This year going back to school might look different for folks attending online. Marisa Katsuda, an eighth grade teacher, shares some tips to make this experience a bit easier.
Ways to prepare for online learning.

This year is going to be a new adventure for everyone. My school is planning on 100% online learning. If you are doing any form of online learning, whether it is hybrid or fully online, these are some tips and tricks to help you navigate this time.

_*Special Note: If you are a teacher, Sunday school teacher, extracurricular instructor, these tips may be helpful as you set up class guidelines and communicate expectations to your students.

_

1. Have your materials ready to go and easy to access!

  • Charged laptop
  • Good WiFi
  • Paper
  • Writing utensils
  • Headphones
  • Anything else your teacher recommends

2. Make sure you are in a good working environment.

  • Good lighting—You don’t want to strain your eyes by watching a screen in the dark for long periods of time. Make sure that your room has bright lighting.
  • No distractions—Stay away from anything that can distract you from class time.
  • Comfortable seat—Find a chair that is comfortable but not too comfy! You don’t want to be tempted to fall asleep during class.

Right before and during class:

  • Use the bathroom before class!
  • Make sure that you are ready to learn for the intended amount of time. Most teachers are planning on using the entire period to teach, so they don’t want you to miss anything important.
  • Get to “class” on time, or early.
  • Find out from your teacher what time class will open. I recommend signing in to the classroom session 5 minutes early.

3. Participate

  • Depending on what class you are in, your teacher will have different expectations of what it looks like to participate. Answer questions, work with others, and pay attention. These are just a few ways to engage in an online class.

4. Take it one day at a time.

  • This year will be a challenge but if you take things one day at a time, it’ll be more manageable.

5. Try your best!

  • All you can ask of yourself is to try your hardest and never give up.

Follow along with Ms. Katsuda's teaching journey:

@mskatsuda on Instagram

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