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Google Tips and Tricks

Google Templates for Students

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

Sometimes, a content area teacher may not want to worry with the trouble of having students start a technology project from scratch. Instead, he or she may want to use an already-prepared template so that students can focus more on the content than on the mechanics of the technology. Here are some great Google templates for students to use either as their project starting block or for ideas. Note: Make sure you make a copy of the template before you begin using it!

Cross-Curricular Resources

  • Ask and Respond Template – Use this template and Google Slides to get information from your students about something they’ve read or studied, what they’re thinking, or their favorite band.
  • Baseball Review Game – This great review game in Google Slides is technically for teachers and not students. But it was so great that I just had to share it with you.
  • BreakoutEDU Student Reflection – The most critical part of any breakout is the reflection done by the students at the end. This is a nice template to help them with that process.
  • Build a Jack-o-Lantern – Carve a pumpkin with this Google Slides deck.
  • Class Twitter Account – This Sheets template provides a way to manage Tweets sent out by your students from your classroom Twitter account.
  • Collaborative Yearbook – Let your students celebrate their school year by creating a Google Slide yearbook together.
  • Flippity – Flippity provides nine different templates that are designed more for teacher use, but could also be used by students. All of them take data from a Google Sheet and transform the information. My favorite is the Mad Libs one.
  • General Resources and Templates – There are a ton of different templates available at this website, including a cartoon template, a character map, Cornell note-taking form, and an iPhone Message template that could be great to have students create a conversation between two literary or historical characters.
  • Google Drawings Chess and Checkers – If only as a way to have students learn more about how Drawings works, these templates are a valuable classroom addition.
  • Google Drive Mastery – Gamify student mastery of Google Drive with this template.
  • Graphic Organizers – There are 30 different graphic organizers in this collection for Google Drawings.
  • Greeting Cards – Use Google Drawings to have your students create wonderful holiday greeting cards.
  • Infographic Templates – Eight different templates for creating beautiful infographics are available. Infographics are an excellent way for students to organize and summarize key information that they’ve learned.
  • Jigsaw Activity Template– Use this Google Slides template whenever students are placed in groups for a jigsaw learning activity.
  • Meme Template – There’s nothing students love more than creating memes. Turn them to an education use by having them create one that demonstrates their learning using this Google Drawings template.
  • More than 40 Google Drawings Templates – These are amazing templates that are perfect for students of all ages in math, ELA, science, and notetaking/organizing information.
  • Motivational Poster Template in Google Drawings – Have your students use either the horizontal or the vertical poster to share a favorite quote, a main idea, or something important to them.
  • New Templates from Google – Google has released a variety of new templates, including a nice book report template from Reading Rainbow.
  • Personalized Scratch-Off Templates – This website offers a fun and easy way to create personalized scratch-off cards that can be printed. The template is included.
  • Power Up Your Spring with Flowers – Use Google Slides to help your students create beautiful flowers for a special someone. Have them list words that describe their creations or, for older students, have them create a poem or short story about them.
  • Print Custom Sticky Notes – This great resource from Tony Vincent includes a Google Slides template along with specific instructions on how you can design and print your own sticky notes.
  • Problem/Solution – Works great for makerspaces or real-life problems students are trying to solve.
  • Stop Motion Animation with Google Slides – This innovative idea has hundreds of potential uses in the classroom.
  • Tammy Worcester Tang’s Favorite Templates – Our favorite convention speaker, Tammy, has 40 templates perfect for student use.
  • Topic vs. Topic Infographic – Use this topic to have students create an infographic sharing the differences between two concepts.
  • Twitter Fictional Account Template – Use this Google Drawing template to have students create fictional Twitter accounts for literary characters, famous people in history, scientists, and more. The creator of this template also offers an infographic template, Harry Potter’s Daily Prophet newspaper, templates for Time Magazine and National Geographic, and a comic book template.
  • Vocabulary Slide Deck – This great template based on the Frayer model is a perfect way to learn any new words.
  • Wanted Poster – This template is perfect for learning about famous people in history or characters in literature.

Did You Know?

TCEA offers amazing learning events for educators to level up their learning. Learn more about our events.

Elementary Templates

  • Elementary Student Newspaper – This is the perfect way for elementary students to create a classroom or project newspaper. It includes room for several articles, ads or quotes, graphics, and even a graph. The template is available for both a one-page and a two-page newspaper. Older students may use this template with four articles and accompanying graphics. If your students need to create a newspaper about colonial times, this template and accompanying rubric will work well.
  • Leprechaun Scene – This activity has younger students create a scene with the drawing, graph their items, and complete word/number sentences.
  • One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish Sorting Template – Have your elementary students do this fun activity to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2.
  • Pattern Block Templates and Activities – Google Drawing makes this template very easy to use for both you and your students.
  • Pixel Art Template – This template, at its simplest level, is a paint-by-number activity great for younger students. At its more complex, students can use the template to create fun pixel art.
  • Presidents Day Hyperdoc – This great template for grades K-2 is perfect for February.
  • Super Digital Citizen – Have your students in grades 2-5 practice their digital citizenship with this innovative template.
  • Self Evaluation – This is a very simple evaluation form for elementary students to complete about themselves. It asks them “How is it going for you?” in several different subjects: writing, reading, and math.

English/Language Arts

  • Build a Snowman and Write a Story – This is a simple to use template in Google Slides that lets students get creative while building a snowman and then describing it, for vocabulary practice, or writing a story about the snowman. You can use the same idea with anything that students can build, from the parts of a plant to a gingerbread house.
  • Cloze Test Generator – Scroll to the bottom of this page to download a copy of a great cloze activity template in Sheets.
  • Frayer Model Vocabulary – Allows students to use words, definitions, and drawings to learn vocabulary words.
  • Prediction Chart – Ask students to make predictions before and after reading a book.
  • Reading Chart – Use Google Forms to create a live reading log. Instructions are available here (scroll down to the third activity).
  • Reading and Writing Tools – Here are 12 more templates perfect for the ELA classroom. They include different charts and concept maps, as well as a plot diagram and a journal.
  • Shades of Meaning Linear Array – Show how five words are interconnected.
  • Short Story Graphic Organizer – This Google Slides template helps students to organize their thoughts when writing a short story.
  • Springtime Magnetic Poetry – Have your students create wonderful poems about spring using Google Drawings.
  • St. Patrick’s Day Magnet Poetry with Google Slides – This template includes more than 60 words and phrases that students can use to create fun poetry or a story.
  • Valentine’s Magnetic Poetry with Google Drawings – This idea of using Drawings to create a template with words that students can use to create their own poetry is genius. You can reuse the basic template for other holidays and themes, simply changing the graphics to match.
  • Writing Prompts – With these templates, you have a choice of writing prompts with pictures or journal templates with blank layouts. As always, make sure to Make a Copy of the template before you begin using it.

Mathematics

  • Adding Fractions – Basic showing of how to add fractions
  • Analyzing Shoe Sizes – The “Analyzing Shoe Sizes” activity contains many mathematical concepts and student activities for students to complete.  Ideally, this activity would be appropriate for students in the 6th through 8th grade using Google Slides.
  • Area of Shapes Scavenger Hunt – Using Google Slides, students can document shapes they find around them and then calculate the perimeter and area of those shapes.
  • Battlesheets – Have your students practice grid coordinates and logical thinking as they play the familiar Battleship game in Google Sheets.
  • Discovering Pi with Google Sheets – Eric Curts provides another excellent lesson and template. In this lessons, students “measure real life circular objects, examine some calculations, look for patterns, and discover what Pi is and what it means.”
  • Division Brownies – This fun template will help students solve a very real-world problem of how to fairly divide a pan (or pans) of brownies.
  • Exploring Surface Area – This is an excellent template with lessons for exploring surface area using Google Slides.
  • Exploring Tangrams with Google Drawings – This site includes a free blank template with all the tangram pieces already created, a dozen pre-made tangram puzzles to solve, and detailed directions on how to manipulate the shapes using tools in Google Drawings and create your own tangram puzzles.
  • Frieze Patterns – Illustrate reflection, translation, and rotation.
  • Game-Based Learning with Google Slides: Coordinate Plane Battleship – This is a great way to incorporate some fun into Algebra class.
  • Google Graph Paper for Math – If you’re a math teacher, you will love these seven different templates for graph paper.
  • Interactive Clock Face – This is a really clever template that lets students learn about telling time using an analog clock and two interactive hands.
  • Math Dice – This is a great game for elementary students to play.
  • Tessalations
  • Word Problem – Allows students to create their own problems and illustrate them.

Templates for Science/Social Studies

  • Drag and Drop Solar System – Allows students to group the planets in different ways as they learn about the solar system.
  • Exploring Human Heredity – High school students work in groups of three to investigate human heredity with this template.
  • Historical Facebook – Students can plan a “fake” Facebook page for a historical figure. A literary Facebook template is also available.
  • Historical Tweets – Using this Google Slide template, students can create “fake” Tweets from historic (or literary) figures they are studying.
  • Infographics Toolbox – Challenge your older students to take existing data they would normally just read over and create amazing infographics highlighting key points with this beautiful template.
  • Labeling – The example is the parts of the brains. But students could use any subject.
  • Map of the United States – Use this colorful map of the US to study any type of geographic, political, or historical data.
  • Planet Research – Help students know what kind of information to gather while studying the planets.
  • Virtual Museum – Have students create their own museums to showcase their learning with Google Slides.

Technology Applications – To help your students master Google apps, you can use the Google Docs Scavenger Hunt and the Google Slide Scavenger Hunt.

For one final all-encompassing resource, be sure to check out this Wakelet of Twitter-sourced resources for students to use. These are all for Google Slides.

