Team Building, Ice Breakers, and Get to Know You Activities for Distance Learning or In Class

In order to teach children, we need to build relationships with them. In order to work comfortably with each other, they need to build relationships with each other. 

 

So how can we build relationships while staying socially distant? How can we build relationships when we're working remotely? 

Schools are opening in a variety of ways: in person, completely online, or some hybrid version of both of these. No matter how your school is opening, these things are important:

1. Building bonds of trust with your students.
2. Helping students build bonds with each other.
3. Get to know the students academic abilities,
4. Help the children get to know your expectations and procedures. 

This blog post suggests some team building and getting to know you activities, but these same activities will also help  you get to know your students, while showing your expectations as well!

 

Many team building activities can be done in a socially distant class as well as online. Here's one way:

 

Morning Meetings are a great way to start the day! I like to start with some sort of greeting, which can be done if we're all in the same room, or if we're working remotely. These Morning Meeting Greeting Activities come with a fun question for every single day, a nice picture (that can be used as a background for remote learning) and the same writing prompt that can be printed or sent home electronically. 

Whether you're in school or at home, Boom Learning activities are a must! They're amazingly easy to assign in class or online. They're compatible with every platform, and can be sent home with just a link. Plus, the teacher can monitor how each child is doing!

 

 

 

Who am I Boom Cards are perfect for the beginning of the school year. This is a chance for the children to think about who they are, and how they can contribute to their class. 

 

Plus, they get plenty of reading and writing practice! (And the teacher can assess these skills through their responses!)

 

Building Friendships is a popular Boom Resource that gets the children thinking about making good choices when it comes to socializing.

 

Good Citizenship Boom is a great opportunity for children to think about social situations! This will help them learn what kind of expectations you have in your class. The stories give them plenty of examples of positive interactions in the classroom and on the playground.

 

 

This resource has a collection of games and activities for building Classroom Community that can be played in a Socially Distant Classroom or remotely:  20 Socially Distant Team Building Games and Activities to Build Classroom Community
 

No matter how you are going back to school this year, I'm sure you'll find ways to build relationships with your students. What's your plan?

 

 

25 Alternatives to Handshakes

I always took pride in teaching my students the proper way to complete a handshake. After all, shaking hands is a life skill, isn't it? Well, probably not any more! But we still need to greet each other!

 

Building community in the classroom involves interactions.

 

Children (and adults) need to greet each other each day. The skill of positive interactions is one I am proud to teach because it is one they will need for the rest of their lives.

I think we can agree, handshakes are out. But there are parts to the handshake that have value: a moment of "connection," eye contact, a greeting, and a respect for the other person.

I've come up with a list of 25 different greetings that students can do as part of a morning greeting, and end of school meeting, or simply saying hello to their teacher in the morning. Plus, they can be done in online meetings as well!

Here they are:

#1: Give the peace sign!

#2: Give each other heart hands!

#3: Give air hugs!

#4: Share a squirt of hand sanitizer!

#5: Wave!

#6: Smile with your eyes!

#7: Jazz hands!

#8: Give each other a salute!

#9: Do a "One Second" Dance!

#10: Raise your eyebrows!

#11: Do two claps!

#12: Throw your hands in the air!

#13: Blow air kisses!

#14: Do a fist pump!

#15: Give the "Sup" nod!

#16: Give a thumbs up!

#17: Make a heart with your hands!

#18: Give the "Live Long and Prosper" signal from Star Trek!

#19: Give "air" high fives!

#20: Place your hand on your heart!

#21: Namaste!

#22: Bow to each other!

#23: Wink at each other!

#24: Give each other the home alone face! (Without really touching your face, of course!)

 and #25: Have your class make up your own greeting!

Well there, now you have 25 ways to start or end your day that can be used in a socially distant classroom or during remote learning!

Here are some other ways to build community and team work in the classroom:

Morning Meeting Greeting Activities

Who am I Boom Cards  

Building Friendships Boom Cards

Good Citizenship Boom

20 Team Building Socially Distant Games and Activities

 

Is Your "Back to School" on a Coronacoaster?" Part 5: Watch Their Emotional Health!

We are hearing so much conflicting information about the start of school this year. Here are some of the options:

• full time in the classroom
• full time remote learning
• the hybrid model: a little bit of each
• a variety of the above

With all this uncertainty, how can teachers plan for this Coronacoaster?

It's pretty scary to think about all the planning that has to take place, "just in case..." but honestly, there are several things you can start planning that can happen in the classroom, through distance learning, or a combination of both. 

I'm sure you'll agree these things need to happen no matter where or how you are teaching.

Today is Part 5 in a five part series about returning to school during this Coronacoaster!

Watch Their Emotional Health

As we know, a whole lot of our children have been through some tough times in the last few months. They've been stuck at home, away from their friends, and dealing with "Zoom fatigue!" (Yes, it's a real thing!) We really don't know the horrors that some of these children have faced in the privacy of their own homes. 

Most classroom teachers don't have degrees in counseling or psychology, but we do know some of the things to look for, once we know our students. Once we know there's a problem, we can look to the professionals for help.

Morning Meetings, small groups, and one-on-one times are the best times to get to know the students. Knowing them is a key to knowing when there's a problem.

The above resource has 60 different group games that can be used in a variety of situations with a variety of age levels. Many are appropriate for using remotely as well as in the classroom. I'm sure you'll find something appropriate for your situation to get the students relax and getting to know them! 60 Team Building Games and Activities 

Here are a couple of other resources to help the children think about getting along with each other and getting comfortable. These resources are perfect for back to school, both in the classroom or virtually!

