we are still dodging as educators. Students still have gaps in skills or are out of practice from specific expectations they once had. Families moved, faced hardships, and countless political and social issues came to light that may have been overlooked before. The weight of our world is still heavy, but we can face our challenges. We can accomplish much despite our fears, just as the Lion realized.

The courage to have difficult conversations does not occur in a vacuum, though. The Lion had friends who helped him reflect and see the bigger picture. They journeyed with him on his quest. Again, learning is not black and white. Academic skills are more than memorizing facts or checking off an SEL goal. These skills work together to get to the end of the journey.

Just as for Dorothy, who was able to defeat the Wicked Witch and leave Oz, we too can reach our goals with students, but it is essential to remember that it's not about getting to the end of the story. Authentic learning is about bravely taking those bends in the road, finding joy in both the joyful and challenging times, and working together to create the best learning environment - a home away from home.

Let the Wild Rumpus Start: Lessons from a Wild School Year and a Little Boy Named Jordan

A teacher's life is measured in bells, grading periods, and seasons. As a speech coach, my professional life is defined by my in-season and not in-season paces. My 204-day season ended. Cue the feeling of lightness and the creative energy flowing back into typing fingers. I've recently entered my first "free" weeks of the 2022-2023 school year. Speech team starts the first full week of August and ends the third Sunday of February. No longer having to rush between picking up my three littles from the bus while coaching 30ish of the best wild things around, I took a deep breath and felt a new sense of calm before being jolted back into the roaring world of Cystic Fibrosis.

Jordan started feeling fatigued and had no appetite at the end of February. These past two weeks have kicked me into high alert. CF impacts all organs and can impair the digestive system. Without pancreatic enzyme supplements - Creon - Jordan cannot absorb his food and, more importantly, does not have the fuel to function properly. My heart has been heavy worrying about his health and watching for signs that the bowel obstruction needs more intense medical intervention. As a teacher and instructional coach, I navigate rocky waters with joy and a more focused approach. I could be called home at any moment, so I am compelled to have all of my organizational systems in place in case I need to be absent.

Parenting a child with health concerns has helped me to pause and reflect on how I can better empathize with my students and colleagues, especially as we approach spring break. Transitioning out of the winter months into spring is a difficult time for all. From season shifting and staffing changes to restless students - we are all navigating and fighting our own battles. I realize that whatever beasts we face, we have the power to guide the narrative. No matter how dark the jungle gets, we can find the positives and shine a light on the lessons our students and colleagues must face. Inspired by my precocious son, who is braver than anyone I've ever met, I reread Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are. We all have a little curiosity in us, and our perspectives can sometimes make our challenges feel insurmountable. But again, we can shift the story to gain powerful insights.

When change happens, we should approach it with curiosity.

Just like Max in the book, curiosity can lead to adventure. So often, when changes occur in the school system or even in the curriculum, we become consumed by negativity or resistance, but changes can bring new insights and perspectives. They can shift the landscape of what we learn or how we might learn it. Working with high school students, I have noticed more senioritis as we approached a challenging, research-based unit. The skills they learn in this unit involve:

• Critically analyzing sources.
• Finding and applying information.
• Engaging audiences - all skills that will help them pursue higher education and be more active citizens in the world.

Instead of dismissing their complaints about "how much work they had" for this particular unit, I worked with them to shift their outlook. Getting excited or asking them to seek out topics that sparked their curiosity made an arduous task more approachable and ultimately left them saying, "Huh, that was actually fun."

In addition to sparking curiosity about change, we need to create spaces where people want to belong.

Even in the most ideal places, morale is still low. Navigating a post-COVID world has brought shifts in student behavior, new social-emotional needs of both students and staff, and gaps in knowledge/executive functioning skills. To produce the best environments for kids, we need to ensure staff feels supported and safe to fail. Teachers must feel appreciated and seen, especially as we redefine "normal." Even though there are fewer mitigation procedures to deal with and COVID is not impacting us daily, the effects of pandemic learning and the fatigue that was brought on because of it will be felt for years to come. When teachers feel valued and are given space to cope with their challenges - whatever they may be - they can create the best learning experiences and opportunities for students.

I have cultivated a supportive work culture by creating targeted professional development. This professional development revolves around topics that work in any classroom. More importantly, it is led by outstanding teachers across the building. Giving teachers a voice, celebrating their excellence, and helping them believe in their excellent work has helped spark conversation and encourage people to get involved. My fantastic colleague Cori and I have also started a podcast to amplify the voices of great teachers across our district. These small acts of lifting teacher-leaders boost morale, celebrate excellence, and unite teachers on the most critical cause in education - elevating our students.

