TeachersFirst Taking Responsible Risks (Habit of the Mind) Resources
It takes a special kind of bravery to step outside the "safe" zone and embrace the unknown, but that is exactly where the most profound learning happens! The Habit of Mind—Taking Responsible Risks—is about moving beyond the fear of being wrong and asking students to venture into the unknown. Growth happens at the edge of comfort, and our students need safe spaces to encounter uncertainty, make mistakes, and discover that they are more capable than they ever imagined. Crucially, this habit isn't about being reckless or impulsive; it’s about learning to "count the cost." Students must develop the discernment to weigh potential outcomes and evaluate the risks before they leap. It’s about building the courage to try something new, to raise a hand when only 70% sure, to share a vulnerable rough draft, or to tackle a problem never seen before—all while understanding the boundaries of safety and ethics. The resources in this collection—including Growth Mindset videos, low-stakes gaming platforms, anonymous polling tools, and stories of young entrepreneurs—are designed to help students practice this balance. From coding sandboxes and digital portfolios to collaborative mind-mapping and gamified escape rooms, these tools allow students to experiment and reflect on their results. Let’s use these resources to create a classroom culture where "having a go" is celebrated just as much as getting it right, and where "counting the cost" becomes a vital part of every bold new adventure!
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Habits of Mind Explorer - Habits of Mind Insitute
Grades
K to 12
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Explore a collection of free resources designed to help students of all ages develop 16 essential thinking dispositions, such as persisting, managing impulsivity, and thinking flexibly....more
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Explore a collection of free resources designed to help students of all ages develop 16 essential thinking dispositions, such as persisting, managing impulsivity, and thinking flexibly. This site offers clear definitions and practical strategies for each habit, making it easy to weave social-emotional learning into any subject area. You can access a variety of free materials, including classroom posters, blog posts tailored for adolescents, and crowd-sourced assessment tools like rubrics and self-assessment checklists for grades PreK-12. The platform also features learning paths and instructional animations that introduce the habits through relatable scenarios.
tag(s): critical thinking (163), preK (298), problem solving (262), social and emotional learning (144), thinking routines (29), thinking skills (84)
In the Classroom
Include this resource as part of a project-based learning unit by having students choose one habit to focus on as they work through a complex challenge. For a social studies project exploring historical figures, students can analyze which habits, like Taking Responsible Risks or Striving for Accuracy, were most critical to their subject's success. After conducting research, students can organize their insights and provide examples of these habits in action by creating a collaborative digital board with Lino, reviewed here. To take the reflection deeper, ask students to map out their own growth in that specific habit by creating a visual journey or mind map using MindMup, reviewed here shifting focus from just learning facts to understanding the mental behaviors that drive achievement, helping students become more self-aware and intentional learners.
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Habits of the Mind: Persistance - Mineola Creative Content
Grades
3 to 8
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Habits of Mind: Persistence is a short educational YouTube video that introduces students to the thinking skill of persistence, one of the 16 Habits of Mind that support effective problem...more
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Habits of Mind: Persistence is a short educational YouTube video that introduces students to the thinking skill of persistence, one of the 16 Habits of Mind that support effective problem solving and learning. The video explains what persistence looks like in real-world and classroom settings, emphasizing the importance of sticking with challenges, managing frustration, and continuing to work toward goals. It provides clear, relatable examples that help students understand how perseverance can lead to success, making it a valuable resource for classroom discussions about the growth mindset and resilient learning. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): social and emotional learning (144), thinking routines (29), thinking skills (84)
In the Classroom
Have students read short challenge scenarios and discuss or role-play how persistence can help solve the problem. Have students identify characters from books or stories who show persistence. They can cite textual evidence and explain how perseverance helped the character succeed. Have a class complete a complex puzzle, STEM task, or writing challenge, and reflect on how persistence helped them overcome obstacles.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Games and Challenges - Genially
Grades
3 to 12
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Genially's escape room templates are designed to be adaptable for a wide range of grade levels. The platform offers a variety of themes and levels of complexity, allowing educators...more
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Genially's escape room templates are designed to be adaptable for a wide range of grade levels. The platform offers a variety of themes and levels of complexity, allowing educators to tailor the content to their students' ages and learning objectives. For example, simpler games like Candyland or Children's Game templates are well-suited for younger students, while more intricate scenarios, such as the Artificial Intelligence Escape Room or Time Machine Escape, are ideal for older students seeking a challenge. Educators can customize these templates to align with their curriculum, making them versatile tools for engaging students across different educational stages.
