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Choice Board Templates - Canva

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K to 12
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This large assortment of choice board templates includes many free and customizable options within Canva for Education, reviewed here Choose from...more
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This large assortment of choice board templates includes many free and customizable options within Canva for Education, reviewed here Choose from a variety of styles and content options. After selecting a template, use Canva's editing tools to personalize colors, text, images, and more. Share templates digitally with your personalized link, or download as an image or PDF.

tag(s): differentiation (101), multimedia (64), presentations (35), student-centered (10)

In the Classroom

Make sure to create a free teacher's account in Canva; this gives you access to many of the paid PRO account features. Use choice boards during independent work rotations or end-of-unit projects. Create multiple versions of choice boards using the templates to accommodate diverse learners and learning styles in your classroom while still providing instruction that meets learning objectives for all students. Include a variety of activities in choice boards that engage students in learning, such as games, simulations, videos, and opportunities to share their learning by creating multimedia presentations.

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Top 5 Ice Breaker Games For The Start Of School - Teaching Firsties

Grades
K to 3
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Read about five simple, low-prep icebreaker games designed to help students feel comfortable, build friendships, and create a positive classroom community during the first days of school....more
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Read about five simple, low-prep icebreaker games designed to help students feel comfortable, build friendships, and create a positive classroom community during the first days of school. The activities focus on learning classmates' names, discovering shared interests, encouraging teamwork, and easing first-day jitters through fun, interactive experiences. The article also suggests using engaging back-to-school read-alouds as an alternative for students who may be hesitant to participate in traditional icebreakers, helping every child feel welcomed and included from the very beginning of the school year.

tag(s): blogs (82), classroom management (142), firstday (27), preK (323)

In the Classroom

Give each student a bingo-style sheet with prompts such as "has a pet," "likes to read," or "has traveled to another state." Have students circulate the room to find classmates who match each description, encouraging conversations and helping everyone learn about one another. Ask fun, school-friendly choices (for example, "Would you rather explore space or the ocean?"). Have students move to different sides of the room to show their choice, then explain their reasoning to a partner or small group to practice speaking and listening skills. After participating in the icebreaker games, have students design a poster, one-pager, or digital slide using Google Slides, reviewed here highlighting their interests, favorite books, hobbies, and goals. Display the projects around the room to celebrate each student's unique personality.

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Back to School Icebreakers Activities - Nearpod

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K to 12
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This Nearpod blog post provides a collection of ready-to-use, interactive activities designed to help teachers build a positive classroom community during the first week of school....more
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This Nearpod blog post provides a collection of ready-to-use, interactive activities designed to help teachers build a positive classroom community during the first week of school. The article features icebreakers, getting-to-know-you lessons, collaborative discussions, reflection prompts, and engaging digital activities that introduce students to classroom routines while encouraging participation and relationship-building. It also highlights Nearpod's interactive tools, such as Collaborate Board, Draw It, Time to Climb, polls, and ready-made lessons, making it easy for teachers to create an engaging and welcoming learning environment from day one. Many of the featured resources are available as editable or ready-to-launch lessons for use in live or student-paced instruction.

tag(s): classroom management (142), collaboration (119), firstday (27)

In the Classroom

Use Nearpod's Collaborate Board for students to post fun facts, summer memories, reading interests, or personal goals. Encourage classmates to respond to one another to help build connections from the first day of school. Launch a collaborative Nearpod lesson where students brainstorm classroom norms using polls, open-ended questions, and Draw It activities. Turn the class's ideas into a shared digital classroom agreement. Reinforce routines such as technology expectations, transitions, or classroom rules by creating a Time to Climb quiz. Find more ideas for classroom learning activities at Nearpod, reviewed here.

