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Fostering Readers in a Digital World - Kristine Seal
Grades
4 to 12
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"Going Beyond Digital Literacy: Fostering Readers as Learners" on the TCEA TechNotes blog emphasizes that digital literacy is more than just using technology and reading screens. The...more
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"Going Beyond Digital Literacy: Fostering Readers as Learners" on the TCEA TechNotes blog emphasizes that digital literacy is more than just using technology and reading screens. The article argues that teachers should help students become lifelong learners who can navigate, evaluate, and make sense of information in both print and digital formats. It highlights the idea of a bi-literate brain, meaning students need to build strong reading skills across media, and stresses that teachers should act as facilitators who support students in taking ownership of their learning. The post also offers practical instructional strategies, such as using the Gradual Release of Responsibility framework and integrating diverse text formats, to help students develop deep reading and critical thinking skills that transfer across platforms and subjects.
tag(s): blogs (76), digital literacy (35), media literacy (122), teaching strategies (68)
In the Classroom
Have students read a short passage in both print and digital formats. Ask them to discuss how their focus, comprehension, and note-taking strategies changed across different formats. Create a class anchor chart of effective strategies for each text type. Have students design a simple guide or checklist for younger students that explains how to read and learn effectively from digital texts. Present students with multiple digital sources on the same topic. In small groups, have students evaluate credibility using criteria such as author, purpose, evidence, and date.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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SceneCraft - EngageAI
Grades
6 to 8
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SceneCraft is an AI-powered interactive storytelling tool created by EngageAI Institute to help teachers build branching narrative lessons that align with classroom content. It lets...more
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SceneCraft is an AI-powered interactive storytelling tool created by EngageAI Institute to help teachers build branching narrative lessons that align with classroom content. It lets educators design custom story scenes, characters, and decision points so students can actively explore subject matter through choice-driven storytelling rather than passive reading or typical worksheets. Teachers can apply for early access and, once approved, use the platform to craft stories that engage learners in subjects such as ELA, history, or science with AI support, while retaining complete control over the content. The resource is currently offered free of charge only to educators in the United States.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (297), digital storytelling (167), interactive stories (22), stories and storytelling (75), Teacher Utilities (212)
In the Classroom
Project a SceneCraft story and pause at key decision points. Have students vote on choices, justify their reasoning, and predict how the decision might affect the story or outcome. Assign small groups different roles or perspectives within the same story. Have each group follow a different branch and later compare how choices influenced events, motivations, or consequences. Ask students to plan or write an additional scene or alternate ending that could fit into the existing story, using evidence from the text or topic to support their choices.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mixboard - Google Labs
Grades
K to 12
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Mixboard is an experimental tool from Google Labs that lets you create presentations with AI-generated images and design elements. Begin by selecting the "Get Started" button to start...more
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Mixboard is an experimental tool from Google Labs that lets you create presentations with AI-generated images and design elements. Begin by selecting the "Get Started" button to start a new project. View some examples on the new board, or begin creating by entering what you want to make in the message box, or by adding images or documents. Edit your board by adding photos or documents, resizing images, adding text, or organizing content. When complete, use the share button to create a shareable URL. Mixboard can also transform the content into a presentation; hover your mouse over the transform button at the top-right of your board to see how many files you need to upload before you can generate a presentation. When the indicator says "Ready," you're good to go. Customize your presentation using the provided choices, including format, story, and appearance. Presentations may take up to twenty minutes to create.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (297), brainstorming (19), collaboration (112), curation (25), iwb (29), mind map (33), Whiteboard (12)
In the Classroom
Use Mixboard as a collaborative activity by adding students' ideas along with images and text to brainstorm any topic. Turn your brainstorming ideas into a presentation to add to your class site. Build webs that visually link keywords, photos, and AI-generated visuals to map out themes or concepts. Plan narratives or scripts by creating a sequence of visuals and text that depict scenes, characters, or plot points. In Social Studies lessons, make boards to explore cultural artifacts, historical maps, or comparative societies. Provide language support by creating visual vocabulary boards with AI-generated situational images plus labels.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Academic Integrity & Citations - The University of British Columbia
Grades
9 to 12
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The Academic Integrity and Citations page from the Chapman Learning Commons at the University of British Columbia provides students with clear guidance on upholding honesty, responsibility,...more
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The Academic Integrity and Citations page from the Chapman Learning Commons at the University of British Columbia provides students with clear guidance on upholding honesty, responsibility, and ethical behavior in their academic work. It offers explanations of academic integrity, tools for assessing citation skills, and practical guidance on when and how to cite sources. The site includes resources on identifying common knowledge, choosing and using the correct citation style, and recognizing the importance of connecting new ideas to existing research. It also explains students' rights regarding open licensing and ownership of their academic work. Overall, the page helps learners build confidence in conducting research, avoiding plagiarism, and using citations effectively and responsibly.
