How to teach during the quarantine period of a global Pandemic in 2020 

****How to *teach **during the quarantine period of a global Pandemic in***2020 


*could mean online, hybrid, non-traditional, virtual, existential, asynchronous, self-paced, web-enhanced…

**may refer exclusively to an individual teacher’s self-imposed quarantine or rather the quarantining of an entire student body and maybe even the quarantining of the nation, whether the guidelines are followed or not

***specifically referring to the Fall semester of 2020, definitely not the Spring and whatever that was, might also carry over into 2021, no one really knows

****All of these suggestions…uhhhh…guidelines…hmmm…mandates…will go into effect before you’ve ever read this and may change at a moment’s notice


Alright, listen up teachers! First, know that I am coming at you from multiple perspectives – that of a parent with great respect and admiration, that of a former educator with a wealth of experience in distance learning, and that of a therapist who has listened to your stories, allayed your fears and applied a “tough-love” approach to tell you it’s time to get in the game!

Stop procrastinating, lamenting and waiting for things to change. You are only increasing your own anxiety. Build your online classes. Just start somewhere. Here are some basic tips:

  • Put in a calendar, a schedule of exams and other important dates. Add your contact info and plan weekly lectures. You’ve already done this for in-person classes, so all you are doing is typing it into a platform. 

  • Do a personal intro video that is energized and encouraging.  Consider having weekly live chats at a specified time for parents and students who have questions. 

  • Parents are not your enemy, although some may act like it. Reach out to them, get them involved, holding a brief video chat with each student’s parent early in the semester. Ask them about what they would like their student to work on and then incorporate it into coursework.

  • Give meaningful assignments and not just busy work. Embrace the fact that, like last year, state testing might just be waived. This is the time to try out new teaching methods, use pre and post tests to indicate student learning, think about what you would like to try and use your numbers to ask your administrators to consider allowing more academic freedom in the future. This could just change the way we teach and learn from here on out!

  • Be basic. Streamlined and simple should be the rule with online classes. Too many bells and whistles can be overwhelming. Post assignments, activities, general resources and cool graphics and then use links that kids can relate to – Instagram, TikTok etc. There are lots of awesome open resources available to you!

  • Stop being scared of technology! Most of you folks are Millennials and GenXers. Stop pretending you don’t know your way around a computer. Especially since a lot of you spend considerable time on social media. Yes, technology can present new problems, but we have come a long way since the Oregon Trail days.

  • Front-load your work. If you build an organized and easy-to-understand class online, it will basically run itself, aside from your live, interactive component.

  • Make sure that your live component can be recorded. This comes in handy if students have tech problems, if they want to review later or if they typically require accommodations in the classroom.

  • You have the power in this situation. Take it! Your flexibility and attitude will be contagious (poor choice of words in this situation?) to your students. Act like you know what you are doing even if you are not so sure.

  • Get over your Imposter Syndrome and stop thinking you are not good enough/need more experience/not great on camera. Some of you are too focused on reinventing the wheel every year – it’s a waste of time and all this effort you put into researching new ideas would be better spent actually putting some old ideas into practice.

  • Be available but have clear boundaries for when you are not. Your own family life, sleep, sanity are also important. Explain that you will not answer emails on the weekends and then follow through.

  • Set up your environment for success. If you don’t have an office at home, find a corner that you can fill with your computer (having two monitors is a super-efficient way to multi-task, by the way), lists of student info, textbooks, and any supplies you might need. Boost your WiFi. Yes, I know that won’t be reimbursed. You will still thank me later.

  • Consider sponsoring an extracurricular social event through Zoom or another platform. For kids, parents or both. We all need this and you can be the ones to lead the charge. 

  • Things you may not have considered…

Cheating – it can be avoided, lockdown browsers or webcams during exams, for example

Dress Code – should be enforced similarly to when students are at school 

Background – consider asking students to all sit in front of a blank wall to minimize differences among those from different socioeconomic backgrounds

Legalities – discuss with administration about protocol if you witness neglect or abuse, for example

Accessibility – if using pre-recorded lectures, consider having transcripts available and posted or use a service that provides closed-captioning

Give yourself, and your students, some grace. This is trial and error, for all of us, but I know you are up for the challenge! Your students can do this. You can do this!

-Leslie Donner, LPP

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Leslie Donner