We can let the wild rumpus start when we feel safe and have a strong sense of belonging.

No matter what comes our way - whether it be a global pandemic, a shift in learning management systems, ransomware, or challenging students - we can embrace change when we feel like we belong. Teachers need to be supported, they need to be recognized, and they need to be allowed to be authentic. Everyone comes to the table with unique strengths, talents, and passions. When school leaders can see the best quality in each person and use those qualities to create a dynamic team, we all benefit. Education is a journey and not a destination. Even if imminent threats are not filling our newsfeeds or causing us to quarantine, the challenges will still arise. The path may become overgrown and dark at times - even when we least expect it- but our teachers can navigate any adventure when we have support.

These systems involve morale committees, frequent and clear communication, and transparency. They involve weekly emails to bullet point and highlight key changes or needs and necessitate an open-door policy. As a coach, it means that when someone says, "Do you have a second..." I am available and ready to support them. If I cannot at that moment, I set a specific time and make myself available if something is absolutely needed. It also means that I anticipate the bumps and turns in the narrative before they occur so that teachers feel safe, valued, and ready to be their best selves for their students. I know I must be ready to take action and lead in any wild condition.

I need to find time to be still and reflect. My son is early to rise and loves being silly in the morning. Holding a wiggly Jordan whose body is trying to regulate itself has forced me to laugh. Sometimes, life just stinks (literally). More challenges are inevitable. I wonder if it will involve students, staff, computers crashing, or bowel obstructions that force us to journey to Lutheran General. Whatever the challenge is, I will find a way to let my imagination run wild, have hope, and roll with whatever adventure comes next.

 

Station Creation: What to Consider When Planning A Station Rotation Lesson

The jingle bells jangled, the snow came and melted, and just like that, the holidays are over. This year, the dates on which Christmas and New Year's fell caused many schools to have different breaks. Many of my friends and family members are teachers in multiple districts. Unfortunately, everyone has had a different break, which has made the coordinating celebrations a little more hectic than usual.  

Once the calendar turns to January 1st, I am ready to pack up the Christmas decor and prepare for a new semester at school. Presents that lingered under the tree must find their place. Organizing gifts and ensuring every new household item has a place is a little stressful. I am innately a minimalist, but with three imaginative and artistic small children, I know I must make concessions and embrace the creative clutter. 

 

In my classroom, I prefer a minimalist setting that allows for flexible movement and organized chaos. I enjoy the busyness of working with people and the learning process, which is why I started using station rotation lessons.

 

Beginning to plan for and implement station rotation in a classroom is overwhelming at the high school level. Station rotation is not linear and does not necessarily have a traditional pattern, which might look like: 1. Class bell-ringer, 2. Mini-lesson, 3. Practice/application and exit slip. The when/how of learning looks different and relies on students driving their instruction. How do we ensure students have the knowledge needed to practice and apply what they've learned? How do we measure mastery in a station-based lesson? These feelings are as overwhelming as getting started for the holidays and imagining what present to buy for whom. 

 

For more info, see the amazing Catlin Tucker's post. 

 

Identify learning goals.

 

First and foremost, start with the end in mind. I have a couple of templates that I use when creating personalized learning paths that might help someone getting started in the process. Backward planning is essential when creating a station rotation. Having clear goals helps to drive the creation of the overall lesson. Once instructors know what students want to accomplish, the pacing and content can be explored and designed further. If the goal is to learn or acquire new knowledge, a lesson may look completely different than if the goal is to review or demonstrate mastery. Strong learning objectives can also unite the lesson and help each station connect to the overall goal. 

 

Determine the size of the groups and the number of stations.

 

Classroom size and group dynamics significantly impact how one designs a station rotation lesson. I like using a chart or organizer to plan my stations, which also helps me keep the end goal in mind. Some elements to consider include:

• Class size.
• Space/resources available.
• Time of the lesson (two to three periods).
• The size of the groups that will most appropriately fit the activities and tasks being asked of my students.
• The strengths and dynamics of the group. 

 

If the course is a blended course, space, and pace may be more flexible and should be considered in the design of the overall learning experience. 