tag(s): collaboration (105), digital escapes (29), gamification (95), Teacher Utilities (199)
In the Classroom
Customize a Genially escape room (like Education Escape Room or Mystery Breakout) with questions and puzzles that review key concepts from your current unit--perfect as a fun pre-test or review session. Divide students into small groups and assign them different puzzles or tasks within the escape game. This activity encourages teamwork, communication, and shared problem-solving as they work toward a common goal. Challenge students to create their digital escape rooms using Genially's templates. They must design puzzles, write clues, and embed subject content, transforming them from game players into game designers. Use a breakout template to reinforce vocabulary. Each "lock" can be opened only by correctly defining or using academic terms in context, making it ideal for ELA, science, or history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Help Students Learn to Take Exams with Exam Wrappers - Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning
Grades
K to 12
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Help Students Learn to Take Exams with Exam Wrappers is a fantastic article that explains what exam wrappers are and why they're a game-changer in the classroom. An exam wrapper...more
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Help Students Learn to Take Exams with Exam Wrappers is a fantastic article that explains what exam wrappers are and why they're a game-changer in the classroom. An exam wrapper is a simple reflection tool you give students right after they receive a graded exam. Instead of just glancing at their score and moving on, students take time to think about what worked, what didn't, and how they can improve next time. However, exam wrappers aren't just for after the test! You can also use them before an exam to help students prepare more strategically. They'll learn to tackle questions at different levels of Bloom's Taxonomy and develop a concrete plan for doing even better on their next assessment. It's a win-win: students become more self-aware learners, and you get to see real growth in their test-taking skills!
tag(s): thinking skills (84)
In the Classroom
Students can create their own exam wrapper using Canva for Education, reviewed here. Students can use Lino, reviewed here to reflect after using an exam wrapper. Students can use the Infographics Presentation Templates, reviewed here to create a top five list as to why and how to use exam wrappers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Project Zero Thinking Routines - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Project Zero Thinking Routines are research-based instructional tools designed to cultivate students' thinking dispositions and make their cognitive processes visible in powerful, accessible...more
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Project Zero Thinking Routines are research-based instructional tools designed to cultivate students' thinking dispositions and make their cognitive processes visible in powerful, accessible ways. Developed by researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, these simple, repeatable mini-strategies are the building blocks of an authentic thinking culture in your classroom. These routines have been refined over decades of classroom implementation and represent some of the most effective strategies for developing critical and creative thinking skills. What makes Project Zero routines so impactful is their elegant simplicity--structured prompts like "Think, Pair, Share," "See, Think, Wonder," and "Circle of Viewpoints" can be learned quickly but used deeply, helping students develop habits of mind such as reasoning with evidence, considering different perspectives, and making careful observations. These aren't just classroom activities; they're cognitive frameworks that students internalize and carry with them, becoming tools they naturally reach for when encountering new ideas or complex problems. Discover resources in this collection, including templates, anchor charts, videos, lesson plan examples utilizing Thinking Routines, collaborative whiteboards, debate tools, collaborative sharing platforms, virtual bulletin boards, video and audio tools, and more. The resources help you understand the research behind these routines, learn how to implement them effectively across grade levels and content areas, and discover how they can transform your classroom into a culture where thinking is valued, shared, and continuously developed.
tag(s): thinking routines (29), thinking skills (84)
In the Classroom
Explore this collection to learn more about Thinking Routines and how to implement them in your lessons. Begin by selecting a routine that aligns with your learning objective--such as "See, Think, Wonder" for developing observation skills or "Think, Pair, Share" for collaborative processing--then model it explicitly before having students practice it regularly. As routines become familiar through repeated use, students internalize these cognitive frameworks and begin applying them independently, transforming your classroom into a culture where thoughtful inquiry and reflection become natural habits.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Project Zero Videos - Harvard Graduate School of Education
Grades
K to 12
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The Project Zero YouTube channel at Harvard Graduate School of Education offers a rich library of short and long videos designed for educators and students. On this channel, you will...more
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The Project Zero YouTube channel at Harvard Graduate School of Education offers a rich library of short and long videos designed for educators and students. On this channel, you will find classroom demonstrations of thinking routines, researcher interviews, student reflections, and professional learning sessions that show how students across grade levels engage deeply with ideas. The videos provide concrete examples of bringing inquiry, visible thinking, and dialogue into your teaching practice, making it easy to find inspiration and adapt strategies for your own classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable at school.
