We had a pretty good Slackchat last night about starting the school year [clickable image link below], even though some key members were missing or limited: Matthew Moore, David Walsh, and Ken Bauer. We missed y'all!
Kelly Walsh's summary linked above recaps the conversation very well. Lots of solid ideas! Since then, I've thought of 2 more answers to the main question:
1) Verify your students' regular access to technology, especially if you're going to assign videos as homework. I give a GoogleForm survey in the first few days, and one question asks students to identify their ability to get on the internet. I find they answer this question quite honestly, and it helps me anticipate their needs for library time, intervention-period priority to access the school's computers, etc.
2) Be prepared to adjust your systems. If you paint yourself into a corner with promises for the whole year, or elaborate plans for video lessons and/or activities to fit together ... you might be disappointed. Don't do that to yourself, especially in the first year. I've made a significant mid-stream change in each of the past 4 years. It's okay!! That means you are responding to your students' needs, circumstances, and behaviors...and I think that's what good teachers are supposed to do....
1) Verify your students' regular access to technology, especially if you're going to assign videos as homework. I give a GoogleForm survey in the first few days, and one question asks students to identify their ability to get on the internet. I find they answer this question quite honestly, and it helps me anticipate their needs for library time, intervention-period priority to access the school's computers, etc.
2) Be prepared to adjust your systems. If you paint yourself into a corner with promises for the whole year, or elaborate plans for video lessons and/or activities to fit together ... you might be disappointed. Don't do that to yourself, especially in the first year. I've made a significant mid-stream change in each of the past 4 years. It's okay!! That means you are responding to your students' needs, circumstances, and behaviors...and I think that's what good teachers are supposed to do....
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