If you would like to learn how to create your own templates in Docs, this four-minute video is perfect. And learn how to take basic templates to the next level with HyperDocs – an innovative lesson in Google Docs that contains everything the student will need. You can find additional HyperDocs by searching the hashtag #hyperdocs in Twitter.

(Update: Additional resources for this blog were added on January 22, 2020.)

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Image of a Chromebook
Google Tips and Tricks

Five Google Drive Tips You Should Try

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

Google Drive has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it? If you asked me to name an application I use every day, Google Drive would be at the top of the list. It’s one of those tools that’s so useful and extensive. Did you know you that you can create badges right inside Google Drive? Or did you know that you can access your Google Drive files without having an Internet connection? Learn about these tips and more below.

Tip #1 – Analyze Data in Google Sheets with One Click
With a recent addition of the Explore feature in Google Sheets, you can now analyze your data with just one click. Just highlight the data in your Google Sheet and then click the Explore tab in the bottom right corner to instantly create charts and see an analysis of your data. If you make changes to the data, the Explore view will update and adjust in real time. This is a tremendous tool for having students analyze data and not spend so much time inputting it.

Tip #2 – Gamify Your Classroom with Google Drawing
At a recent TCEA Lunch and Learn, tools were shared to gamify your classroom. If you know anything about gamification, you know it consists of adding game elements to a non-game situation. It introduces concepts like badges, levels, and points to the classroom. Google Drawing is a great tool to use if you have ever thought about creating your own badges. It is simple and easy to use, and you can even collaborate with others to get your badge created in no time.

Tip #3 – Find and Insert Copyright-Free Images in Google Docs
One of the challenges in education is finding copyright-free images to use in daily student work. Google has a collection they provide free to anyone. While in Google Docs, click on Insert, Image, and then click on the Search link. The option to search Google, Life, or stock images will appear. Google restricts the results to images licensed as Creative Commons.

Tip #4 – Collect Digital Exit Tickets with Google Forms
When you reflect on the day’s lesson, do you often wonder if your students “got it?” If so, collecting exit information from students will help answer this question. Google Forms is a fantastic tool to use to collect responses from students. Your form can simply be re-used from class to class and contain questions such as “What did you learn today?” or “Do you have any questions?”

Tip #5 – Access your Google Drive Files without the Internet
Internet outages shouldn’t prevent you from working. Just set up offline access so you can access and edit your files at any time. While in Drive, click on the Gear icon and scroll to Settings. Under General, check the box next to Offline.

If you want more Google tips, join us monthly for the free-to-member webinar series Get Your Google On. They are held the first Thursday of each month. Register for them today!

Featured Image: Chromebook by Melk Hagelslag from Pixabay

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ELAREnglish Language ArtsESL/ELL

SIOP Model and Digital Tools

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

How do you integrate language and content instruction? One established approach is the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model. Let’s see how SIOP phases align with different learning intentions and instructional strategies and discover digital tools to support your teaching.

A Quick Overview of the SIOP Model

Let’s take a moment to review key areas of the SIOP model. The authors (Echevarria, Vogt, Short) designed it to support English language learners (ELLs). The SIOP model has eight inter-related components. Those components include the following:

  • Lesson preparation. Teachers create lessons that include content and language objectives.
  • Building background. This involves connecting new concepts to students’ personal experiences and prior knowledge.
  • Comprehensible input. Teachers use a variety of techniques to make content easy to understand for learners. These can include speaking in a clear way, using visuals, and hands-on activities.
  • Strategies. These strategies include teaching and modeling learning strategies to help students process and retain information.
  • Interaction. This involves giving students opportunities to practice language skills in a safe, supportive environment.

Below is a diagram I made to capture my understanding of the SIOP model (view full-size | get a copy):

Benefits of the SIOP Model

Many benefits have been ascribed to the SIOP model. You can find a round-up of them online at Jana Echevarria’s website. Here are a few:

  • Gains in academic achievement (source)
  • Development of personal and academic language skills (source)
  • Active participation and increased engagement
  • Differentiation aligned to students’ diverse needs and proficiency levels

What’s more, the SIOP model is often a go-to approach for supporting language learners. Echevarria makes the following point on her website linked above:

…SIOP instruction is making a positive learning difference for multilingual learners and other students who are in the classrooms. Teachers can learn to implement the model to a high degree with ongoing PD and support. No one is disadvantaged by SIOP instruction; rather, the focus on academic literacy and scaffolded instruction helps all students learn academic English and grade-level, content curricula better (source).

Now that you have a clear understanding of the phases of the SIOP model, let’s explore how it aligns to learning intentions. I’m curious to connect it to Hattie’s Visible Learning as well as Mike Bell’s The Fundamentals of Teaching.

Understanding SIOP Phases and Learning Intentions

As you may recall, learning intentions refer to what your intent is for students to learn. Having an awareness of your learning intensions, as well as what phase of learning students are in, can be useful. It’s useful because it enables you and students to choose specific high-effect instructional strategies. These strategies are often grouped according to three phases of learning:

  • Surface learning
  • Deep learning
  • Transfer learning

John Hattie points out the following when choosing what strategy works best to impact learning:

“What and when are equally important when it comes to instruction that has an impact on learning. Approaches that facilitate students’ surface-level learning do not work equally well for deep learning, and vice versa. Matching the right approach with the appropriate phase of learning is the critical lesson to be learned.”

With this in mind, it’s important to match high-effect size instructional strategies to the appropriate phase of learning students are in. To determine what phase of learning students are in, you will want to take advantage of formative assessments. What’s more, being aware of what your learning intention is for students can inform your next steps. Let’s briefly explore these points aligned to the SIOP model.

Lesson Preparation: Building the Foundation

“I use Quizlet to create interactive flashcards for key terms. It’s a game-changer for vocabulary retention!” says Mrs. Johnson, a 5th-grade teacher. In this initial phase, focus on surface learning through direct instruction and vocabulary programs. Both direct instruction and vocabulary programs are appropriate to use in this phase of learning (Surface Learning).

Surface learning is important because it is a critical step towards transfer learning:

…the process of developing sufficient surface knowledge to then move to deeper understanding such that one can appropriately transfer this learning to new tasks and situations. (Source: Hattie, Fisher, Frey in Visible Learning for Literacy)

To assist students in connecting the dots, it’s important to consider students’ prior knowledge. As Mike Bell, The Fundamentals of Teaching, puts it, “No one can learn anything if they cannot link it to something they already know.” On his website, Bell quotes psychologist David Ausubel:

If I had to reduce all of educational psychology to just one principle, I would say this: The most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows. Ascertain this and teach him accordingly.

David Ausubel as cited

Our theory of the world, also known as our “schema,” is what makes up our prior knowledge. It is so important that Mike Bell enshrines it as the first step in his five step teaching approach. He encourages teachers to assess prior knowledge, as well as fill in missing knowledge.

Did You Know?
You can watch a TCEA Lunch and Learn on Prior Knowledge via the TCEA Community. Follow this link, then enter your login credentials to access. Not a TCEA member yet? Join.

A part of presenting new material (step two in his five-step process) involves linking new information to prior knowledge, using advance organizers, and connecting the abstract to the concrete. To put it simply, it involves connecting the dots.

Building Background: Connecting the Dots

“I love using Mindmeister for collaborative mind mapping,” says Mr. Rodriguez, a high school history teacher. “It helps students visualize connections between new concepts and what they already know.” In Mike Bell’s book, The Fundamentals of Teaching, memory is explained as a link to component parts of that memory. The component parts include our emotions, colors, shapes, tactile feelings. The network of links is the schema.

If some of the new concepts are held in long-term memory, “it takes less space in working memory.” You can see how someone can liken the responsibilities of a president to that of a parental guardian.

Mnemonics and integrating prior knowledge are crucial here. A key component is connecting the dots through graphical organizers, modelled and worked examples, as well as meta-cognitive tasks. Students can use graphic organizers and modeled examples to better understand and retain new information. They do this when they link new concepts to what they already know. This approach also enhances metacognitive skills. It helps them become more aware of their thinking.

As you can imagine, the SIOP model seeks to encompass this cognitive work. It covers critical steps of learning, such as:

  • Activating and assessing prior knowledge
  • Presenting new knowledge
  • Setting challenging tasks that involve collaboration, thinking, and examples
  • Providing feedback to learners for improvement, as well as questioning
  • Spaced repetition and deliberate practice

Connecting the dots takes advantage of several strategies that encouraging making connections. Those connections happen between prior and new knowledge, which lays the groundwork for deep learning phase of learning.

SIOP Phase with Learning Intention

Take a look at this chart and how it matches SIOP model phases with learning intentions, strategies, and digital tools.

SIOP PhaseLearning IntentionInstructional StrategiesDigital ToolsExample
Lesson PreparationSurface LearningDirect Instruction (.56), Vocabulary Programs (.62)Quizlet, KahootUsing Quizlet to create flashcards for key vocabulary terms
Building BackgroundSurface LearningMnemonics (.65), Integrate with Prior Knowledge (.93)Padlet, yED Live, Cmap ToolsCreating a mind map on yEd Live to connect new concepts with prior knowledge
Comprehensible InputSurface LearningRepeated Reading Programs (.80), Questioning (.49)Newsela, EdpuzzleUsing Edpuzzle to embed comprehension questions in a video lesson
StrategiesDeep LearningMetacognition Strategies (.52), Critical Thinking (.84)Padlet Video Recording, SocrativeStudents using video to explain their problem-solving process
InteractionDeep LearningClassroom Discussion (.82), Reciprocal Teaching (.74)Zoom breakout rooms, Canva Whiteboard, MiroFacilitating small group discussions in Zoom breakout rooms using a collaborative whiteboard
Practice & ApplicationTransfer LearningProblem-Solving Teaching (.68), Transfer Strategies (.86)Scratch, Minecraft Education, MinetestStudents applying coding concepts learned in class to create a game in Scratch or virtual world in Minetest
Lesson DeliveryDeep LearningElaboration and organization (.75), Concept Mapping (.62)Pear Deck, NearpodUsing Pear Deck to create interactive presentations with embedded formative assessments
Review & AssessmentTransfer LearningSelf-Reported Grades (1.33), Self-Judgement and Reflection (.81)Google Forms, SeesawStudents reflecting on their learning progress using a digital portfolio in Seesaw

Comprehensible Input: Ensuring Understanding

Repeated reading programs and strategic questioning enhance comprehension. Consider using Edpuzzle to embed questions in video lessons, promoting active engagement with content. Comprehensible input is a concept first suggested by Stephen Krashen. It exposes students to linguistic input slightly above their current language level (i+1). The reason for this is that i+1 allows learners to understand the new input. Strategic questioning can scaffold this process.