 

I typically have 24-28 high school students in a relatively small classroom, which often drives my instructional design. For me, I like to have students in groups of four to five, which makes groups of six to seven. With approximately six groups, I will allocate 10-15 minutes per station. This lesson will take at least two class periods with some buffer time to finalize learning artifacts, review, and debrief as a class. Once I establish the number of stations and the pacing of a station rotation, I try to keep those stations consistent in subsequent lessons to help establish classroom protocols, norms, and expectations. 

 

Another caveat to consider is who will pick the groups and how those groups will be selected. Are students grouped to diversify the groups, picked to work with peers they work well with, or based on their proficiency with a specific skillset? Group selection should be purposeful and align with the overall goals of the lesson. Based on specific stations or tasks, it might be helpful to have groups of students working together for a particular purpose. 

 

Choose the activities for each station.

 

I always start with planning a teacher-led station for station rotation. I want to work with my students and want that small group time to discuss, assess, and reflect with my students. The activities should support the overarching goal of the lesson. When creating station rotation, my most significant reminder to colleagues is that a station rotation lesson is NOT starting from the ground up. Teachers should use what they already have and adapt to give students more small group time and focus on the learning tasks presented. If a teacher uses a Kahoot to review a skill, the Kahoot becomes a station. If a teacher had initially planned individual writing/reflecting time in a linear lesson, that becomes a station. 

 

So what might those stations look like? I have too many thoughts to keep writing here. Stay tuned for the next entry. Overall, it's important to remember that this learning model is incredibly flexible and can look different in every classroom. 

 

Stations are typically not linear, so considering the background knowledge and skills students need before beginning the station is essential. If they must know a skill or information to work through the stations, consider completing a mini-lesson with students before the stations begin. Also, consider creating a brief video recording to support student learning, review directions, or guide students as they move through the stations. Personalizing each station and using audio/video can make a teacher's guidance present even if the teacher is working with another group of students. 

It's a new year, and while I believe it is always a great time to set a goal or resolution (not just January 1), it could be time to try a new strategy or even just reimagine what classroom learning might look like with stations! 

Amplifying and Celebrating Every Teacher's Voice

 "We rise by lifting others." 

This quote attributed to Robert Ingersoll reminds me that the best leaders know how to empower others to be leaders themselves. We are stronger when we use our strengths to improve a school, organization, or community. One of my goals this school year is to find new ways to amplify and spotlight my colleagues. I teach in a building that is incredibly high achieving and equally humble. From academics to athletics, teachers are leading students to success. While these successes seem easily achieved, they come from hard work, hours of overtime, and a constant desire to learn/grow from our teachers. I am in awe of my colleagues and want to find ways to empower them and make them feel as deeply appreciated as they deserve to feel. I am in awe of the teaching and learning I am surrounded by each day and am excited to see that continue to grow in 2023. 

So how do we showcase the humblest of teachers? Give them a platform. 

This year, with the help of my fantastic assistant principal, I have encouraged a sit-and-snack series that features different teachers who typically do not volunteer or want to be in the limelight. Using blended learning as the core of the six topics that will occur throughout the school year, I have worked with division leaders to find people to feature and encourage them to take on the leadership roles they deserve to experience. So far, we have held three of the six sessions and will continue them next semester. We have covered the following:

• Blended Learning within the Walls

• Station Rotation

• Choice Grids and Playlists

We will continue to explore facets of blended learning with:

• Formative Assessments

• Side-By-Side Grading

• The Flipped Classroom 

  

Teachers from the world language, science, social science, and English departments have shared out strategies and ideas that work in their classrooms. Next semester, we will feature special education, math, English, and social science again. Having different departments share reminds us that impactful instructional strategies can work in any discipline. We can inspire and share regardless of the disciplines we teach. 

After our station rotation sit-and-snack, I had three teachers already trying the strategy in their classrooms the next day. From English discussions about To Kill a Mockingbird to Intro to Business, learning about investments, teachers moved desks, grouped kids up, and stole my number card holders to denote the station numbers. (Note: I prefer the tall ones often seen at weddings. Amazon has a ton of choices!). The application of the strategies and ideas shared at each of the first three sit-and-snacks has been immediate and interdisciplinary, which is exciting to see. 

In addition to our sit-and-snack series, I have found quieter ways to celebrate people. 

Writing cards is one of my favorite pastimes. People often chuckle and tell me that these cards (and often little gifts of appreciation) are unnecessary, but I beg to differ. The energy and gratitude that goes into a card or token of appreciation carry with a person. It gives them the energy and drive to keep going forward. In a time when burnout and anxiety are rampant, these small acts put good into the world and can build a culture of kindness, compassion, and care. 