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Make Me Laugh: The Epic Librarian List of Funny Books for Kids - New York Public Library

Grades
2 to 6
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This blog post from the New York Public Library shares a collection of funny book recommendations for kids, showing how humor can help students enjoy reading and develop a love ...more
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This blog post from the New York Public Library shares a collection of funny book recommendations for kids, showing how humor can help students enjoy reading and develop a love of books. The list includes laugh-out-loud stories, silly characters, and humorous situations that appeal to young readers and can motivate reluctant readers to spend more time with books. The article suggests that when children read books that make them laugh, they become more engaged, more willing to read independently, and more likely to see reading as fun rather than a chore, making humorous books a great addition to classroom libraries and read-aloud time.

tag(s): blogs (82), book lists (162), classroom management (142), humor (18), teaching strategies (73)

In the Classroom

Introduce a lesson by reading a short, funny passage from one of the recommended books and asking students why it is funny. Have them identify the words, actions, or situations that make the story humorous. Create a classroom humor book bin using titles from the list and allow students to choose one for independent reading time. Students can keep a reading log in which they write down their favorite funny line or scene. Hold a "Make Me Laugh" book talk activity where students recommend a funny book to the class and explain why others should read it.

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Using Humor in the Art Room - The Art of Education University

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4 to 12
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This podcast episode from The Art of Education University discusses how teachers can use humor in the classroom to build relationships, increase engagement, and create a safe learning...more
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This podcast episode from The Art of Education University discusses how teachers can use humor in the classroom to build relationships, increase engagement, and create a safe learning environment, especially in the art room. The speaker explains that humor can help students feel comfortable and more willing to take risks. Still, teachers should be thoughtful about how they use jokes, sarcasm, and playful comments, as students may interpret them differently. The episode shares examples such as intentionally making mistakes during demonstrations, using lighthearted comments to keep students engaged, and choosing humor that supports learning rather than embarrassing students. Overall, the message encourages teachers to use humor intentionally to make class enjoyable while maintaining a respectful, supportive atmosphere.

tag(s): classroom management (142), humor (18), podcasts (168), teaching strategies (73)

In the Classroom

Start a lesson by intentionally making a funny mistake during a demonstration, such as using the wrong color, holding a tool incorrectly, or pretending to forget a step. Ask students to catch the mistake and explain how to do it correctly. Use lighthearted class discussions about appropriate humor, asking students when jokes are helpful and when they might hurt someone's feelings. Try a teacher-student improv activity where students quickly add a funny detail to a drawing, story, or idea the teacher starts.

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Why Can't Teachers Be Funny in School? - Trainers Warehouse

Grades
3 to 8
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This blog post from Trainers Warehouse explains how using classroom humor can make learning more engaging, memorable, and enjoyable for students. The article encourages teachers to...more
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This blog post from Trainers Warehouse explains how using classroom humor can make learning more engaging, memorable, and enjoyable for students. The article encourages teachers to include funny activities, jokes, games, and playful routines to help students relax, participate more, and feel comfortable taking risks while learning. Suggestions include using silly introductions, humorous writing activities, improv games, movement breaks, funny prompts, and lighthearted classroom challenges to keep energy high and attention focused. The post also notes that laughter can reduce stress, improve mood, strengthen relationships, and help students remember what they learn, making humor a powerful tool for building a positive classroom environment.

tag(s): blogs (82), classroom management (142), humor (18), teaching strategies (73)

In the Classroom

Use content-based humor activities like Mad Libs, limericks, or funny captions related to the topic you are teaching. For example, students can fill in missing words in a paragraph about the lesson or write a humorous rhyme using vocabulary terms. Begin a lesson with a funny introduction activity, such as having students introduce themselves using emojis, memes, or silly voices. Incorporate movement-based humor activities like funny walks, freeze poses, or short dance breaks.

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How to Easily Infuse More Humor into Your Classroom - Beginning Teacher Talk with Dr. Lori Friesen

Grades
K to 8
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This video explains how teachers can use humor to create a positive, engaging classroom environment and build stronger relationships with students. The speaker shares practical ideas,...more
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This video explains how teachers can use humor to create a positive, engaging classroom environment and build stronger relationships with students. The speaker shares practical ideas, such as telling jokes, using funny voices, adding silly props, creating playful routines, taking brain breaks, and leaving surprise notes, to help students feel relaxed and connected. The video emphasizes that humor helps students feel safe, increases engagement, and improves classroom management by making them more willing to participate in a fun, supportive atmosphere. Teachers are encouraged to try small strategies that match their personality and gradually add more lighthearted moments to make learning enjoyable. This video is hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable at school.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): classroom management (142), humor (18), teaching strategies (73)

In the Classroom

Start the day with a joke or a funny daily announcement to create a positive classroom mood. Use silly writing prompts or creative challenges connected to your lesson. For example, ask students to write a story funnily using vocabulary words, such as "What would happen if a dinosaur became the principal?" Create a class mascot, puppet, or character that gives directions, asks questions, or leaves notes for students. The mascot can review content, introduce lessons, or offer hints, making learning more memorable and increasing student engagement.