Use strategic questioning to do the following:

  • Get responses from students at their current level and slightly beyond. For example, a current level question might be, “What is the main character’s name?” An i+1 example might be “How might the main character’s actions influence the story’s outcome?”
  • Tailor questions to target specific language structures or vocabulary. For teaching past tense, an example might be “What did the protagonist do after he discovered the secret door?”
  • Ensure that question complexity is adjusted to ensure input remains at the optimal i+1 level. To adjust a question’s complexity, go from simple to complex. For example, shift from “Can you describe the setting of the story?” to “How does the setting contribute to the overall mood of the narrative?”

Both strategies (repeated reading and strategic questioning) can be useful in ensuring understanding.

Diving Deeper: Strategies and Interaction

Fostering Critical Thinking

Metacognitive strategies and critical thinking activities are key for deep learning. “I use Padlet Video to have students explain their problem-solving process. It’s amazing to see their metacognition in action!” says middle school science teacher, Ms. Lee. To encourage metacognition, consider using check-ins to enhance learning. According to Schraw (1998 as cited), checking in stimulates learners’ self-reflection on their own understanding. This, of course, leads to increased metacognitive awareness (source).

Promoting Meaningful Interaction

Classroom discussions and reciprocal teaching strategies encourage student engagement. You can use Zoom breakout rooms for small group discussions and collaborative whiteboards for idea sharing.

Applying Knowledge: Practice and Transfer

In applying knowledge phase, students are expected to apply what they have learned to new situations. In transfer learning, students apply what has been learned to novel situations. This may involve metacognition, collaboration, and problem-solving. This can be done in a variety of ways, including:

“Building virtual worlds has been fantastic for my students to apply coding concepts in a creative way,” notes Mr. Thompson, a technology integration specialist. One example could involve using virtual world building through Minetest or Minecraft. Other activities like story bins can also work well.

Stages of the Engineering Design Process

Public View Link | Template Link

Delivering Lessons and Assessing Progress

Facilitating lesson delivery often involves a dash of direct instruction, hands-on activities, classroom discussion. Through it all, the teacher is working to assess the level of understanding students have in the midst of a conversation.

Effective Lesson Delivery

Use elaboration, organization, and concept mapping to deepen understanding. Try Pear Deck for interactive presentations with embedded formative assessments. For example, when teaching photosynthesis, you can compare it to a factory taking in raw materials and outputting products:

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis as a process can be a model for making widgets in a factory:

As you can see, concept maps can assist students in connect new information in such a way as to facilitate deeper comprehension. The visual structure can make it easier for students to see relationships. Tools like Pear Deck can integrate concept maps into interactive presentations. When students make their own diagrams, the diagrams reveal gaps in understanding. Teachers can look at what’s missing from the students’ view of a concept. Then, they can work to provide experiences that enable the student to learn.

Review and Self-Assessment

“I use Seesaw for digital portfolios. It’s an excellent tool for students to track and reflect on their progress over time,” suggests one elementary school teacher. When considering review and self-assessment, other strategies are also helpful. Two include self-reported grades and reflection for transfer learning.

Let’s consider some guided activities and see how they connect to the SIOP model phases.

SIOP Model Activity Examples

Here are some activity examples that match a particular SIOP model phase.

ActivityDescriptionSIOP Phase
Vocabulary BingoCreate digital bingo cards with key termsLesson Preparation
Concept ConnectionUse mind mapping tools to link new and prior knowledgeBuilding Background
Video Quiz CreationEmbed questions in educational videosComprehensible Input
Think-Aloud RecordingsHave students record their problem-solving processStrategies
Virtual JigsawAssign topics to groups for research and presentationInteraction
Real-World Application ProjectDesign projects applying learned concepts to real scenariosPractice & Application
Interactive LectureCreate engaging presentations with built-in assessmentsLesson Delivery
Learning JournalImplement digital portfolios for ongoing reflectionReview & Assessment

Additional Resources

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10 Critical Thinking Skills for Elementary Students including Activities
Uncategorized

10 Critical Thinking Skills for Elementary Learners

by Sara Qualls
written by Sara Qualls

As students dive into the complexities of the world, it’s crucial to equip elementary learners with strong critical thinking skills. One study shows that developing these skills can really boost students’ academic performance and problem-solving abilities. 

When we foster these skills early, we’re setting up our young learners to analyze information, make smart decisions, and adapt to new situations with confidence and creativity. So, let’s jump in and check out some critical thinking skills activities that can help spark curiosity and strengthen these essential skills in elementary students! 

Fostering Adaptability in Elementary School

Adaptability is the ability to embrace new ideas and adjust perspectives based on fresh evidence or insights.

Imagine being a superhero, using your powers to tackle various challenges—that’s the essence of adaptability! For young learners, developing this crucial skill helps them navigate new situations, embrace change, and recover from setbacks. As they learn to adjust their approaches, they build confidence and resilience that will benefit them throughout their lives. Here are some engaging activities designed to foster adaptability skills in elementary students.

Adaptability Activities for Elementary School

Flexible Schedule
Allow students to create their own schedule for a day or a week, but introduce changes along the way (e.g., shifting activities around). This helps them practice adjusting their plans and managing time effectively, giving them a realistic glimpse into daily life!

Team Building Games: Engage students in activities like or “Tower Building” with limited materials. As they work together, introduce new rules or challenges to see how they adapt their strategies.

Mystery Object
Present an object and ask students to come up with multiple uses for it. This fosters flexibility in thinking and encourages them to view challenges from different angles. You might be surprised by the imaginative solutions they come up with.

Bonus: Solo-Cup Engineering Challenge

Enhancing Analysis Skills in Elementary Students

Analysis is the ability to break down complex information into smaller parts, identifying patterns and relationships.

Imagine taking a complex puzzle and breaking it into manageable pieces—now that’s a skill to cherish! It’s all about spotting patterns and relationships that help clarify the big picture. For elementary learners, developing analysis and critical thinking skills is crucial; it empowers them to ask questions, solve problems, and think independently. Here are some fun activities designed to help young students build this essential, future-ready skill. Let’s jump in!

Analysis Activities for Elementary School

Story Mapping
Have students create a visual map of a story, identifying characters, setting, problem, and resolution. This helps them break down and analyze the narrative structure. Plus, it’s a creative way for them to visualize the story elements and see how they connect!

Compare and Contrast
Provide two similar books or stories and ask students to identify differences and similarities in themes, characters, and settings. They can use a Venn diagram to organize their thoughts. This activity not only sharpens their analytical skills but also encourages lively discussions about what makes each story unique. You can find tools to create your own Venn diagrams here.

Data Sorting
Use a simple dataset (like class survey results) and have students categorize the data, creating graphs or charts to represent their findings. This hands-on activity allows them to engage with real information, making analysis feel relevant and exciting!

Bonus: Make”Choose Your Own Adventure” Stories with Google Forms and AI

Collaborative Learning for Elementary Students

Collaboration is working effectively with others, sharing ideas, and integrating different perspectives to reach a common goal.

Imagine a group of young explorers navigating a treasure map together—that’s the essence of collaboration for elementary students! For young learners, developing collaboration skills is essential as it empowers them to communicate, share ideas, and build strong relationships. By fostering collaboration early on, students lay the groundwork for teamwork in future endeavors. Here are some impactful activities designed to cultivate collaboration skills in elementary learners.

Collaboration Activities for Elementary School

There are many ways to use story dice to promote creativity, writing skills, and more in the classroom.

Group Story Creation
Have students sit in a circle and collaboratively create a story, with each student contributing a sentence. This encourages them to listen to each other and build on ideas, fostering communication and teamwork. Try using Story Dice to engage your students.

Team Building Games
Organize simple team-building games, “Pass the Hula Hoop,” that require students to work together to achieve a goal. These activities promote trust and cooperation among classmates. A favorite activity from young learners to adults is Save Fred. Give it a go!

Collaborative Art Project
Provide a large piece of paper or canvas for a group art project where each student adds their own element. This encourages creativity and collaboration as they negotiate how to combine their ideas into a cohesive piece.

Bonus: Friendship Quilts Bring History, Math, and SEL Together

Building Communication Skills Early

Communication is the ability to convey ideas clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. 

Imagine a group of young friends excitedly sharing their favorite stories—that’s the essence of communication for elementary students! For young learners, developing strong communication skills is essential as it empowers them to express their thoughts, collaborate with peers, and build relationships. By fostering communication skills early on, students lay a solid foundation for future academic and social success. Here are some impactful activities designed to cultivate communication skills in elementary learners.

Communication Activities for Elementary School

Show and Tell
Organize regular “Show and Tell” sessions where students bring in an item of personal significance and explain its importance to the class. This encourages them to practice speaking in front of others and articulating their thoughts clearly. Explore six communication games and activities for elementary students here. 

Story Circle
Create a story circle where students take turns adding a sentence to a group story. This activity promotes listening skills and encourages them to build on each other’s ideas, enhancing their verbal communication.

