Maximizing Virtual Backgrounds - A Tool To Promotes Community, Literacy & Fun

Since March 13, I have only been teaching remotely.  It was eight months last week.  I have learned so much and met so many people since then.  There are many things I miss and there are many things I cherish.  My conversations over these past months with educators inspire and motivate me.  Again and again, we always started with what is essential and then try to bring that to life in a virtual setting. 

Here is one idea that is so simple, so effective, so engaging, and works like a charm!

Virtual Backgrounds

First off, kids absolutely LOVE changing the virtual background so we’ve got engagement!

Second, photographs and images have always been a great way to generate topics for conversation, inquiry, and writing so we’ve got purpose.

Third, kids can choose, upload, and share their background on their own time so we’ve got agency.

Fourth, when kids have a chance to share their background and why they chose it, we’ve got community building.

I have been using virtual backgrounds with readers and writers since August.  These images have helped me introduce myself to students. 

I changed my background each day for the first few weeks of school. I also used some of them to generate seed ideas in my notebook or ideas for storytelling a small moment.

I have modeled small moment stories by sharing an important person, place, object, or turning point in my life.

Now don’t you want to know the stories behind these photos?

I have modeled topics for nonfiction writing and for nonfiction research.

What causes the leaves to turn colors? Why do some leaves turn different colors? Why do some stay green?

I have shared images that inspire poetry, letter writing, and opinion writing.

This scenes evokes poetry for me.

This one inspired the opinion poem I shared last week…

It has always been said that “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  I don’t know of a time when there has more need to communicate effectively, efficiently, and authentically.  Give it a go … I promise your students will learn new things, make connections, share emotions, and be inspired to write.

Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Marina, Kathleen, Kelsey, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for hosting this weekly forum . Check out the writers, readers, and teachers here.