Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Curious about how to create instructional playlists that boost student engagement and autonomy? This professional learning module walks you through the what, why, and how of instructional playlists. First, you'll learn what playlists are and how they differ from traditional assignments. Then, explore the benefits of using playlists to personalize learning and increase student voice and choice. You'll also review key planning steps and see classroom examples in action. Finally, gather practical tips and templates to start building your instructional playlists. Use these resources to design flexible, student-centered lessons that support differentiation and deeper learning. This self-paced online unit offers a 1-hour professional development certificate.

tag(s): teaching strategies (57)

Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from July 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.

Explore how to use Google Sites to create dynamic digital learning environments that extend beyond the traditional classroom! During this session, we'll examine exemplary educational websites--from classroom hubs to student portfolios--to help you identify practical applications of this tool for your specific teaching context. Learn the pedagogical principles behind designing engaging, accessible digital environments and develop a personalized plan for implementing Google Sites that aligns with your curriculum needs and student learning goals. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Identify effective instructional applications of Google Sites for their specific teaching context. 2. Apply digital design principles that support student engagement and accessibility. 3. Create an implementation plan aligned with curriculum goals and student needs. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): Google (21), OK2Askarchive (71), professional development (273)

Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from July 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.

In today's digital classroom, visual literacy has become an essential skill for student success. This interactive workshop will equip educators with practical strategies for integrating high-quality, copyright-friendly images into student projects while teaching critical digital citizenship skills. You'll explore innovative tools that not only provide access to stunning visuals but also create opportunities for students to develop their creative communication skills. Discover how to design authentic learning experiences that empower students to become thoughtful content creators rather than passive content consumers. By engaging in hands-on exploration, you'll learn how to scaffold visual literacy concepts for diverse learners, implement effective copyright education, and assess student understanding of ethical image use. Join us to revolutionize how your students interact with and create visual content in your classroom! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Design learning experiences that incorporate copyright-friendly images to enhance student understanding and engagement. 2. Evaluate and select appropriate image tools that support curriculum goals and diverse learner needs. 3. Create scaffolded activities that develop students' visual literacy and creative communication skills. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): copyright (36), images (253), OK2Askarchive (71), professional development (273)

Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from July 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.

Unleash the power of digital storytelling in your classroom! In this hands-on workshop, you'll discover how this powerful instructional strategy amplifies student voice, deepens learning, and develops essential digital literacy skills. We'll focus on the crucial first stages of the storytelling process: ideation, research, scripting, and storyboarding. Through practical demonstrations of cutting-edge tools and collaborative activities, you'll gain the confidence to implement digital storytelling strategies that engage diverse learners, meet curriculum standards, and foster authentic learning experiences. Whether you teach science, language arts, social studies, or another subject, you'll leave with actionable strategies to help your students become masterful digital storytellers. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Design engaging digital storytelling projects that align with curriculum goals and support diverse learners. 2. Apply effective strategies for guiding students through ideation, research, scripting, and storyboarding. 3. Evaluate and select appropriate digital tools for the early phases of the storytelling process. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): digital storytelling (150), OK2Askarchive (71), professional development (273), stories and storytelling (65)

Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from July 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.

Effective vocabulary instruction is essential for academic success, but many students struggle to move terminology from short-term exposure to long-term retention. This workshop combines Marzano's research-based vocabulary strategies with engaging digital tools to create learning experiences that deepen understanding and application. You'll explore free, web-based resources that support concept development, visual representation, and self-assessment. Whether you're tech-savvy or still developing your skills, you'll leave with practical, classroom-ready activities to strengthen vocabulary instruction and boost student achievement. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Apply Marzano's six-step vocabulary acquisition model and use appropriate digital tools to move terminology from short-term to long-term memory. 2. Use free web-based tools to design interactive vocabulary activities that promote student collaboration and engagement. 3. Implement tech-enhanced formative assessments that provide immediate feedback on vocabulary comprehension. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): OK2Askarchive (71), professional development (273), reading strategies (87), vocabulary (240), vocabulary development (96)

Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from July 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.

Explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can streamline your teaching workflow and enhance instructional design. During this hands-on workshop, you'll learn practical strategies for using AI to automate time-consuming tasks like assessment creation and feedback generation while maintaining pedagogical control. Discover how to leverage AI as a thought partner for lesson planning, differentiation, and creating materials that engage diverse learners. Leave with ready-to-implement techniques for using AI to reclaim your time for what truly matters--building meaningful connections with students. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Implement AI-powered strategies to streamline administrative tasks, provide timely feedback, and create differentiated learning materials. 2. Evaluate and select appropriate AI tools based on instructional needs, ethical considerations, and pedagogical best practices. 3. Design AI-enhanced learning experiences that prioritize student agency and critical thinking while addressing diverse learning needs. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (217), OK2Askarchive (71), professional development (273)

The TeachersFirst Infusing Technology Blog offers a tagged list of resources related to the Science of Reading. This treasure trove of blog posts and resources brings research-based literacy practices to life across grade levels and subjects. Recent highlights include methods for making Shakespeare more accessible, strategies to integrate fluency and vocabulary across content areas, and engaging tech, powered oral language development activities, all rooted in the five pillars of reading (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). Whether you're teaching K-12 ELA, science, social studies, or language support, this collection provides educators with practical classroom tools, like digital storytelling, grammar workstations, and scaffolded discussion prompts, to help every student become a confident, skilled reader.

tag(s): blogs (69), fluency (27), reading comprehension (141), reading strategies (87), science of reading (35), vocabulary (240), vocabulary development (96)

Empower primary students through digital play! In celebration of National Kindergarten Day, this blog post emphasizes the importance of integrating literacy with other content areas and leveraging technology to support early learners. It introduces engaging, tech-powered strategies that blend reading skills with digital tools for phonemic awareness and sentence construction, as well as for vocabulary and syntax practice, and AI-driven apps like ReadAlong and Reading Coach to build fluency with immediate feedback. It also highlights the value of age-appropriate podcasts to develop listening comprehension and Teach Your Monster to Read for gamified phonics instruction. Together, these tools create a dynamic and supportive learning environment that nurtures young readers through intentional, personalized, and content-rich experiences.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (217), digital literacy (23), podcasts (137), preK (290)

This blog post highlights how the African American Read-In can be a powerful opportunity to strengthen students' oral language development, an essential component of the Science of Reading. While foundational skills like phonics and decoding are critical, students also need rich language experiences to become fluent, thoughtful readers. The blog shares creative, tech-friendly strategies across grade levels from elementary students retelling folktales using BookCreator, to middle schoolers podcasting about activism, to high schoolers debating literary themes or building historical timelines of African American poets. Each activity fosters confident speaking, narrative structure, and verbal reasoning, bringing student voice to the forefront as they celebrate African American literature.

tag(s): african american (117), blogs (69), digital literacy (23), digital storytelling (150), fluency (27), folktales (34), literacy (120), podcasts (137)

Inspired by Read Across America, this blog highlights how technology can meaningfully support reading instruction grounded in the Science of Reading framework. It emphasizes core components like phonemic awareness, morphology, fluency, and comprehension, while recognizing the need for student engagement and differentiation. The post introduces five practical tools and strategies: using Wordwall.net for sentence structure and morphology games, exploring Wordtorque's Building Bases Board for word analysis, and practicing grammar through No Red Ink and Khan Academy. These tools help teachers create independent workstations where students can receive tailored, interactive practice with immediate feedback, making reading instruction both rigorous and fun.

tag(s): blogs (69), differentiation (75), fluency (27), grammar (137), reading comprehension (141)

This blog post celebrates the power of student voice and offers four creative, cross-curricular activities designed to strengthen oral language skills across grade levels. Teachers can engage students through collaborative storytelling using Padlet, art description with Adobe Animate, living history monologues via Vocaroo, and scientific presentations on Presentio.us. Each activity blends speaking, creativity, and content knowledge while providing flexible differentiation for elementary through high school students, including multilingual learners. With a focus on expressive communication, vocabulary development, and higher-order thinking, these strategies help students become confident, articulate communicators across subjects.

tag(s): blogs (69), digital storytelling (150), multilingual (74), vocabulary development (96)

Think reading is just the English teacher's job? Think again! This blog post from TeachersFirst's Infusing Technology Blog urges all secondary educators to embrace the Science of Reading, especially the often-overlooked skill of fluency. Many students in middle and high school silently struggle with comprehension because their reading fluency hasn't been nurtured. The post offers practical ways to integrate fluency checks into any subject, such as one-minute oral readings or short recorded assignments. These simple strategies can help teachers across disciplines support literacy and unlock deeper learning for all students.

tag(s): blogs (69), fluency (27), reading comprehension (141), science of reading (35)