It’s clear that the return to school this fall will be unlike anything we’ve experienced before. As schools adapt to the changing landscape of COVID-19, teachers are doing their best to prepare their distance learning schedules for students.

On a typical school day, students follow a strict bell schedule, strolling the hallways from class to class. However, most schools are going either partially or fully virtual this year to minimize the number of people on campus at a time. Teachers are now responsible for creating a schedule for hybrid distance learning or fully virtual learning for their students.

While it can be challenging to envision what a student schedule might look like, we at Albert have you covered. Read on to find tips for planning for distance learning, and creating a virtual learning schedule for teachers and students.

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How to Structure Your Distance Learning Teacher Schedule

When creating student schedules for distance learning, you’ll find yourself incorporating similar activities regularly. It’s good to get into a solid routine, and it may take some trial and error to find out what works best for you and your students. Below we share the essentials to include in a sample remote learning schedule, and the suggested frequencies.

1. Making teacher phone calls

Depending on the size of your class, you’ll want students and families to schedule individual phone calls with their teacher on a bi-weekly or bi-monthly basis. Individual contact is essential for building relationships and meeting student needs. Create a free virtual scheduler with Youcanbookme or Calendly for families to sign up for time slots.

2. Reading and responding to emails

Schedule 20-30 minutes at the beginning and end of each school day for students to read and respond to their emails from teachers and administration. Many students aren’t used to this responsibility, and might go days without checking their messages. Make it a part of their daily routine.

3. Receiving direct instruction

Around twice to three times a week, students should plan to receive direct instruction from the teacher. This could take place in the form of live class sessions, or recorded video lectures. Use free tools like Loom or Screencastify to record your face and voice with your visual presentations.

4. Completing readings and practice activities

Students will be working on their assigned individual readings, practice problems, and other activities approximately three days a week. This might be more often than in a traditional classroom, but asynchronous instructional activities like these lend themselves well to the virtual environment. Students should expect teachers to be checking in with them as they complete their activities.

5. Completing different assessments

Students should be submitting at least a small piece of writing or sample of multiple choice answers every day for you to monitor their progress. Just like in the traditional classroom, there’s no need to grade every single assignment submitted. But, students should be submitting something to demonstrate their participation for the day.

Mid-size assessments like quizzes and discussion activities should be completed about once or twice a week.  Larger assessments like tests, essays, and projects can be every one to two months.

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How to Build Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) Opportunities into a Distance Learning Schedule

This school year is going to be a big change for students’ academic lives, and personal lives. It’s essential to consider your students’ social and emotional well-being as you create your school schedules. The following suggestions provide ways to add fun into the virtual learning schedule for teachers and students, white caring for their socio-emotional health.

1. Plan purposeful one-on-one phone calls

Individual conversations are the best way to make connections and build relationships with your students. Instead of jumping right into academics, ask how the student is doing “outside of school.” Keep track of their hobbies and interests, and follow-up with them often. If you find yourself having trouble remembering specifics, create a simple Google Sheet of your class roster to take notes next to student names of what you’ve discussed.

2. Host a virtual recess

To build genuine friendships, students need opportunities to connect and talk to each other about non-school related topics. Once a month (or whatever works with your schedule), host a virtual recess for students to come together and chat freely.

Adobe Connect is providing free 90-day access to their virtual classroom software. It enables you to use video cameras, mics, and chat boxes to foster student connections. You also have special “teacher rights” that allow you to monitor room controls, and even create small groups.

3. Have a recurring show and tell

Show and tell is easier than ever in the virtual setting! Select the topic (their pet, their favorite outfit, a fun vacation), and let students share out in a live learning session. If you rely on asynchronous distance learning and can’t do a live show and tell, you can include it in the bottom of a weekly email. You can ask students to either share videos or just pictures and a caption.

4. Promote engagement during live learning sessions

Create a warm, welcoming lesson space where students want to participate. During live lessons, greet students by name as they enter the virtual room. Allow them time to free chat with each other and connect in the chat boxes. If they need some ice breakers, spark discussion by asking them to share their weekends or some fun Would You Rather questions. Encourage students to respond to each other throughout the lesson.

5. Utilize Flipgrid discussions

Flipgrid is an awesome, free software that allows students to post discussion videos asynchronously. First, post your prompt, and then allow students to record selfie videos in response. Students can then view what their classmates have posted, and record their own reaction videos.

Allowing students to see and hear each other brings another level of life and connection to your virtual classroom, that can’t be replicated in a simple text discussion post. 

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How to Support Students with Limited Access to Technology in Your Distance Learning Schedule

We can’t assume that all students have access to the same technology tools at home. Some don’t have a consistent internet connection, and many families are sharing one just device among multiple students. Consider the following ways to work towards equity in your online classroom. 