In the Classroom
Give students a set of statements and ask them to sort each into categories such as Needs a Citation, Common Knowledge, or Does Not Need a Citation. Have groups explain their reasoning. Present short classroom scenarios involving plagiarism, improper paraphrasing, or misused sources. Have students work in pairs to decide what went wrong and how to fix it. Assign a brief research task in which students choose a topic and gather three credible sources. Throughout the process, include checkpoints that require them to justify why a source is reliable, identify what needs to be cited, and produce a properly formatted bibliography.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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DeepL Translator - DeepL
Grades
K to 12
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DeepL translates text into over 100 languages. The limited free plan includes one monthly file translation for PDFs, Word Documents, and PowerPoint files, and unlimited text translations....more
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DeepL translates text into over 100 languages. The limited free plan includes one monthly file translation for PDFs, Word Documents, and PowerPoint files, and unlimited text translations. Type or paste your text into the chat box, then select the target language from the drop-down list. Each message box includes a link to listen to the audio in the chosen language.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (297), chinese (38), french (72), german (49), multilingual (82), russian (25), spanish (112)
In the Classroom
Use this translator to greet "other language" speaking students and make them feel welcome in your classroom, and encourage conversations between them and your class. Take advantage of this tool to broaden your classroom's global perspective by engaging in conversations with others around the world. Use this site in world language classrooms to have students copy their text to convert into the language being studied (or the reverse). Enhance student learning by having students create presentations on other countries in the nation's native language using a presentation tool like Canva for Education, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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HeyGen - HeyGen
Grades
K to 12
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HeyGen is an AI-powered video creation tool that generates videos from text, images, or audio clips. You can start with just a script (text), and it will create a talking ...more
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HeyGen is an AI-powered video creation tool that generates videos from text, images, or audio clips. You can start with just a script (text), and it will create a talking video from that text without having to film yourself or record voice-overs manually. Choose avatars to become digital presenters who deliver your script. Pick from hundreds of stock video avatars or create a custom avatar that resembles you. HeyGen supports multiple languages and voices, which can be helpful if you teach multilingual classes or provide translations. After creating an account, use the dashboard to begin a project, and follow the prompts to add a script or instructions for the video. HeyGen provides a plan for the video; after approving it, wait for the video to become available. When ready, share the video using the public link, embed code, via social media links, or download to your device. Free accounts allow users to create up to 3 videos per month, each up to 3 minutes long, using standard video processing. In addition, free plans provide access to one custom video avatar and over five hundred stock video avatars.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (297), digital storytelling (167), presentations (33), tutorials (50)
In the Classroom
Use HeyGen to create explainer videos, lesson overviews, short tutorials, flipped-classroom clips, or informational videos, essentially anything that benefits from a "talking-through" format but where you might not want to appear on camera or record audio yourself. For example, create a tutorial on how to use a new software program or share some at-home learning strategies with parents on your class site. Use the embed code or link to add videos into flipped lessons using Sway reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ResearchRabbit - ResearchRabbit
Grades
8 to 12
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ResearchRabbit is an AI-powered literature discovery and mapping tool designed to help researchers, students, and academics explore scientific literature more intelligently than a typical...more
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ResearchRabbit is an AI-powered literature discovery and mapping tool designed to help researchers, students, and academics explore scientific literature more intelligently than a typical paper search engine. Instead of just listing papers based on search keywords, ResearchRabbit helps you visualize how papers, authors, and topics are connected and also supports organizing your findings so users can build collections, save papers, and add notes. Begin by creating an account, providing a project name, and then start your search. ResearchRabbit provides "seed" articles to choose from; select those to include in your discovery. From the home screen, choose your project from the "browse library" drop-down to start viewing the visualization of the information in your chosen articles. Click on any article to view a summary and add a note, or select an article, and colored dots indicate articles you have saved. Free accounts include unlimited searches across 280+ million articles, search from up to 50 search inputs, basic search settings, and one project.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (297), professional development (318), Research (86)
In the Classroom
Visit ResearchRabbit's YouTube channel for excellent tutorials that walk users through getting started and making the most of the platform's built-in features. Although ResearchRabbit is primarily valuable to educators as a professional development and research-support tool, it can also benefit advanced high school students conducting rigorous, inquiry-based research projects. Students can use the visual networks to identify influential authors, follow lines of inquiry, and map how ideas connect across disciplines. ResearchRabbit also works well alongside free tools such as Zotero, reviewed here, which allows students and teachers to save citations, organize sources, and generate bibliographies. After exploring and identifying relevant papers in ResearchRabbit, users can easily transfer citations into Zotero to support writing, note-taking, and final project creation. This combination gives learners a complete workflow, from discovering literature to managing and citing it professionally.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SciSpace - PubGenius Inc.
