Building Personal Connections in a Digital World

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Building Personal Connections in a Digital World




Everything is changing. In the midst of that teachers have rolled with change possibly better than at any time. This isn’t a change to some random new curriculum or program, this has been a complete redesign of teaching. We are building the boat long after we set sail.


With all the changes and potential changes on the horizon for teachers and education, we should have some idea of what the world of education could look like going forward. Most educators would agree that one of the cornerstones of successful education is building strong connections with kids. In this broken year, most of us had a chance to build connections in person. It has been part of the profession for a long time. 

For many of us, however, the possibility of a hybrid model, being home for another year, or something altogether different presents a massive challenge. How might we build real, meaningful connections with our kids in a digital world? When we aren’t there for those personal moments or when there are fewer opportunities for the side conversations that change a life, how might we go about the complex work of teaching?

This will be the great challenge in any attempt to remake schools. In some ways, we will do this in the same way we always have, through investing time with kids. But there are ways we can do this better. While I can share some ideas of my own, I know I don’t have all the answers here. We are walking into the unknown. The best way to navigate forward is together. We are all looking for ways to improve those connections and help our kids get the most they can out of education. So I will share mine and hopefully, you’ll share yours. So many of these mirror what I do in the classroom, but they are definitely more difficult in the digital world. 

  • I make a point during every live instruction or meeting to say hi and ask each person who joins how they are and how their family members are as well. While many kids will answer with, “I’m ok” I still ask. This is also how I begin every interaction with kids in writing as well.
  • I have times that are just to hang out. They are optional, we don’t actually do anything relating to content, and I let them talk to one another. No, this has never gone very poorly so far.
  • I share myself with them. I am honest. I let my kids say hello or pick up my dog to make an appearance. I have done meetings from my kitchen, my porch, my kid’s bedrooms, all of this help remind them that I am in fact a real person.


When kids tell me about themselves, I follow up. I will watch a weird show they like, listen to a song they recommend. I have even played games online with them at times.

  • Making frequent calls home.
  • Be focused on active listening
  • Reach out in as many avenues as possible
  • Using Forms and picture collages as a way to get kids to share about themselves
  • Be ultra observant about what students have in their backgrounds, in their profiles, so you can learn about those things and follow up
  • Have active discussion boards
  • Class games, movies, or lunches


Thanks to Jeff Kubiak, Erin Keibler, Valarie Souza for sharing their ideas.

This isn’t exclusive by any means and none of it is revolutionary, I know. But doing these things in the digital world somehow seems slightly more challenging. So many times we don’t get to see their faces, or we are pulled in a million directions by distractions and more. Like you, I am doing my best to build whatever relationships I can with my kids through the mediums we have available. These are some things I am doing, what are you doing that could help us connect with kids if we find ourselves right back in this strange new classroom next year?

Some other great ideas were shared as well.

Other great ideas included

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