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Coronavirus, Snow Days, Monsoon season, rained out? Educators everywhere are trying to provide a quality education for their students. While nothing is as good as in person, we can make home learning meaningful by following a few tips while using Seesaw.

1. Make it hands-on- The need to manipulate, observe, and experiment don't go away just because students are at home. They do hands on learning at home all the time through their natural world. How can we, as educators, capitalize on their home environment to bring forth quality learning?

2. Ask students to take pictures of their hands on learning. Use the Use the camera- camera feature to inspire students to find connections to their learning in their environment at home. We know students need to practice their presentation skills, ask them to give their book report or biography through video.

3. Involve the parents- Parents want to know what their students are learning. Asking parents to play a game with their student or build a terrarium allows students to learn with the most influential person in their lives. Capitalize on their time with loved ones by assigning an interview, encourage them to share 5 fascinating facts about their relative.

4. Relevancy- Studying multiplication facts? Learning about patterns? So many of the items in a household can be used for learning. Asking students to create groups of their favorite toys, take a picture, and then write a word problem about it will engage them more authentically than any worksheet. Their own backyard holds Science lessons waiting to be discovered.

5. Keep it simple- We all want to do the cool projects. What a great time to have students try that new app! No, this is NOT the time for new apps and cool tools! This is the time for consistency and routine. Students should be using familiar technology so they can learn new content. If you introduce new technology and the student does poorly, you won't know if it is because of the comprehension of the content or the ability to use the new tool. Not only could this be bad for comprehension, it may frustrate the parents at home who are helping their students learn. Some parents are not tech savvy and do not understand new technology.

6. Are you uploading a multi-page document for student Multiple Page Documents- work? Make it difficult for students to forget about the next page. On each page, insert a text box or symbol that reminds them to go to the next page. A big box with NEXT PAGE-> should do the trick. Also, know there are limits to multi-page uploads. 10 pictures, 1 pdf (can be multipage), 1 Google slides/doc/sheets, or 1 video.

7. Activities- Seesaw activities are amazing! Make sure that you, as the teacher, try any activity you assign. Some activities have directions that are not clear, you may wish to make an instructional video for these activities. Also, if students have never used Seesaw activities, it may be difficult to obtain quality work. Teaching students routines when using Seesaw activities and the kind of quality you expect, may be something that is challenging for the first time remotely.

8. Encourage students to comment on each other's work. Ask them to go Collaborate- further than simple compliments. Providing sentence stems like, I see..., I think..., I wonder..., can assist students with quality feedback. If you haven't ever tried the copy/edit feature, this can also be a valuable way for students to learn from each other and extend on each others' knowledge. Ask students to create a visual word problem using toys, money, the clock, etc. Then have another student copy/edit a peer's word problem and solve. What a great way for students to learn from each other and with each other.

9. - There are Seesaw classrooms all over the world! Use the blog feature Reach out for students to connect and learn from others, no matter the time zone. Find a classroom to blog with here.

10. Set a goal!- At home learning can be tricky! It is much harder for students to be focused at home (adults too). Ask students to set a daily goal for their learning. Perhaps they aim to have all Math done before lunch time or they attempt to read over all their assignments for the day right after breakfast. Reminding students to set a goal for completion of work each day with help them create a routine.

Seesaw's resource center is full of short, easy help videos. If you have a question, you can easily find an answer!

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Coronavirus, Snow Days, Monsoon season, rained out? Educators everywhere are trying to provide a quality education for their students. While nothing is as good as in person, we can make home learning meaningful by following a few tips while using Seesaw.

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Last updated on February 14, 2022 by Not So Wimpy Teacher

Many teachers are now using platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet to reach their students. While many teachers use this platform to teach or review standards with their students, many are also using it for socialization during these times and there are lots of great distance learning activities you can use to engage your students.

I searched our teacher Facebook groups for some creative distance learning activities to engage your students during these times.