Grades
9 to 12
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SciSpace is an AI-powered platform for discovering, analyzing, and writing scientific literature. Users can use the AI assistant to choose a model or tool to perform a task or write...more
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SciSpace is an AI-powered platform for discovering, analyzing, and writing scientific literature. Users can use the AI assistant to choose a model or tool to perform a task or write their task in the message box, and SciSpace selects the best tool. Additional options include a citation generator, a paraphraser, and a chatbot for PDFs. Free accounts provide users with 100 monthly credits; the number of credits required to complete an activity varies by prompt. For example, locating papers might use 54 credits, and summarizing a pre-printed article uses 24 credits.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (297), citations (34), images (266), presentations (33), Research (86)
In the Classroom
Use SciSpace to search for articles related to current student research projects and create citations for their published works. Utilize the "Review My Writing" option to assist students in enhancing and refining their written work. Additionally, use SciSpace professionally to aid in writing grant proposals. If you are focusing on professional development topics or completing graduate courses, take advantage of the built-in tools to find research articles that support your projects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hank the Health Hero YouTube Channel - Hank the Health Hero
Grades
K to 3
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This channel offers a collection of animated and kid-friendly videos focused on social-emotional learning, mindfulness, self-control, empathy, and healthy habits. Through fun stories...more
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This channel offers a collection of animated and kid-friendly videos focused on social-emotional learning, mindfulness, self-control, empathy, and healthy habits. Through fun stories and relatable scenarios, the content encourages students to understand and manage their feelings, make positive choices, and build emotional resilience. As a teacher, you can use these videos to introduce SEL topics, reinforce classroom expectations around behavior and relationships, or provide a calming "brain break." Overall, Hank the Health Hero is a supportive multimedia resource to help students practice self-regulation, empathy, and healthy emotional habits. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.
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tag(s): emotions (71), empathy (66), social and emotional learning (196)
In the Classroom
After watching a video, students act out different feelings Hank experiences. Have classmates guess the emotion, then discuss which clues helped them identify it. Create cards with actions like deep breathing, eating snacks, yelling, sharing, or leaving a mess. Ask students to sort them into "healthy choices" and "unhealthy choices" and explain why. In groups, students design a short comic strip using Cartoon Comic Maker, reviewed here that teaches a healthy habit or SEL strategy, just like Hank.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mostly Mindful for Teens and Tweens - Mostly Mindful for Teens and Tweens
Grades
6 to 12
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This weekly podcast introduces one mindfulness strategy or concept at a time to help teens build resilience, manage stress, and develop healthy habits for emotional well-being. Each...more
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This weekly podcast introduces one mindfulness strategy or concept at a time to help teens build resilience, manage stress, and develop healthy habits for emotional well-being. Each episode offers age-appropriate techniques grounded in self-compassion and designed to boost joy, focus, and life satisfaction during the challenging teen years. Created by Dominique Sullivan, a teacher-librarian and mindfulness educator, the podcast blends practical tools with calming guidance that can easily complement classroom SEL routines. These podcasts provide teachers with a positive, accessible resource for helping students strengthen lifelong coping skills.