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Create Credibility Detectives in Your Classroom - AVID

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4 to 10
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This AVID Open Access article, "Create Credibility Detectives in Your Classroom," provides teachers with strategies to help students evaluate the reliability of online information and...more
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This AVID Open Access article, "Create Credibility Detectives in Your Classroom," provides teachers with strategies to help students evaluate the reliability of online information and become critical thinkers as they research. The lesson introduces the ABCs of credibility (Author, Bias, and Content) as a simple framework that students can use to decide whether a source is trustworthy. The resource explains how to look beyond appearance, check who created the information, identify potential bias, and verify facts with other sources. Designed as a short, professional-learning-style lesson, use it in ELA, social studies, science, or library classes to build digital literacy, research skills, and responsible use of information.

tag(s): digital literacy (38), evaluating sources (52), Research (90)

In the Classroom

Give students a short research question. Before using any information, they can evaluate their source using Author, Bias, and Content, and write one or two sentences explaining why the source is trustworthy. Have students design a badge or poster using Adobe Creative Cloud Express, reviewed here showing the rules for being a credibility detective. Students can act as "credibility detectives" and examine a website or article using the ABCs strategy. They can identify the author, assess potential bias, and verify the content for factual accuracy before deciding the trustworthiness of a source.

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Evaluating Credibility of Sources - Creator Unknown

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4 to 8
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This Google Doc titled "Beginner & Intermediate 5: Evaluating Credibility of Sources" is a student activity guide focused on helping learners understand how to decide whether information...more
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This Google Doc titled "Beginner & Intermediate 5: Evaluating Credibility of Sources" is a student activity guide focused on helping learners understand how to decide whether information is trustworthy and useful for research. The document centers on the guiding question "How do I evaluate the credibility of sources and determine which ones to use for a specific task?" It encourages students to examine authorship, accuracy, purpose, and relevance when selecting sources. This document supports information literacy instruction by giving students practice in analyzing different sources and thinking critically about reliability before using information in a project or assignment.

tag(s): digital literacy (38), evaluating sources (52), media literacy (130), Research (90)

In the Classroom

Give students two sources about the same topic, one strong and one weak. Students can use the lesson questions to compare the sources and decide which one is more credible. Have students design a poster using DesignCap Poster Creator, reviewed here showing rules for choosing good sources. Have students use the lesson's evaluation criteria to create or complete a checklist for evaluating sources. They can apply the checklist to a new article or website to determine if it is reliable and appropriate for research.

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Quillbot - Learneo

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4 to 12
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QuillBot is a writing platform that uses AI to help students and teachers refine their writing using tools organized into categories such as writing, creation, file converters, and...more
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QuillBot is a writing platform that uses AI to help students and teachers refine their writing using tools organized into categories such as writing, creation, file converters, and more. Most tools are available in several different languages. The free version offers a paraphraser with a 125-word limit, two writing modes, Standard and Fluency, and a basic synonym slider to adjust how much the vocabulary changes. It also includes a grammar checker that identifies spelling and punctuation errors, a summarizer with a 1,200-word capacity, and a citation generator for various academic styles. Many tools require registration to use them. Visit the pricing page to verify what the free plan includes. QuillBot offers extensions for major browsers and apps across all major platforms, including Apple and Android.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (322), chat (41), DAT device agnostic tool (132), editing (93), grammar (141), images (269), summarizing (26), writing (308)