Celebrate on a larger platform.

The final way I have started to give a platform to others is through a podcast that my friend Cori and I started this semester. Teach in Ten is a podcast that amplifies our district's great teachers and instructional strategies (Listen to our pilot and episode one). So far, we have interviewed five individuals from all of the buildings in the district. Using this experience to connect and communicate with others, we want to continue celebrating great teaching while encouraging others to continue to share their excellent work. 

Amplifying teachers' voices can have several benefits. We hope this podcast can help create community among colleagues across a larger suburban district. Teachers often become silos, focused on our classrooms and to-do lists. Short messages and sharing sessions can bring people together, spark conversation, and remind us how vital collaboration is. It's all in the timing and the way the message is presented. 

By sharing their stories and insights, we can showcase their excellent work and give others a platform to keep those conversations going. Sometimes people need a little extra encouragement to get started in that sharing. We become better when we lift up and celebrate others. I cannot wait to find new ways to amplify and celebrate my colleagues in 2023. 

Bringing the Energy: Hooking Students from the Beginning of Class

Great lessons are like powerful speeches; they begin with a hook. Attention-grabbing devices set a tone for a speaking situation, whether that be a two-minute speech or sales pitch, or a 40-minute lesson.

Audiences find comfort in the familiar. They seek patterns and expect to be drawn into the communicative exchange. Being in hybrid learning with students coming into the room and hopping onto Zoom sporadically for five minutes can leave even the most organized people feeling disoriented. Building in a hook to each lesson can help calm the chaos.

While students are working on a hook or bell-ringer activity, don't forget about the energy of the room. When students walk into class, the energy in the room sets a clear tone and expectation for the pacing and the overall purpose of the course. Greet students with a smile or with the energy of a smile underneath a mask. Say their names - each and everyone of them. Make sure they know that they are seen and heard - even if they do not unmute. Get in the habit of taking that time at the beginning of the class - even if it eats into a minute or two of instructional time. Those interactions are more important than one extra practice problem or discussion question.

   

How can we get them started on learning while we are greeting and admitting both digitally and in-person?

Enter Pear Deck, Padlet, or a digital tool that can keep students working and make learning visible for all students no matter where they are learning. Using a digital platform helps all students active and engaged while I individually greet the Zoomers and the roomers. Keeping students actively connected to a task can help them prepare for learning and serves as a wonderful time to do a social-emotional check-in with them.

As students enter the room physically or digitally, create one organized location where learning material is posted. Whether that is the projector screen, the board at the front of the room, or an LMS homepage - having one location on which students are expected to go each day creates that routine. This process also frees teachers to be greeters instead of frazzled jugglers attempting to keep all the balls in the air.

Make learning fun.

Having to clear desks between periods and working to social distance in our classrooms has created a great deal of stress. Not having all students in the room at one time and having to avoid group work has taken some of the fun out of learning. Even though teachers have had to reframe and rethink the learning experience and environment, we can still sprinkle the fun back into school. Using bell ringers that ask goofy questions, require creativity, and allow students to be silly creates conversation. Whether they be celebrating each other or laughing at a drawing one of their friends did, this sense of silliness brings a class together.

My favorite intro slides and activities have little to do with class learning, but the responses can be used throughout a lesson. For example, today, students shared what type of superpower they wished they had and why they would pick that power. This silly question served connections to course content when we talked about smashing cell phones when they distract listeners like the Incredible Hulk or why we are so intrigued with stories as many of us are binge-watching WandaVision. Even when the hook doesn't seem connected to content, we can develop connections. Remember, once we get students talking about anything, they are far more likely to unmute and speak up when discussing course content later in the period.

Say it one more time for the kid in the back.

Review the lesson objectives. Even when routines are established, students are learning everywhere. They are facing internet issues, may have distractions around them, or may have social-emotional concerns for a myriad of reasons. Students (and teachers alike) are also just tired. Repeating those objectives at the beginning of class and then at the end of class helps reiterate expectations, centers students, and serves as a reminder for what is coming next. While many students may get used to a routine and know where to access due dates and daily course work, they still will appreciate clarifying moments at the beginning and the end of class.

Great lessons end where they began - with a hook. Attention-grabbing devices get people talking and set a tone for a class. When we bring the energy at the beginning of class, students are more likely to tune in. That energy can carry us through navigating teaching roomers and Zoomers alike. It doesn't take superhuman strength to forge meaningful relationships with kids - although when we foster those relationships, we can become superheroes in our students' eyes. Don't forget to take those few minutes amidst the chaos to create those moments for your students.

