For many teachers, virtual education is in full swing for the fall semester, and it has been a learning curve.

From video conference calls to online classroom management to virtual assignments and activities, teachers are facing a new set of challenges and rolling with the punches. It hasn’t been easy, but teachers today have the benefit of learning from one anothers’ mistakes when it comes to conducting classes online.

Here are the five most common virtual learning mistakes and how to prevent them:

  1. Not ensuring students have their microphones muted. There is nothing more distracting than a student (or a student’s sibling) who interrupts the lesson with background noise. Before you start class, make sure each student is muted. For younger students you can even make illustrated flash cards that show what the mute button looks like and how to use it.
  2. Expecting full engagement. Children can be easily distracted while video conferencing, especially if they are being asked to put focused attention on something for a sustained period of time. Realize that you might not be able to hold students to the same expectations for attention and engagement as you would with an in-person classroom.
  3. Not coordinating with other teachers. In a typical school setting, you might interact with your students’ other teachers regularly. This is more challenging with online education. Make sure you are coordinating efforts with other teachers so that you are not repeating the same type of assignments or virtual activities, which could lead to your students feeling overwhelmed.
  4. Making lessons too long. Build breaks into your teaching schedule and consider shortening your content to allow more room for rest and recovery from video calls. You can use the breaks to stretch, close your eyes, take deep breaths or simply let your brain be unfocused for a few minutes. Encourage your students to do the same, or perhaps lead them through a stretching or movement exercise.
  5. Being hard on yourself. The most important thing to remember if you’re teaching virtually and feeling overwhelmed is that you’re not alone. It is natural to feel worn out conducting classes online, and many other teachers in your position are feeling the same way. Remember, we are all in this together.