TeachersFirst Self Care for Educators
View this collection of resources offering nurturing to the nurturers and acknowledging the unique challenges faced by those who dedicate their lives to shaping young minds. In the demanding world of education, where giving is constant and burnout is common, these carefully curated tools and resources are designed to help educators replenish their own wells of resilience and compassion. This collection recognizes that teacher well-being directly impacts student success, from podcasts to meditation to puzzles for brain breaks. Find practical, evidence-based approaches to physical, emotional, and professional self-care that can be seamlessly integrated into even the busiest educator's schedule.
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The Best Teacher Playlist: 20 Songs to De-Stress - Twinkl
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (59), professional development (302), songs (46)
In the Classroom
Play this list in the background to make everyday professional tasks more enjoyable. If you don't use Spotify, recreate this list in your favorite podcast player, such as Apple Podcast or Google Player. You can find many of these songs on YouTube and add them to a personal playlist for listening.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Teacher Self-Care Bingo - Teaching Channel
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (59), professional development (302)
In the Classroom
Reward yourself by taking mental breaks and energizing your spirit using this Bingo card. Print the card before placing it in a prominent area of your classroom or home to remind yourself to take mental health breaks. As a reward for completing a Bingo, treat yourself to a small reward such as a new outfit or book. Use this Bingo card as inspiration to personalize a Bingo card to match your interests using the Bingo Card Card Generator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Educator Self Care Activities: Perfect for Staff PD - CounselingwithMrB
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): mental health (59)
In the Classroom
Teachers can perform the activities Mr. B shares in his video. Teachers can begin to look deeper into their mental health and well-being and discuss ways to focus more on mental health for themselves and their students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Educator's Room Presents: The Teacher Self-Care Podcast - The Educator's Room Presents: The Teacher Self-Care Podcast
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (59), professional development (302)
In the Classroom
Teachers can begin to examine their mental health and well-being more deeply and discuss ways to focus more on mental health for themselves and their students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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An Exercise in Self Compassion - Dr. Kristin Neff
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (59), professional development (302)
In the Classroom
This guide offers teachers self-care strategies through setting boundaries, maintaining clear work hours, creating separate grading spaces, and learning to say no to extra commitments. Your classroom management routines should reduce decision fatigue by implementing transition timers and developing systems for student independence.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How to Reduce Teacher Stress: Self-Care Strategies for 2025 - The Cool Cat Teacher
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): mental health (59), professional development (302)
In the Classroom
Use organizational tools like checklists, timers, or student helpers to simplify daily routines and reduce unnecessary workload. Encourage a growth mindset by setting small, achievable goals for yourself and your students, reinforcing the importance of continuous learning without overwhelming pressure. To create a positive, low-stress atmosphere, foster a supportive environment with peer check-ins, group discussions, and team-building activities. Establish specific times for grading and communication to avoid burnout, and model healthy boundaries by encouraging students to balance work and rest.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Purring Test - TED
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (269), gifted (63), puzzles (160)
In the Classroom
Use this game as a brain break during those long lessons or indoor recess. Turn the daily puzzles into a friendly competition or debate and pair students to play a Pictionary-inspired game, mimicking how AI might interpret their drawings. After playing, lead a discussion on how AI "thinks" compared to humans.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Drench - FlashByNight.com
Grades
K to 12tag(s): brain (58), classroom management (125), game based learning (298), logic (162), problem solving (269), social and emotional learning (162)
In the Classroom
Add Drench to your resources to share with students for quick brain-break activities that encourage problem-solving through gameplay. Ask students to share their strategies for selecting colors as they work toward completing the game board. Curate and organize brain break activities into a single resource to share with students using Symbaloo, reviewed here or 3X3 Links, reviewed here. Find more ideas for brain break activities on TeachersFirst Special Topics Page: Brain Breaks for Students, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Zencastr - Zencastr
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Learn more about ways to incorporate podcasting in the classroom by viewing the archive of the OK2Ask: Podcasting 101: Using Podcasts in the Classroom, available here. Engage students in upcoming lessons by creating and sharing short podcasts as a preview for books to read or about historical characters featured in an upcoming unit. Use Zencastr to create videos for flipped or blended learning lessons. Enhance learning by asking students to create podcasts to share their learning and understanding of topics in a new way. For example, instead of writing a report about George Washington, ask students to create a multi-episode podcast that features important events in his life. Share student and teacher-created podcasts on your class website. Find several free and easy web page makers on TeachersFirst Edge.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Logic Games - Crazy Games
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): game based learning (298), logic (162), problem solving (269), puzzles (160)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this game site as a resource for logic and puzzle games to share with your students. Consider adding a puzzle of the week to your computer center activities or as an engaging at-home learning activity. Puzzles are an excellent way to strengthen math conversations in any classroom. After spending time with logic puzzles, ask students to share their thought and learning processes as they play each game. Ask students to create a screen recording demonstrating how to play the game and discussing the process. Use your device's screen recording features or an online tool such as Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here, to create and share recordings. Use a simple curation tool such as 3X3 Links, reviewed here, to share students' recordings and/or discussions in one easy-to-find location.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Blob Opera - Google Arts and Culture
Grades
K to 12tag(s): music theory (47)