Games

Have you tried playing games with your students on Zoom or Google Meet? You might be surprised how easy it can be!

Charades- Private message one student with the word card. This student then pantomimes this clue while the other students guess the answer. You can mute students and have them raise their hand when they have a guess.

Pictionary- You can use the whiteboard feature to play this game. Private message a student the word, and then allow that student to draw the clues on the whiteboard feature.

4 Corners- Have students use a personal dry-erase board or a piece of paper and a marker for this game. Students choose a number (1-4 or 1-6), write it on their board, and hold it up for everyone to see. The teacher then rolls a dice and the number she rolls is the number that is out. If the teacher rolls a 4, every student holding up a number 4 will be considered out of that game. Continue until you only have one player left.

Simon Says- Play this just like the original game! The teacher will give the action directions, while the students participate. If students miss the action cue "Simon says," then they are out. Keep going until you have a winner!

Bingo- Students can draw a 4×5 grid on a piece of paper. Direct your students to fill each square in with words that fit your category. You can make it an academic game and have them fill numbers from 1-50 (or any number of your choice), then the teacher can call out the multiplication facts as you play. Another idea is to have your students list items that might be found in a kitchen, classroom, or playground. Students randomly put in the words in their squares (don't forget the middle free square!), and then the teacher calls out the words to play.

I Spy- Use your students' backgrounds for this game to play. Pick an item that can easily be seen by all students and share a clue. Students can raise their hand when they have a guess.

Conversation Activities

You may likely have some students who are shy on camera, and may not speak up as quickly in your meetings. You can use these distance learning activities to encourage conversation from them.

Show & Tell- Have students take turns sharing something special to them.

Two Truths & a Lie- Students can take turns sharing 2 truths about themselves and one lie. Students then guess what the lie is.

Would You Rather...- You can grab some "Would You Rather" questions online and ask these in your group call. Have students take turns sharing their responses.

Pet Parade- Students can bring their pet (real or stuffed) to your meeting and share some interesting facts about their pet when it is their turn.

Mad Libs- Grab some student Mad Libs online and have your students grab personal dry-erase boards or scratch paper. Call out the part of speech, have students write their choice on their board, and pick a student to share their answer. Read the Mad Lib story to your class when it's filled in! You are sneaking in some grammar review with this activity, and students love the silly stories!

LEGO Challenge- Instruct your students to build something overnight and bring it to your meeting the next day. Students can take turns showing their models and sharing what they like best about it. Some LEGO challenges I've seen include building a boat that floats, build a model of your room, build a marble run, build a pyramid, etc.

Art Show- Students can create their own piece of artwork (or two) and share with their classmates!

Snack & Chat- If your students just want to chat and socialize, encourage them to join you for a virtual lunch or snack time. Use some of the ideas in this category to keep the conversations going, or just let your students share what they have been up to!

Movement Activities

Students need brain breaks throughout their day still! Try some distance learning activities that incorporate movement while on your Zoom or Google Meet call.

Go Noodle- Pull up your students' favorite Go Noodle songs and share your screen. Students can get up and dance away!

Dance and Freeze- Play some music, encourage students to get up and dance, then students must freeze when the music stops. Your students will love the silly motions they are frozen in!

Scavenger Hunts- Our Facebook groups are full of fun scavenger hunt ideas! You can play this game live, or send your students off to do this overnight. You can gather a list easily online, but some ideas I have seen include looking for particular shapes, colors, items that are a certain length, or items that start with a particular sound.

Fun Fridays

It is always fun to end the week with a special activity. You could use these distance learning activities on Fridays, or any day if you need to mix-it up!

Funny Friday- Have students come to your meeting with some jokes to share!

Spirit Day- Pick a theme and have students come dressed to participate. Some fun themes include hat day, crazy hair day, mismatch day, sports-theme day, or school spirit day.

Field Trip Friday- Teachers all over the country are taking their students on virtual field trips. Use the share-screen feature to share a virtual location with your students. You can visit a zoos, aquariums, museums, national parks, or even theme parks. Check out THIS list for some ideas to get started.

