July 19, 2026

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Featured EDTECH Resources Reviewed by TeachersFirst

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Recharge Room

Teachers give so much to others, and no matter which season you're in right now (back to school or still enjoying summer break), you deserve a moment to pause, recharge, and reconnect with why you love this work. We’re sharing a curated mix of resources for wherever you are: podcasts for your commute or your lounge chair, playlists for your planning period or your porch, articles worth a coffee break, and a few brain break games and logic puzzles to share with your students (or keep for yourself). Because taking care of you isn't a luxury—it's what makes everything else possible.


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Share your thoughts with our community

Weekly Poll

This week, our poll asks, "What's your go-to self-care move after a long day?" Once you click submit, you can view the responses of other educators.

Reply here »

Grades K-12

50 Self-Care Ideas for Teachers

Discover an article and a printable list of simple, practical self-care ideas that teachers and school staff can use every day. It's perfect for posting in the staff lounge, sharing with colleagues, or turning into a fun school-wide wellness challenge.

Grades K-12

0h h1

Use this quick logic puzzle (a color pattern game) as a screen-based mental reset you can turn to between classes or during a planning period—a few minutes of focused, low-pressure problem-solving to quiet a busy mind and recharge.

Grades K-12

The Resilient Teacher Podcast

Listen to this podcast designed to give overwhelmed educators support, tools, and mindsets to reduce burnout. Each week, Brittany and her guests share inspiration and actionable steps to help teachers individualize self-care and prioritize well-being.

Grades K-12

A Teacher's Pump-Up Playlist to Get You Through Your Day

Some days are just tough, and you need a pick-me-up to get through. This high-energy playlist includes motivational songs that are sure to keep you going. Each song on the list includes a video link, so turn up the volume and enjoy!

Grades K-12

Blob Opera

This playful AI tool lets you drag colorful blobs to create real-time opera harmonies—no singing skills required. It's a fun, no-pressure brain break teachers can use between tasks to laugh, play, and reset for a few creative minutes.

Grades K-12

Self-Care Tips For Teachers That You've Never Heard Before

This video highlights essential self-care tips that can help teachers prevent burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. It encourages setting a designated "late day" for planning, establishing "no working days" to protect personal time, and more.

Grades K-12

Logic Games

This collection of quick, free logic and puzzle games—like mahjong, word puzzles, and brain teasers—offers teachers an easy way to step away, reset their minds, and enjoy a few minutes of low-pressure play between lessons or during a break.

Grades K-12

Teacher Self-Care Bingo

This printable bingo board turns self-care into a game, with squares like treating yourself, drinking water, and connecting with a colleague. Teachers can play solo or with friends, checking off small, feel-good habits for a fun, low-pressure boost.

Grades K-12

What is Teacher Self-Care, and How Do You Practice It?

This article explains what self-care is and why it matters for educators. It offers practical daily habits like gratitude journaling, walks in nature, and connecting with loved ones, as well as classroom activities to teach students about self-care.

Grades K-12

Drench

This simple color-flooding puzzle challenges you to drench the entire board in a single color within a limited number of moves. It's a quick, mindless-yet-satisfying brain break educators can use to unplug for a minute and reset their focus.

This Week at TeachersFirst

We’re excited to invite you to attend a variety of virtual workshops this week! Join us for one session or all six. We’re also sharing a related blog post and a curated collection of even more self-care resources for educators, just in time for International Self-Care Day on Friday, July 24.


  OK2Ask: Smarter Study Tools: Transforming Content with NotebookLM image

Tuesday, 7/21, 6 PM ET

OK2Ask: Smarter Study Tools: Transforming Content with NotebookLM

NotebookLM lets educators upload their own materials to create study guides, audio overviews, timelines, and Q&A tools. In this session, participants get hands-on guided practice and will leave with at least one ready-to-use resource.

Register now »


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Wednesday, 7/22, 6 PM ET

OK2Ask: Establishing Predictable Routines for Student Success

This session explores two research-informed frameworks for building high-impact instructional routines: EduProtocols, which give teachers repeatable lesson structures that students internalize over time; and Project Zero thinking routines.

Register now »


  OK2Ask: Canva Basics: Creating Classroom-Ready Learning Materials image

Thursday, 7/23, 11 AM ET

OK2Ask: Canva Basics: Creating Classroom-Ready Learning Materials

In this hands-on, beginner-friendly session, participants will explore Canva for Education—a free, browser-based design tool and time-saving solution for creating polished, classroom-ready learning materials—and create their own authentic project.

Register now »


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Thursday, 7/23, 1:30 PM ET

OK2Ask: Designing Meaningful Gamified Learning Experiences

Gain clarity on what gamification actually is (and isn't), explore the research-backed mechanics behind effective gamified design, and leave with practical, equity-conscious strategies you can apply immediately—with or without technology.

Register now »


  OK2Ask: Designing Structured Discussions with KialoEdu image

Thursday, 7/23, 3 PM ET

OK2Ask: Designing Structured Discussions with KialoEdu

This session explores how to design structured, argument-based discussions using KialoEdu—a free, no-student-account-required platform that organizes dialogue into a visual argument tree. Learn how Kialo's thesis/pro/con format supports deeper reasoning.

Register now »


  OK2Ask: Video Basics: Designing Instructional Videos for Learning image

Thursday, 7/23, 4:30 PM ET

OK2Ask: Video Basics: Designing Instructional Videos for Learning

Discover what makes a video a true learning object! In this session, participants will explore the research-grounded principles behind effective instructional video design and learn to apply them using free tools already available to most educators.

Register now »


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Infusing Technology Blog

If You Haven’t Looked at TeachersFirst Lately, Start Here!

One excellent way to savor some self-care is to learn how to find free materials that save you time and sanity when the new year begins. Take a moment to read this new blog post highlighting the many free resources available on TeachersFirst.

Discover books, maps, articles, and more »


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Special Topics Collection

Self-Care for Educators

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.

Enjoy even more resources related to nurturing educators »

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About TeachersFirst
TeachersFirst is a collection of curated, classroom-ready content and ideas — including teacher-authored reviews of thousands of web resources. Built-in guidance from seasoned professionals makes effective classroom technology use trouble-free. TeachersFirst is made available free to K12 teachers by The Source for Learning, Inc., a nonprofit that has been providing educational resources for more than 40 years.