What does it look like to check for understanding with digital tools? Manual question generation is definitely time-consuming. Although there are times when you’ll want to customize, tweak and make your own questions for students, there is a new tool you’ll certainly want to check out. Quillionz makes automating question creation a reality. Quillionz is […]
What does it look like to be productive, creatively? Making the most of both digital and analog tools can be a challenge for learners of all ages. Finding your flow, staying on task, and making sure you have everything you need for a successful school year is easier said than done. So I’m very excited […]
Supporting and encouraging readers in your classroom can take many forms. I often have conversations with educators about recommendations for Chrome extensions and websites that are must-haves for Chromebook classrooms. When the team at Stackup reached out to me this year, I was really excited to learn about their tool to measure and reward online […]
In this episode I share strategies for using backchannels in your classroom to increase engagement and check for understanding. You’ll hear how this strategy can help with your formative assessment routines as well as some of my absolute favorite EdTech tools to help get the job done! Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: […]
How do you differentiate instruction for students with diverse needs? As a classroom teacher, I worked with students with a range of needs and interests. Although the curriculum and standards provide guidance for the school year, finding “just right” resources was always a challenge. Even though a search on Google might turn up a few […]
What does staying safe online look like in your school? Finding the best way to support students during the school year goes beyond safety in the physical spaces they inhabit each day. Although this is clearly part of the equation in making sure all students are safe in school, there is an essential online component […]
Digital tools give educators new ways to obtain a more complete picture of students’ early literacy and reading fluency. From kindergarten, through the elementary grades, online platforms can help teachers gather information on students and design an action plan to support their growth. I’m excited to share an online reading fluency assessment designed specifically for […]
Making sure that students have everything they need before state exams is definitely stressful. As a classroom teacher, I remember just how hard it was to find “just right” prompts and practice activities for students. Writable is a practical EdTech tool for teachers and students. Educators can use it to make sure that state summative […]
Regular followers of the blog know how much I value my network of Apple Distinguished Educators. Just like many education communities, this group of enthusiastic educators share fantastic ideas, strategies, and tips for teachers. You might know Apple Distinguished Educator Michael Cohen as a keynote speaker at last year’s annual ISTE conference in Chicago. He […]
A few weeks ago I shared formative assessment strategies at a conference for educators. I said something to the group that I often say when discussing this topic. There is no point in collecting data you aren’t going to use. Data collection should be relevant and actionable. And I’m always on the hunt for powerful […]