Flashlight Friday- Have your students build a fort and grab a flashlight! They can get comfy and listen to you read a story during Flashlight Friday.

Friday Drawings- Directed drawings are a fun brain break! Pull up your favorite directed drawing YouTube video and share your screen with your students. You can also get creative and walk your students through the drawings yourself. Art Hub for Kids is a great place to start.

Zoom and Google Meet have made it easy to see our students during school closures. Your meetings can also be a healthy brain break for your students by using the ideas above! Thank you for bringing your students together during these times and taking the time to engage them in distance learning activities. Your students are lucky to have you!

Read about more ways to make virtual learning more fun.

Have a Not So Wimpy day,

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Distance Learning Activities for Zoom or Google Meet

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Distance learning activities can be a fun way to engage students. You can try games, conversations, or movement based activities.

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We know this is a stressful time for students, families, and educators. Concerns about the spread of COVID-19 are growing. Here, we've compiled a list of educational resources you can use to help young people learn the social-emotional skills they need to get through these challenging events.

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All school year, Montenique Woodard's seventh period, her last class of the day, has been her hardest. "I feel like I don't know what to do with them," she said of her middle school science class when Edutopia first talked to her back in the fall. One boy in particular, the "class clown," was a persistent challenge, and his behavior influenced his 23 peers, 15 of whom are boys.

But reconnecting months later during the coronavirus closures, Woodard shared some surprising news: the same boy was "thriving" during remote learning. "I think not having those everyday distractions in school has really allowed for kids like him to focus on the work and not necessarily all the social things going on because some kids can't separate that out," said Woodard, who teaches in Washington, D.C.

We've been hearing that a lot. Increasingly, teachers in our audience are reporting that a handful of their students-shy kids, hyperactive kids, highly creative kids-are suddenly doing better with remote learning than they were doing in the physical classroom. "It's been awesome to see some of my kids finally find their niche in education," said Holli Ross, a first-year high school teacher in northern California, echoing the sentiments of dozens of teachers we've heard from.

That's not to say it's the norm. Many students are struggling to adapt to remote learning: Digital access and connectivity remain a pervasive equity issue; stay-at-home orders have magnified existing problems in familial dynamics; and, universally, teachers and students grapple with how to replicate the engagement and discourse from an in-person classroom.

But it's not a tiny handful, either, and the unplanned break from the physical classroom may be bringing to light hidden reasons some kids struggle while others succeed. In the responses we gathered from our educators, we found recurring themes-like social situations and the inflexible bell schedule-that simply don't work well for all kids. For a few of the teachers, at least, it's inspired them to consider making permanent changes when they return to the classroom.

The Benefits of Self-Pacing

On average, the typical high school student starts school at 8:00 a.m. While school schedules differ by district, many students then face back-to-back classes with little reprieve. But during the pandemic, school schedules have suddenly become more fluid, allowing students more choice over when and how they do their school work.

"I think a few of mine are doing really well getting a taste of more independence," said Lauren Huddleston, a middle school English teacher in Memphis, Tennessee. "They're taking ownership a bit more because they're no longer under the micromanagement of the school day."
©Nora Fleming
This flexibility to make their own hours is also giving students a chance to exercise, take breaks, or even be bored, all of which research shows is beneficial. High school English teacher Ashlee Tripp speculated these kids were doing well because, "they enjoy the freedom to work at their own pace and decide how they want their day to look," and students seem to agree.

"The reason I enjoy online learning is because of the opportunity to structure my day efficiently," wrote a 10th grade student in English teacher Katie Burrows-Stone's class survey. "I am able to workout, relax, and complete the work in a timely manner, with no distractions."

Time to Rethink the Overextended Kid

During the school day, many students remain constantly on the go. Lunches are often filled with club meetings. After school, many participate in extracurriculars or sports-often to impress colleges-or work a part-time job. On average, high school students spend a minimum of seven and a half hours a week on homework at night.