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tag(s): thinking routines (29), thinking skills (84)
In the Classroom
Begin a lesson with a short Project Zero classroom video. Students can write what they see, what they think is happening, and what they wonder. Make the KWL chart digital using Infographics Presentation Templates, reviewed here. After reading a story or completing a poetry unit, have students watch a video that highlights deeper thinking routines, then reflect on how their understanding of a character, theme, or literary device has changed throughout the unit. Assign students to write a short headline that captures a major idea from a chapter or poem, and explain how the headline connects to the story. They can compare their headlines to ideas shown in Project Zero videos to deepen comprehension.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Room Escape Resources - Room Escape Resources
Grades
4 to 12
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Discover resources to create a digital escape room. Resources include encryption tools, fake generators, simulators, digital imaging and mapping tools, puzzle creators, timers, tutorials,...more
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Discover resources to create a digital escape room. Resources include encryption tools, fake generators, simulators, digital imaging and mapping tools, puzzle creators, timers, tutorials, and premade escape rooms. Some encryption tools featured include a QR code creator, Morse code, an Alphabet Generator, and an Anagrams Generator. Examples for fake generators are Receipt Maker, Eye Chart Maker, Facebook Post, Newspaper Clippings, and more.
tag(s): digital escapes (29), mysteries (26)
In the Classroom
Teachers can create their own digital escape rooms using the tools offered by the site. Students can rate the tools used in the digital escape room using Dotstorming, reviewed here. Finally, students can create their own digital escape rooms for their fellow students to solve using at least one resource per featured section.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Free Online Digital Escape Rooms - Ditch that Textbook Digital
Grades
K to 12
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Ditch that Textbook Digital Escape Rooms offers free digital escape rooms. The escape rooms offered include: Mission School Blackout and Junior, Candy Crush, Monster Mash, Harry Potter,...more
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Ditch that Textbook Digital Escape Rooms offers free digital escape rooms. The escape rooms offered include: Mission School Blackout and Junior, Candy Crush, Monster Mash, Harry Potter, Olympics, Animal Adventures, and many more. Some escape rooms are offered using only Google or Microsoft tools. Click on the Escape room you want and add it to your cart, then fill in your name and email address. Once you get the email follow the directions by downloading the PDF.
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tag(s): digital escapes (29)
In the Classroom
Students can participate in the digital escape rooms that are featured on the site. Students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to write the answers. Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here as a journal to figure out the answers to the questions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Engage & Inspire with Code.org - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from May 2025. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey,...more
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Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from May 2025. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey, and pass the assessment. For details, read the Registration & Credit Options section on the registration page.
Discover how Code.org's comprehensive platform can energize learning across all subjects and grade levels. Through hands-on exploration, you'll learn how to use students' intuitive programming tools to strengthen problem-solving skills and bring computational thinking into your curriculum. Whether you teach elementary science or high school literature, you'll leave with practical strategies that will engage students in coding while meeting your content area objectives. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the fundamentals of Code.org resources and their applications across different grade levels and subject areas. 2. Learn strategies for scaffolding coding activities to meet diverse student needs and abilities. 3. Develop a plan to incorporate Code.org activities into their specific content area and grade level. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Discover how Code.org's comprehensive platform can energize learning across all subjects and grade levels. Through hands-on exploration, you'll learn how to use students' intuitive programming tools to strengthen problem-solving skills and bring computational thinking into your curriculum. Whether you teach elementary science or high school literature, you'll leave with practical strategies that will engage students in coding while meeting your content area objectives. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the fundamentals of Code.org resources and their applications across different grade levels and subject areas. 2. Learn strategies for scaffolding coding activities to meet diverse student needs and abilities. 3. Develop a plan to incorporate Code.org activities into their specific content area and grade level. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): coding (96), computational thinking (43), OK2Askarchive (83), professional development (295)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Once registered, find additional reference materials, tutorials, and how-to information to help you review or extend your knowledge from the session in the handout posted on the session landing page. Resources may include additional ideas and examples on integrating the tools and strategies shared in classroom instruction. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Simulation Games- Math Games - Coolmath.com
Grades
4 to 10
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Coolmath Games-Simulation Games offers interactive, strategy-based games that challenge students to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions in real-world scenarios. These...more
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Coolmath Games-Simulation Games offers interactive, strategy-based games that challenge students to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions in real-world scenarios. These games cover topics like resource management, logic, and planning, making them a great tool for reinforcing math, economics, and problem-solving skills in an engaging way. Teachers can use these games as a fun classroom activity, a reward for early finishers, or a way to develop strategic thinking through play.