1. Send out a needs survey

Consider sending out a student needs survey in the beginning of the year to assess who in your class may need extra support or alternative assignments. Your survey should ask questions like:

• Do you have access to reliable internet or cellular data to complete classwork?
• What device do you complete your work on (laptop, tablet, phone)?
• Do you share your laptop or tablet with other family members completing schoolwork?
• Are you able to keep up with the curriculum expectations?
• What can you teachers do to help you be more successful?

Re-assess individual situations and check in with families regularly throughout the year 

2. Share internet options

If students have devices but no access to wifi, many providers are offering free options during this time. Check with your administration to see what your school is offering for families in need. The Journal published an updated article on June 10th, 2020 with an extensive list of which providers are offering free internet options at this time.

3. Give paper packets if possible

For students who need it, print your readings and activities into a packet. Provide a calendar and instructions if necessary, and have families pick up the materials from the school building. If some families have devices, but limited internet access, consider downloading your materials onto a jump drive to hand out.

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How to Share Your Distance Learning Schedule with Students and Families

Keeping in regular communication with your families is essential with online teaching. It builds community and accountability, while providing a network of support. There are a few ways to do this and share out your distance learning schedule. 

1. Keep an updated teacher website

Your website is an essential resource for families and for you. By keeping an updated website, parents and students will know they can go straight there for information (as opposed to emailing you over and over with the same questions). Post your distance learning schedule here.

2. Send out weekly email updates

Get in the routine of sending out a Monday “welcome to the week” email to students and families. This email should brief students on what you expect from them in the upcoming week, and a copy of your distance learning schedule.

3. Review the schedule during phone calls and live sessions

For the parents and students who don’t tend to read their emails, review your daily schedule expectations in one on one phone calls and during your whole group lessons. Hold students accountable and allow them to share their experiences with each other for what works and what doesn’t. By the way, check out our free teaching strategy discovery tool.

4. Use Remind101

Remind101 is a free, easy to use tool for streamlining communication with families. Families sign up their cellphones using your class code, and you can quickly send mass and individual text messages out to everyone from your desktop or mobile app.

While sending out an entire comprehensive schedule via text isn’t practical, you can instead use it to send brief reminders about upcoming lessons, assessments, or events. You can also use it to remind families to check your website for any updated information on the schedule.

5. Create a virtual scheduler

When you need to set up appointments for individual meetings and phone calls, use a virtual scheduler like Youcanbookme or Calendly. It syncs with your personal calendar, and allows families to choose times that work best for their schedule. They can also see when you are available, and when you aren’t.

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How to Integrate Homework into a Virtual Learning Schedule

How much homework is appropropriate for students? This has always been a hotly debated topic. For years, the National Education Association has recommended 10 minutes per night per grade level. So, a first grader would have 10 minutes of work, while a senior had 120 minutes.

 Distance learning changes this rule. In a way, a student’s classwork is already their “home” work, since they’re completing it from home. A good rule of thumb to prevent overworking your middle and high school students is 45-60 minutes of instructional time per subject, with 20 minutes of homework.

In the online environment, homework should be targeted and purposeful. It should be an extension of what the student already learned with your instructional support. We can think of it as extra practice.

Distance learning makes it easier to differentiate homework to various learner’s needs. Advanced students can receive assignments to stretch their understanding, while struggling students can receive extra practice to help them build up their skill levels.

Albert is a great resource for giving out differentiated assignments. Albert’s resource library covers a range of engaging content from grades 6-12. It includes various assessments.

Khan Academy is an alternative resource for distributing homework. Sync it with your Google Classroom to make lessons easy to assign and grade.

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3 Online Distance Learning Schedule Examples for Grades 6-12

Below, we have provided three online distance learning schedules that can be adapted to all grade levels. Each schedule focuses on different aspects of student learning. Use these as inspiration, and adapt them as needed to work for your classroom needs.

1. Daily distance learning schedule example for all classes (middle or high school)

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9:00-9:30	Read and respond to email	Read and respond to email	Read and respond to email	Read and respond to email	Read and respond to email
9:30-10:30	Work on Science individual work	Live virtual lesson for Science	Work on Science individual work	Live virtual lesson for Science	Work on Science individual work
10:30-10:45	Brain Break and Movement Break	Brain Break and Movement Break	Brain Break and Movement Break	Brain Break and Movement Break	Brain Break and Movement Break
10:45-11:45	Live virtual lesson for Elective 1	Work on Elective 1 individual work	Live virtual lesson for Elective 1	Work on Elective 1 individual work	Work on Elective 1 individual work
11:45-12:45	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:45-1:45	Work on English individual work	Live virtual lesson for English	Work on English individual work	Live virtual lesson for English	Work on English individual work
1:45-2:00	Brain Break and Movement Break	Brain Break and Movement Break	Brain Break and Movement Break	Brain Break and Movement Break	Brain Break and Movement Break
2:00-3:00	Live virtual lesson for Elective 2	Work on Elective 2 individual work	Live virtual lesson for Elective 2	Work on Elective 2 individual work	Work on Elective 2 individual work
3:00-3:30	Read and respond to email	Read and respond to email	Read and respond to email	Read and respond to email	Read and respond to email