In the Room and on Zoom: How do we Find Balance?

A return to in-person learning is occurring across the Chicago suburbs. Hybrid learning is off and running, and so are teachers -- running from screen to the in-class scene. I liken hybrid learning to a game show, in which the players and the at-home audience are interconnected and leaning in to hear what the other group is saying. While it is nearly impossible to gracefully and fluidly do both perfectly, it’s working. Here are my takeaways after week two: 

Flip your doc camera so that they can see each other. 

I find owning the cheesiness of these awkward moments of juggling multiple devices and students in all places lightens the mood. When I laugh at myself, my students laugh with me. They understand that this is not how we are supposed be living life, but this situation is what we have. My roomers and Zoomers are broken into two groups (plus a full remote group) who do not get to see each other or interact with the other half of the alphabet. As a result, I like to flip the camera to make them do the exaggerated wave to one another. I have even encouraged one group to give another group advice or words of encouragement. The sound is jumbled and often makes the roomers jump, but they're laughing. Encourage students to remember that a whole other group of students concurrently learning allows everyone to feel heard and recognized. As I move the camera around, I am also giving subtle indications of where I want my Zoomers to be focusing their attention. Are we doing group work? If so, let's look at other students. Are we engaged in a direct instruction mini-lesson? Then I'm going to talk straight into that camera. While I am doing this, I do narrate the process and make all students fully aware of who is on the projector screen. Students know when they're being shown out of respect to all people involved. That open communication involves them even more and encourages everyone to take the stage when the camera is directed at them. 

Use technology to showcase every voice.

 

Students still struggle with unmuting on Zoom. Part of it is tech issues that can create a lag in the discussion, and another part of it is the uncertainty of being spotlighted without preparation. Whatever the reason, students need to be reminded that their voices matter and that they can share them in many ways. Using tech tools such as Pear Deck and Padlet has made amplifying student voice much easier and safer for students. They can respond at their own pace, and the messages can be anonymous. When students struggle to unmute, validation and encouragement can often temper their timidness. Highlighting anonymous responses on tech tools shows students that they have much to contribute and great ideas to share. After asking all students to write out answers, I have started using Flippity's random name picker to select the students who will share in the class on Zoom. Once I know everyone has written an answer, it is up to the Google gods to determine who will share their ideas. This process has also gotten students laughing, cheering, and groaning when a name appears on the screen. Every voice has something valuable to share. Sometimes students need a little nudge. 

Also, encourage students at home to report when the sound is off, or the internet is lagging. We won’t know that if they don’t speak up. I had to learn this lesson the hard way this week! 

Leverage in-person experiences. 

The best part of being in-person is that students can talk... to each other. They can be sharing what they are learning while a teacher directs their time to the students on Zoom. They can collaborate and share ideas, and if they get off-task, that is okay! In fact, that might be exactly what they need while they cope with or process the current state of the world. In-person time can be used to create a sense of normalcy and allow students to validate one another. 

Group students in the room and on Zoom.

 

One half of the alphabet should not be doomed to the fate of being passing ships who never interact again. No, no. They should be each other's partners in crime who advocate for one another when one is on Zoom. They can still create, communicate, and collaborate. They can meet in digital breakout rooms and on shared docs and slides. The organization, grouping, and movement of all it all just needs to be a little more coordinated than normal. I love using breakout slide templates to help the workflow and organization of digital collaboration. Using the same format reduces explanation time and increases student comfort when they are collaborating in a noisy, digital environment. Having that connection might flop if technology fails us, but it can be incredibly powerful, too. 

Make sure everyone is getting some love. 

The past year has been marked with trepidation and uncertainty. Content may not be perfectly covered this year, but students will continue to make academic and social-emotional progress if they feel safe, cared for, and validated. Whenever tragedy or hardship occurs, content matters less. Caring for others will allow students to cope and prepare them to learn. Leading with one's heart leads to stronger relationships, and stronger relationships will lead to more retention and learning. It is okay to focus on people first. The rest will follow. 

This game show host is tired after two weeks of hybrid, but I am grateful for the flexibility and energy that my students bring to the classroom -- both digital and in-person. While I hope that I can display some of Vanna White's grace and all of the wisdom of the late Alex Trebek, I know that if I give it my best and laugh at any tech trials that arise, my students and I will make class great together.