tag(s): game based learning (284), logic (160), problem solving (262), simulations (45)
In the Classroom
Have your students select a simulation game and compete to develop the best strategy. After playing, they can write a reflection explaining their approach, challenges faced, and adjustments they made to improve their performance. Use business or city-building simulation games to teach budgeting and resource allocation. Students can track their decisions and explain how they manage money, supplies, or time effectively. They can compare different strategies and discuss real-world applications. After playing a few simulation games, students can brainstorm and design their own simulation concept. They can create rules, objectives, and potential challenges. Have students play a simulation game and keep a journal documenting their choices, the outcomes, and any patterns they notice. At the end of the activity, they can analyze their decision-making process and propose improvements, reinforcing logical reasoning. They can work on a digital journal using Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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MirrorTalk - Swivl
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
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MirrorTalk uses AI to create meaningful opportunities for cognitive and emotional reflection in any classroom while also serving as an assessment tool to support continued student growth....more
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MirrorTalk uses AI to create meaningful opportunities for cognitive and emotional reflection in any classroom while also serving as an assessment tool to support continued student growth. After creating a free account, educators can set up a group by selecting a name and grade level, then choose how students will access the reflection activity. Access options include login groups (student email required), session groups (name only, no email), or open groups (no name/email, but video is required). Responses can be submitted via video or audio and are available in English or Spanish. Teachers create reflections by defining objectives and selecting focus areas such as depth of knowledge, mindset, or problem-solving. The AI generates thoughtful, personalized prompts that guide students through the reflection process. Prompts are shared through assignment links, and as students respond, the teacher dashboard updates with visual charts and AI-generated insights that help monitor student progress and provide targeted suggestions for support.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (254), assessment (135), DAT device agnostic tool (125), Formative Assessment (45), preK (298), social and emotional learning (144), Teacher Utilities (199), teaching strategies (67), thinking skills (84)
In the Classroom
MirrorTalk can be used in many ways to support student learning and reflection. Begin the school year with a prompt that encourages students to reflect on the previous school year and set goals for the new year. Create prompts as exit tickets for students to reflect on the day's lesson and as a formative assessment for you to modify upcoming lessons as needed. Use this tool as part of a retrieval practice strategy to encourage students to recall facts about new concepts learned in class. Learn more about retrieval practice by visiting this blog post, Using Retrieval Practice to Boost Student Learning, found here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Adobe Express Video Maker - Adobe Spark
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker. Scroll down the page to read the easy step-by-step directions. Then click the Create button. Follow the...more
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Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker. Scroll down the page to read the easy step-by-step directions. Then click the Create button. Follow the prompts to begin your creation using a story template or start from scratch. Add videos, text, music, and more to your video. Easily rearrange, change themes, and add components until satisfied. When finished, publish your video to share or download it to your computer.
tag(s): blended learning (28), communication (119), digital storytelling (157), multimedia (56)
In the Classroom
Consider using videos in your classroom in various ways. Upload your slide presentations and add audio to create flipped and blended learning experiences for your students. Engage students and enhance their learning by asking students to create videos as an alternative to book reports or written presentations. Share videos on your class website for students to access when away from the classroom. As your students create videos, use a bookmarking site such as Padlet, reviewed here, to share and organize information for students to use when researching. Include Adobe Express Videos as part of a larger presentation using Book Creator, reviewed here. Embed your video along with images, text, drawings, and other media into your digital book creation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Slido - Slido.com
Grades
5 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Slido is an instant question/answer and an interactive polling application. Create an account to begin using Slido. The free version allows you to crowdsource questions, share three...more
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Slido is an instant question/answer and an interactive polling application. Create an account to begin using Slido. The free version allows you to crowdsource questions, share three polls per event, and brainstorm ideas. After creating your session and questions, provide participants with the code to access your event. Other features include a word cloud option created from audience responses and the ability to crowdsource questions and upvote favorites, so they move to the top of the list.