2. Monthly remote learning schedule for high school English: Romeo and Juliet unit

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Week 1	Introduction to Shakespeare and the play Video lecture and kahoot game	Assignment: Read the prologue  Write a translation into modern English on Google doc worksheet	Read Act 1.1 Answer comprehension questions	Watch Baz Lurman film interpretation of Act 1.1   Answer Flipgrid discussion and respond to two peers.	Read Acts 1.2 and 1.3  Complete love and marriage Venn diagram activity
Week 2	Read Acts 1.4 and 1.5  Complete quote analysis assignment	Watch Baz Lurman film interpretation of Act 1.5 Participate in live class discussion via Zoom	Read Acts 2.1 and 2.2  Answer comprehension questions	Watch both Zeferelli and Baz Lurhan film clips from Act 2.3. Complete comparison activity	Read Act 2.4 and 2.5   Submit quiz
Week 3	Read Act 2.6 Character shape activity in Google Drawings	Watch Act 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 Zeferelli Film version Answer Flipgrid discussion and respond to two peers.	Read Act 3.4 and 3.5  Answer comprehension questions	Read Act 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 Post reflection activity	Read Act 4.4 and 4.5  Submit quiz
Week 5	Read Act 5.1 and 5.2   Answer comprehension questions	Read Act 5.3  Participate in live class discussion via Zoom	Work on character essay individually Teacher monitors progress via call and email	Work on character analysis essay individually Teacher monitors progress via call and email	Character analysis essay due Teacher monitors progress via call and email

3. Weekly sample remote learning schedule for any subject or grade level

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Socio Emotional Activities:	Students share what they did over the weekend	Flipgrid Discussions	Virtual Recess	Play “Would you rather?” before Zoom lesson	Virtual Show and Tell
Academic Activities:	Live Zoom lecture introducing this week’s content and standards Submit KWL chart	Read assigned article Answer discussion questions in Flipgrid and respond to two peers	Complete assigned readings and practice questions in Albert Assignments are differentiated to individual student level	Live Zoom lesson on content Kahoot game to review for tomorrow’s assessment	Complete assessment (quiz, test, project, essay etc.) Watch TedEd video

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3 General Tips for Planning and Adapting Your Distance Learning Schedule

Not everything is going to go 100% smoothly the first time around. Embrace flexibility and adapt your schedules where needed. We provide three suggestions for successfully adapting your schedule to meet student needs (and your own) throughout the school year.

1. Schedule recurring student check-ins

As you progress through the year, you’ll get a sense of which families excel at distance learning, and which need some additional support. Some students need more frequent reminders and redirection to complete work on time, while some will not.

You’ll find certain students do best with regular weekly calls or maybe even daily individual texts of encouragement and support to submit their work. For these students, discuss what time of day works best for both of you, and create a recurring event in your personal calendar to check in with this student throughout the year, or until they don’t need that extra support any longer.

2. Send regular pulse-check surveys

You’ll find once the school year begins that some aspects of your schedule are working better than others. Maybe the live discussions take more behavioral management anticipated, or maybe students need more time on their daily readings.

The best way to see what your students think is to ask. Get a sense of what’s working and what’s not by sending out a survey every few months. Be sure to include parents to get their feedback, as well.

GoogleForm or SurveyMonkey are great free tools for this.
Include questions like:

• How are you feeling about this course?
• What is going well for you? What could use improvement?
• What is something in this class that helps you be more successful? What could be changed to help you be more successful?
• Do you feel you have enough time to complete assigned activities?
• Do you feel you have the resources to complete assigned activities?

3. Reflect on your practices

Take the time to reflect on not just what is working well for students, but what is working well for you. Are certain activities taking too much of your prep time? Are students struggling with a certain tool, and frequently asking you the same questions for help? Be flexible and don’t be afraid to change things up and experiment.

Use your colleagues to help you reflect. Surviving distance learning is easier with a team. Discuss with them what is working for their class and what isn’t. Incorporate their suggestions in a way that works for you.

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Wrapping Things Up: The Ultimate Remote Learning Schedule Guide for Teachers

A distance learning schedule for teachers and students will establish expectations, increase accountability, and ultimately make everyone’s day easier to manage. Surviving creating an initial schedule can be confusing, but following our guide will make it simple.

Incorporate purposeful activities to foster socio-emotional health and growth, and provide options for students with limited technology access. Keep an updated website and use our recommended tools to ensure your school days run smoothly. Albert’s extensive resource library provides a variety of engaging readings and activities for your curriculum.

What will your virtual learning schedule look like? Share tips and tricks in the comments below for how you plan to make this transition.

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