The New Norm: Setting Expectations and Procedures in a Virtual Classroom

During a typical back-to-school season, many teachers begin their first few weeks setting and reinforcing classroom routines and expectations. You work with your students to define class procedures, like when and where to submit homework every day, how to transition from one subject to another, or simply how to sign out to use the restroom.

But this upcoming school year, many teachers will be supporting partially or fully remote instruction — and if you’re one of them, it means you’ll likely need to set a whole new set of norms and expectations. But what norms do you need to set, and how can you do so effectively?

We asked the TpT community for their ideas. Here’s what they shared.

Create Consistency Where You Can

This past year was tumultuous for students and teachers, and this year will be full of changes too. However, by building consistency into your classroom norms and routines, you can help your students feel more at ease, even if their school year looks different than most. Here’s what the TpT community says.

• Set a schedule. “Give your students a weekly schedule for online learning and provide daily videos for clarity of their expectations each day. These tasks should be done the same way, through the same platform, each week and day.” — Krista from The Teacher House
• Make it predictable. “More than ever before, students will rely on the predictability that classrooms offer. Predictability promotes student independence [and helps] to reestablish trust that was lost during school closures.” — Emily from Inclusively Educating

Build Norms Together

Creating a classroom community will be challenging in a remote environment. But one way to help your students feel connected to their class, even while apart, is to build classroom norms together.

• Let students connect first. “Allowing students opportunities to speak and share on things that they love will allow each child to feel heard and valued. Once they feel this, you can begin speaking on expectations, such as listening to our friends and our teacher when it is their turn to speak.” — Amy Lynn Teaches
• Model and discuss expectations. “Record videos of yourself modeling expectations. Then, give students a chance to talk and see each other, as well, either through video conferencing or tools, such as Flipgrid. This will help build connections and foster discussion.” -Kate from BreatheSmileTeach
• Build a class motto. “Make a class motto together and have a class mission statement. Set learning goals together. Spend time talking and listening to each other.” — Becky from Smiling Students Lesson Plans

Set Expectations for Live Video Lessons

Just as they would in the classroom, your students need to have a clear understanding of your expectations during remote lessons. Rules for behavior and participation will need to be translated into the remote environment. Here are some things to keep in mind.

• Prepare students with a plan B. “Do have a plan B, like a pre-recorded lesson, in case you get disconnected.” — Tanya from Gifted Teacher 305
• Set expectations for participation. “Set clear expectations and keep track of who is answering and asking questions. Allow for groups to meet in smaller rooms such as breakout rooms.” — Vanessa from Longwing Learning
• Set rules for using tech features. “Do use all communication features available: video, mic, chatbox, emojis, reactions, and tools. [. . .] Do use the mute feature of mics for group members who are waiting their turn to talk. Don’t allow other screens (i.e. TV, computer with video game still running or paused) to be ongoing during your session. Don’t allow participants to private chat with other participants (make sure you double-check this feature!).” — Angela from The Speech Serenade
• Create a set of hand signals. “Students will need to know how to [. . .] use nonverbal hand signals to indicate agreement or disagreement or that they have a question or that they need to use the bathroom.” — Bethany from Science with Mrs. Lau
• Use a classroom management system. “I think it is critical to have a classroom management system during virtual lessons. Engagement is even more important during live lessons, as the students’ environments are beyond our control. Whatever your management system is in class, come up with a digital version of it. I use Class Dojo and classical music to help motivate students and keep students focused.” — Melody from Learning N Progress

Communicate Norms and Expectations with Families

When your students are learning from home, keeping parents and families informed about your expectations is crucial to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Here’s educator advice for doing so.

• Establish a personal connection. “By starting with a phone call, rather than an email, you establish a voice. By having a phone conversation, you are able to ask questions in real-time to form connections with others. However, a follow-up email to your phone conversation is essential because you show that you are willing to help a busy parent remember you and your class in a written format.” — Angela from The Speech Serenade.
• Share tips and rules for tech use. “It’s best to have parents of your students onboard first, making sure that they are able to monitor their children’s activities online. After this, a whole class Zoom or note on your class site, explaining the procedures and the expectations, will greatly help you to get started.” — Amy Lynn Teaches
• Make it easy to find your expectations. “Make sure you have a home base where both students and their parents can quickly access your expectations.” — Nancy from A — PLUS Literature Guides

Confidently navigate the 2020–21 school year with expert Teacher-Author and educator advice in TpT’s Back to School 2020 Guide: For Teachers Creating Tomorrow.