In the Classroom

Include this tool to engage students in a vocabulary-expansion workshop. Start by having students paste a simple or repetitive paragraph into the paraphraser to see how changing modes or sliding the synonym bar transforms the tone and complexity of their work. This activity provides immediate, visual feedback on how word choice impacts a reader's perspective. To extend the lesson, have students take their favorite AI-generated variations and organize them into a structured debate regarding which version is the most persuasive using Kialo Edu, reviewed here. Extend learning by having students use their refined text to create a high-quality audio recording of their revised arguments using Adobe Podcast, reviewed here, demonstrating their ability to adapt writing for different audiences and professional formats.
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Iditarod Education Portal - Iditarod Trail Committee

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3 to 12
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This section of the official Iditarod site offers free educational resources focused on the famous Alaskan sled dog race for students in grades 3-12. Explore a variety of lesson plans...more
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This section of the official Iditarod site offers free educational resources focused on the famous Alaskan sled dog race for students in grades 3-12. Explore a variety of lesson plans and activities that cover core subjects like math, science, social studies, and language arts through the lens of the Last Great Race on Earth. Additional features include a virtual museum, engaging articles written by K9 journalists, and a dedicated section for Teacher on the Trail updates that bring real-time race events into the classroom. Also available are printable worksheets, reading lists, and interactive tracking tools that allow students to follow individual mushers and their dog teams across the tundra. Make sure to check out the IditaRead program, which encourages students to reach their own reading goals by moving an avatar along checkpoints in the race.

tag(s): alaska (22), animals (279), iditarod (5)

In the Classroom

Bring the excitement of the Iditarod to life by having students participate in a cross-curricular simulation where they adopt a musher and track their progress using the site's live GPS maps. Enhance the experience by having students use Google Sheets, reviewed here, to record daily statistics such as miles traveled, weather conditions at checkpoints, and average speeds to create comparison graphs. For a language arts connection, ask students to write daily journal entries from the perspective of their musher or a sled dog, then compile these narratives into a digital book using Book Creator, reviewed here. Students can even record audio reflections or trail reports to embed within their digital books, allowing them to share their understanding of the physical and mental challenges faced during the race.
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Daily IQ - Infoplease

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4 to 12
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Infoplease's Daily IQ shares daily fun facts. Facts include: This Day in History, Word of the Day, Birthday of the Day, Analogy of the Day, News of the World, and ...more
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Infoplease's Daily IQ shares daily fun facts. Facts include: This Day in History, Word of the Day, Birthday of the Day, Analogy of the Day, News of the World, and Weather of the Day. Visit additional links on the site to view other recent content.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): history day (39), news (223), trivia (18), vocabulary (254), weather (174)

In the Classroom

Students can create a virtual bulletin board using Lino, reviewed here to share sentences using the Word of the Day. Students can compare and contrast weather from this day in history to today using the Interactive 2 Circle Venn Diagram by Read Write Think, reviewed here. Students can create their own Analogy of the Day to post on Google Slides, reviewed here.

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Google Fonts - Google

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K to 12
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Google Fonts is a free online library that allows teachers and students to browse, preview, and download hundreds of open-source fonts for use in documents, presentations, websites,...more
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Google Fonts is a free online library that allows teachers and students to browse, preview, and download hundreds of open-source fonts for use in documents, presentations, websites, and creative projects. The site makes it easy to search for fonts by style, language, or popularity, and users can use all fonts for free for school projects, print materials, or digital work. Because the fonts are free and easy to use, the site helps improve the design of slides, posters, reports, and multimedia projects while also introducing students to basic ideas about typography and visual communication.

tag(s): multilingual (83), presentations (35), Teacher Utilities (219)

In the Classroom

Give students words such as scary, funny, serious, or exciting. Students can choose fonts that match each mood and create a title using that font. Discuss how the look of the letters changes how the message feels, connecting to tone and the author's purpose. Have students take an old slide presentation or report and improve it by selecting better fonts for titles, headings, and body text. Teach students that font style can change meaning just like word choice. Have students create the same sentence in different fonts to convey different feelings or purposes, then share and discuss how the design affects understanding.