• Starring Character: A Reader's Theater Bundle With a Twist (This can be read in a group meeting as a "radio play!")
• Building Friendships Boom Learning Digital Task Cards (All Boom Learning cards can be used in the classroom or remotely, just by sending a link on your teaching platform!)

Once you get to know them, you'll be able to notice when something's not right. 

What to do about it? Well, not having a background in mental health keeps me from going there, but here are a few things to think about:

1. Laughter!

Laughing is healing. I've actually heard laughter referred to as "Vitamin L!" Be sure to get your daily dose! (And yes, there is science to back this up!)

2. Contact the Professionals

Most classroom teachers don't have a mental health background. This is the time to contact the school counselor. Be sure to have data to share about your perceptions!

 

3. Be a Role Model!

Emotional Health problems can't be solved overnight, nor can they be solved by the classroom teacher. However, there are a few things teachers can do along the way to help struggling children feel a little better. 

Children need to know their feelings are acceptable. We're all frustrated right now. We're scared. It's ok to validate those feelings to the children. Talk about what scares you and frustrates you. Talk about how you're going to deal with it, in their language. Let them see how you handle those frustrations, and try to stay positive. Being a positive role model is the best thing we can do for them. 


Be sure to read the all five parts of this Coronacoaster Back to School series:

 
    

  

Is Your "Back to School" on a "Coronacoaster?" Part 4:Teach Them Why!

We are hearing so much conflicting information about the start of school this year, with no definite answers. Here are some of the options:

• full time in the classroom
• full time remote learning
• the hybrid model: a little of each
• a variety of the above

With all this uncertainty, how can teachers plan for this Coronacoaster?

Today is part 4 in a five part series about returning to school during this Coronacoaster!

Teach Them Why

The children's lives have totally changed. Their schooling has been drastically changed. They have to wash their hands all the time. They have to wear masks andkeep a distance from their friends. Their sports, dance classes, and scout troops have all been postponed. They're confused and scared, and have a right to know why! It's definitely time to explain to them how germs work?

As I've mentioned before, I'm a huge fan of Boom Learning Digital Task Cards for several reasons: they're easy to use, can be used on any device, they're easy to assign through different digital platforms, and most of all, the children LOVE them! This set of Boom Cards helps the students learn about bacteria and viruses and how to fight them. Germs: Viruses and Bacteria Boom Cards

This resource has an informational text with 10 questions, 6 brain breaks, and 4 sketching questions. Germs: Reading Comprehension for Active Learners

Here's another Boom Learning Resource! This one helps the children understand what they can do to help fight germs and maintain healthy habits: Healthy Habits Boom Cards

Finally, here's an informational booklet the children can read, learn, and illustrate. This can be easily sent home, or read, discussed, and illustrated in class. If they can keep socially distant, it's fun for them to make posters to show what they have learned!
Healthy Habits Informational Text Booklet

This is also a good time to practice handwashing, measure exactly how far 6 feet might be, and watch some videos about how face masks protect us.

What else can teachers do to help students understand why the world is the way it is right now?

Be sure to read all five parts of this Coronacoaster Back to school series:

 
    

  

Is Your "Back to School" on a "Coronacoaster?" Part 3: Review, Review, Review!

We are hearing so much conflicting information about the start of school this year. Here are some of the options:

• full time in the classroom
• full time remote learning
• the hybrid model: a little bit of each
• a variety of the above

With all this uncertainty, how can teachers plan for this Coronacoaster?

It's pretty scary to think about all the planning that has to take place, "just in case..." but honestly, there are several things you can start planning that can happen in the classroom, through distance learning, or a combination of both.

I'm sure you'll agree these things need to happen no matter where or how you'll be teaching this year.

 

Today is Part Three in a five part series about returning to school during this Coronacoaster!

Review, Review, Review!

We all know that our students have had a whole lot of time away from learning. You can call it "summer slump" or "summer slide," or numerous other things, but this year will be worse than normal, due to the students being out of school from March until now. Yes, they did remote learning for a few months, but we all know that remote learning wasn't the same as the learning that happens in the classroom!
 

You may remember that I'm a big fan of Boom Cards because they are easy to use in the classroom and can be used remotely by sending a link through any platform. These vocabulary Boom Cards are a fun way to review important science and social studies vocabulary. Building Vocabulary Science and Social Studies Boom Card Bundle

Speaking of Boom Cards, these  six multiple choice Boom Cards are perfect for reviewing important skills: Combined 2nd Grade Skills Review Boom Card Bundle

But it's important to keep it interesting. I like to let the children practice important reading skills by having them read informational text about important Science and Social Studies topics. It's a real time saver, and they absolutely love the topics! This bundle of Earth Changes gives them a lot of information, yet loads of practice with reading and comprehension skills. Earth Changes Bundle: Reading Comprehension for Active Learners.

 Math fact fluency is an important part of everyday mathematics. (This system was mentioned in Part 1 - Routines.) Brain research tells us it's important to review information in order for that information to go into their long term memory. I recommend that children review frequently the "levels" they have already mastered in this system to keep the information solid. If they never go back to it, they won't remember it! Math Fact Fluency System: the Bundle

These Math Challenges are a fun way to review old math skills for grades 3-5! Since math continues to build on previous skills, it's important that those skills are strong. These challenges review second grade math concepts, but with an added challenge! Mystery Math Challenge Bundle

Here's a link to several "summer review" resources that can get their brains back on track: Summer Review Games and Activities

Do you have any other ideas for review and getting those "stale" learners back in the game? Feel free to list them in the comments section below! 


Be sure to read the all five parts of this Coronacoaster Back to School series: