Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Simple, powerful, and free -- take organizing, note-taking, and collaborating to new heights with Google Keep. Learn how to maximize student productivity with great features for capturing ideas, collaborating on projects, curating resources, receiving reminders, and taking notes. See how easy it is to incorporate text, images, audio, and drawings on virtual color-coded sticky notes and checklists. "Keep" your classroom workflow smooth and on task with Google Keep. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn the basics of using Google Keep for organization; 2. Explore strategies to enhance notetaking and resource curation; and 3. Plan for the use of Google Keep in your classroom for student productivity. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): Formative Assessment (73), Google (48), organizational skills (88), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from September 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Learn the basics of game-based learning (GBL)! In this session, we will explore tools that you can use to incorporate GBL into different content areas, talk about strategies for implementing games, and discuss classroom management tips you can use while your students are learning. Participants will leave knowing how to choose a learning game for use in their setting. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Review the meaning of game-based learning (GBL); 2. Explore tools used for GBL; and 3. Discuss classroom management strategies to support implementing GBL. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): game based learning (206), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Students achieve more when we engage them during the learning process. Come to this session to learn the three steps in the formative assessment and feedback loop, explore three online formative assessment tools that will help you gather evidence of student progress, and discuss a variety of formative assessment strategies you can use to increase gains in student learning. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the three steps in the formative assessment feedback loop to support learning gains; 2. Explore three tools and how each gathers evidence of student progress in content areas; and 3. Plan for the use of digital formative assessment tools in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): Formative Assessment (73), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from November 2023. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Do you want to improve your classroom climate by including better questioning strategies? This workshop is for you! This session will delve into the transformative power of questioning techniques that will help you enhance social and emotional learning (SEL) and foster a positive and inclusive classroom environment. We'll explore how integrating specific questioning strategies can improve engagement and participation. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Identify and use different types of questions to promote higher-order thinking, engagement, and feedback. 2. Explain the benefits of questioning strategies for enhanced SEL and classroom climate. 3. Create an actionable plan to implement improved questioning techniques in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): professional development (393), questioning (36)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from November 2023. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Content area literacy is the ability to use reading and writing to acquire information in a subject area. It involves general literacy skills, content-specific literacy skills, and prior knowledge of content. This interactive workshop will explore five technology-integrated strategies that will enhance content-area literacy across the curriculum, focusing on supporting the needs of diverse learners to ensure an inclusive and equitable learning environment. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Explain the definition and benefits of content area literacy; 2. Evaluate the effectiveness of the five strategies presented for their students' learning needs and goals; and 3. Plan hands-on, engaging activities that will help students develop content area literacy skills. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): literacy (122), professional development (393), reading strategies (96), teaching strategies (52)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from January 2023. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Many technology tools are available for classroom use, but which are teachers' favorites? This session will share and compare some of TeachersFirst contributors' favorite resources. Help us decide which tool is this session's winner of our Smackdown! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn about and compare some of TeachersFirst contributors' favorite technology tools; 2. Evaluate uses for one or more tools for classroom use; and 3. Share ideas for using resources with other participants. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): classroom management (118), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from October 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Research shows that students who feel safe and included are more likely to be academically motivated. Take time to focus on supporting and facilitating students' sense of belonging in the classroom. Join us to explore tools that will help students communicate and collaborate, support their social and emotional needs, and build a safe and inclusive environment. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn community-building strategies; 2. Explore tech tools that support communication and collaboration; and 3. Plan to use community-building strategies in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): communication (130), communities (38), professional development (393), social and emotional learning (110)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from October 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

As educators, we can prepare every child to be influential by helping them understand how to leverage the power of social media. While students intuitively understand the mechanics of social media platforms, using them in a responsible, purposeful way to build influence is not instinctual and must be taught and practiced. Learn to develop your students' social media savvy by using practice spaces focused on digital citizenship, critical thinking, persuasion, and communication skills. Explore online and offline strategies and tools to create safe, authentic learning experiences for students in grades 2-12 in any content area. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn the importance of responsible social media use by students; 2. Understand the purpose of using social media practice spaces as part of regular instruction; and 3. Explore both paper-based and digital practice spaces that can be used with students. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): digital citizenship (93), professional development (393), social media (50), student-centered (8)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from February 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

TeachersFirst Reading Treks are built using Google Maps to chronicle the journey that a story character takes over the course of a book. Each stop along the way adds to student comprehension as they explore the information, visuals, and videos embedded in the map. Give your students context for the stories they are reading by using Reading Treks in your lessons. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand how to use Reading Treks in the classroom; 2. Learn how Reading Treks are created; and 3. Plan a new Reading Trek you will create for your instructional setting. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): literacy (122), professional development (393), reading comprehension (149), reading strategies (96)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2023. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Join us to learn about and explore artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and tools educators can use to automate administrative tasks and improve student learning outcomes. In this session, you'll learn how to leverage the power of AI to increase your productivity and efficiency in the classroom. We'll also consider how to use AI to personalize student learning experiences and optimize lesson planning. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the basics of AI and how it can be applied to preparing activities for teaching and learning; 2. Explore AI tools and technologies that can be used to increase teacher productivity and efficiency; and 3. Collaborate with other educators and share ideas for integrating AI into teaching practice. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Helpful feedback can come from a variety of sources. If you're wondering how to use tech tools to give your students better feedback then this session is for you! Learn effective feedback strategies to drive achievement and nurture your students as they acquire new skills like self-reflection and peer review. Explore tech tools that facilitate teacher and community feedback to help students understand the value of feedback from multiple sources and realize the growth potential of embracing both positive and negative responses. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn components of effective feedback, 2. Explore methods for providing feedback to students; and 3. Plan for the instructional use of feedback mechanisms in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): feedback (13), professional development (393)