Role-Playing
Have students engage in role-playing scenarios that mimic real-life situations, such as ordering food at a restaurant or interviewing for a job. This helps them practice conversational skills and learn how to communicate effectively in different contexts.

SEL Check-In Templates Feature Image

Bonus: 14 Editable SEL Check-In Templates

Nurturing Creativity in Young Minds

Creativity is the ability to generate original ideas and think outside the box, an essential skill for students as they navigate a rapidly changing world. 

Imagine cultivating a garden of ideas where each student can plant their own unique vision—that’s the power of creativity! For elementary learners, fostering creativity means encouraging imaginative play and exploration. It empowers them to express their thoughts freely and develop problem-solving skills through innovative projects. Here are some engaging activities specifically designed to help elementary school students nurture this vital, future-ready skill. Let’s jump in!

Creativity Activities for Elementary School

Creative Storytelling
Provide students with a set of random images or objects and ask them to create a unique story connecting them. This activity enhances imagination and narrative skills, making it a fun way to develop storytelling abilities. Try the Emoji Writing Prompt generator for some added fun.

Invent a New Game
Challenge students to design a new game with specific rules and objectives. This encourages teamwork and creative thinking, allowing students to express their ideas in a playful context.

STEAM Projects
Integrate STEAM concepts into art by having students create projects that blend creativity with science and technology. For example, they can design a simple machine that performs a specific task using everyday materials or create art using coding platforms. For more inspiring ideas, check out this resource STEM-Tastic Activities.

Empowering Decision-Making in Students

Decision-making is weighing options and outcomes to make choices that align with goals and values.

Imagine being a captain, steering your ship through uncharted waters—that’s what decision-making is all about! For elementary learners, developing this skill is crucial as they begin to understand how to evaluate options and make thoughtful choices. As they practice decision-making, they learn to think critically, consider consequences, and build confidence in their decisions. Here are some engaging activities designed to foster decision-making skills in elementary students, helping them become empowered, thoughtful individuals ready for future challenges.

Decision-Making Activities for Elementary School

Learn 6 tips for encouraging quieter students to participate in classroom discussions.

Classroom Discussions
Initiate discussions about a story or topic where students must share their opinions and justify them. This encourages them to think critically about their perspectives. Worried about the quieter students? You can find tips here to help everyone participate!

Mystery Box
Place several items in a box and have students guess their purpose. They must explain their reasoning, which promotes observation and analytical skills. This hands-on activity makes decision-making fun and interactive.

What If Scenarios
Present hypothetical scenarios (e.g., “What if animals could talk?”) and have students discuss the implications. This activity fosters imaginative and critical thinking, allowing them to explore different outcomes and their effects. You can find 320 creative questions from Making English Fun to get started. 

Evaluation Skills for Elementary Students

Evaluation is assessing the credibility of sources, arguments, and evidence to make informed judgments.

Imagine being a judge, carefully assessing options and making informed decisions—that’s the essence of evaluation! For elementary learners, developing this skill is key to understanding how to analyze information, weigh pros and cons, and make thoughtful choices. As they practice evaluating different scenarios, they boost their confidence and enhance their critical thinking abilities. Here are some engaging activities designed to foster evaluation skills in elementary students, helping them become discerning thinkers ready for future challenges.

Evaluation Activities for Elementary School

Two shelves with the seven book covers from the post on them.

Picture Books Comparison
Have students read two different picture books and evaluate the illustrations, themes, and messages. They can create a chart to compare their findings and share them with the class. This not only hones their evaluation skills but also promotes a love for reading!

Classroom Voting
Present a few ideas for a class project or theme and have students discuss the pros and cons of each. They can then vote, explaining their reasoning for their choice. This activity encourages critical thinking and helps them understand the decision-making process. Need a tool to help with your polling? Try one of these resources.

Product Reviews
Provide students with a simple product (like a toy or game) and have them evaluate its features, benefits, and drawbacks. They can create a poster or a short presentation to share their reviews. This fun activity allows them to practice articulating their evaluations in a creative way.

Inference Skills in Elementary Education

Inference is drawing logical conclusions based on available information and data, even when not all details are clear.

Imagine being a detective, piecing together clues to uncover hidden meanings—this is the essence of inference! It’s all about reading between the lines and drawing conclusions from evidence, which is crucial for navigating complex texts and situations. For young students, developing inference skills is essential; it boosts their confidence as readers and thinkers, helping them understand and engage with the world around them. Here are some engaging activities designed to spark their curiosity and strengthen this important skill.

Inference Activities for Elementary School

Picture Walk
Before diving into a book, take a picture walk! Have your students look at the illustrations and make predictions about the story based on visual clues. This engaging activity encourages them to discuss their inferences as they read, making the story come alive!

Story Predictions
Before finishing a story, ask students to predict the ending based on clues provided throughout the text. Encourage them to share their predictions and the evidence they used to support their inferences. This not only enhances their analytical skills but also fosters a deeper connection with the narrative.

Character Inference
Read a story and pause at key moments to ask students to infer what a character might be thinking or feeling based on their actions and dialogue. This activity helps them develop empathy and critical thinking as they consider different perspectives.

Problem-Solving for Elementary Schoolers

Problem-solving is the ability to develop strategies to tackle challenges, including identifying root causes and generating creative solutions.

Imagine facing a fun challenge and figuring out how to overcome it—that’s the heart of problem-solving! For younger students, developing this skill is key to navigating obstacles, thinking creatively, and building resilience. As they tackle simple problems, they gain confidence and a sense of accomplishment that lays the groundwork for future challenges. Here are some engaging activities designed to foster problem-solving skills in elementary learners.

Problem-Solving Activities for Elementary School

Example Google Forms for solving a digital breakout.

Puzzle Challenges
Provide students with a variety of puzzles (e.g., jigsaw, logic puzzles, digital breakouts or word searches) that require them to think critically to find solutions. This fun and interactive approach encourages them to collaborate and strategize. Check out these puzzle resources and digital breakouts for a quick start!

Math Word Problems
Create real-life scenarios that require students to use math to solve problems, encouraging them to identify the necessary steps to find a solution. This practical application of math not only sharpens their problem-solving skills but also helps them see the relevance of math in everyday life. You can find several examples of real-world math problems here.

Building Structures
Use materials like blocks or recycled items to challenge students to build a structure that meets specific criteria (e.g., height, stability). This hands-on activity fosters teamwork and creative problem-solving, allowing students to learn through trial and error as they bring their ideas to life.

Bonus: The Dump Truck-Incident: An Elementary Problem-Solving Challenge

Research Skills for Young Students

Research is the ability to gather information, analyze it critically, and draw informed conclusions. 

Imagine a group of curious young detectives exploring their world, seeking answers to intriguing questions—that’s the essence of research for elementary students! For young learners, developing research skills is essential as it empowers them to seek knowledge, ask questions, and develop a love for learning. By fostering research skills early on, students build a strong foundation for future academic success. Here are some impactful activities designed to cultivate research skills in elementary learners.

Research Activities for Elementary School

Question of the Week
Present a new question each week related to a subject the class is studying. Have students research the answer using books, articles, and online resources, then present their findings to the class. This encourages curiosity and helps them practice gathering information.

Nature Journals
Encourage students to keep nature journals where they document observations about plants, animals, and the environment. They can research facts about their observations and incorporate the concepts of Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) to structure their findings. This approach helps them analyze their observations and articulate their understanding more clearly. 

Classroom News Report
Have students create a classroom news report about a recent event or topic they researched. They can include interviews, facts, and their opinions, helping them learn to synthesize information and present it in an engaging format.

Bonus: Resources to Teach Students about News Validity

Incorporating these critical thinking skills into elementary classrooms helps create a strong foundation for young learners. As they engage in activities that promote analysis and adaptability, students are better equipped to face future challenges with confidence. So, what types of activities are you using to foster critical thinking in your classroom? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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Announcements/Important DatesClassroom ActivitiesFall

Hauntingly Good Halloween Activities to Electrify Your Classroom

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

If you are a long time TCEA TechNotes blog follower, then you will know my favorite time of year is coming up soon: Halloween! Creating activities for educators and students ranks in the top three of my favorite things to do at TCEA. So, if you are looking for hauntingly good Halloween activities to electrify your classroom party or a personal party, this blog is just for you!

So fresh out of the bubbling and creative cauldron, are TWO brand new Halloween activities:

Name That Costume | Canva Presentation with 26 Costumes 

Halloween Connections Game | Two Games Housed in Canva

This blog also is your one-stop-shopping-spot for a total refresh of my Halloween edition of “Would You Rather?” and my other spooky-ooky standards. 

Name That Costume

Many full moons ago, I used to play a pencil and paper version of Name That Costume with my fifth and sixth graders, and now I have converted it into a Canva presentation. How does NTC work? A page is set up with a word list of several parts and pieces of a Halloween costume. Students are to guess and identify the costume. The following page contains the answer and a picture of the costume.

Access Name That Costume
Edit Name That Costume

The Connections Game (Halloween Edition)

Have you ever played a word association game? The Connections Game is similar, but with a Halloween twist! This word association game is where you must organize 16 words into four categories of four words each. Each group is linked by a common theme. Your job is to figure out what that connection is.

For example:

  • Words: bat, pumpkin, skeleton, ghost
  • Group topic: Halloween symbols

I have two Halloween-themed Connections games ready for you to try. Each game has a different set of words and a unique connection to discover. See if you can crack the code! For more information, check out this blog. 

Access Connections
Edit Connections

Would You Rather: Halloween Edition

I also have revamped my Halloween Would You Rather. The original was set up in Google Slides with only text on each slide. I have transferred this presentation into Canva and added monsterific-graphics. 

