At TLA, we are wrestling with the same questions as school leaders, teachers and parents. In what ways can we support students and teachers and reopen schools in a safe way? What does instruction look like in a hybrid scenario where some of the kids are at school and some of them are remote? We all grapple with what school will look like this fall. While we don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we do commit to the ongoing support of teachers and schools and children.
One way teachers can support students and one another is through pre-recorded mini lessons for their instruction. Asynchronous learning & a flipped classroom model might not fit every scenario, but we consider it a strong option as we think about school in fall 2020 and beyond.
In this blog we will:
- Show you 1 recorded reading lesson
- Highlight 2 Tech Tools for recording
- Outline benefits of pre-recording your lessons.
Watch a recorded reading lesson! Click below!
Tech Tools for Recording Lessons
There are many platforms out there to record yourself. There are great many articles about how to use these tools but for now we will briefly mention the two that we have found to be the most user-friendly, professional, and easy for kids to access.
- FlipGrid: Many teachers are using this to help them collaborate with their students. The “Shorts” feature is where you can upload Mini Lesson videos for your students to access.
- Loom: We love the extension that is built right into your browser and how as a participant you can pause and comment or like particular moments. Even the least tech savvy of us have been able to use it, so we think you can learn it too! 🙂
But why pre-record? What are the benefits?
1. Lessons become short, explicit & robust
No one wants to watch a 20 minute lesson online. Trust us!
Recording your lessons helps make sure your lessons are short, your teaching point is crystal clear and you are modeling precisely what you want students to be doing. We have found that recording lessons actually helps teachers refine their practice.
2. Teachers can prepare.
Teaching is uniquely challenging and when you are doing live lessons online, you never know if the dog is going to bark or your toddler will run through the background.
Recorded lessons allow teachers time to get materials ready, eliminate distractions and focus on the teaching point!
3. Kids can go at their own pace.
Recorded lessons are great for learners because students can pause, rewind, or review the lesson again and again.
When you are recording, think of times when you would want your students to pause and say it right in the lesson! It will help give kids time to think and apply the skill.
4. It’s collaborative & fun!
Now more than ever, teachers are relying on one another and we think this is a great thing! You don’t need to record every lesson within a unit. Get your team together and divide and conquer. You’ll learn a lot about unifying your instructional goals and from the strengths and skills of your colleagues.
Also, we know that teachers can be so nervous about seeing themselves on screen. But these videos don’t have to be perfect or super polished. Be silly and take risks. What a great way to model for your students your love of learning.
Remember: It’s okay to have lessons that fall apart. Tacos fall apart.
We still love them.
As you embark on this tremendous work, know that we are here to help you in the process.
