How To Manage a Virtual Classroom Like a PRO!

  Picture Credit: Cegos UK

I have been writing on a teacher child relationship. This relationship is always under scanner because time and again it has been proved that teaching and learning cannot take place properly unless and until there is a good relationship between a teacher and child.

There are many researches being done on the performance of the children and the influence of the teacher on a child’s mind has been a very dominant one. Various strategies and techniques are suggested and adopted by the teachers to have a good and comfortable environment in the classroom.

The pandemic and the sudden lock down of the schools have taken the children away from the teachers. Social Distancing has changed the norms of behaviour and approach. The gentle touch or a pat by the teacher on a child’s back nullified many violent situations, calmed down a disturbed child, spread praise and positivity, etc.

But these scenarios will be totally reversed even after the lockdown is over. The society will take up some new norms and they will remain intact in the world. Probably social distancing will go on for a long time and so maintaining the distance will be the first rule. So all the hi-fives and hugs will disappear and warmth and kindness will be passed through the eyes and a smile.

So when the teachers and children are shut away in their homes one question is arising in everyone’s minds.

How do we maintain a teacher-child relationship in a virtual classroom?

During this pandemic, the teachers are not getting to speak to the children even once a week. Earlier there was a daily interaction.

Most of the teachers have not spoken to their students even over a phone call. A better percentage of the teachers have spoken to the parents regarding the sending of the homework or online learning. But there has been a nominal or negative interaction between the educators and their students.

So how to have a teacher-child relationship?

Here are the few points-

Make a personalised image:

Creating images is pretty easy with different digital tools available online for free. Make a personalised image with your name and a small message and post it at least twice or thrice a week if not everyday for the children. The image should give out a message to the children.

The child gets super happy if he/ she receives these kinds of messages from their teachers. If the time is tough on adults who are managing their finances and other chores it is also difficult on children.

They are not getting their free play time, mostly they are under supervision, their movements are restricted and their actions are continuously being monitored.

So stress level is high on their part also. They might not be able to express it. Hence if they receive something for themselves they would be really happy.

Call up one child once a week:

I know given the numbers in the Indian schools there are many students in a class. But try to call at least one child or two children per day and talk to them.

The major conversation with digital tools is happening with the parents. The children are not involved in it. At least the younger lot that is until Grade V.

So calling up and talking with a child once a day will really help to build an online relationship. The child will feel happy and much more secured after talking to you.

Be Proactive:

The teacher should be very proactive with the receiving and sending of the messages.

Text is misunderstood easily. People have difficulty in comprehending the text which is written by the educator. There might be typo errors which may lead to further misunderstanding and can create confusion among the parents and the child.

Sometimes the child interprets the message differently than the parent and their might be trouble and confusion among them. In such cases, the parent might hesitate to contact the teacher and would simply message.

Hence it would really pay well, if the teacher responds to the message immediately. If further required, calling up the parent and clearing the doubt would be even better.

Converse and Clear:

This point is similar to the above one. Written text and messages are often not very clear in stating their objectives.

Having a conversation with the child or the parent to clear the concerns is always advisable.

Respect the Virtual Distance:

Most parents are working from home and they have a lot of workload to cope up with. They have to deal with the children at the same time.

So do understand that they might not be able to get the work done.

Patience on your part will really help the child. If the work is not being done by the parents ask for the reason. Help them out or suggest ways which they can adopt to get help the child complete the work.

Give them some extra time to work out a solution.

The underlying meaning is RESPECT WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR ARE UNABLE TO DO!

Appreciate and Praise:

In these stressful times, appreciation and applaud boost morale and spread positivity. They actually bring a smile on the faces of everyone. So definitely children will be happy.

One sticker, one poster, one word or one star goes a long way in delighting the child.

In these sad and dull days the parents as well as the child will have a mood lift after receiving an applause from the teacher. It might spread happiness in the entire household where anger and frustration might be having an upper hand.

Understand the nuances of the fragile circumstances which are existing in the world. Every person who can be a support to anyone else would be the biggest help to humanity.

Humility and empathy are required to fulfill the needs of the WORLD which is craving for LOVE and UNDERSTANDING

Final thought-

Virtual Emotions and feelings are absolutely a new context for the children in India. They are used to having people around everywhere that they go. It can be their home or a party or a school or a classroom.

Suddenly all the people have vanished behind the screens. The only people left indoors are the family members.

In such a scenario if the child gets the feeling of his own physical classroom he or she would love the idea.