If you are not familiar with Would You Rather, it is a fun activity where you’re presented with two hypothetical situations and asked to choose one. It’s a great way to spark conversations, test your preferences, and learn about your students’  thoughts and opinions. The resource has 29 questions. 

Directions

  1. Take turns asking questions: One person asks a question, and everyone else answers. Or one person gets a question all to themselves. Your choice or think up another way to play WYR.
  2. Explain your choices: After everyone answers, share why you picked your crazy choice. 
  3. Have fun! The goal of the game is to have fun and spark interesting conversations. There are no right or wrong answers!

Here are a few examples for WYR:

  • dunk for apples or carve a jack o’lantern?
  • wear a creative costume or wear a scary costume?
  • get attacked by a giant spider or a spooky skeleton?
  • explore a corn maze or visit a haunted house
  • be a member of the Brady Bunch or the Addams Family?
Access Would You Rather
Edit Would You Rather

Two Digital Breakouts

Also, I have two digital breakouts for Halloween. A little history for you, The Boo Breakout was the first digital breakout I ever created seven years ago, in 2017. As I write this blog, 8,217 students and teachers have thus far solved The Boo Breakout!

 And, if you are up for unlocking more fun, check out The Trick or Treat Breakout. This breakout was created in 2020 and it is so close to cracking the 2,000 finish line. 

Halloween Adjective Challenge

Looking for a fun and spooky way to celebrate Halloween? Check out our Halloween Adjective Challenge! This Google Form quiz presents you with ten images. Your task is to read the three sentences below each image and select the sentence that uses the correct adjectives to describe the image.

How to Play:

  1. Access the Quiz: Click here to start the Halloween Adjective Challenge.
  2. Read the Sentences: Carefully read the three sentences provided for each image.
  3. Choose the Correct Sentence: Select the sentence that best describes the image using the correct adjectives.
  4. Submit Your Answers: Once you’ve completed all ten questions, submit your quiz.
  5. Check Your Score: After submitting, you’ll receive your score and correct answers.

Halloween Synonym Challenge

Get ready to test your vocabulary skills with my spooky Halloween Synonym Challenges! These two quizzes, housed in Google Forms, will put your word knowledge to the test.

Level 1: This challenge focuses on more common Halloween-related words, such as “candy,” “horrible,” and “yell.”

Level 2: If you’re feeling brave, try our Level 2 challenge. This quiz features more advanced words like “afraid,” “gross,” and “shiver.”

How to Play:

  1. Access the Quizzes: Click on the links below to start each challenge.
  2. Read the Words: Carefully read each word presented in the quiz.
  3. Choose the Correct Synonym: Select the word that best means the same as the given word.
  4. Submit Your Answers: Once you’ve completed all the questions, submit your quiz.
  5. Check Your Score: After submitting, you’ll receive your score and correct answers.
Level 1  
Level 2

Halloween Charades

4 Halloween charades cards: candy, fangs, mask, and trick or treat bag.

Get ready for a frightfully fun Halloween activity! I’ve created 48 Halloween-related words. These cards are housed in Google Slides, ready for print. All you need to do is click on the link and make a copy. The goal of Charades is to act out words without speaking, using only gestures and expressions. Your teammates will try to guess the word based on your performance. You can view the slide deck here or get your own copy of the game here.

How to Play:

  1. Divide into teams.
  2. Choose a player. This player will be the actor.
  3. Select a card. The actor draws a card and reads the words silently.
  4. Act it Out: The actor uses gestures, expressions, and mime to convey the meaning of the words.
  5. Guess the Words: The actor’s team tries to guess the words within a set time limit (e.g., 30 seconds).
  6. Keep Score: Each guessed word earns a point for the team.
  7. Switch Players: After a few rounds, switch players and continue the game.

As you gear up for Halloween season, I hope these activities spark creativity and fun in your classroom or personal celebrations. Whether it’s guessing costumes, cracking word connections, or diving into a digital breakout, these resources are designed to engage and entertain students of all ages. From revamped classics like Would You Rather? to fresh takes on challenges, there’s something here for everyone. Don’t be afraid to customize these activities to fit your classroom needs and watch the spooky magic unfold. Here’s to a hauntingly good time for you and your students—Happy Halloween!

More Fall-Themed Activities for the Classroom

Fall Into Learning: Autumn-Themed Activities for the Classroom

Fall Activities for the Classroom

Trick or Treat Digital Breakout

Spooky Games and Breakouts

7 Spooktacular Activities for the Elementary Classroom

Fall Into Elementary Autumn Resources

Falling for Digital Breakouts

Discovering Autumn-Themed Choice Boards

Celebrating Day of Dead with Crafts and Learning

3 Fall-Themed Activities for the Classroom

Fall Websites for You and Your Students

The Dump Truck Incident: An Elementary Problem-Solving Challenge

11 Thanksgiving Activities for Joy and Learning

The Gobble Gobble Breakout

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Educational ResearchInstructional CoachingProfessional Learning

The Value of Coaching Educational Leaders

by Kelly Hastings
written by Kelly Hastings

As educational leaders, principals bear the responsibility of shaping the culture, strategy, and success of their schools. With an increasing focus on student outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and overall school performance, the role of school leaders has grown exponentially in complexity. One approach that has consistently demonstrated its value in this challenging environment is Leadership Coaching. Leadership Coaching empowers educational leaders to enhance their leadership skills, make better-informed decisions, and create a more collaborative school culture. Let’s walk through the value of coaching educators and dive into top resources and practices to help educational leaders thrive.

Why Educational Coaching Matters

In many school districts, leaders are expected to juggle competing priorities – improving instructional outcomes, managing administrative tasks, addressing the needs of teachers and students, and many others. They may have directives coming at them from many different directions. These demands can lead to burnout or stagnation without the right support system. This is where Leadership Coaching comes in. Leadership Coaching provides a structured and safe space for reflection, growth, and accountability. It helps leaders become more self-aware, leverage the strengths of their team, and create ideas for school improvement.

Coaching allows educational leaders to:

  • Develop stronger self-awareness: Understanding their leadership style, strengths, and areas for growth helps principals lead more authentically and effectively.
  • Improve decision-making: Coaches offer a sounding board for principals to discuss challenges and brainstorm solutions, leading to more informed, strategic decisions.
  • Enhance collaboration with staff: A principal who has been coached to foster collaboration is more likely to build strong teacher leadership teams, contributing to a positive and productive school environment.

Tips for Effective Coaching

1. Set Clear Goals: Effective coaching begins with clear, measurable goals. Whether it’s improving teacher collaboration, raising student performance, or leading new initiatives, goal-setting provides direction and purpose.

2. Establish Trust: Building a strong rapport is essential in the coaching relationship. Leaders must feel safe to express their challenges without fear of judgment. Establishing trust leads to more honest, open conversations that drive growth.

3. Create Accountability: Coaches serve as accountability partners, ensuring that leaders are following through on their commitments. Regular check-ins and discussions keep momentum going.

4. Celebrate Successes: Highlighting small wins helps maintain motivation and reinforces the positive outcomes of coaching. Acknowledging progress, even in incremental steps, is crucial to long-term success.

Best Practices for Coaching Educational Leaders

  • Promote Self-Reflection: Encouraging principals to reflect on their practices leads to deeper learning and sustained improvement. Asking powerful questions such as, “What impact did your decision have on your staff and students?” sparks introspection and growth.
  • Focus on Systems Thinking: Educational leaders need to think systematically about their schools. Coaching helps them move from focusing on isolated issues or the hourly fires that arise to addressing how various elements (instruction, culture, teacher development, student achievement) connect and influence each other.
  • Model Effective Leadership: Coaches often model the leadership behaviors they aim to instill in their clients. By demonstrating empathy, active listening, and clear communication, coaches give principals a working example of how to lead and listen effectively.

 Technology Tools for Coaching and Leadership Development

In today’s digital age, integrating technology to improve the value of coaching can be a game-changer. There are several technology tools available that can support educational leaders in their coaching journey:

  • Zoom or Microsoft Teams: Virtual coaching sessions allow for flexibility and access to high-quality coaching, regardless of location.
  • Asana or Trello: These project management tools help track progress, manage action steps, and keep everyone accountable. Coaches and leaders can share updates, checklists, and progress reports in real-time.
  • SurveyMonkey or Google Forms: Conducting feedback surveys with staff and students can provide leaders with valuable insights that inform coaching conversations and drive better decisions.

Methods and Strategies for Coaching Success

1. Solution-Focused Coaching: Rather than dwelling on problems, solution-focused coaching encourages leaders to identify their desired outcomes and focus on strategies to achieve them. This method fosters optimism and actionable steps.

2. Active Listening and Questioning: A coach’s ability to listen deeply and ask insightful, open-ended questions allows leaders to explore their thoughts more fully. For example, asking, “What would success look like for you in this situation?” encourages deeper reflection and ownership.

3. Collaborative Leadership Development: Encouraging leaders to involve their staff in leadership development fosters a culture of shared ownership and continuous improvement. Collaboration can take the form of regular feedback loops, group problem-solving sessions, or even shared leadership responsibilities.

Research Supporting Coaching in Education

Research consistently shows the benefits of coaching for educational leaders. According to a study by The Wallace Foundation, principals who received coaching showed significant improvements in instructional leadership, which directly impacted teacher effectiveness and student outcomes. The research emphasizes that coaching should be ongoing and embedded in a leader’s work for long-term effectiveness.

Another study from the American Institutes for Research (AIR) found that leadership coaching significantly improved leaders’ capacity to implement and sustain new initiatives, which is particularly important for schools undergoing transformation or innovation. The study highlighted that coaching also improves school culture by increasing collaboration between principals and teachers.

