As we all gear up for another round of virtual learning (whether you’re a brick and mortar schooler or homeschooler), the dread of zoom classes may be creeping in. I know for the group of children that we homeschool with, it was quite a learning curve to get used to gathering and being productive on zoom. However, after a few tries, and several blunders, we all now know the routine and expectations, and these gatherings are now a highlight to our days! Here are some tips we learned along the way:
Let the kids play for a bit!
Fancy backgrounds and chat rooms and emojis, oh my! They’re so excited to see these things, and denying them will only make it worse. Let there be some time before (and even after) the formal meeting time to allow for exploration and playing with these features.
Turn off chat!
Once everyone has gotten their fill of chat and backgrounds, turn off the chat feature to avoid temptation. We usually have this discussion once the free play has come to a close, letting the kids know to choose their screen name, remove their backgrounds (or choose an appropriate one that remains for the length of the class), and that the chat will be off during the class.
Play games to get warmed up!
The connection of the children is so important. Especially in these times, when these meetings might be their main source of interaction. Don’t jump right into the content of the meeting. Have some fun, let the kids laugh, and set the tone that community is just as important as the lesson. Try two truths and a lie, or going on a picnic (change it up to align with the topic being learned). Look forward to a post on zoom games coming soon!
Set some guidelines with the group
On the first day, set some guidelines. If it's a small group, maybe everyone doesn’t need to be muted. If it’s a group that may need that, establish that at the beginning. We spent our first day learning about the features and practicing them. The kids helped create some reasonable guidelines. Our typical guidelines are: stay muted if you’re not speaking, raise your hand on screen (no need for the hand icon), and save chats for after class.
Allow for technical mishaps
They’re bound to happen. Lean into it and let everyone learn from the challenge.
What other tips do you have for running a successful zoom class?
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