So you’ve left the physical classroom, traded in your beautifully decorated walls, left behind your short commute, your favorite copy machine in the building for your laptop and virtual work space?
Congratulations on this new journey in your career journey! Yes, it’s an adjustment and yes, it can be challenging, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! Let’s discuss four approaches that will help you become an effective virtual special education teacher.
First on the list is pretty simple: establish a routine for yourself. Things are different now as you are not in a traditional classroom, so having a routine will be key in your success. Start your morning by using a daily checklist of things you need to complete. A checklist will help to provide you with a visual reminder of important tasks to complete before, during and after your virtual lesson. For example, a night before checklist may include: charge your laptop/iPad, print service logs for scholars, post lesson/activities in your virtual classroom platform, and to get a good night’s rest. These small tasks will help to kick start your morning.
The next approach would be to ensure engagement within the lesson. Scholars want the same engagement as if you were in person, it is imperative that you create lessons with movement and interaction. Lecturing or teaching from a presentation for 30-45 minutes will quickly cause your scholars to become distracted and uninterested. For example, if you want to review fact fluency, I would suggest creating a slide deck with all operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), depending on their grade levels, that includes word problems, drills, and movement. The fact fluency slide could state, “ 5 + 3 = . . . touch your nose if it’s 7 or touch your eyebrow if it’s 8.” This way the teacher receives class participation and the scholars gain practice while moving. Everyone wins and the children are not sitting idle for long periods of time.
Another approach in being an effective virtual teacher is having great communication. Whether it’s the lead teacher, parent, virtual facilitator/assistant, or school psychologist, it’s important to always cultivate a space that has free flowing communication. Make yourself available, follow up, and check in with all stakeholders. A great opportunity to roll this out would be providing a welcome phone call or meet the teacher letter to parents, an introduction email to general education teachers, and sending a check in email at the end of the week. Being proactive in this method of teaching will always be a superior action.
The final approach I want to share is ensuring you practice self-care frequently. Working from home is exciting, but not always having a teacher bestie or having a core coworker group can be challenging. My suggestion is to plan out your week/weekend of self-care activities. For example, by Wednesday I have my weekend planned out, so when the work day seems slightly off or I feel out of place, I have something positive to look forward to. I also look for activities that take place on weeknights, so that I don’t force myself to wait until the weekend to indulge in a fun activity. Plays, art shows, hot yoga, natural trail/hikes, reading, journaling or trying new restaurants are just some activities that allow you to enjoy a dosage of dopamine. Remember to show up for yourself just as you show up for your scholars. Always take care of you!
As I finger walk off my keyboard, I want to leave you with this, virtual teaching is just like in person/traditional teaching, it’s all about what you make it. So why not make it great? I hope these approaches have impacted and empowered you to have an epiphany that you can be an effective virtual Special Education teacher.
Happy Teaching!
Author: Takilyah Starke, M.S., Special Education Teacher