Learning the Value of Coaching Educators

Setting time aside to reflect with a thinking partner yields tremendous growth. Coaching educational leaders empowers principals to lead with confidence, collaborate with their staff, and drive lasting, meaningful change in their schools. Whether through building self-awareness, improving collaboration, or leveraging technology tools, coaching offers a powerful pathway to growth and, ultimately, success.

As a former principal, I was provided the opportunity to be coached. I had no idea what it meant at the time, but I can tell you it helped me grow more than anything else I did in  my career.  I was better able to see the impact of my actions, and had a better big-picture perspective. Leadership Coaching transformed my leadership. It deepened my self-awareness, enhanced my decision-making, and fostered a stronger, more collaborative relationship with my staff. The guidance I received helped me navigate challenges confidently and create lasting improvements in my school’s culture and outcomes. I realized I didn’t have to have all the answers myself, but that the answers were truly in the room. Leadership Coaching allowed me to see this with clarity. I grew, and so did my teachers and students.

Join Us at CEC 2024

Did you find this article helpful? Discover more tips for coaching success at the 2024 Conference for Educational Coaches in person and online!

Join us to attend a session by Dr. Kelly Hastings, “Coaching for Educational Leaders: Achieving Desired Outcomes by Supporting Teachers” during the event to learn about the value of coaching and the impact supporting educators can have on students.

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Image that states the name of the blog entry, "The First Month of School: Setting the Stage for Success."
Good Teaching

The First Month of School

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

The first month of school is a critical time for both teachers and students. It’s a time for establishing routines, building relationships, and setting the tone for the rest of the year. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or a new teacher, the first month lays the foundation for a successful school year. Here are some tips to keep in mind during these first few weeks.

Build Strong Relationships

The first month is all about getting to know your students and letting them get to know you. Building strong relationships is key to creating a positive classroom environment where students feel valued and respected. Take time to learn about your students’ interests, strengths, and challenges. Use icebreakers like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Human Bingo” to break the ice.

For older students, try a “Speed Friending” activity to help them learn more about each other. To do this, have students stand in two lines facing each other, or sit across from each other. Each student should face another student. Ask questions that can help students learn more about each other. For example, you could ask students, If they could go anywhere in the world, where would they go? After asking a question, allow each pair of students to take turns answering.

Establish Clear Routines and Expectations

Image of a clip board that lists the 8 tips for the first month of school.
Image by Author based on template by Holly Krueger

Consistency is crucial in the classroom, especially in the early weeks of school. Establish clear routines and expectations so that students understand what is required of them.  In fact, you can involve your students in the process by asking them to brainstorm ideas for their own classroom expectations. Be sure to create visual aids for classroom expectations, like posters that you can hang around your room. Refer to them often and spend time teaching and reinforcing them daily.  

Create a Welcoming Classroom Environment

Your classroom should be a welcoming space where students feel comfortable and valued. Setup your classroom to be inviting. You could decorate your classroom with student work. Create a cozy reading space with pillows and a small rug or create a calming corner where students can relax when feeling overwhelmed. Display a “Welcome to Our Class” banner and add personal touches like photos of your students engaged in learning activities.

Assess Student’s Prior Knowledge

The beginning of the year is a great time to assess your students’ prior knowledge and skills. Use formative assessments or informal discussions to gauge where each student is academically. This information will help you adapt your instruction to meet your student’s needs. By understanding what students already know and can do, you can adjust your teaching to build on their existing knowledge and skills.  For example, for reading, use a “Book Tasting” activity where students sample different genres and levels of books. In math, try a “Problem of the Day” challenge to assess various skills. In addition, using writing prompts that reveal students’ interests and abilities.

Plan for Differentiation

After you have accessed your student’s prior knowledge, take that information and start planning to differentiate your instruction. Your students will enter your classroom with a wide range of abilities. Identify students who may need additional support or those who may require more challenging work. According to “A Practical Guide to Planning for Intentional Differentiation,” differentiation is a three-pronged approach. It involves differentiating content, process, and product. This will help ensure that all students can succeed at their own pace.

Communicate with Parents and Guardians

Open your lines of communication with parents and guardians early in the school year. Send a welcome letter or email outlining your expectations and classroom policies. Mention how they can support their child’s learning at home. There are a variety of digital tools, such as Remind, Google Forms, and more that you can use to help facilitate this process. Prior to using these tools, check with your district’s communications and/or technology department to see if they have a subscription to a paid tool that they would prefer you to use. The district-provided tool may have additional features that you can use. Remember that regular communication builds trust and ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding student progress and any challenges that may arise.

Reflect and Adjust

As you progress through the first month, take time to reflect on what’s working well and what might need adjustment. Through self-reflection, we can have those “aha moments” leading us to make improvements. Be flexible and willing to change based on the needs of your students. Continuous reflection and adjustment are key to a successful and dynamic classroom.

Take Care of Yourself

The first month can be intense, so it’s important to take care of yourself, as well. Set realistic goals, take breaks when needed, and reach out to your colleagues for support. A well-rested and energized teacher is better equipped to support their students.

By focusing on these strategies during the first month of school, you’ll lay a strong foundation for a successful and fulfilling year ahead. Remember, the time you invest in building relationships, establishing routines, and understanding your students’ needs will pay off throughout the school year.

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Created by author, adapted from Mike Bell (2021) The Six Steps.
Artificial IntelligenceEducational ResearchEnglish Language ArtsHistoryMathMathematicsReadingScienceSocial Studies

The LEARNS Cycle: Putting AI in Instruction, Part 1

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“There are a bucket-full of AI tools, apps, and suggestions, but how does any of this fit within the learning cycle? How does it align to evidence-driven, research-based instructional strategies?” Those are two questions that have been going around in my mind recently. It doesn’t matter if AI is the latest thing since sliced bread. How does it fit into teaching and learning?

To answer the question, I turned to the work of Mike Bell, author of The Fundamentals of Teaching. This blog entry makes an explicit connection between each step with AI tools available now to educators. Come along and see how AI fits what you already know works in the classroom. This is the first of a multi-part blog series that digs into this.

Finding Reliable Research and Strategies

Mike Bell’s work is genius in that it aligns the research of several different sources of evidence. In analyzing reliable sources of evidence, he overcomes several problems:

  • Confirmation bias taints our perception of evidence since people pick out evidence which supports their preconceptions.
  • Research can be contradictory, so it is necessary to combine results from different sources.
  • It’s hard to figure out the level of quality for research since not all research is of the same quality.

Since reliable evidence is hard to come up with on our own, all of us are tempted to listen to popular assertions. Bell suggests you do the following when someone (e.g. AI or an ed tech consultant or vendor) says, “The research says it’s effective:”

  • Ask for the effect size.
  • Gauge how much work is required to implement the suggestion.
  • Pause if the effect size is low and a lot of work is required to implement the suggestion.

A Quick Reminder about Effect Size

To that end, Bell offers an overview of effect size on learning, which readers of TCEA TechNotes will be familiar with:

  • 0: No effect
  • 0.2: Small effect
  • 0.4: Average effect (what John Hattie calls the “hinge point”)
  • 0.6: Good effect
  • 0.8 And above, high effect

Now that these key concepts are out of the way, let’s take a look at Bell’s Five Steps plus a post-assessment stage. These steps identify key strategies that are supported from several research sources. Those five major research studies include: EEF, Dean, Hattie, IAE, and IES. Explore these and other evidence-based research sources via this blog entry, Brain-Based Strategies That Work.

The Stages of the LEARNS Cycle

The five steps are detailed on Mike Bell’s website and include five big steps plus a post-assessment. The diagram below adapts the first five steps as The LEARNS Cycle. My goal was to place AI tool usage in the context of evidence-based teaching and see what might happen. Could AI tools be relied upon to assist with supporting classroom teaching and learning on a foundation of research-driven steps?

Created by author, adapted from Mike Bell (2021) The Six Steps.
Created by author, adapted from Mike Bell (2021) The Six Steps.

Here’s an overview of the LEARNS cycle:

LEARNS: Locate, Explore, Apply, Review, Nurture, Shine

  • Locate (Know what you know): Identify your current knowledge and skills related to the topic or learning objective.
  • Explore (Learn New Stuff): Discover and engage with new information, concepts, and resources to expand your knowledge and skills.
  • Apply (Challenge Yourself): Put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice by tackling challenging activities or real-world problems.
  • Review (Get feedback): Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or self-assessment to review your progress, identify strengths and weaknesses, and gather insights for improvement.
  • Nurture (Practice, Repeat, and Reflect): Continuously refine your knowledge and skills through repeated practice, reflection, and incorporation of feedback.
  • Shine (Re-assess, Progress Check, and Master): Re-assess your performance to track progress, ensure a high level of understanding, and achieve mastery of the subject matter.

What might putting Bell’s steps in our own words, and then connecting them to existing AI tools, look like? Let’s take a closer look at each of the stages in the recursive, iterative cycle. Remember, this is the first of a multi-part blog series.

1-Locate

In stage, you are activating prior knowledge. This involves knowing what you know, or what students know.

Locate (Know What You Know) Prior Knowledge

Instructional StrategyAI ToolDescription
Graphic OrganizersCreatelyCreately offers templates and drag-and-drop tools for Venn diagrams, concept maps, and flow charts, helping students organize information visually.
Structured Note-TakingNotion AINotion AI helps organize notes using methods like the Cornell method or mind mapping, making students’ notes clear and structured.
K-W-L ChartsPadletPadlet is a collaborative tool where students create and share K-W-L charts, activating prior knowledge and tracking learning progress.
Anticipation GuidesGoogle FormsGoogle Forms creates anticipation guides where students record initial thoughts and revisit them post-lesson to reflect on learning.
Case StudiesNearpodNearpod presents case studies and engages students in decision-making activities based on prior knowledge with the ability to revisit and adjust responses.

Here’s the infographic version:

A copy of the infographic will be available in the final blog entry in the series, so be sure to check back for the next part.

