What do I do on the First Day of Class?
Great question! The first day sets the tone for the rest of the term, so here’s a helpful checklist to guide you:
Start by getting to know your students:
- Begin with quick introductions or a fun icebreaker. This helps build relationships and gives you insight into their personalities and comfort levels.
Check their knowledge and current progress:
- Have students complete a short pre-assessment, reflection, or informal discussion to see what they already know and where their learning gaps may be. This will help you tailor your instruction moving forward.
Introduce class procedures and LMS tools
- Walk students through how class will run each day—how to log in, where to find assignments in the Learning Management System (Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.), how to submit work, and where to access recordings and feedback.
Review expectations and classroom norms
- Share behavior expectations, camera/mic norms, participation guidelines, and how they’ll be graded. Be clear, consistent, and warm—it’s about setting them up for success, not intimidating them.
Open the floor for questions and input
- Make space for student voice—let them ask questions and share what helps them learn best. Building this foundation early helps with engagement and trust throughout the term.
The first day is less about diving deep into content and more about building trust, clarity, and connection. Here's some other helpful notes and tips in our First Days Toolkit! You’ve got this!
Which Curriculum Do I Use?
You will have access to Canvas and that will have the curriculum. Please review your School Profile Document in PLI Connect under your enrollments to view specific curriculum information and any school-related custom platforms that you will be using.
If neither PLI nor the school has provided one, you’re welcome to use your own curriculum resources or any others you find—just be sure they align with the school’s pacing, content expectations, and state standards.
Here are a few helpful options:
- Canvas Commons – A great place to search for free, ready-made lessons and units shared by other educators.
- Open educational resources – Sites like Khan Academy, PBS LearningMedia, CK-12, and ReadWorks offer excellent materials.
- AI tools – You can use tools like ChatGPT or the PLI Teacher Assistant to help generate lesson plans, assessments, and activities based on your content and grade level.
- Pacing Guides – If your school has a pacing guide or curriculum map, that’s your best reference point for what to teach and when. If not, you can align to state standards using your professional judgment.
You're the content expert, and we know you will make the best instructional choices for your students. These are suggestions to help provide you with quality resources but you are still the one to engage students and provide the instruction.
What do I do if students don't have devices?
Thanks for letting me know—this is definitely a common challenge in virtual instruction, and I really appreciate you being flexible. If students don’t have devices or aren’t signing in, the key is to pivot to whole-class instruction as best as you can and focus on the students who are present in the physical classroom.
Here are some helpful tips:
- Be Projected – Make sure your video and audio are being projected clearly on the classroom screen so students can see and hear you, even if they’re not individually signed in.
- Whole-Class Teaching – You can shift to more direct, whole-group instruction. Use your slides or visuals as you would, and involve the class in discussions aloud with the help of the facilitator.
- Flexible Formative Assessments – Instead of digital tools, have students complete quick checks using whiteboards, paper exit tickets, or verbal responses. You can gather informal data this way.
- Printed Materials – Work with your in-class facilitator to print key pages or activities. Students can complete these and return them to you via email, scanned upload, or photos. Keep things simple and clear.
- Focus on Engagement – Continue asking questions, giving think time, and encouraging participation—even if it’s through the chat, thumbs up, or whole-class answers.
Your ability to adapt is so important and makes a big difference for these students.
How do I know Where to Start?
Great question—starting with a new class can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but there are a few easy steps to get your bearings and make sure you're starting in the right place:
1. Check the Learning Management System (LMS): Review what assignments, quizzes, and lessons have already been completed. This will give you a sense of pacing and content that’s been covered.
2. Talk with the In-Class Facilitator: They can provide insight into what’s actually been taught, how students responded, and if there have been any interruptions or changes to instruction.
3. Connect with Your Students: Ask them what they remember, what topics felt easy or hard, and where they feel confident. This is a great way to build rapport and collect informal data.
4. Give a Pre-Assessment: This can be short and simple, but it will give you a concrete sense of what students know and where gaps might be. You can then adjust instruction as needed.
Starting with these steps will help you build a strong foundation and meet your students where they are.
Who is My District Contact?
Proximity teachers should not contact anyone at the district level. Your facilitator will be your person of contact for classroom related questions. In the case you have a concern about your facilitator you will communicate with your TLS and she/he will forward it to the CSS for that district. If you are having problems with your classes or have questions that the facilitator can not answer, please submit a Zendesk ticket to your Pod.
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