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"In spite of some critics who downplay the importance of social and emotional learning and the value of belonging—the number of such skeptics is falling, to be sure—the research is clear and has been for some time: When kids spend their daytime hours in safe, supportive schools where adults work every day to build strong relationships with every student, they are simply better, more engaged learners."

"​When I moved a large part of my curriculum online a decade ago, I had to become more flexible and creative in my teaching. I used every tool at my disposal to increase my connection with my students...I changed grading to verbal feedback, conversations, and self-assessments through reflections, and I flipped the majority of readings and longer writing exercises into asynchronous modes. The learning space bloomed—and not because of the tech. It bloomed because of our mutual care and enthusiasm for the community connection."

"This lesson aims to help students learn to safely and respectfully participate in different kinds of digital communities."

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A 3-5 Lesson Plan

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"In a traditional classroom, there are some pretty standard practices that most teachers use to build the desired culture. In shifting to online learning, these strategies rarely transfer perfectly. In my years of teaching virtually, I found that culture can be built in the online setting, but it requires different strategies based on trust, respect, and responsibility."

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"With schools across the country shifting their instruction to remote/online teaching for the fall, it’s more important than ever that students have opportunities to feel part of a community, laugh and learn with peers, and cultivate a support network...The table on the following pages highlights some ways that you can facilitate community-building and social engagement for students in online/remote settings.​"

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"This lesson will introduce students to the need for practicing inclusivity and empathy when engaged in digital communication."

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A 9-12 Lesson Plan

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"Remote learning doesn’t have to mean the end of personality and spontaneity. Students manage to keep even our most ambitious lesson plans full of unplanned jokes and shenanigans. While this is often the sources of many of our headaches, it is also often where we get to play and laugh with our students. If we are intentional, we can maintain this sense of unstructured fun in our online classrooms."

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"This lesson focuses on helping young children learn to participate in different kinds of digital communities. Students will solidify and work on what they know about being part of any community."

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A K-2 Lesson Plan

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