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Adobe Express Slow Motion Video - Adobe

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K to 12
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The Adobe Express slow-motion video tool allows teachers and students to easily change the speed of a video clip online without needing advanced editing software. Users can upload a...more
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The Adobe Express slow-motion video tool allows teachers and students to easily change the speed of a video clip online without needing advanced editing software. Users can upload a video, choose from different speed settings to slow down or speed up the clip, preview the changes, and download the finished video for sharing or further editing. This feature is part of the free Adobe Express video editor, which also includes options to trim clips, mute audio, and apply additional effects, making it useful for creating presentations, demonstrations, and student projects.

tag(s): creating media (17), digital storytelling (166), editing (93), stories and storytelling (77)

In the Classroom

Have students record short videos of fast actions, such as dropping a ball, snapping their fingers, or pouring water, and then use the slow-motion tool to analyze what really happens. They can write observations explaining what they notice in slow motion that they could not see at normal speed. Students can record themselves acting out a scene from a story or reading dialogue, then slow down parts to practice expression, pacing, and pronunciation. In PE, health, or science, students can record movements such as throwing, jumping, or balancing. Using slow motion, they study body position and explain how motion, force, or balance works.

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Buffer - Buffer

Grades
K to 12
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Buffer is a social media management platform that simplifies planning and sharing content across multiple networks. The free version allows you to connect up to three social media channels,...more
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Buffer is a social media management platform that simplifies planning and sharing content across multiple networks. The free version allows you to connect up to three social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn, and maintain a queue of ten scheduled posts per channel at any given time by clicking the Manage Channels button at the bottom of the dashboard and authorizing each platform. Navigate to the Posting Schedule under each channel's settings to designate specific days and times for your updates to go live automatically.

tag(s): communication (123), social media (63)

In the Classroom

Use Buffer as a time-saving resource to maintain a professional, consistent social media presence for a classroom or school organization without having to post manually throughout the day. Teachers can dedicate a single planning block to batch-scheduling a week's worth of reminders, student shout-outs, and curriculum updates, ensuring parents and the community stay informed. To create visuals for these updates, design custom graphics or short promotional clips using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here. Once these visuals are ready, users can upload them to Buffer with captions that link back to a more detailed classroom site created with Google Sites, reviewed here.

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The Frayer Model - A Tool to Explain Concepts - Byrdseed, LLC

Grades
K to 12
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Frayer Models are popular teaching tools. This article explains how to use Frayer Models to go beyond defining vocabulary and terms and to use them as a powerful method for ...more
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Frayer Models are popular teaching tools. This article explains how to use Frayer Models to go beyond defining vocabulary and terms and to use them as a powerful method for fully explaining concepts. The author shares a brief history of the introduction of Frayer Models, a video explanation of the concept, and many fully developed examples of how to explain concepts in depth using the four components of the Frayer Model. You can also download a free, ready-to-use PDF organizer template to get started in your classroom immediately.

tag(s): graphic organizers (58), professional development (321), thinking skills (125), visual thinking (16), vocabulary (254), vocabulary development (103)

In the Classroom

After spending time learning how to use Frayer Models to develop larger concepts, use this model to introduce big idea vocabulary or complex themes at the start of a new unit. Instead of a standard worksheet, have students collaborate on a digital version of the organizer. After exploring the characteristics of a concept on the site, students can build an interactive infographic using Genially reviewed here to visualize their definitions and examples with embedded media. For a math or science lesson, students could analyze a concept like polygons or mammals and then create a digital concept map in MindMup reviewed here to show how different subtopics branch off from the core definition. To wrap up the activity, have the class vote on the best non-examples provided by their peers to ensure everyone truly understands the term's boundaries.
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EduProtocol Video Playlist - Marlena Hebern

Grades
K to 12
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This YouTube playlist features instructional videos and demonstrations focused on EduProtocols, a set of free, customizable lesson frames designed to maximize student engagement and...more
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This YouTube playlist features instructional videos and demonstrations focused on EduProtocols, a set of free, customizable lesson frames designed to maximize student engagement and minimize teacher prep time. These strategies work across all grade levels and subject areas, shifting the focus from content delivery to active information processing. The videos break down popular protocols like the Fast and the Curious for vocabulary mastery, Iron Chef for collaborative research, and Cyber Sandwich for comparative writing. Each segment offers clear, step-by-step guidance on setting up the templates and implementing the routines in the classroom. Because these are hosted on YouTube, check to ensure your district doesn't block the site so you can access these helpful visual guides.
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tag(s): critical thinking (182), professional development (321), thinking skills (125), visual thinking (16)

