I’m home today and my Wi-Fi is down because of the storm.

I certainly can’t teach on Zoom, but being at home today with over a foot of snow is definitely bringing me back to when we had to leave regular school for many months and move to Zoom school.

I remember my first day of being online during COVID. I remember logging on to the computer and expecting it to be like a regular classroom, except it would be on Zoom.

In my classroom, we did a lot of partner work. So on my first day of Zoom school, I planned for partner work. I sent my students into breakout rooms and then went to visit them, as if I was in a classroom going from desk to desk. I went from breakout room to breakout room.

I went into the first breakout room.

Two black squares.

I went into the next breakout room.

Silence.

I went into the next breakout room again and again, and it just kept going.

And I realized: Zoom school is not the same as regular school. It has to be different from the start, intentionally. I brought all the students back together and taught them how partner work should look on zoom. It sounds silly but I realized I had to teach them how to go on screen, ask their partner who should go first, how to take turns etc.

While I’m not a fan of Zoom school on snow days, there are times that, due to school policies or other reasons, you might be leading a Zoom lesson.

Here are some things I would keep in mind if I were leading a Zoom today (based on my years of teaching online, and then again during covid!)

1: Connection is key.

This is not the time to teach new material and hold students responsible for it. It just isn’t fair. Not everyone has the headspace or the quiet space to even process new information right now. Use this time to connect with students in a way that you can't in the classroom. Let students share something from home if they want. Let them show the snow outside their window. Tell a story. Teach a song. Show them your kitchen or something that connects to what you're teaching. Be human. This shouldn’t feel like a “waste of time” (even kids don’t like that). Connection is the work right now. Put it above your lesson plan objectives.

PS: I shared this picture in my WhatsApp group today. If you can’t see the image, scroll up and choose “always display images.” It’s worth it, if I may say so myself 🙂

2: No, not everyone has a printer!

Not everyone has a printer, and not everybody even has a plastic straw or whatever simple supplies you may ask for. I remember when I was teaching in Jewish Online School and we had kids from military families who were stationed all over the world. Every time I wanted to do a project, I had to be really, really careful with supplies because even things that were so basic, like paper napkins or fruit roll-ups, students couldn’t necessarily get on an army base. This really changed my way of thinking about things that “everyone has.”

3: Use the 20-20-20 rule.

If you will be on Zoom for a while, every 20 minutes have students look at something about 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. This will reduce the risk of eye strain and help them stay present. If you’re teaching, do it too. (This applies to in classroom tablet use, too!)

And why not use AI to make a busy day a little easier? Here are a few prompts:

For younger kids:

• Create a simple color-by-number for a slideshow based on the topic of (insert your topic here). Keep the design clear and bold so that it shows well on Zoom. Focus on the main ideas and simple shapes, up to 7 colors. It should be completely black and white, no color on the slide.
• Create a 5 minute movement break connected to (insert topic). Keep it simple and safe for small spaces.
• Turn this lesson on (insert topic) into a “show and tell” question students can answer with something from their house.
• Give me 3 simple yes or no questions about (insert topic) that I can use for thumbs up, thumbs down responses on Zoom.

For older grades:

• Turn this story or lesson into a short skit that (insert number of students) students can act out on Zoom. Keep the lines short and clear so that everyone has a part. (Insert story)
• Create a “would you rather” game based on (insert topic) that gets students talking.
• Give me three low maintenance discussion or reflection options for this topic that students can do live on Zoom without printing anything or needing extra materials.

If you have/had zoom school, how was it? hit reply!​
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Mushkie
@evergrowingeducator
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PS: Was this email forwarded to you? Now that’s a great friend/boss/co-worker! Sign up for resources + classroom mindset here.​​
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