After enrichment activities were canceled due to shelter-in-place orders, our teachers say they also saw a difference in some students' performance.

"For my students, there are some that are thriving. I think it is partly because so many things like sports and social activities are no longer happening and they have more time than they ever had to work on school work," said Kasey Short, a middle school English and social studies teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, by way of explanation.

Research has found jam-packed schedules can be a significant challenge for a child to juggle: Students who are over-committed, especially if they feel obligated to take certain courses or participate in activities, are more likely to experience unhealthy anxiety levels.

"This has given me so much pause about what we are doing in education: Is our current model way too much? Why would anyone need to have seven classes? Why does the school day need to be so long?" said Rosie Reid, a high school English teacher and the 2019 California Teacher of the Year. "I can't say enough about how this closure has changed my entire approach to teaching because I see how it has been an amazing respite for so many students."

Lowering the Stakes

Other teachers point to the changing academic expectations during the pandemic as a causal link. Given the structure of home learning-and pervasive equity issues-many school systems have encouraged teachers to be more lenient with coursework and grading.

"I think a huge part of [some students' work improving] is that we've dramatically ratcheted down the total workload in order to make tasks accessible rather than overwhelming," said Mark Gardner, high school English teacher in Camas, Washington.

According to a Pew Research Center study, teens cite academic pressure as the top pressure they face, with 61 percent of teens reporting they feel the heat to achieve at a certain level academically. Teachers too, have also been under increasing scrutiny in the last decade-plus to prepare students to hit benchmarks on standardized testing, pressure that trickles down to students, who are twice as likely to report unhealthy levels of stress during the school year compared to the summer.

"One student told me he likes remote learning better because he no longer feels the extreme pressure of failing," said Cathleen Beachboard, a middle school English teacher in Fauquier County, Virginia, who says other students in her class have expressed similar sentiments. "He says that now that the pressure of state testing is off, he feels he can really learn."

Reducing the Chatter

Though we've seen many comments-from both students and teachers-about missing the in-person connections and relationships at school, for some students, school socialization may be fraught with anxiety, our teachers suggest.

"Students who have been victims of physical or verbal bullying while at school are likely to be relieved to be home in a safe space," said Elena Spathis, high school Spanish teacher in Hillsdale, New Jersey.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2017, at least 20 percent of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied at school. Students who are the most bullied have also been found to have lower academic performance than their non-bullied peers.

For other students, socialization at school may not be negative per se, just distracting or intimidating. Nearly a third of teens have reported feeling pressure to "look good" or "fit in socially" at school, which can influence their participation and focus in class. "The online environment may allow for voices to be heard without the added bit of social anxiety," said Blake Harvard, a psychology teacher in Madison, Alabama.

Getting Enough Z's

Lastly, teachers commented that the difference they've observed in some students' performance may be tied, simply, to sleep. Like many teachers-and workers across the country-most students are no longer waking up to a very early alarm clock.

"I have the time to sleep eight hours a night every night [now]," said Ingrid, a high school junior in California, when asked what she likes about remote learning.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 8-10 hours a night for teens ages 12-18 and 12 hours for children ages 6-12, a 2018 study of high school students across 30 states found more than 70 percent of students were not getting enough sleep during the school year.

Though the long-standing debate over school start times never seems to end, when the Seattle school district delayed school start times by an hour at one school in 2016-2017, researchers found students' sleep increased and grades improved.

"There are kids who have a hard time getting to class at 8:30, but they might do really well getting their work done at 10:30 at night or even 10:30 in the morning. They just need a couple extra hours," said Ross.
Youki Terada contributed research insights to this article.

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Why Are Some Kids Thriving During Remote Learning?

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All school year, Montenique Woodard's seventh period, her last class of the day, has been her hardest. "I feel like I don't know what to do with them," she said of her middle school science class when Edutopia first talked to her back in the fall.