All teachers know the importance of engaging students, when using a platform like Qkids no engagement in lessons = no learning. But how do we do that in an online setting? One of the most popular online teaching platforms/schools is called Qkids. This post outlines the many ways teachers can get their students to really engage with the material while teaching on Qkids.
Starting your class
Before class, put each person on the board. Of course, you’ll check volume levels and make sure everything is working, but it’s also important to make them feel like a person rather than just a number. You can do that by asking their name, expressing that it’s nice to meet them, and asking how they are doing. These questions may change based on how fluent they are in English. For beginners, ask, “how are you,” advanced students add, “how are you today,” or “how are you this evening/morning.” You can also use this time to ask them a question to gage their English literacy. Need more ideas? Click here to see a post on 5 quick and simple questions to ask Qkids students.
Use your tools to engage students
One of the great parts about Qkids is that it has tools to help engage students. Some of the tools they have are Spotlight, Markers, and Textboard. The Spotlight function makes the item you pick brighter than the rest of the slide or page. This can help direct their focus to something specific. You can write with Markers in three colors (red, blue, and green). This engages students because they can watch you count or draw things during the lesson. The text board is helpful for writing out a full sentence when necessary. You can also use it to fill in blanks during sentence games to assist students in making the correct sentence.
Reward systems
Whether you’re teaching in person or online, positive reinforcement and validation is a powerful way to motivate students. Here are some ways you can reward students on Qkids.
- Diamonds -This is Qkid’s built-in reward system. It is based on giving out diamonds when a student does the right task or completes an objective. The preferred amount of diamonds is 50 or more per student. Don’t allow your student’s diamonds to exceed a difference of 5 diamonds.
- Praise - As simple as it sounds, a compliment from a figure of authority like a teacher is a perfect reward for a kid. Use your words to let them know how they’re doing well. Want more ideas for how to give praise? Click here to read a post on 50 ways to say “Good Job”.
- Stickers - You can emphasize the subject matter when you use this reward. For example, when teaching numbers you can put that number of stickers on the board. For young students, you can ask how old they are and what their favorite sticker is. You can then have them help you count their favorite stickers as you put them on the board. You can reward students for their efforts by giving them stickers with trophies, diamonds, 100% marks, #1 metals, or the students’ favorite color. At the end of the class you'll be able to put each student on the board, tell them each what they did well, and give them the sticker of their choice.
Engage students with props
Qkids does not require teachers to buy props. The lessons are already interactive and engaging so props are not entirely necessary. But if you already have them from past work as a teacher, working for VIP kids, or objects around the house, they can help hold the attention of a little one.
Engaging students on Qkids is very easy to get used to. It helps that the platform is user friendly. Using these techniques can only improve an already exciting educational experience for students. If you are interested in teaching on Qkids, click here or find more information about Qkids by reading what you need to know before starting Qkids.