tag(s): Formative Assessment (45), polls and surveys (41), quizzes (86)
In the Classroom
Use Slido to engage students and for use as a formative assessment tool. When introducing a new unit, use Slido as a pre-assessment to determine student knowledge and guide instruction. Use the anonymous feature to make it easy for students to ask questions in real-time without raising their hand and identifying themselves. Share Slido with students to use during presentations to interact with peers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Clipchamp - Alexander Dreiling, Dave Hewitt, Tobi Raub, and Soeren Balko
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Clipchamp provides a variety of free tools for creating and editing video. The free services include a video editor, video conversion, and webcam recorder. Create your account to begin...more
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Clipchamp provides a variety of free tools for creating and editing video. The free services include a video editor, video conversion, and webcam recorder. Create your account to begin a project. Follow the prompts to upload your media files. Use tools within Clipchamp Create to clip videos, change backgrounds, and edit your video. Choose Clipchamp Utilities to upload and convert videos to several different formats for social media use, edit or compress files. Clipchamp Utilities also provides resources for recording directly from your webcam.
tag(s): conversions (38), images (262), movies (52)
In the Classroom
Use Clipchamp to create and edit videos for any multimedia projects. Upload images from student projects or field trips to create a video to share on your webpage. Convert your videos into different formats to share easily on social media sites. Ask students to use Clipchamp to create explainer videos in any subject. Include student-created videos in online presentations using a tool like Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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bulb - Bulb, Inc.
Grades
2 to 12
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Use bulb as a portfolio tool to showcase your work, share ideas, and ask for feedback. Sign up with your Google, Microsoft, or Clever account or enter your email. With ...more
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Use bulb as a portfolio tool to showcase your work, share ideas, and ask for feedback. Sign up with your Google, Microsoft, or Clever account or enter your email. With a free account you get all of the standard features, and can choose to publish ten portfolio pages and upload up to 2GB of content. After creating your account, click to take a tour, then in 140 characters tell members who you are, create a cover image (optional), and then choose to create a page or a collection (multiple pages). You can also create groups (with or without Google), and lots more. Click symbols at the top right of your name to get help, search, create pages or collections, and more. On the home page in the top menu bar, look at projects students and teachers have created. bulb is easy to use due to its drag and drop interface. Besides creating text, you can embed images and videos, and integrate with your Google Drive. bulb offers educators a special account that integrates your LMS, has a teacher dashboard, and dedicated manager and tech support for a very minimal fee per year.
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tag(s): multimedia (56), portfolios (21), writing (306)
In the Classroom
Use bulb for student portfolios in any subject. Set up an account with your teacher name, email, password, and some basic information. Once you and your students' accounts are set up, share how to get around bulb on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector to get students started. When you (or your students) create group pages, anyone you invite can publish to the group. However, students will also have their own account and can keep pages private. Science teachers could have students write up their lab reports in a portfolio, and history teachers could set up portfolios for student report writing. Have teens and older students upload work throughout the year to create their own "me-portfolios." Create portfolios (with permission) to share younger students' work with parents and students during conferences. Use this tool to show finished projects or to show changes in a project from start to finish. Make a work prototype site and upload examples of exemplary work to share with students to set expectations for completed products before beginning a project. Create a link to this tool on your class website for students to share projects and information. (Get parent permission before posting students' work!) Have students take ownership of their own portfolios to show progress and products across several years. Have older students build portfolios to share as part of career and college preparation. Art teachers will want to share this as a portfolio option for their students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ClassDojo Big Ideas, Big Conversations - Class Dojo
Grades
K to 8
1 Favorites
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Looking for a simple way to spark meaningful conversations and build a positive classroom culture? The ClassDojo Ideas website offers a collection of engaging, ready-to-use activities...more
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Looking for a simple way to spark meaningful conversations and build a positive classroom culture? The ClassDojo Ideas website offers a collection of engaging, ready-to-use activities and lessons designed to support social-emotional learning, classroom community building, and student well-being. Organized into categories such as mindfulness, empathy, growth mindset, and gratitude, the content features short videos, discussion prompts, and reflection exercises that can be easily integrated into daily classroom routines. Ideal for elementary teachers, these resources encourage students to develop positive behaviors and emotional intelligence in a fun and interactive way.
