Reflection

In any classroom you have to have norms and expectations. I found these helpful for beginning the new year off virtually with my class. We would review them each morning to  start the meet and keep to them during the entire meet. I found this simple editable slide from TPT and added my bitmoji. The only thing i would add to it is keep cameras on. But sometimes my 2nd graders dont want to show their faces and thats fine so i tell them its okay if its not on but know that if i call on you then i want you to answer. i love the raise hand feature so i know that if the camera is off i can say raise your hand with out them unmuting or having to turn their camera on during the meet. This was a simple visual to help guide us through our meet. Our meets were mainly for a check in and for SEL and not so much direct instruction.  

     Student-teacher responsibility to integrate and consistently follow virtual norms is dire to the learning process. I know that consistency is key to the creation of routine norms and behaviors that best fits your classroom dynamic. 
      

Norms for virtual and digital learning are critical to learning with technology. If students do not know how to responsibly utilize the tools and devices they have for learning they cannot be successful in school. Through numerous activities and conversations, these are the norms that have been determined as best practices for virtual meetings, pd sessions, and classes. 

I found these virtual norms shared by Mr. Greg on facebook.  He is a virtual Kinder teacher.  I had added them to my bitmoji classroom.  I ended up not needing them since we didn't teach virtually live.  Although I did review rules in my morning opening videos while virtual.  

Early on during COVID-19, I realized the need for norms for online instruction. The Google Meet procedures were created early on, last year for the MJH Team to begin using. Teachers then took this basic outline and created their own individualized and unique norms with students. 
Norms provide order in society, and they were definitely a lot of confusion early on with COVID-19 classroom instruction. It really was difficult early on for teachers to imagine how teaching virtually would occur, because it truly was unchartered territory. Teachers and students need norms to guide and direct their behavior, to provide stability, and build significant relationships. 
I truly believe that one of the major successes that the MJH Team has accomplished during virtual instruction is the establishment of norms. I also acknowledge that there are different beliefs, ideologies, and viewpoints on certain norms. However, students and teachers can all agree that a "common set" or norms/rules help bring order to what can often seem chaotic. 

When the year started and virtual learning was new to all of us we started out slow.  We reviewed each part of the expectations separately and discussed what it looked like and sounded like.  I was very consistent about the google meets in our virtual classroom would have the same expectations and the same rules as if we were in our regular classroom.  I held my students accountable for their actions.  By the time we met face to face they knew what was expected of them for in person as well as virtual learning.  Once the students knew how to navigate through the icons it was easy.  The last time we went virtual, although I would rather see my kids face to face, was a blast because they all upheld the norms and they interacted well with each other and the technology.  I am very proud of how far my students and I have come this year.

 I used Digital Citizenship during the Summer Ace Program when I taught the Flutophones.  I  would use these icons for our class to be productive . For Example,  I play, they mute. We practice- we all mute. We play one at a time we mute and listen, Last we play whole group and  all Unmute. 
We would do this until we learned the entire song.

My goal for my students is that they are able to navigate schoology 100%. I will ensure that my students learning virtually follow all the rules and expectations. We will develop a structure that will allow us to learn in a safe and fun environment.

A goal for our classroom is to learn how to let others answer! In my class, we have a lot of kiddos who want to answer every question. We are trying to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. I think us understanding the norms of our digital class will help our class time run smoother. Another goal we have is to be in class at the correct times. I know that my online kids have other things going on inside their home, but it is important to remember that we are still in school and we should not be playing games on the television. Every month, we will be looking at our class norms and reflecting on how we did and how we can improve. 

My goals for the future are to continue being consistent with my students. I want to use the same visuals everyone, and to help them carry this over into the future activities. We will continue reviewing and revisiting them, and also add in social stories about virtual norms when and if it is needed.