Introducing Rocketship’s New Teacher PD Launchpad for Elementary Educators Everywhere!

James Cross, 4th Grade Teacher, Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary

Let’s be honest, virtual teaching is still new and not what anyone expected.

If you found your way here, it is likely because teaching in 2020 has proven to have more twists and turns than your favorite county fair roller-coaster. The good news is that while virtual teaching is different than a traditional school day, great teaching will always be great teaching and great teachers will always be great teachers. We’re masters of reading a room, switching things up, and making the impossible happen. But a new question persists: how does this happen in a virtual setting? As teachers, we do what we’ve always done – whatever it takes to reach our students. We lean on the foundational truths of teaching in order to make a virtual classroom come to life.

That’s why we’ve launched the Teacher PD Launchpad – a free, resource hub where elementary educators share timely insight based on the three E’s of education:

Engagement refers to the level of effort, motivation, and curiosity our students and families show towards learning. Engagement includes how we, as teachers, create intentional opportunities for students to connect to their learning. It encourages us to examine when they’re really involved and getting messy with their work. Are students simply listening to you talk about the objective or are they responding in a collaborative Google Slide with partners?

Equity questions how we are meeting the individual needs of our students. How do we ensure ALL children receive what they need regardless of current circumstances and distance? Equity is ensuring all students have access to high-quality enrichment opportunities. It also encourages us to audit our curriculum to ensure all students see themselves in the stories they read and have opportunities to embrace other cultures throughout the school day.

Empathy requires us to teach with an open heart. We give grace to ourselves, to families, and to our students because we know everyone is doing their best. A virtual world limits our social interactions and leaves many of our emotional needs unmet. Empathy is how we care for each other given the uncertainty of the times. Empathy could be starting the day with a quick moment to see how everyone is feeling or with a social emotional lesson.

Join us as these Rocketship teachers share how they’re using these three E’s to guide their classrooms. We all have to start somewhere and the best place to start is here and now!

Check out our Teacher PD Launchpad today!

Published on October 21, 2020