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tag(s): classroom management (134), emotions (71), podcasts (159), social and emotional learning (196), stress (7), thinking skills (115)
In the Classroom
Begin class with a short breathing or grounding exercise inspired by the podcast. Have students close their eyes, listen to their breath, and focus on one calming word or phrase. Have students complete a quick "How am I arriving today?" slip. They can choose a word that describes their mood and jot down one strategy they might use to stay focused or calm during class. After listening to an episode, have students create a card explaining the featured strategy, when to use it, and how it helps the brain. Add these cards to a growing class toolkit for students to revisit throughout the year.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Stop and Think Folder - Lucky Little Learners
Grades
K to 5
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This page explains the Stop and Think Folder, a classroom management tool that helps students pause, reflect, and self-regulate when they are experiencing challenging behavior or strong...more
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This page explains the Stop and Think Folder, a classroom management tool that helps students pause, reflect, and self-regulate when they are experiencing challenging behavior or strong emotions. The folder uses simple reflection sheets or similar formats to guide students in identifying their feelings, considering their choices, and deciding on an appropriate next step. Because the approach emphasizes self-regulation, empathy, and problem-solving rather than punishment, it encourages students to take ownership of their behavior and supports a calmer, more positive classroom environment.
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tag(s): classroom management (134), emotions (71), empathy (66), problem solving (273), social and emotional learning (196), thinking skills (115)
In the Classroom
Have students choose a card that represents how they feel at the start of the day (happy, worried, tired, excited). As a class, briefly discuss which strategies help when different emotions arise. Create a small, calm corner with reflection sheets, pencils, and visual supports. Have students visit the station when needed to complete a short reflection about their behavior or emotions, similar to the Stop and Think process. Have students choose one behavior goal for the week, such as raising their hand, staying calm, or using kind words. They track their progress with simple checkboxes or smiley faces and reflect on what strategies helped them meet their goal.
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16 Habits of the Mind: Managing Impulsivity - WonderGrove Kids
Grades
K to 5
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This short segment introduces students to the idea of listening with understanding and empathy. It explains empathy as recognizing and sharing another person's feelings, then models...more
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This short segment introduces students to the idea of listening with understanding and empathy. It explains empathy as recognizing and sharing another person's feelings, then models what empathetic listening looks and sounds like. The speaker highlights how even adults struggle with "competitive listening," in which we focus on our own response rather than truly hearing others, and stresses the importance of teaching children to listen to understand. The clip encourages teachers to build these skills early through intentional modeling and guided practice. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): empathy (66), listening (117), social and emotional learning (196), thinking skills (115)
In the Classroom
Have students work in small groups to create a frozen pose that shows a specific emotion (sad, proud, frustrated, or excited). Other students can guess the emotion and practice using empathetic statements, such as "It looks like you might feel..." to begin building awareness. Pair students and give them a simple prompt (a favorite game, a time they felt proud, a challenge they faced). Have Partner A share for 30 seconds, and then Partner B must restate what they heard using "So you're feeling..." or "You shared that...". Have students help create an anchor chart titled "What Listening with Empathy Looks Like and Sounds Like." Add quotes or examples from the video and student-created ideas, then refer to it during discussions throughout the week.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Using Book Creator to develop Thinking Routines - Paul Hamilton
Grades
K to 12
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This helpful book shares ideas on how to connect Project Zero Thinking Routines, reviewed here with the visual and multimedia elements in Book Creator,...more
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This helpful book shares ideas on how to connect Project Zero Thinking Routines, reviewed here with the visual and multimedia elements in Book Creator, reviewed here. The book explores and provides examples of how to show thinking for several thinking routines, including core routines. In addition, the book includes specific instructions on using several Book Creator features, including creating layers and hotspots.
