Although the school year is quickly coming to a close, chances are that Zoom and other live video platforms will continue to play a role next school year.
This isn’t good news.
Reports from superintendents, teachers, and SCM readers along with surveys and media reports suggest that the number of students who haven’t participated this spring—or who have participated very little—is in the tens of millions.
Furthermore, a research study by the Northwest Evaluation Association estimates that students who stopped attending school in mid-March because of the pandemic will lose 30 percent of gains in reading and 50 percent or more in math compared to a typical year.
The potential long-term impact on these students is staggering—and not just academically. The mental and psychological toll of losing connection to school at such a critical time of life could be profound.
It’s critical as a nation and body of educators that we figure this out.
School districts across the country have done well making sure students have a working laptop and internet access. Although, not perfect, it isn’t the reason so many students have checked out.
In the coming weeks and months here at SCM, we plan on covering this topic extensively. We plan on being on the forefront, figuring it out, testing it, and then sharing it with you.
Last week, we gave teachers a simple strategy to increase participation by 50% percent. This week, we offer five ways to make your online lessons so irresistible that your students will want to show up every day of the week.
They also happen to be fun for you.
1. A contest.
Last Friday, my wife held a crazy hair contest with her 3rd grade class. She had asked me if I would be a guest judge, and I’m so glad I accepted. It was great fun.
We both wore silly wigs and her students went all out.
They had balloons and flowers and pipe cleaners tied up in their hair. We saw bright colors and sparkles and styles that defied gravity. The winner used household items and construction paper to make a camp-fire design of sticks and s’mores.
It was something they had been looking forward to all week, and it showed. They were so excited. The contest lasted for only 20 minutes, but my jaw hurt from smiling so much.
Contests are fun regardless of grade level.
You can have students dress up in their wackiest outfit, tell knock-knock jokes, make funny faces, create their own superhero, demonstrate a talent, sing a line from a favorite song, create a dance move, or even imitate you.
The ideas are endless.
I recommend having a different contest every Friday. You can announce it on Monday so students have time to prepare.
It’s a little thing that takes almost zero preparation on your part, but it builds great anticipation and keeps students engaged the whole week.
2. A story.
Eleven years ago in chapter 9 of my first book, Dream Class, I wrote: “Nothing I’ve ever done as a teacher has generated more response from students than when I tell a story.”
This is still true today.
No strategy in the world has the potential to build a more immediate and stronger connection with students than storytelling—and it’s a connection that can be made just as well over video.
Over the years I’ve told stories about talking snakes, angry trolls, dreams of flying, and how I think one of my friends is Batman. I’ve shared childhood adventures, travel nightmares, and the time my car disappeared seconds after parking it in the driveway.
I’ve begun dozens, perhaps hundreds, of new topics of study by telling a story, which never fails to cause students to want to learn more—even if the topic isn’t terribly interesting.
Storytelling does take some practice, but kids are incredibly forgiving and appreciate any attempt to tell a good yarn.
I recommend beginning with short anecdotes about your childhood or unusual things that have happened in your life.
Be on the lookout for anything that captures your attention in your day to day world. Add a supernatural twist, which students love, and you have a great story.
Try it once a week, or more if you’re up to it. It’s the one thing guaranteed to excite even the least motivated students.
3. A reading.
Read-aloud can have a similar effect as storytelling, especially if you immerse yourself in the narrative by using voices, facial expressions, and pantomime. You can even add props. It’s a blast for you and a tremendous escape for your students.
—Which they need more now than ever.
The biggest benefit, however, is that read-aloud is something you do over the course of several days, even weeks. It’s yet another reason you can offer students to come back and join in the adventure day after day.
I recommend focusing on the classics of children’s literature, the tried and true that will predictably draw students into the drama of a different world than their own.
Some of my favorites include: Maniac Magee, Pride and Prejudiced, Charlotte’s Web, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit, Superfudge, The Phantom Tollbooth, Hatchet, The BFG, Where the Wild Things Are, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Outsiders.
Just be sure that you like the book—because if you don’t, it will show.
4. A video.
Beginning your online lessons with a short, entertaining video is a good way to motivate students to log in on time. Although it’s as easy as it gets, it’s remarkable the effect it can have.
Bloopers, funny animals, great sports plays, skateboard tricks, and dance videos are all effective in helping students make the transition to learning. A quick video wakes them and gets them in the right mood to participate.
I find that students are more bright-eyed, smiley, and happy as a result.
Yes, this is something they can search for and watch on their own, but there is something about collective enjoyment—watching and laughing along with classmates—that bonds them together and makes them want to be there.
Using video this way is not something I recommend for the classroom, but I think it’s important to use whatever you can during this time to get your students involved and motivated to learn.
5. A laugh.
Now more than ever students need to experience a sense of normalcy, and nothing does that better than laughter. Being willing to smile and share a laugh with your students will help alleviate anxiety and cause them to enjoy learning online.