tag(s): brain (56), emotions (55), empathy (42), learning styles (18), social and emotional learning (144), social skills (23)
In the Classroom
You may want to start your school year by sharing the three-part Empathy video series. Each video is five minutes and has a discussion guide. As a follow-up, use the Ripples of Kindness activity in small groups. Share younger students' observations on a whiteboard or poster. Older students can share their observations using a tool like Stickies.io, reviewed here. Stickies.io allows participants to add comments. Share other videos with a projector or on an interactive whiteboard to introduce a video each week and explore the discussion questions together. These videos could be very useful when preparing and motivating students for upcoming standardized testing or at the beginning of a school year to set a tone that everyone can learn. Include a link to videos on your class web page for parents to discuss at home with their student, and be sure to send home the take-home questions with topics to talk about.
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Seesaw - Charles Lin, Carl Sjogreen , Adrian Graham
Grades
K to 10
8 Favorites
1 Comments
Seesaw is a digital portfolio that is totally free for all devices and on the web. Students can showcase their work, videos, text, drawings, and images, and get feedback from ...more
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Seesaw is a digital portfolio that is totally free for all devices and on the web. Students can showcase their work, videos, text, drawings, and images, and get feedback from teachers and parents. Create a class blog in your Seesaw for students to write blog posts. Teachers create an account with email and then start creating as many classes as needed. There is no limit on the number of students a class can have. Once students have parental permission, give students a "join" code for their class, and they sign up from there, choosing to access their account through a Seesaw generated QR code or their email. Teachers can enable or disable student likes, comments, and editing. Blog posts and comments must have teacher approval before becoming public. Students will be able to reflect on their work with a voice recording or text, and can share artifacts from their portfolio by clicking the red button at the bottom of the screen and then either print or get the item QR code. Once you have an account, click Help & Teacher Resources to find Getting Started Tips, Tutorial Videos, FAQs, and Activity Ideas grouped by grade level. If your district blocks YouTube, the tutorials may not be viewable. Please be aware that Seesaw falls under the FERPA laws for "directory information" and "educational records." Any school getting funds from the Department of Education (public schools) is required to disclose to parents and get written consent to use Seesaw with their child.
tag(s): blogs (71), communication (119), DAT device agnostic tool (125), digital storytelling (157), Learning Management Systems (20), portfolios (21), Teacher Utilities (199)
In the Classroom
Sign up for Seesaw, and after students have parental permission, generate a join code for the class from the menu at the upper right corner or by clicking your name or initials in the left corner to get a drop down menu. The join code expires in 15 minutes, so it is best to do this in your classroom or computer lab. Teachers can add photos, drawings, links, notes, and upload a file from this same menu by clicking the + symbol. You can even add a co-teacher! See Seesaw's FAQs for ways for parents to sign up and letters to send home. Use Seesaw portfolios for any subject or grade level. Once your account is set up, create a simple project or borrow one from the Activities on the Help and Teacher Resources page. Share the project on your interactive whiteboard or projector to get your students started. The teacher portal allows you to access and comment on student work. View the work of an individual or the entire class. The ability to import work from many creation apps to Seesaw makes this a perfect portfolio tool. Don't forget to watch the video about setting up blogs for your students. Remember, this is all free! Science teachers could have students write up their lab reports, take photos of their labs and label them in a portfolio. History teachers could set up portfolios for student report writing or digital storytelling projects. Seesaw is the perfect tool to use during parent conferences.Comments
I love using Seesaw with my elementary school students. It's great that parents can comment also.Katy, , Grades: 0 - 12
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MindMup - Gojko Adzic, Damjan Vujnovic, David de Florinier
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
MindMup is an easy to use mind mapping tool. Click to create a new map. Double click the starter bubble to add your title. Use the tool box (top menu) ...more
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MindMup is an easy to use mind mapping tool. Click to create a new map. Double click the starter bubble to add your title. Use the tool box (top menu) to add or edit ideas. Use the mouse to drag and drop nodes. The mouse can also be used to scroll the map (drag the central node, or anywhere outside the map). As soon as you change a map, the Save button appears in the toolbar. Click it and your new map gets a unique URL. Every time you save, the map gets a new URL. Just copy and share the URL with colleagues and friends. Anyone can edit the map, but won't change your original copy. The best part of this simple/easy site: no registration required!
