Ok, so teaching online… omg, it’s way harder than it looks. You send a Zoom link, half the class shows up late, someone’s mic is echoing like a cave, and the other 30 are probably watching TikTok or eating chips. But somehow, some people actually get their students engaged. Here’s what I’ve learned (mostly the hard way).
1. Start with something they actually care about
Don’t just say “welcome to history class.” Start with a meme, a story, or something that connects to their world. I once started a lesson about the French Revolution by joking “imagine your teacher raising taxes on your snacks…” and boom, they actually listened. Small stuff works.
2. Don’t just lecture forever
Slides are boring. Videos, polls, quizzes, breakout rooms — mix it up. Seriously, 5 minutes of a poll can get more attention than 20 minutes of me talking. Kids have short attention spans online, like really short, like goldfish short.
3. Make them participate
Ask questions, use reactions, even just a “type yes if you get this.” Silence doesn’t mean they’re paying attention, it usually means they’re watching a cat walk across the keyboard. And yes, I’ve had that happen.
4. Break lessons into small chunks
50 minutes straight? Nope. 10–15 min sections with little tasks or questions in between works better. Think of it like video game levels — mini wins keep them playing.
5. Use a bit of gamification
Points, badges, leaderboards… kids love competition. I tried a tiny leaderboard for participation, and suddenly the quietest kids were raising their hands. Honestly, it’s wild what a little ego boost does.
6. Give feedback quickly
Nothing is worse than leaving kids hanging like “am I doing this right?” Even a small comment or thumbs up helps. They need to know you see them, not that they’re just floating in cyberspace.
7. Check in personally sometimes
Online can feel cold. A quick DM to a struggling student, or even just a “hey how’s it going?” goes a long way. Relationships matter, even through a screen.
8. Show some personality
Laugh at mistakes, make jokes, share stories. Kids notice when there’s an actual human there. If you’re boring and robotic… well, they’re gone in 3 minutes.
