The Virtual Classroom

Strong communication is key to any relationship. However, the most influential form of communication is non-verbal. However, in a virtual world, how do you express non-verbal communication through an email, in a newsletter, or a text? Nonverbal reduces conflict, promotes positive relationships, encourages communication, which makes you approachable. Today on the podcast, Laura-Sue and I brainstorm how to apply effective communicati...

This week on the podcast I had the honor of speaking with Katy Pointer. She's a lead elementary teacher who also teaches 5th-grade math. She is the queen of formative assessments and she had so much to share. We also brainstormed many issues that virtual teachers have with formative assessments from grading and validity.  After listening to today's episode, head on over to our social media pages and share your thoughts, i...

Raising morale and building a community should not be a hard thing, but it’s often neglected. The value is sometimes lost within a school or classroom. As I think about my favorite jobs and classes, they all felt like a family or a community. I was seen and heard. Research proves that high job satisfaction leads to higher academic achievement (Kengatharan, 2020). Today on the podcast, I talk to two educators: Mrs. Wynn, an Elementa...

Lindsey Howe spent years teaching students the life skill of test-taking concerning the SAT/ACT. The aim is to support students to worry about the test less to show their knowledge and skills more. No one likes standardized testing, but unfortunately, testing is here to stay. I know I personally clam up with nerves at the idea of taking a quiz. Our students are experiencing the same, but more exposure and practice can lower the anx...

Chelsea Gill virtual RTI teacher at Oregon Virtual Academy. She has spent years perfecting her practice. During season 1 of the virtual classroom, Chelsea and I discussed several different reading strategies to support students who are struggling in reading. Today we spoke about the instructional strategy Flipped Classroom. The flipped classroom is an instructional strategy and a type of blended learning focused on student engageme...

Dyslexia makes up 80% of learning disabilities, yet often teachers aren't given instruction or PD on how to support these students (Degirmenci et al. 2020, p 31). Dr. Lauren is a Dyslexia Advocate with a doctorate in Education. Her experiences range from being a Special Education teacher to a Learning Specialist/Instructional Coach. Her insight into dyslexia was exactly what I was looking for in explaining dyslexia in simple t...

Nicole Bryson is an expert in ELA/Writing and a District Teacher of the Year winner. Last year alone, she received over 50 hours of professional development in writing. In the 21st Century, students need much more than content knowledge. There are specific skills required to be successful that can and should be taught through content. Skills that include: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, information lite...

As we finish season 1, I'm feeling so humbled and honored to be a part of something so awesome. I'm thankful for the teachers I spoke to over the past five months and excited to bring more teachers together in season 2. However, I want to end season 1 with stories from my classrooms over the past eight years. The three I share with you today I hope to encourage you, support you, empower you, and make you laugh. You are no...

Today's episode is with Becky Fisher. She has been teaching virtually for 12 years! I can't wait to reach that level of expertise. Currently, she is teaching High School ELA Special Education at Idaho Virtual Academy. Supporting a child's needs shouldn't neglect their talents and gifts. We should be pulling those in whenever possible to help them. Special Education, in my opinion, is very challenging but very re...

Imagine you are a first-year virtual teacher at a brand new virtual school! Can you even imagine? I can't. Being a first-year virtual teacher is overwhelming enough but to be a part of a brand new school... Wow! I'm impressed. However, what I'm most impressed with is how Ivana knows how to be real & blunt without being rude. I struggle with that. However, Ivana totally empowered me and I'm forever grateful. ...

Have you heard of project-based learning? I have but not enough to really try it. It seemed like too much during the one training I went to. I also thought, "How am I suppose to do projects in a virtual classroom? How is that even possible?" Like most training I've attended, they are talking to you and normally without examples or hands-on experience. Which is funny because project-based learning is completely studen...

May is Mental Health Month. Although I am an ambivert that leans more to my extrovert side, I did live in depression for two years. I gave my husband an ulcer, I emotionally neglected my family and threw myself into activities that made me feel alive. Depression, anxiety, counseling are all words that have a negative stereotype attached to them. Although they are typically negative in the emotion, that doesn't mean they should...

Happy Mother's Day from The Virtual Classroom! You are amazing teachers and amazing mothers. However, I've been really struggling with schooling my son from school since schools shut down. I have a simple tip that has made a big difference. Full Disclosure, it hasn't solved all my problems. You are probably a great mom and already doing this with your kiddos it wasn't so obvious to me. Hopefully, it helps you ou...

Lindsey Howe is the SAT/ACT specialist at her school. Unfortunately, this is NOT what we spend our time talking about. Instead, we talk about her beginning. What brought her to a virtual classroom, things she wishes she had known, her biggest success stories, and her secret sauce! During a time when teachers are thinking about going virtual full time instead of back to their traditional classroom, I thought this conversation couldn...

This week we keep moving through Chapter 1 of The Handbook for the New Art and Science of Teaching by Robert J. Marzano*. Most of us are definitely Celebrating Success but I can honestly say, I haven't been mindful and purposeful in how celebrating can raise academic achievement and effort. There are some things about this chapter that I'm still struggling to wrap my brain around in a virtual setting. I could really use y...

Jennifer Ratzloff isn't even sixty yet BUT she's been able to accomplish so much. She started off as a learning coach turned virtual teacher. She couldn't see her working for anyone other school but OVCA. I'm so glad she joined our team because she's taught me so much. What I love about Jennifer the most is that she's not afraid to keep learning. When other teachers her age would be set in their ways, ...

This week we start our new series where I work through The Handbook for the New Art and Science of Teaching by Robert J. Marzano*. Most of us have probably heard of the Marzano Scale but let me just tell ya, I haven't been doing them right or using them correctly! Today I share how I have used them recently and my students' response...

Staci Dillon is a 5th-grade teacher at Alabama Virtual Academy! She absolutely LOVES teaching but she also LOVES her students and teachers. She's one of those people that doesn't care about the numbers of follows but more about the community that is growing! She simply just wants to be connected to teachers. She taught me so much during our short time together and many of her ideas I implemented immediately! I know you wi...

To gain students' love and respect, we must first give them love and respect. To be a powerful teacher in general, we must be lovable. Today's episode finishes up our series on the character traits of VIRTUAL teachers (in my opinion). Next week we start our new series where I work through The Handbook for the New Art and Science of Teaching by Robert J. Marzano*. I would love for you to work through it with me week by wee...