tag(s): concept mapping (14), graphic organizers (55), mind map (31), noregistration (81), organizational skills (84)
In the Classroom
This free organizational tool can be used in classrooms at every level. Use this tool to help organize learning units and share the organization on screen so students see how pieces fit together. Share the unit map with other teachers, students, or parents. Highlight goals, objectives, learning tasks, assessments, and resources. Share before your unit, and expectations become very clear. Use as a yearly overview for parents at the beginning of the year at Open House. Let parents see the multiple ways their child will be assessed through the year. Have students use this tool for direction in problem based learning situations. Use this tool in science for collecting data, experiments, or science fair outlines. Use the tool in writing class to make writing guides for narrative or expository writing. In reading use for predictions, sequencing of stories, inferences, or organizing genres of books each student has read. Have students map multiple ways to solve a single problem in math class. Have students keep daily requirements or schedules with readily available resources as links. Let students enjoy taking notes from content based classes. Have a student scribe create the notes each day and share with the class. Have student groups map the current unit before the test as a review activity. Or use an ongoing map as a whole class visual diagram of concepts learned, adding new knowledge throughout a unit. Don't miss the chance to color code to "sort" ideas and concepts!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mentimeter - Mentimeter
Grades
3 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
With the Mentimeter presentation tool, you can create free polls, word clouds, real-time question and answer sessions, and quizzes that provide instant feedback from audiences or classes....more
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With the Mentimeter presentation tool, you can create free polls, word clouds, real-time question and answer sessions, and quizzes that provide instant feedback from audiences or classes. All of these can be in person, remote, or hybrid. After joining with your email address, your dashboard will appear. Use the top menu bar to find Featuresand then Q&A click it, and you can watch "How to Create" video (about 5 and a half minutes). Choose from various templates and themes, create a question and a set of answer choices, or participants respond with their words. When finished the slide will provide the URL and ID code for your presentation. Participants choose or enter their answers using a mobile device or their computer. You can generate a QR code quickly for the fastest linking. View results instantly (a plus for interactive presentations or classes). Results can also be embedded on a website. The most popular mobile platforms support Mentimeter. The free membership provides 50 participants per month, multiple question types, and results and freedback from the session. Each individual poll/project allows 34 Slide types, Q & A, Quick Layouts, and Collaborative workspace.
tag(s): assessment (135), Formative Assessment (45), polls and surveys (41), presentations (25), word clouds (12)
In the Classroom
Mentimeter is helpful in the classroom as a formative assessment tool. Educators can interact with others inside the classroom, remotely, or during blended classroom sessions. Because the poll address and ID code number appear on the beginning slide of your creation or can be given verbally, it is effortless to create and provide to classes. Survey students during activities and lectures to check for understanding of essential concepts. Responses can also be open-ended by creating your poll without any choice of answers. Students can only vote once per question with this tool unless you check the box about answering more than once during the creation of the answer slides.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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JA Titan - Junior Achievement
Grades
9 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This FREE online simulation is designed to give students experience in running a business. Registration is required to participate. Players can take on others in their geographic area,...more
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This FREE online simulation is designed to give students experience in running a business. Registration is required to participate. Players can take on others in their geographic area, or play against the computer. Using variables like price and production quantity, players allocate their money to particular parts of the business, and consider advice from computer generated stakeholders as they compete against other "businesses" to make a profit. The graphics are fairly rudimentary, but there is plenty of complexity here for students to evaluate as they work through the game. You will need to spend a little time yourself in playing a practice game in order to be able to prepare students to get the best learning experience; otherwise they will just randomly click options without thinking about the impact on their business plan.
tag(s): business (50)
In the Classroom
Consider dividing your class into teams, and pit them against each other to design a winning business plan. This is an exercise that could continue over a long period of time, or could be undertaken in a marathon session, but students will need to focus on the variables carefully in order to get the most out of the experience. Have students create a multimedia presentation sharing their business plan and outcome using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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