Early career educators and those further along in the classroom are always looking for new ways of connecting with and meeting the needs of their students, as well as tackling the many responsibilities that come with their roles. Here, we share some tips and tricks from teachers, for teachers on a number of different topics that can make the job of teaching just a little easier.
Teaching
Video
Teachers, Try This: Beyoncé's 'Mute Challenge' to Get Students' Attention
This teacher incorporates Beyoncé's "mute challenge" and other elements of pop culture to increase student engagement.
Reading & Literacy
Video
Teachers, Try This: A Writing Exercise for Amazon’s Strangest Products
Students search for the strangest product they can find on Amazon, and practice writing reviews in this pre-winter break exercise.
Reading & Literacy
Video
Teachers, Try This: Teach Reading Through Hopscotch
For students at all reading levels, these hopscotch mats create a fun and supportive daily reading practice.
Teaching
Video
Teachers, Try This: A Two-Minute Exercise to Foster Student Creativity
Through a two-minute weekly exercise, this Pennsylvania teacher fosters a sense of creativity in her students that extends across subjects.
Teaching
Video
Teachers, Try This: Use Restorative Justice to Solve Student Conflicts
In this kindergarten classroom, students learn conflict resolution skills through a short restorative justice practice.
Teaching
Video
Teachers, Try This: Use a 'Classroom Economy' to Teach Financial Literacy
Rent, inflation, and savings are all elements of this 3rd grade teacher’s plan to expand her students’ financial literacy.
Teaching
Video
Teachers, Try This: Improve Student Engagement Through Design
Small differences in font choice and size within classroom materials can make a huge difference for students.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Video
Teachers, Try This: Strengthen Students' Emotional Intelligence in 1 Minute a Day
This teacher incorporates a daily one-minute mindfulness exercise, and has seen huge benefits for her students, and her classroom community.
Teaching
Video
Teachers, Try This: Help Your Students Embrace Boredom
In this classroom, students learn what to do when there’s nothing to do—a vital skill that requires practice to understand and embrace.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Video
Teachers, Try This: Give Middle School Girls a Space Where They Feel Like They Belong
A teacher created a club for her middle school girls that doesn’t require special skills or money to join, but where they can all fit in.
Artificial Intelligence
Video
Teachers, Try This: Build a Lesson Plan Using ChatGPT
One educator explains how teachers can use ChatGPT to create lesson plans, and offers insight and advice on the process and its pitfalls.
English Learners
Video
Teachers, Try This: Incorporate Students' Home Languages Into Your Classrooms
One Texas teacher utilizes her ELL students’ home languages to build community.
Teaching
Video
Teachers, Try This: An SEL Lesson That Teaches Kindness and Empathy
See how this elementary school teacher uses an SEL lesson to teach students about the value of kindness, empathy, and the power of words.