Category: Distance Learning

It is 7:45am and you are getting ready to greet your kiddos as they enter Google Meets. You want to build those relationships with your kiddos but with all the content that needs to be taught, it seems impossible. How does one actually start and end their school day (virtually), and build those relationships?

Best Ways to Start the Day Virtually

I LOVE the beginning of our virtual day together! I love seeing my kiddos smiling faces as I wave to them from a totally different location. This is the time where I can be personal with them and can truly let them be themselves. There are a few things that I do that are ultimately the best way to start the day virtually.

As I am welcoming my students into the room I make it a habit to mention everyone’s name. Yes, this may seem like a bit of an overkill, but what I’ve found is that they find true enjoyment in hearing me say their name. I have even had a parent or two on occasion, email me to say, “Ms. Cook, such and such is here too. I just wanted to make sure you saw them in case we missed you saying their name.” It really makes me crack up.

Something else that I do is a morning meeting. During morning meeting, I ask them questions to get to know them. We have discussion, play virtual would you rather games, do exercises, and discuss what our day ahead looks like. I truly do feel that morning meeting is so important to have in all classrooms, including virtual. Having a virtual morning meeting may even be more of an importance factor.

Students break off into small groups with me or independently with the way the district has set up our schedule. Before small group time, I make sure I go over the work with my students and answer questions that they may have. I let them know that I am “here” to help them, and just give them that extra confidence boost to let them know that they can do it!

Best Ways to End the Day Virtually

Our final wrap up is quite fun. There are a few things that I do that are ultimately the best way to end the day virtually. I do my absolute best to mix it up and make sure that incorporate many different things into our final wrap up. some of the things that we have done during this time is:

• How to Draw
• Read Alouds from Awnie’s House! … FYI WE LOVE Awnie’s House!
• Home Pet Check
• Student Breakout Rooms
• Sharing Time (Students can tell a story or as questions)
• SEL Check
• What Did You Learn Today Discussions
• Dance Parties
• Friday Virtual Awards

Many of us are now preparing a distance learning presentation or a virtual awards presentation for our class. Let’s be for real. Typically during this time of the year, teachers all over are trying to tie up loose ends, are entering final grades, and are preparing for Awards Day. While we are still doing those things, we know that our awards day is going to look a lot different than any other awards day we’ve had.

I wanted to do something super special for my students and so I really sat down to think about how I could make it special for them. My wheels were turning, and so I went into power point and began to get creative.

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I decided to use my favorite fonts as well as vibrant colors set against different versions of gray.

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Once I finished our typical school awards, I realized that not all students were actually receiving an award. I did want to make sure that all students who participated in distance learning received an award and so I created a Distance Learning Completion Certificate for all students who put forth an effort to do their best and work during these past few weeks.

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After I finished this, I then went in and worked on what I wanted my animations and transitions to look like. This part is always fun for me because I can get super creative!

Now that the presentation in itself seemed to be complete, I definitely wanted to jazz it up a bit by adding a song to the mix. But how was I going to add a song to the presentation and keep it as simple as possible? Well, that is where Final Cut Pro came in, and what a game changer it was!

I did a simple screen recording by using QuickTime Player and recorded the presentation just as I would in power point. Then I uploaded it to Final Cut Pro and added Kool & the Gang- Celebration to the presentation show! The final product was simply amazing!

While I can’t share Final Cut Pro or QuickTime Player with you, I can definitely share the template I created with you! I did include directions in this FREE Virtual Awards Presentation that will help you to be able to add your own music without Final Cut pro or QuickTime Player!

If you’d like to get your FREE Distance Learning Virtual Awards Presentation make sure you subscribe below and I’ll send it to you right now!