A New Normal: Back to School 2020-2021

Interview with Teachers Derrick Alison and Doris Holmes As teachers, we’re planners—it’s just who we are. But how do we plan when we don’t know what to plan for? During a recent professional development session with a local district, the number one question teachers asked me was what next year would look like. The truth is: We don’t know what’s coming our way. Even with glimpses of plans, no one really knows what’s coming. With so much outside our control, there are a few things teachers can do now. Set up your classroom to operate in all ways: face-to-face, remote, and blended (a combination of both). Know that you’re likely to use all these methods at some point next year. Remind yourself that you are resilient. Your students are resilient. Be confident that you can be present for your students no matter what. When you are intentional about building in flexible components from the start of the year, students’ experiences will be better. Using the guide below, take a first step toward planning for next year. Start with items that you can control. BUILD A COMMUNICATION PLAN Chances are that you experienced communication challenges at some point last year. Reflect on those challenges. Write out a plan: In stormy seas, your parents, students, and colleagues will look to you to guide the ship into harbor. Broadcast it: Your plan is a beacon. Remind students and parents how and when you will be communicating. Your plan should set the foundation for all other communication. Keep communication consistent: Follow through with your plan. Initially, this may involve extra work. However, as soon as something changes, you’ll be glad you made the effort. Consider alternatives to email: Text services like Remind limit characters and focus messaging. Also, texts are a lifeline for families who rely on mobile devices for access. ORGANIZE CONTENT Keep in mind that your online learning environment should support your face-to-face instruction—and your face-to-face instruction should support your online learning environment. When they complement each other, both are stronger. Guidelines for instruction: Organize content into chunks: units, modules, or weeks. Create structure inside these chunks. Keep the structure consistent. Include all elements of instruction inside a chunk (preassessment, inquiry, instruction, practice, assessment). Once your online content is organized, think about how you can combine your online chunks with your face-to-face instruction. In The Perfect Blend, Michele Eaton provides excellent daily and weekly checklists that work to keep students and teachers organized and bolster the learning in both spaces. CONSTANTLY EVALUATE YOUR TOOLBOX After completing a chunk, reflect on the digital tools you used. Ask yourself: Did I have the right tools for the task? Were students able to meet instructional objectives? [email protected]