Bringing humor to your class doesn’t necessarily mean having to plan for it. Just be open to it. Be on the lookout for anything unusual or amusing and be ready to point it out.
Let students share their own funny experiences. Merely having an attitude and spirit of fun and enjoyment is enough, and so good for students during this crazy time.
It’s medicine we all need.
Bringing more of it to your class, whether online or back in the classroom, is another simple but powerful way to get students excited about school and stoked to be a member of your class.
Humor also builds relationships, supports intrinsic motivation, and strengthens your classroom management plan.
Do Your Part
When we call and send messages and ask students to log in to our lessons—and parents to support us getting them logged in—we have to do our part and make it worth their while.
We have to give them a reason beyond just their academic progress to want to be part of the class.
If they show up and we’re disorganized or irritable or, worst of all, the class is boring, then we’re going to struggle to get them to come back. When kids are home all day long, sometimes by themselves, it’s tough for them to get motivated.
—Even if their grades really count, which is likely to happen in the fall.
Online school is a completely new experience for them and many don’t yet have the life and productivity skills to deal with the heightened level of responsibility.
They’re counting on you to draw them there, to cause them to look forward to spending an hour or so learning with you and their classmates.
The good news is that it doesn’t take much.
A few strategies like those above, and an awareness that teaching online takes a creative approach, should empower you—if you look close enough—to see the positives and possibilities that massive change offers.
It’s an opportunity, after all, to expand your teaching knowledge.
To find new ways of reaching students. To attack the problems of distance learning with gusto and embrace the challenge of conquering yet another of life’s many trials.
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I’m sorry that so many students are struggling to adapt to online learning, but so is everyone else. I think the lesson they need to learn is that challenges are part of life, and just because you’re inconvenienced, doesn’t mean someone else you answer to is obligated to make things easier for you. Let’s get back to the basics: students who want to succeed will do whatever is necessary to achieve. Students who don’t care will continue to fail regardless of the learning conditions. Phone calls, emails, and even visits to their homes are not going to make these students succeed until they make the decision to help themselves. Teachers, please stop stressing over the MIA students. They aren’t worth your energy.
So right, Peter! The MIA kids will always be a struggle. They already know we care if I drive to their house to give them their workbooks because they didn’t want to pick them up, then I follow up with emails and phone calls? Now I’m badgering them and look like a fool. “Let it go!”
Hi, Paul. I’m pleased to see you understand where I’m coming from, and you’re realistic. Yes, I agree. It’s frustrating after weeks of due diligence to stay on top of these kids only to discover, they just don’t care. Why stress over them? You’re doing your part; it’s time for them to do theirs.
Pete, it’s why we became teachers, to help every child succeed.
Michael, thank you for some great ideas. If we have to teach online next year, I will definitely be reading this article again.
You’re living in a dream world if you think every student you teach is going to succeed.
“They aren’t worth your energy”. So, who is worth your energy? The students that already have the skills to improvise, adapt, and overcome? THAT would be easier wouldn’t it? IF you are called to teach, (yes, I believe it is a calling) THEN you are called to teach them all. With 15 years of experience, I am STILL starving for that “ONE THING” that will reach every student. I don’t think it exists. What we need to look for is that ONE THING that will reach that ONE CHILD. There is not now, nor will there ever be, consecutive days in teaching. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. Every day has it’s own challenges and rewards. Every day is unique, just like every child.
“Students who don’t care (as you put it) will continue to fail”…UNTIL…that ONE THING happens with that ONE TEACHER on that ONE DAY. The student took the bait. From that ONE DAY please know that the work is NOT finished and before it gets better, it will probably get worse (for you). Like Mr. Linsin has stated before, “Students know that adults will give up on them”. How do they know? Because WE have.
I apologize- I don’t know anything about you, but I do recognize the frustation and your need to vent. “Students who dont care”-DO NOT EXIST. I believe that those students are experiencing some kind of trauma and school is just the safer place to lash out. Say it with me, “THEY ALL CARE ABOUT THEIR GRADE. TRUST ME-I TEACH 8TH GRADE PRE ALGEBRA. They are too cool for school and their peers are No.1
I COULD CONTINUE, BUT I HAVE SOMEWHERE ELSE TO BE.
PLEASE DO NOT LOOK AT THIS AS AN ATTACK ON YOUR PERSON. I PROMISE THAT WAS NOT MY INTENTION.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING,
Markita A. Rivero
I never said anything about giving up on the students. It’s the other way around. Yes, still do your job and follow up on them, but stop stressing about them if it isn’t working. That’s the message I’m sending out to all teachers who are frustrated in this area.