In the Classroom
Share Blob Opera with students as an engaging way to experiment with the found included opera categories - tenor, bass, mezzo-soprano, and soprano. Ask students to record and share their experiments on your classroom webpage. Use Blob Opera as a brain break activity or stress-reliever for students (and teachers!).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Gridlock Buster - Center for Transportation Studies University of Minnesota
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): problem solving (269), transportation (31)
In the Classroom
Share this game with students on classroom computers and challenge them to move up through the different levels. Challenge students to create their own traffic-based game using Scratch, reviewed here. Challenge older students to find a local intersection that needs adjustments and offer suggestions for improvement. Ask them to share their ideas using Sway, reviewed here. Encourage students to include video, photos, and graphs as part of their Sway presentation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Telegra.ph - telegra.ph
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): blogs (73), communication (120), digital storytelling (162), writing (309)
In the Classroom
Use this tool as an easy to use blogging tool in the classroom and in every subject area. Use in language arts classes to strengthen students' writing ability and 21st century skills. Teach about proper commenting etiquette on simple first blog posts. Use for student-written book reviews for the school library. Use as a tool for class or parent communication. Engage students in discussions on current events, independent reading, literature, and more. Ask students to play the role of a historical figure and write about their viewpoints or experiences. Use the site as a forum for any simulated or real task. Invite parents to join to give their points of view on upcoming elections or public policy issues by commenting on student posts. Share a blog in even the youngest of classes, for parents to use to learn about a specific unit of study, field trips, and more. Use this site in world language classes to have students write a blog entry in the new language. Include the principal or superintendent in class discussions of students' rights as you study the Constitution. Create incredible discussions of environmental, political, or economic issues. Create a standing assignment for elementary and middle schoolers on snow days. Have students write a post about the snow using Telegra.ph and share the URL on a class wiki. Post the various links on the class web page so students can comment on each other's posts after they come in from sledding.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Which One Doesn't Belong? - Mary Bourassa
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (171), logic (162), problem solving (269), puzzles (160)
In the Classroom
These puzzles are perfect for use with an interactive whiteboard or projector. Use the puzzles as a warm up for any math class or use for journal writing prompts. The photos are perfect to use with younger students. Use this site for discussion and debate with your gifted students. Challenge students to create puzzles and have classmates solve. Have cooperative learning groups create online books of their puzzles using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Google Drawings, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Oh nO - Martin Kool
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (127), logic (162), problem solving (269), puzzles (160)
In the Classroom
Oh nO is perfect for use on your interactive whiteboard, projector, or on individual computers. Introduce this game to students and then challenge them to move up in difficulty levels and speed up completion times. Use this site to challenge your gifted students. Share on your class web page or blog for students and parents to play together at home. Set up a station at your school's math fair for participants to try their hand at Oh nO.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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0h h1 - Martin Kool
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (127), game based learning (298), logic (162), problem solving (269), puzzles (160)
In the Classroom
Oh h1 is perfect for use on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use this site as a computer learning center or on individual computers. Challenge students to increase difficulty levels and elapsed time. Share this engaging site with your gifted students for some mind stretching fun! Be sure to include a link on your class website or blog (parents may want to try this one too). Have students challenge their parents to see who can complete puzzles the quickest!Comments
Great for logic practice.Melissa, , Grades: 0 - 5
Fun logic game-kids won't realize they are learning.Tammy, OR, Grades: 0 - 9
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GoNoodle - Abby Pecoriello, John Herbold, Scott McQuigg
Grades
K to 5tag(s): classroom management (125), fitness (35), logic (162), preK (316)
In the Classroom
Share these short activities on your projector or interactive whiteboard for your entire class to view together. Bookmark and save GoNoodle as a before class (or before the bell) activity, perfect for those long winter days inside. These would be great activities as you head into high stakes tests. When your class needs to refocus, use GoNoodle as a short brain break. Use GoNoodle to motivate and reward class accomplishments. Share with learning support teachers (or emotional or autistic support) for use in motivating and reinforcing behaviors with their students.Comments
My students and I love using GoNoodle for brain breaks. GoNoodle tracks your minutes for you and your mascot "grows" as you use the site.Paula, LA, Grades: 3 - 5
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Cut The Rope - ZeptoLab
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): inquiry (32), logic (162), problem solving (269)
In the Classroom
Use this game on classroom computers for a logic or problem solving center. Encourage students to share strategies that worked and didn't work and to consider the causes of each. Have them chart the various strategies they test and the results. If individual computeres aren't available, share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share a link to the site on your classroom website or newsletter for students to try at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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edublogs - edublogs.org
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): blogs (73), communication (120), writing (309)
In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite for all of your blogging needs. Find very informative instructions on blogging, and follow the student blogging challenge lesson plans. Use this tool easily in your Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) classroom since all students will be able to access it for free, no matter what device they have. Peruse through the various subjects and discover how other teachers use blogging in their classrooms. Using the given PDFs on blogging start up, parent guidelines, incorporating into subject areas, and adapt to make them suitable for you. Look at a variety of examples to help devise your own unique style to meet your students' needs.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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