Monday Musings from The Kravis Center February 15, 2021 Focus: Strategies for in-person, socially distanced classrooms
Dear Colleagues,
It's day seven of Winter Term 2 as I begin to compose these musings and – due to the quarantine, my desire to have my Day 2 students follow my Day 1 group, and the snowstorm – I've yet to meet with my students in person. If I had to choose two imperatives to characterize teaching during this pandemic, they would be "Hurry up and wait" and "Be ready to pivot."
Though my in-person lesson plans have yet to come to fruition, I have designed some and, while doing so, have struggled to think of tools that allow for effective and collaborative lesson plans that also respect social distancing guidelines. This is a dilemma that I've been pondering since the summer, and it's frustrating that I still haven't found the recipe for the magic potion that would resolve the issue. I wanted to provide some practical tips in the musings, so I started digging...and came up with...not much.
Then I remembered that we currently count as a member of our faculty Andrew Watson of Translate the Brain fame. I've reproduced a slightly edited version of our correspondence here:
Rachel: Hey! Welcome back to the Island. Andrew: Thanks! So excited to be teaching IN A CLASSROOM with ACTUAL students. Rachel: Speaking of that...wondering what tips you have for effective teaching in socially distanced classrooms. How can we design classes that include collaboration and movement while also respecting COVID restrictions? And not just revert to collaboration via screens. Because then...why are we in person? Andrew: Hmmm. All the writing I see these days focuses on online teaching, not socially distant teaching. I'll throw a Tweet out to see if anyone has wise thoughts. Andrew [the next day]: So far NADA on Twitter. Which is strange – it's an important and obvious question. Andrew [several hours later]: I'm amused that this HUGE article from the Times talks about the "lessons to be learned from schools that stayed open"...but says nothing about teaching in them. Which is to say: I thought it might have answers to your question. I was wrong... Rachel: I'm coming around to the idea that maybe I need to shift my thinking away from what I can no longer do in the classroom (this is depressing!) to other ways to make classes engaging for students. Variety in lesson plans, making space for joy, and limited movement are all still possible. Collaboration sans screens is fairly difficult. Andrew: Honestly, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY I say to myself: "Okay, I should stop focusing on being frustrated. Instead, I should realize that this is an interesting opportunity to challenge myself, get better at something I'm not great at, see what new things I can figure out in this moment. If I'm patient/forgiving with myself (and EVERYBODY else), we'll all get through this just fine. But really tired." In other words: I'm so with you on "making space for joy."
Colleagues, I know it can be difficult to remain optimistic and focus on what we are able to do in our classes but see below for a few ideas. At the very least, know that all of us in the Kravis Center are stumbling through the trenches alongside you.
Rachel, on behalf of the Kravis Center
Kravis Center Reminders If you're interested in the Black History Month Design Challenge but couldn't attend one of the brainstorming workshops, we still want to hear from you. Please fill out this form to indicate your interest.
Please fill out this Kravis Center Survey, which will guide us as we plan programming for this spring and beyond. _______________________________________________________________ Practical Ideas for Effective Teaching in Socially Distant Classrooms
Use mini whiteboards to check for understanding, ensure that every student participates, and infuse a bit of movement into your class.
If you have enough board space (or jumbo sticky notes) and markers, students can take turns collaborating on a problem or brainstormed list.
If the weather permits, send pairs of students on a walk around the building to discuss a particular question. (Thanks to Michaela for this idea.)
Although we want to remain cognizant of student screen time, collaborating electronically may be the simplest and safest way for students to work together.
Experiment with collaborative notetaking on a Microsoft 365 doc.
Have students post to Padlet or Mural for a virtual discussion.
Incorporate some basic yoga poses or breathing exercises as a movement and brain break.
See the December 14th Musings for ideas on making space for joy in lessons. *For more ideas on this topic, both with and without screens, see this post from Vanderbilt's Center for Teaching. Professional Development Opportunities
The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL) Summer Academy will take place virtually from July 26-29, 2021. Sara has attended both in person and online and is happy to talk with you further about this exciting opportunity to take a deep dive in the the neuroscience of learning.
The Learning and Design Bootcamp, 2021
Inclusive STEM and CS, Virtual Conference, March 6 9:00-3:00PST
Another outstanding opportunity to take a deep dive into the neuroscience of learning through the CTTL: The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning is offering numerous winter workshops: Foundational Strategies for Teaching during COVID.
Looking for an amazing line up of experts on the adolescent brain? Look no further than the The Science of Teaching During a Pandemic. Click here on the Learning and the Brain site for even more professional learning opportunities. A wealth of opportunities awaits us!
Here's the perfect opportunity to take a deep dive into creating authentic assessments with the Buck Institute, the gold standard of PBL workshops. PBL Works Summer Workshop, June 21-24, 2021
Harvard GSE programs for educators - so any worthwhile workshops for teachers! ________________________________________________________________ Articles related to DEIJ
Independent School Magazine, Winter 2021 is dedicated to DEI.
Here is a link to a Q&A with Ralinda Watts, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California More articles and podcasts from past Monday Musings...
NAIS: Assessment Practices for Promoting Equity, by Amoy Walker is a must-read. Ms. Walker speaks to her experiences as a student as an an educator on the importance of examining "assessments more closely and identify best practices to combat bias."
When broken down into chunks, What works, what doesn't could serve as a valuable learning tool for our students. "Some study techniques accelerate learning, whereas others are just a waste of time—but which ones are which? An unprecedented review maps out the best pathways to knowledge." Thanks, Scott!
Another resource on teaching and learning that I always keep handy: Deans for Impact, The Science of Learning
Women of Color Need Courageous Allies in the Academy: An Open Dialogue Part One and Part Two. These interviews with seven women are outstanding, informative, and full of information about how to advance the work of allyship and accompaniment.
Reading Diversity: a tool for selecting diverse texts, Teaching Tolerance
Seeing White - podcast - and there's a study guide!
Creating Moments of Genuine Connection Online. the Cult of Pedagogy
Are you Teaching Content or Just Covering Material?, by Terry McGlynn, The Chronicle of Higher Education, A new book on science teaching makes the case for focusing on a smaller set of concepts to produce deeper learning. _______________________________________________________________ Follow us on Twitter! |