Use this special article from TeacherFirst to refresh and enliven your health and nutrition unit. Discover many activities, books, and resources to use in your classroom or online in your health and nutrition lessons, and also to implement in cross-curricular instruction. Employ both ISTE Standards for Students and AASL National School Library Standards. The ideas and activties can range in grade levels from kindergarten to seventh grade. This is only one of many classroom-ready articles in our Help! I lost my library/media specialist!.

tag(s): commoncore (73), nutrition (140)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from May 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

If you're looking for an easy way to increase engagement in the classroom, look no further. Teachers can use podcasting --creating audio recordings delivered via the internet-- in all content areas to deliver instructional information or as an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have learned. Join us to learn how to connect your classroom to the world beyond your walls while encouraging students to improve their digital and communication skills. Understand how you can plan, produce, and publish podcasts to support your classroom goals for free. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn ways to use podcasting in the classroom; 2. Explore podcasting tools; and 3. Plan for the use of podcasting to support your classroom goals. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): podcasts (117), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from January 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Explore new and tried-and-true technology tools for your classroom. Join TeachersFirst as we showcase our favorite edtech resources. There are many technology tools available for classroom use, but which ones are teachers' favorites? This session will share and compare some of the TeachersFirst contributors' favorite classroom management resources. Participants during the live session helped to decide the winner of this Smackdown! As a result of viewing this session, teachers will: 1. Learn about and compare some of TeachersFirst contributors' favorite technology tools; 2. Evaluate one or more tools for classroom use; and 3. Share ideas for using resources with other participants. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): classroom management (118), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Help students focus on building knowledge, understanding, and essential skills by empowering them to choose how they will meet their learning goals. Learning menus or choice boards allow your students to complete equally active, interesting, and engaging assignments that demonstrate their comprehension of the presented material. This session will teach you to use choice boards to help students demonstrate mastery of content. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand how choice boards support student voice and choice; 2. Learn about the use of choice boards for both instructional and assessment purposes; and 3. Plan for the use of choice boards as part of instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from November 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

It's important for students of all grade levels to have exposure to computational thinking and coding. Learning to code helps students understand problem solving and logic while expressing their creative side. While increasing student fluency in coding technologies helps them prepare for many academic pursuits, it also helps them build perseverance, determination, and grit. Join us to explore a few cool tools that will help as you embark on this journey with your class. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the components of computational thinking; 2. Explore Google tools that engage students in coding; and 3. Plan for the use of coding activities in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): coding (87), computational thinking (41), Google (48), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Integrating visual and written content can increase the impact of the writing that your students do. As students learn to use imagery to illustrate critical points in an argument or visualize the action in a storyline, they become better communicators. Join this session and help your students develop the ability to communicate clearly and creatively. Model and nurture creative expression while providing a new way for your students to reflect on what they have learned. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the components of a visual essay; 2. Explore a tech tool that can be used to create visual essays; and 3. Create a visual essay exemplar to share with their students. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): essays (21), professional development (393), visualizations (11)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from May 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Are you looking for ways to supplement your instruction with technology tools that engage your language learners? Join us to learn about three tools you can use with language learners at all levels to incorporate reading, writing, speaking, and listening in your lessons. Learn how to enhance your students' creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication skills. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the needs of language learners within the classroom. 2. Explore three online tools to engage language learners, and 3. Plan for the use of these tools in your instructional setting. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from August 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Take your choice boards to the next level! Regular choice boards allow your students to complete equally active, interesting, and engaging assignments that demonstrate their comprehension of the presented material--but not all students learn at the same pace or have the same background knowledge coming into a lesson. In this session, you'll learn to differentiate your choice boards by process, product, or content to support students as necessary. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn the basics of Tomlinson's differentiation model; 2. Learn to differentiate choice boards for both instructional and assessment purposes; and 3. Use a template to create a differentiated choice board. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): differentiation (85), personalized learning (10), playlists (8), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from September 2023. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers exciting opportunities to transform assessment practices. In this workshop, you will learn how to use education-specific AI tools to create engaging, effective formative and summative assessments for your students. Join us to explore various AI tools that can help you design and generate assessment items, rubrics, feedback, and reports based on your curriculum's learning objectives and standards. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Identify and evaluate different types of AI tools for assessment creation and delivery; 2. Use AI tools to design and generate formative and summative assessment instruments, such as quizzes, projects, portfolios, and presentations; and 3. Reflect on the benefits and challenges of using AI tools for assessment in your teaching practice This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), assessment (146), Formative Assessment (73), professional development (393)