I agree with you Markita. Additionally, I have had some students that were not thriving in the classroom suddenly start thriving online. They are even asking for extra tutoring. I continue to reach out and each week, we are seeing more students than the week before! Remember, kids are not mini-adults. Their brains are still growing. Their executive functioning are just starting to mature and fit things together. DO NOT write them off because they are not there yet! Our job is to push until the wheel starts turning on its own!
Every student is worth a teacher’s energy! If teachers aren’t willing to try everything possible to engage students, they’re in the wrong line of work.
We are trying everything possible to engage them. They’re not engaging with us. I never said anything about giving up on the students. I said don’t stress about the ones who are MIA.
Hi! Pete,
Oh! the frustration of students that choose not to participate in education presented in an online platform! There is a lot of thought and effort that goes into planning high quality lessons for online learning. I get your frustration. I do feel compelled to respond to your comment with a few things that came to my mind that I do believe are of importance and can figure into students participating in online learning. The disruption that came about as a result of COVID-19 affected us all in many ways. Kids and adults that have experienced trauma in their life can find it more difficult to cope and adjust when a scary and anxiety producing situation arises. It can even trigger a trauma response for these people. Parents and guardians have not only been dealing with fear, chaos, loss of a job, not knowing how to support the financial needs of the family have also been given the responsibility of helping their child/children navigate online learning. I bring this up because this has been a very disruptive time in many peoples lives and with this comes a period of adjustment. Until the basic needs of food, shelter, security and love have been established it is very hard to move up the pyramid and expect all kids to be able to focus on academics. Taking the time to look into what is causing the lack of participation by students would help inform future on-line learning practice. I hope you have a great summer!!
Great ideas. I will be sure to try them on my students.
I would love to hear more from you. I am teaching preschoolers.
Great suggestions!! I love that the things that draw kids in are the real and natural ways of learning—not worksheets or textbooks!
Hello! Enjoyed the article…quite helpful. Am teaching grade 10 maths and it’s a task to hold the kid’s attention…I like to joke and laugh alongwith the children and find it very helpful to get their attention. We discuss..books, movies, how was my day etc…will surely try out the contest idea. Thanks 😀
I appreciate how real you are here. You hit the nail on the head with our young charges. We are forcing them beyond their emotional mental maturity to be engaged for a few hours on a tablet or a laptop. The responsibility skills and productive habits of mind are not solid – unless an adult is monitoring. Half of my students have a second device that they are watching videos or are gaming during instruction. It feels like a grand waste of time. If my class is boring, it is not just my fault. Parents praise my efforts, but with lackluster results, I wonder why. I focus on my 50% who do participate and still try to engage the other so they don’t drag down the half that do want to be inspired. We’re making rubber band go-carts out of Pringles cans this week. We’ll see what happens…
Great insights! I was a guest presenter with a school recently via Zoom for students and staff. We played a fun and engaging learning game called, “5 in Ten!” Students and staff had to name 5 things in 10 seconds off the top of their head. For example, I would say to someone, “name 5 dances in 10 seconds…Go!”
You can try movies, books, ice cream flavors, dogs, etc.
The point is they were looking forward to this and they enjoyed the laughter and different experience. They showed up, were engaged, laughed, learned, and look forward to my guest visits! Thanks again for your great suggestions Michael and thanks to all of you as educators who are truly making a difference in so many lives!
I got more kids to come to my Zoom meetings by having “Secret Special Guests”. They want to come see who it is. I’ve had school counselor, dean, and 2 coaches who had been in our room. Up next is the principal and then the assistant principal. You could have librarian, OR teacher, music teacher, ELL, recess teacher….anyone the kids know from svhool. I do my class stuff for about 15 minutes and leave the Secret Special Guest in the waiting roim. I build up the suspense then let them in. I have prearranged with the person that they can have as long as they want to do whatever they want. Two have read books and discussed them, one had her 2 year old on we did a variety of stuff with her and one coach did a phonics lesson. It has doubled my weekly Zoom attendance and now other teachers are doing it.
I teach 2nd grade in the most diverse school district in Washington state. We have 2 white students out of 500 enrolled students in our school. When I received my class at the beginning of the year all were at a prek- kindergarten level except 2 that were at 1st grade level who moved in from other schools. All that to say my students will not Get online to do lessons by themselves. I am so emotionally drained from harassing parents daily to get there kids online. I honestly wonder how much of a priority for parents.
When we started this I had 2 students with home laptops. Yes the district handed out laptops but families don’t know how to use them or refuse to sign the paper that they owe if they break it. I hold the parents responsible since it’s their support that will get kids online.
Many parents don’t allow technology in the home, especially Ed Tech. The FBI has warned about use, and pediatricians do not recommend children have the “screen time” they already get. Their privacy and data concerns are life-long, so parents much focus on more than just any given school year. So…. no matter what is done, some parents will not expose their family to such risks until security on tech catches up with use.
