Building relationships with remote students can be challenging, but it is important to establish a positive and supportive learning environment.
Here are some strategies to build relationships with remote students:
1. Create a welcoming online classroom:
Creating a virtual space that is welcoming and easy to navigate for your students is a great way to build relationships with remote students. You can use tools like video introductions, virtual tours, or a “getting to know you” survey to help students feel more comfortable and connected to the class. Or try warm up activities that allow student to share about themselves, like “Would-You-Rather”. This is a game where the teachers poses two things for students to choose from snd they need to choose and share their answer, such as “would you rather vacation at the mountains or at the beach?”
2. Communicate regularly with remote students:
Keep in touch with your remote students regularly by sending them messages, and emails, or scheduling virtual meetings. This will help you get to know your students better, and you can use these interactions to check in on their progress, offer support and feedback, and answer any questions they may have. A great way to centralize your communication is to choose a learning management platform (LMS). Some popular LMS platforms are Google Classroom (K-12), Schoology (3-12) , and SeeSaw (K-5).
3. Personalize learning:
Try to personalize learning for each remote student by offering different options for assignments or projects based on their interests and learning styles. This will help students feel more engaged in the learning process and build a stronger connection to the class. One way you can do this is by creating digital choice boards for students.
4. Provide opportunities for collaboration:
Use online tools to encourage collaboration among your remote students. This could include group discussions, virtual breakout rooms, or online collaborative projects. Collaborative activities can help students build relationships with each other and feel more connected to the class. Two of my favorite collaboration tools two use are Jamboard and Padlet.
5. Create Game-Based Learning Activities:
Game-based learning involves using games as a teaching tool. Games designed for educational purposes typically have specific learning objectives and are designed to help learners acquire new knowledge, skills, or competencies. Two of my favorites are Quizzez and Kahoot.
6. Celebrate student achievements:
Recognize and celebrate student achievements, whether it is through public recognition on a class discussion board, a personal email, or a virtual certificate. These small gestures can help build positive relationships with your students and encourage them to continue working hard.
In Conclusion:
Remember, building relationships with remote students takes time and effort, but it is an essential part of creating a supportive and engaging learning environment.