LEARNS Cycle: Sample Prompts

Another way to approach this is to generate prompts that supplement each strategy. These prompts would be usable in any AI chatbot, free or paid. This can be helpful if you do NOT have access to a paid solution, like MagicSolution.ai or the others I will mention in future blog entries.

Here are some sample prompts for the Locate stage. Note that the AI Tool Suggestions are tools you could use, but you could also just drop these prompts into a free chatbot.

Instructional StrategyAI Tool SuggestionsSample Prompt
Graphic OrganizersCreately, MindMeister, Lucidchart“Create a concept map to visually represent the key ideas and relationships in [topic].”
Structured Note-TakingNotion AI, Roam Research, Obsidian“Develop a structured note-taking system using the Cornell method to organize your understanding of [topic].”
K-W-L ChartsPadlet, Jamboard, Miro“Collaborate with your classmates to create a K-W-L chart for [topic], documenting what you already know, want to know, and have learned.”
Anticipation GuidesGoogle Forms, Microsoft Forms, SurveyMonkey“Complete this anticipation guide by indicating your initial thoughts on statements related to [topic] before we begin the lesson.”
Case StudiesNearpod, Pear Deck, Explain Everything“Analyze this case study on [real-world scenario] and make decisions based on your prior knowledge of [topic].”

This is what the K-W-L Chart prompt from above generates in assorted chatbots:

Author generated animated GIF composed of KWL charts generated by ChatGPT, Perplexity, MagicSchool, and Claude
Author generated animated GIF composed of KWL charts generated by ChatGPT, Perplexity, MagicSchool’s Raina, and Claude

Wait, There’s More AI Magic Available!

If you use school-focused AI tools, you may notice that there are none mentioned specifically in the chart for Locate stage in the cycle. You can find many of the activities for instructional strategies in these multi-purpose school AI tools.

AI Solution Providers: At the risk of incurring the ire of solution providers, here are what these look like in only one of the tools, MagicSchool.ai. In future blog entries in this series, I will introduce others.

Using MagicSchool.ai’s Raina, you can easily generate many of the items in this step. Let’s take a look at some sample prompts.

Screenshot of MagicSchool's Raina by author
Screenshot of MagicSchool’s Raina by author

Sample Prompts

Here are some example prompts (see 60+ prompt suggestions) that you can feed into any chatbot. These are meant to reflect actual tasks for the LOCATE stage of the LEARNS Cycle.

  1. Graphic Organizers (Science): “Create a graphic organizer for the seventh grade science unit on ecosystems. Use a concept map to show the relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers, and how energy flows through a food web.”
  2. Structured Note-Taking (Social Studies): “For eighth grade social studies, organize notes on the American Revolution. Use the Cornell method to outline the causes, key figures, and major battles. Create a mind map to connect the outcomes of the war to the formation of the U.S. government.”
  3. K-W-L Charts (Science): “In sixth grade science, create a K-W-L chart for the unit on the water cycle. Begin by listing what students already know about evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Include what they want to learn, and update the chart with new information as the unit progresses.”
  4. Anticipation Guides (Social Studies): “Design an anticipation guide for a fifth grade social studies lesson on the Civil War. Have students record their initial thoughts on the causes and key events of the war. After the lesson, revisit these thoughts and reflect on what they have learned and how their understanding has changed.”
  5. Case Studies (Science): “Present a case study for eighth grade science on the impact of human activities on climate change. Engage students in analyzing data on carbon emissions and their effects on global temperatures. Allow students to revisit their initial conclusions and adjust their responses as they learn more about the science behind climate change.”

ChatGPT Plus generated those sample prompts. Of course, you can write your own and then feed them into MagicSchool.ai’s Raina.

Getting Raina’s Help with LEARNS Cycle

In the screenshot above, you can see that Raina has taken the fifth grade social studies lesson prompt for an anticipation guide. The result is as follows:

Anticipation Guide for 5th Grade Social Studies Lesson on the Civil War

Before the Lesson:

Causes of the Civil War

I believe the Civil War was primarily about __.
I think the issue of states' rights played a significant role in starting the war. (True/False)
Slavery was a major cause of the Civil War. (True/False)
Key Events of the Civil War

The first battle of the Civil War was fought at __.
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in the year __.
The Civil War ended at the Appomattox Court House in the year __.

After the Lesson:

Causes of the Civil War

My initial thoughts on the causes of the Civil War were __.
After learning more, I now understand that __ was a significant cause of the war.
My thoughts on the importance of states' rights in the Civil War have changed because __.

Key Events of the Civil War

Reflect on how your understanding of the first battle of the Civil War has evolved.
How did learning about the Emancipation Proclamation change your view of the Civil War?
Discuss how your perception of the end of the Civil War at the Appomattox Court House has shifted.
This anticipation guide will help students engage with the lesson content, reflect on their initial thoughts, and track their learning progression throughout the study of the Civil War.

Tying AI tools to proven effective instructional strategies is a non-brainer and will ensure that student learning is the focus.

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Three children are gathered around a laptop solving a digital breakout. The title "What is a digital breakout?" appears on top of a white lock. Subheading text says, "Do digital breakouts have you puzzled? Learn what they are, how to solve them, and get access to 15+ breakouts."
Digital Breakout

Digital Breakouts 101

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

If you follow TCEA’s TechNotes blog, you’ve probably noticed that I really love creating digital breakouts for teachers across Texas, the United States, and the world. I receive lots of emails requesting the answers, but every once in a while, I receive questions like these:

“I don’t see the part where the students solve the clues. I see the facts and the Google form for submitting answers, but not the clues to solve. What am I missing?”

“Where is the information for the kids to read?”

“I see the Digital Breakout Activity; however, I do not see instructions for where to find the needed codes.“

If you’re new to digital breakouts or find yourself scratching your head about how they’re solved, here are the answers to all your questions! Let’s dive into the ins and outs of digital breakouts. 

Digital Breakout FAQs

What exactly is an educational breakout?

James Sanders and Mark Hammons formed Breakout EDU in the spring of 2015. In a Breakout EDU game, learners solve a series of puzzles to open a locked box. Each game focuses on teaching critical thinking, teamwork, and complex problem-solving. Breakout EDU has evolved into a subscription-priced membership that offers physical kits with tools like invisible ink pens, various locks, and UV flashlights, as well as digital and hybrid game options.

What is a digital breakout?

A digital breakout does not require a physical box and locks. Instead, this type of breakout needs a Google Site page. The page contains images, text, hidden hyperlinks that students can use to solve digital puzzles, and an embedded Google Form for providing the breakout locks. A solver submits the answers on the Google Form to “break out.” There are no explicit directions for a digital breakout; clues are found scattered through the page in text, images, and links. You just have to jump in and start!

Example Google Forms for solving a digital breakout.
Example Google Forms for Submitting Digital Breakout Answers

Where are the questions to solve the locks?

A digital breakout is not set up as a question-and-answer format. Instead, a student or a team of students uses the information (images, text, and hidden hyperlinks) on the page to formulate guesses to answer locks. There can be clues scattered throughout the page such as bolded text, images that are linked, patterns, and more.

What are the most common locks?

  • Direction: The digital breakouts I make use U for up, D for down, L for left, and R for right. Other digital breakouts can contain North, South, East, and West.
  • Color: Use the first initial of each color word. For example, you would use R for red, G for Green, Pink or Purple would share the letter P, and so on.
  • Number: Number locks usually contain 3-8 digits.
  • Word: These can contain 1-3 words and are based on a prominent word seen throughout the page or an answer to a question.
  • Letter: The lock answers are in all CAPS and will have 3-8 letters. Look for a puzzle or text that does not make a word!
  • Date: Refer to the question description to see how the date should be entered: XX/XX or XX/XX/XX or XX/XX/XXXX.
  • Shape: Use the first initial of each shape word: C for circle, R for rectangle, D for diamond, T for triangle, S for square, etc. 
  • Number/Shape This is my own creation of a lock! Look for an object you see a whole bunch of on the page. You will need to expand the Google Form so you can see the form header, and don’t forget the content from the hidden links. Shapes can be spheres, squares, stars, or perhaps circles. Keep count of how many shapes you spot, and this is the number you will use in the lock answer (e.g., 23STAR or 18SPHERE).
Example number/shape lock clue from a digital breakout.
Example Clue for a Number/Shape Lock in a Digital Breakout. Can you solve it?

How do you enter the lock answers?

Examples of correct and incorrect answer messages within a digital breakout Google Form.
Examples of Correct and Incorrect Answers

Students enter their answers into the Google Form embedded on the page. If an incorrect answer is entered, the form will display a message. As soon as the correct answer is entered, the custom error message will disappear. The Google Form cannot be submitted until all locks have been solved. 

The Google Form does not collect email addresses. TCEA is not gathering any personal information when a breakout is being used.

TIP: In tackling a lock, FIRST type in a wrong answer and click on the question field, so it brings up the message. As soon as you input the correct answer the message will disappear.

How do I know my students have solved the breakout?

Examples of messages students receive after solving a digital breakout.

For privacy and security reasons, I am the only one who can access the responses for the breakouts I create. When ALL locks have been solved, the student will be able to submit the form. A confirmation message will be displayed with congratulations and a fun saying. 

Since you do not have access to the backend of the Google Form to see the submissions, have students take a screenshot of the confirmation message, take a picture of themselves with the message, or simply show the confirmation message to you. 

What is a Hall of Fame request? 

Example digital breakout "hall of fame" request.
Example of the optional Hall of Fame Request

This field is not required to be filled out to submit the form. However, your students can either leave this field blank or add their first name only and their state or country. I included this so students can attach their names to their win for solving the breakout. 

Am I the only one who is still puzzled by this whole thing?