I guess the point is alternative educational opportunities and activities should be available for such children, so as to ensure equal educational opportunity.
I love this!! Now I have a valid reason to show cute animal stories from the Dodo the moment I start my Zoom lesson! (I only wish I had more Zoom lessons before the end of the school year.) I LOVE Mr. Linsin’s articles & books. The advice about storytelling reminds me of an article in a Scholastic magazine that I read a long time ago. The author, Dr. Bruce Perry, suggests, “Engage your students with a story to provide the context. Make sure this vignette can touch the emotional parts of their brains. This will activate and prepare the cognitive parts of the brain for storing information. Information is easiest to digest when there is emotional ‘seasoning’ — humor, empathy, sadness, and fear all make ‘dry’ facts easier to swallow.” http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/how-brain-learns-best/ In regards to the Crazy Hair Contest, I’m going to try that next week!!
I teach little ones ICT computer science while i also teach design for college kids…this is a great article to read and i will pass them to my friends to read also…i think keeping class fun is key. Once you engage them and keep them to class…lessons can be delivered…i also think lessons need to be made better …i mean with sound and video clips etc…this will help the kids with better quality …hard for me coz it takes time to make such videos but welcome to this business…i want my kids to have the best of me…its tiring but its what we chose to do…all the best to everyone…
Super ideas! Thanks. I have been Screencastifying a read-aloud, 1 to 2 chapters of “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio. After reading they only have to answer 1 question from each chapter. Most of my students check out the read-aloud before the reading and/or Social Studies assignment. I will be sure to use some of your great ideas. Thanks again.
Amazing idea of the contest..Im definitely going to plug in my sessions
Great insights, look at this again! I usually teach with humor included, its brings every child attention on point. Will try in my classes next year. 😊Very helpful and entertaining.👍
Great ideas. These experiences are not different from what we are experiencing in Africa precisely Ghana. As an educator, I’ve learnt to improve upon my good online classroom practices as well as add ons which will help sustain my students’ interest and motivate them to always participate.
Great ideas n thanks for the wisdom you share…for those having problems be positive minded n keep your hope alive…Teaching is a call n sometimes you must sacrifice….Paul n Peter criticizing won’t help n better up ur game on how to handle such students your complaining about…
Hi, Michael. I like the ideas you presented in this post, but I must be honest, I agree with Peter and Paul. I was teacher of the year at my school and I’ve even heard other teachers of the year and plenty of other dedicated teachers voice similar issues I read in their comments. I’m not ashamed to admit I feel the same way they do. Everyone has their breaking point. We’re all in it for the kids. Just because teachers vent frustrations, doesn’t mean they should find a new line of work, as someone commented above. It also doesn’t mean these teachers aren’t dedicated. It just means they’re frustrated with giving it their best and not seeing results. Teachers who don’t care about their students aren’t the ones reading and commenting on these blogs. Lastly, if you’re all about keeping things positive, then why would you allow teachers like Peter and Paul to post their comments in the first place?
Hi Dan,
I think you may have the wrong Michael. As for approving comments, you can find our policy here: https://smartclassroommanagement.com/privacy-policy/
Thank you for the information…I have a file that I will place it in as I take a break and then reopen to tackle as we prepare for yet another unknown year. I’ve been teaching since ’83 and never in my craziest dreams thought we’d ever see a day that school would be mandated to move home. WOW!
I, too, am frustrated with those that don’t do their work – especially when they zoom and brag about staying up all night playing Fortnite. How do we parent when we can’t have them in class to raise? I know our district is coming up 3 different plans as required by our state’s governing body…but it is indeed a very stressful situation for all.
WE ALL NEED A BREAK… I plan to take one and pray that answers are found to get all on board for the fall. More frustrating to me is the educators that do very little and receive the same pay for those of us that are putting in so many hours.
Keep the articles and ideas coming…and may everyone stay safe and sane during this weirdest of times!
I have some thoughts. The next generation of learning spaces will take all the characteristics of an active learning environment—flexibility, collaboration, team-based, project-based—and add the capability of creating and making. To begin to understand the evolution of the learning space—the classroom—it is useful to revisit the seminal work of Jack Wilson, who developed the Studio Physics classroom at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the mid-1990s. His team-based concept paired two students with a computer to teach undergraduate physics. The very approach to learning will change. Namely, in the sense that there will be no obligatory performance of a task. More freedom – more results. For example, if you write an essay and you want to go to a professional quick essay writing service https://papersowl.com/fast-essay-writing, you do it quietly and professionals do all the work for you. Employers and educators are increasingly placing importance on boundary-crossing competencies such as teamwork, communication, perspective, networks, and critical thinking across many disciplines. This model includes many systems and disciplines and requires thorough understanding and communication. Individuals with the abilities to bridge the traditional boundaries between disciplines have been referred to as “T-shaped professionals”