In the Classroom

Use this playlist as a helpful tool to learn about and successfully implement EduProtocols in your classroom. Learn more about EduProtocols by watching the archive of OK2Ask: EduProtocols for Student Engagement & Choice reviewed here. Extend learning after using EduProtocols by using resources such as Snorkl reviewed here to record brief explanations of student thinking, allowing you to see their logic in real time and check for understanding.

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EduProtocol Plus Sampler - EduProtocols Plus

Grades
K to 12
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Access several support materials for EduProtocols with a free email signup to the EduProtocols Plus site. Materials include video and guiding documents for new users, eight lesson design...more
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Access several support materials for EduProtocols with a free email signup to the EduProtocols Plus site. Materials include video and guiding documents for new users, eight lesson design templates, book study materials, and more. The templates are available in Google Slides and include protocol directions, sample prompts, and a smart-start lesson plan. Sample live show recordings provide valuable visuals to help new (and returning) users plan and implement EduProtocols effectively to achieve deep student learning. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): critical thinking (182), teaching strategies (73), thinking routines (42), thinking skills (125), visual thinking (16)

In the Classroom

Learn more about EduProtocols by watching the archive of OK2Ask: EduProtocols for Student Engagement & Choice reviewed here. Some of the protocols ask students to add an image; consider creating a folder for students to access free, copyright-free images using pictures available from resources on TeachersFirst Special Topics Page: Free Image Resources reviewed here.

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Communicating with Clarity and Precision - scribd

Grades
4 to 8
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Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision is a discussion guide based on the Habits of Mind framework that helps students develop the ability to express ideas accurately,...more
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Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision is a discussion guide based on the Habits of Mind framework that helps students develop the ability to express ideas accurately, organize their thinking, and use precise language in speaking and writing. The guide focuses on avoiding vague or exaggerated statements and encourages students to support their ideas with clear explanations, specific details, and careful word choice. It includes reflection questions, discussion prompts, and activities that help students practice listening carefully, explain their reasoning, and improve communication skills important across all subject areas. These skills support critical thinking, reduce misunderstandings, and help students become more confident learners and communicators. The guide is available with a 30-day free trial, allowing educators to explore the Habits of Mind resources before subscribing.
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tag(s): thinking routines (42), thinking skills (125)

In the Classroom

Students can sort examples of clear and vague statements and rewrite the unclear ones using more precise language to help them understand the difference between general and specific communication. Teachers can have students participate in an "explain your thinking" activity in which they answer questions using complete sentences and include reasons or evidence to support their ideas. Include partner discussions in which one student explains a concept while the other asks clarifying questions to help make the explanation more accurate and detailed.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Thinking and Communicating with Clarity Discussion Guide - WonderGroveLearn

Grades
K to 3
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The Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision Discussion Guide is a resource designed to help students develop stronger communication and thinking skills through the Habits...more
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The Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision Discussion Guide is a resource designed to help students develop stronger communication and thinking skills through the Habits of Mind framework created by Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick. The discussion prompts and reflection questions encourage students to explain ideas, analyze language, and participate in structured conversations. The guide focuses on helping students organize their thinking, avoid vague language, and communicate ideas clearly in both speaking and writing. By emphasizing clarity and precision, the resource supports critical thinking, effective communication, and collaborative discussion in the classroom.

tag(s): thinking routines (42), thinking skills (125)

In the Classroom

Provide students with several sample statements that include vague language (for example, "The story was really good and had a lot of stuff happening"). In small groups, have students rewrite the sentences to make them clearer and more precise. Provide a short paragraph that includes unclear wording or unnecessary details. Students can work individually or in pairs to revise the paragraph so it communicates the message clearly and precisely. Ask students to reflect on a time when they had difficulty explaining an idea clearly. Students can write or discuss how using clearer language or more specific details could have improved the situation.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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