Virtual K-8 Teaching: A Handbook for Building Productive Teacher-Student Relationships

Virtual K-8 Teaching: A Handbook for Building Productive Teacher-Student Relationships is a deep dive into the ways in which virtual K-8 teachers build those ever-elusive relationships with virtual students. Virtual K-8 teachers rarely, if ever, see their students in-person and yet are expected to build meaningful and productive relationships with them. The literature on this topic was analyzed and discussed. Eight virtual middle-school teachers were interviewed, as well. These teachers shared stories, tips and tricks. Concerning the building of meaningful and productive teacher-student relationships in virtual settings, the research brought about many common threads, including student engagement, teacher academic and social presence, the nurturing of student sense of belonging, bridging the transactional distance gap and the importance of the student’s educational community. Also, emerging throughout was an immediately useful collection of teacher tips and tricks for creating productive, safe spaces that foster success of the K-8 virtual student. Ultimately, teacher-student relationships were found to be crucial in the overall success of the virtual K-8 student.

About the Author :
Nicholas M. Baker, EdD, is a virtual sixth grade teacher with The California Virtual Academies. He lives in Ventura County, CA with his wife, Marina, and daughter, Violetta.

Review :
Baker recognizes that more than a million K–12 students are enrolled in virtual academies, many states now require school districts to offer at least one virtual course, and very little research treats K–12 virtual instruction. His research includes case studies of educators in his professional development (PD) group who teach in virtual classrooms and their observations on increasing student engagement, decreasing transactional distance between learners and teachers, strengthening teacher presence and students' sense of belonging, building an educational community, and learning from the life stories of individual learners. Baker considers student engagement from behavioral, cognitive, and emotional perspectives. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals. Dr. Baker's book shows the heart of a true online educator dedicated to enhancing a strong rapport with online students. Virtual K-8 Teaching: A Handbook for Building Productive Teacher-Student Relationships is a must read for any virtual or in person teacher to acknowledge the true benefit of social interaction and the importance of building it in unique learning situations. Virtual K-8 Teaching: A Handbook for Building Productive Teacher-Student Relationships is a timely look into the importance of the student-teacher relationship and its effect on the classroom environment as well as student achievement. Nick Baker takes his personal experience of more than two decades as well as the experience of other virtual teachers into account as he dives into the relevant research literature. This handbook is a must for any educator in the virtual setting as well as administrators looking to improve the practice of their staff. Virtual K-8 Teaching: A Handbook for Virtual K-8 Teachers is a must-read for all educators and administrators working in a virtual setting. Along with his twenty years of experience in the virtual classroom, Nick Baker has combined his personal experience with other virtual educators, as he digs into research. This handbook is an A+ guide on the importance of student-teacher relationships and the impact it has on creating a positive, virtual classroom culture, as well as improvements in student achievement.