tag(s): critical thinking (179), DAT device agnostic tool (129), digital storytelling (167), ebooks (49), multimedia (62), thinking routines (34), thinking skills (115), visual thinking (13)
In the Classroom
Use this book as inspiration to extend your use of Thinking Routines and to help students develop visual thinking skills. This tool is invaluable for encouraging students who are hesitant to participate in class discussion, as it provides a range of options for sharing their ideas. Learn the basics of Book Creator by watching the archive of OK2Ask: Tech Made EZ with Book Creator, reviewed here. Find out more about Thinking Routines by reading the two-part blog starting with Empower Your Classroom with Thinking Routines, Part 1: A Quick Guide.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Active Listening - Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
Grades
3 to 6
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The Active Listening (Grades 3-6) lesson from Morningside Center helps students develop strong listening and communication skills by practicing active listening techniques such as focusing...more
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The Active Listening (Grades 3-6) lesson from Morningside Center helps students develop strong listening and communication skills by practicing active listening techniques such as focusing on the speaker, showing engagement, and paraphrasing what they hear. Through interactive activities such as partner conversations and guided role-plays, students learn to truly understand others and reflect back meaning, with the overall goal of improving conflict resolution and mutual understanding in the classroom.
tag(s): empathy (66), listening (117), social and emotional learning (196)
In the Classroom
Students can create the Active Listening checklist with visuals by using Canva for Education, reviewed here. Students can record themselves showing active listening by using ScreenPal, reviewed here. Students can create a digital escape activity using Save the Planet Breakout, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kindness in the Classroom: 6th - 8th Grade - Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Grades
6 to 8
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Kindness in the Classroom is a Tier 1 social-emotional learning curriculum designed to foster a culture of kindness among students in grades 6 through 8. Each unit teaches six ...more
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Kindness in the Classroom is a Tier 1 social-emotional learning curriculum designed to foster a culture of kindness among students in grades 6 through 8. Each unit teaches six core kindness concepts: Respect, Caring, Inclusiveness, Integrity, Responsibility, and Courage. In addition to individual lessons in PDF format, there is a Quick Start Guide, Unit Overviews, Teacher Connection for Administrators, and Posters.
tag(s): empathy (66), listening (117), social and emotional learning (196)
In the Classroom
Students can use Infographics Presentation Templates, reviewed here to create their own infographic for each of the six core concepts. Students can create trading cards that highlight the core concepts using Trading Card Creator reviewed here. Finally, students can create games that showcase the core concepts using Baamboozle, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kindness in the Classroom: Kindergarten - 5th Grade - Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Grades
K to 5
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Kindness in the Classroom is a Tier 1 social-emotional learning curriculum designed to create a culture of kindness for grades kindergarten through 5th. Each unit teaches six core kindness...more
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Kindness in the Classroom is a Tier 1 social-emotional learning curriculum designed to create a culture of kindness for grades kindergarten through 5th. Each unit teaches six core kindness concepts: Respect, Caring, Inclusiveness, Integrity, Responsibility, and Courage. In addition to individual lessons in PDF format, there is a Quick Start Guide, Unit Overviews, Teacher Connection for Administrators, and Posters.
tag(s): empathy (66), listening (117), social and emotional learning (196)
In the Classroom
Have students keep a journal using Seesaw, reviewed here throughout the course of the year sharing what they have learned. Students can create comics to teach each of the six core concepts using Witty Comics, reviewed here. Students can post ways to be each of the core concepts on a virtual bulletin board such as Lino, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Headspace for Educators - Headspace Inc.
Grades
K to 12
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Headspace for Educators gives K-12 teachers and school staff free access to a full library of mindfulness, meditation, and wellness tools designed to support educator well-being and...more
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Headspace for Educators gives K-12 teachers and school staff free access to a full library of mindfulness, meditation, and wellness tools designed to support educator well-being and reduce stress. The resources include guided meditations, breathwork and calming techniques, sleep support, mindful-moment transitions, and tools for managing anxiety or burnout. In addition to teacher self-care, Headspace offers classroom-friendly materials, such as short meditations, mindfulness exercises, and calming videos, to help students relax, focus, or manage difficult emotions. As a teacher, using Headspace can support your mental health and energy and help foster a calmer, more emotionally healthy classroom environment where students can learn and engage more effectively. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.
