The COVID Summer Institute was definitely something different! Despite having to move to virtual professional development, the Summer Institute was very beneficial. I learned about various different apps and ice breakers, that will make virtual learning more exciting providing our school moves in that direction. I really enjoyed some of the ice breakers and scavenger hunts that we did. I think those will be a fun way to keep students engaged both in the classroom and online. As an elementary teacher, I believe that play is very important in the classroom. Through play, children develop trust and that trust is a key component in students having success in the classroom.
Overall, despite the obvious disadvantage of being stuck on our computers, the professional development was well thought out and executed. I enjoyed all of the topics and presenters!