Following the unexpected school closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) released its Continuity of Education Plan to provide educational and instructional materials, resources, and supports to students, families, and staff. On March 16, 2020, school buildings closed, and in Spring 2020, SDP began implementing online instruction. In Fall 2020, with coronavirus rates still high and predicted to increase in the winter, SDP decided to continue online-only instruction until coronavirus infection rates decreased and it was safe to return to in-person instruction. To better understand how teachers and students were interacting in the online instructional environment, we conducted more than 100 classroom observations in October and November 2020.

Findings include:

• The teachers we observed were overwhelmingly positive in their approach to online instruction and embedded practices in their online classrooms that established and supported a sense of community and belonging despite the physical distance from their students.
• Most teachers in our sample effectively used technology to deliver instruction using multiple formats while monitoring student behavior and participation.
• Engagement appeared to be higher when teachers employed activities that required students to authentically interact with the academic content.
• During observations, teachers also used a diverse array of assessment strategies. Gamification of quizzes and checks for understanding were particularly engaging for students.
• Challenges to learning online included distractions in students’ home environment, issues related to technology and internet connectivity, and difficulties in accurately assessing who needs individual support.

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