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tag(s): professional development (318), social and emotional learning (196), Teacher Utilities (212)
In the Classroom
Begin class with a one-minute guided breathing exercise from Headspace. Students should close their eyes or soften their gaze, focus on their breath, and prepare their minds for learning. Have students design personal calm-down strategies based on techniques learned in Headspace, such as counting breaths, visualizing a quiet place, or practicing gratitude. They store their ideas in a journal or a small set of cards. At the end of the week, have students write a short reflection about which mindfulness strategy helped them most during class and how it affected their focus or mood.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence - Yale School of Medicine
Grades
K to 12
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The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence offers free, research-based resources that help educators strengthen social and emotional learning across school communities. Teachers can...more
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The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence offers free, research-based resources that help educators strengthen social and emotional learning across school communities. Teachers can access a self-paced online course called Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty and Stress, which provides strategies for understanding emotions, reducing stress, and creating supportive classroom environments. The Center also shares information about the RULER Approach. This widely used framework helps schools teach students how to recognize, understand, label, express, and regulate emotions while improving overall school climate. The free materials give teachers practical tools to support student well-being, build positive relationships, and create emotionally healthy classrooms.
tag(s): emotions (71), professional development (318), social and emotional learning (196)
In the Classroom
Have students place a small sticky note on a class chart showing how they feel at the start of class. After a few days, invite them to notice patterns and reflect on how emotions may affect learning. Read a short passage, poem, or scenario and ask students to identify the emotions involved. Students should discuss the clues they used to build emotional vocabulary and comprehension. Have students write a brief weekly reflection using Book Creator, reviewed here about one emotion they experienced during the school week, what caused it, and what strategy helped them manage it.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Flexible Thinking vs. Stuck Thinking - Whole Child Counseling
Grades
K to 5
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If you want a video that instantly grabs students' attention while teaching a powerful life skill, this one is a great choice. Being a Flexible Thinker, as presented by Whole...more
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If you want a video that instantly grabs students' attention while teaching a powerful life skill, this one is a great choice. Being a Flexible Thinker, as presented by Whole Child Counseling, teaches children how to navigate life's everyday surprises by shifting from rigid to flexible thinking. Through clear, kid-friendly examples, such as canceled plans, changes in routine, or disagreements with friends, the video helps students see how adjusting their thoughts can reduce frustration and open the door to new solutions. It helps them understand that challenges can be handled in many ways and that remaining open and calm helps them work more effectively with others. The video concludes with interactive scenarios that enable students to practice identifying flexible thinking in real time, making it a valuable tool for building problem-solving skills and resilience, and for promoting positive behavior in the classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): flexibility (9), perspective (30), thinking skills (115)
In the Classroom
Have students rewrite short "stuck thinking" statements to show a flexible response. Have students become "thinking detectives" and look for clues that show how someone in a story, video, or real-life classroom situation can use flexible thinking. They can write a short "detective report" describing the problem, the stuck reaction, and a flexible alternative. In small groups, students can create a kid-friendly way to teach flexible thinking to younger students. Options include a skit, comic strip using Free Comic Strip Maker by Adobe, reviewed here, poster, slide deck using Google Slides, reviewed here, or mini-story.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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7 Engaging Listening Activities for Small Groups - eSpark
Grades
K to 5
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In the article "7 Engaging Listening Activities for Small Groups," eSpark Learning shares seven playful, easy-to-use activities to help students strengthen listening and speaking skills...more
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In the article "7 Engaging Listening Activities for Small Groups," eSpark Learning shares seven playful, easy-to-use activities to help students strengthen listening and speaking skills in small instructional groups. The ideas include interactive games such as Draw This, Telephone, Simon Says, Popcorn Storytelling, and My Favorite Toss, all designed to build active listening, memory, verbal communication, and collaboration. The article highlights the importance of treating listening as a mindful skill and offers suggestions for adapting activities to different ages and needs. Teachers can use these activities during centers, small-group rotations, or language arts lessons to support engagement, communication, and social learning.
tag(s): blogs (76), game based learning (303), listening (117)
In the Classroom
Have students take turns adding one sentence at a time to create a shared story. Each student must listen closely to maintain the plot and characters. Add a challenge by having them incorporate a vocabulary word or literary device. Play Simon Says with added complexity, such as multi-step directions or academic vocabulary. Have students practice following sequential instructions and staying focused under pressure. After listening to a short passage or poem, students can take turns retelling only what they remember. Each partner adds new details until the whole idea is restored.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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