Example of a hidden link within a digital breakout.
Example of a Linked Image in a Digital Breakout

A digital breakout can be a little confusing at first because explicit directions are not provided. Here are a couple of things you can do to get started with one in the classroom.

  1. Always read through the list of LOCKS in the embedded Google Form first.
  2. Try working out a digital breakout as a class first to model possible lock-solving strategies. Think out loud with your students. 
  3. It helps for students to work in pairs or small groups. Having two or more brains that process information differently can really help with finding answers. 
  4. Hover over different parts of the page. Hidden links can lead to a hidden puzzle, which could be a maze, a poem, or a message.
  5. First, enter a wrong answer in the lock and as soon as you type the right answer, you can see the custom error message disappear.

Do you have any insider tips for solving your digital breakouts?

  • I always try to include one or two hidden links for lock answers, and the hidden content is likely to be a lock answer. 
  • WYSIWYG is always in place. The order in which the clue is displayed on the page is the lock order. I never mix up or scramble text or images for an answer. 
  • If I think the lock needs another hint, I have been known to add another hint in the error message on the Google Form. 

What age levels are best suited for your digital breakouts?

This is a difficult question to answer. I have had teachers use my breakouts with second graders all the way up to high school. I have even had college professors reach out for the answers. It depends on the reading level of your students and their experience with breakouts. I try to limit the amount of text I use in the content. No one wants to read a 100-200 word paragraph to look for a possible answer. I try to keep factual information to short bursts of text, lists, or labeled images. If in doubt, you can try it out yourelf to test the age-appropriateness of the breakout for your students.

How do you actually go about solving the locks?

My first tip is to have your students look at the locks listed in the Google Form. Then, start looking at the page for clues.

If you need a 4-Color Lock, look at the colors used on the page to see if any stand out. Or maybe there are color words used in sentences. For example, “Bluebonnets are the state flower of Texas. Have you heard the song, The Yellow Rose of Texas? The lone star on the Texas flag is white. The University of Texas logo is a burnt orange longhorn.” Your brain should be looking for some typs of grouping involving four colors. 

If it is a Direction Lock you need to solve, look to see if there is a map or some kind of puzzle that has up, down, left or right embedded in the words. Or do you see arrows of any sort on the page? 

Can you give me an example of the lock solving process?

Sure, here is the process I would use for finding a digital breakout lock answer for this image.

Example of 6 letter lock hints within a digital breakout.

Let’s say I have a 6 Letter Lock on a digital breakout themed around the state of Texas.  

First, I see an image of the capitol building and I read the state capital of Texas is Austin. Austin has 6 letters – so I try that. Not correct. So I read on to find more 6 letter words but I don’t want to try all the 6 letter words I find. So I peruse farther down on the website, and there is a section that is talking about state symbols. There is a group of state symbols pictures. Which word has exactly six letters? Could one of those state symbols be the answer?  Well, “bluebonnet” and “grapefruit” are just too long; so, how about SILVER! Yes, the 6 Letter Lock is solved. 

Is it alright to NOT solve a digital breakout?

I love this question. Yes, failure is acceptable! Of course, the catalyst is to break out, but failure should be celebrated. Life is not always going to be smooth sailing on paved roads. Sometimes you are on a road with a bunch of potholes, and sometimes we need help. The goal here is to collaborate, think, and use logic skills. I can bet some students, after failing the first time, will try even harder the next time. 

Do you include distractors (Red Herrings)?

Usually, I will include at least one distractor in a digital breakout.

Do you have any other thoughts about your breakouts?

I do think your first breakout will be one of the hardest. It’s like picking the right lock in a room full of doors. There isn’t a method to solve the madness just yet. You probably feel like you are just guessing, and you are probably thinking, “This makes no sense. What am I even looking for?” But as you solve more and more breakouts, your technique for solving will get honed and polished. Just like with playing a sport or a musical instrument, you will get better with practice!

Where can I find your digital breakouts?

Here are all the digital breakouts I’ve made:

I’m a teacher, where do I find the answers?

If you are a teacher, email me at preimers@tcea.org, and I will send you the answers to the digital breakout your working on with students. Remembering your professional contact information in your email signature helps speed the process as it tells me right away you are a bonafide educator, but I can usually spot student requests right off the bat. 

Happy breaking out! Peggy

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Discover 23 strategies to check for understanding in the classroom. From kinesthetic to verbal, these strategies cover a range of learning styles.
Good Teaching

23 Ways to Check for Understanding

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

As educators, we strive to ensure our students grasp the material we present. But how can we be sure our students are understanding the material? Checking for understanding throughout class is crucial for both teachers and students. It allows us to identify areas needing reinforcement, adapt our instruction in real time, and empower students to take ownership of their learning. Here are 23 strategies to gauge student understanding and keep your classroom buzzing with interactive learning.

Verbal Strategies

Open-Ended Questions

Instead of asking yes/no questions, ask questions that prompt students to explain concepts in their own words. For example, “Can you elaborate on the main idea?” or “How does this concept connect to what we learned yesterday?”

Think-Pair-Share

After doing a small bit of teaching, give your students a little time to think about a question related to the learning. This gives students time to formulate their thinking and process the information individually. Then, have each student turn to their neighbor and share their thoughts. Students should be encouraged to ask questions and give feedback to each other in the process. This not only fosters collaboration it also helps clarify understanding.

“Who doesn’t understand?”

When a student expresses confusion, ask if others feel the same. This normalizes asking for help and encourages open participation. It also shows students that it’s ok not to understand a concept.

Sentence Starters

Provide sentence starters like “In my own words, the key takeaway is…” or “I found it interesting that…” to guide student explanations.

Fishbowl Discussions

How to Face History and Ourselves has a Fishbowl Discussion procedure that works well for checking for understanding.
Screenshot by Emily Horn | Facing History and Ourselves | Fishbowl Discussion Procedure

Arrange a small group of students in a circle for a fishbowl discussion while the rest observe. This will allow for a more focused assessment of participation and comprehension.

Peer Explanations

After explaining a concept, pair students up and have them explain the concept to each other. This reinforces understanding and identifies areas needing individual attention.

Interactive Strategies

Exit Tickets

Briefly ask students to summarize a key point, answer a question, or reflect on their learning at the end of class. This provides valuable insights into their comprehension.

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

Pose a true/false statement or ask a question. Then, have students use thumbs up/down to respond. Follow up with discussions for incorrect responses.

Give Me Five

Establish a scale (1 = not clear, 5 = crystal clear) and ask students to hold up their fingers to indicate their understanding level. This provides quick feedback and allows you to address common concerns.

One-Minute Essays

Give students a minute to write a quick lesson summary or answer a specific question. This assesses their ability to understand the information.

Gallery Walk

Have students create posters or short presentations on key concepts and post them around the class. Students then rotate and write down key takeaways gained from each other’s work.

Kinesthetic Strategies

Four Corners

Divide the room into sections representing different answers or options to a question. Have students go to the corner they agree with or are interested in. Students in each corner can then discuss their position or perspective. This will help reveal an understanding of the topic.

Human Bingo

Canva Bingo Templates are good tools to check for understanding on specific topics or concepts.
Screenshot by Emily Horn | Canva Bingo Templates

Create bingo cards with learning objectives, questions, or tasks written in the squares. Have students rotate around the room and find peers to complete the tasks on the bingo cards. Once a peer has completed a task on the card, they can mark it off. For example, tasks might include finding someone who can name four colors, list the planets in the solar system, etc. This activity not only promotes active listening but is also a great way to check for understanding. Check out this sample ESL Human Bingo lesson by Teach This. In addition, if you are looking for an editable template, Canva has a lot of Bingo Card templates.

Traffic Light Check

Place red, yellow, and green cards around the room. Red can stand for “I’m confused” or “I need more help.” Yellow can stand for “I somewhat understand” or “I’m kind of getting it.” Green can stand for “It’s clear” or “I understood it.” Students can signal their understanding by moving to different cards around the room or placing clothespins on the appropriate card as demonstrated by Emma Willis.

Move and Match

Write key terms or concepts on cards and scatter them around the room. Students move and find the definition or example that matches each term, promoting movement and collaboration.

Role-Play

Assign students scenarios or situations related to the lesson. Then, ask your students to act them out. This will allow them to demonstrate their understanding through application.

Creative Strategies

Muddiest Point

Ask students to write down the part of the lesson they found most confusing (the “muddiest point”). This helps identify areas needing clarification.

Concept Maps

Have students create visual representations of the relationships between concepts and ideas they learned. This will help promote critical thinking and organization.

Draw It

Talk Drawings can be a great way to check understanding in the classroom.
Screenshot by Emily Horn | Talk Drawings Template

Challenge students to draw a concept or process they learned. One way to do this is by incorporating Talking Drawings into your classroom. In addition, there are several online tools and applications that students can use, such as Google Canvas, AutoDraw, Google Drawings, or iPad apps.

Digital Strategies

Online Quizzes and Polls

Utilize online platforms to create quick quizzes or polls to assess comprehension and adjust instruction accordingly. There are many tools you can use, such as Poll Everywhere, Google Classroom, Quizizz, Quizlet, and more.

Word Clouds

Have students use online word clouds to collectively generate keywords or key ideas from the lesson. This will offer a visual representation of understanding. Mentimeter is a great tool for creating word clouds.

Digital Exit Tickets

Use online forms, such as Google Forms, for students to submit exit ticket responses. Getting the data back in a Google Sheet will make it easy to analyze the data.

Short Video Recordings

Allow students to record a short video recording. They can summarize key takeaways from the day’s lesson. Students can use Flip to record their videos.

Integrating various strategies to check for understanding will provide comprehensive knowledge of your students’ grasp of the material and keep the assessment process engaging and dynamic. Which strategies will you use? Have others to add to the list? Leave a comment to share with us!

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