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Edutopia
@edutopia.org
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Sharing what works in education. ✨

Edutopia is an initiative of the George Lucas Educational Foundation.

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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 4h
In @jen.litandtech.com’s high school ELA classes, generative AI is a tool to help students strengthen their writing—not a replacement for thinking. 💭

In our latest podcast episode, she shares her approach to teaching writing in the age of AI.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4oXsXeO
School of Practice new episode: How to Teach Authentic Writing in the Age of AI. Listen on Apple Podcasts
edutopia.org
In @jen.litandtech.com’s high school ELA classes, generative AI is a tool to help students strengthen their writing—not a replacement for thinking. 💭

In our latest podcast episode, she shares her approach to teaching writing in the age of AI.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4oXsXeO
School of Practice new episode: How to Teach Authentic Writing in the Age of AI. Listen on Apple Podcasts
November 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Edutopia
toddfinley.bsky.social
13 Super-Quick Formative Assessments
Teachers can use these techniques to gauge students’ understanding mid-lesson and then decide whether to reteach or press ahead. www.edutopia.org/article/quic... #teachers #k12 #formativeassessment #assessment
13 Super-Quick Formative Assessments
Teachers can use these techniques to gauge students’ understanding mid-lesson and then decide whether to reteach or press ahead.
www.edutopia.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Edutopia
marcusluther.bsky.social
Love this post from @mrrablin.bsky.social — especially since it is quite doable to think about your classroom and prioritize one of these four things almost immediately.

(Also: #5 I think? Patience. Sometimes it takes awhile for that lightbulb to click for a student.)
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
edutopia.org
What can *really* move the needle for students who see school as not worth the effort? 🪡 Instructional coach @mrrablin.bsky.social digs into the research on engagement to share these strategies.

#StudentEngagement #EduSky
4 Ways to Guide Disengaged Students to Try Again
There are many reasons why students disengage in school. The tips here are not a panacea, but both research and teacher experience demonstrate that they can help.
edut.to
November 11, 2025 at 1:16 PM
edutopia.org
💚
“Share the good stuff. Reach out to parents to tell them their kid was kind. Or nailed a new skill. Or is generally just awesome. One day you might have to reach out about something not as sunny, and having that relationship built goes a long way.” —Leticia Y, Educator
November 11, 2025 at 10:32 AM
edutopia.org
Looking for a way to boost engagement and create a classroom culture that values mistakes as learning opportunities? Use error analysis!

Learn more from educator Kathy Collier:

#MathSky #ElementaryTeacher #EduSky
Using Error Analysis to Boost Engagement and Student Talk in Math
Examining mistakes gives students a chance to discuss misconceptions openly and find new approaches to solving problems.
edut.to
November 11, 2025 at 2:41 AM
edutopia.org
This routine is simple, but it’s game-changing for school culture! 📝

Thanks to educator Kathryn Ashmore for sharing.

#SchoolLeaders #EduSky #WhatWorksForMe
“Our leadership team does this every week—we each pick a staff member and write them a positive note. We’ve done the entire staff twice, and we are on round 3 now. It has been a powerful game changer for the staff and team!” —Kathryn Ashmore, Educator
November 11, 2025 at 1:26 AM
edutopia.org
Students often have trouble deciphering standards. In her first article for Edutopia, @kfusaropizzo.bsky.social explains how to translate them into legible success criteria. 🌟

#EduSky
Translating Standards Into Student-Friendly Terms
Designing an effective assessment requires first deconstructing the standards into clear criteria of success that students can understand.
edut.to
November 11, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Reposted by Edutopia
mrfishersays.bsky.social
This has been a personal planning principle for a long time - little victories go a long way in helping kids gain and maintain momentum!
edutopia.org Edutopia @edutopia.org · 3d
We tend to measure academic success by the big wins: Passing a test with flying colors, for example, or earning top grades in a demanding course.

But it’s the small wins that motivate students to keep going amid the inevitable academic struggles, new research shows.

🧵1/6
1-Minute Read. The Research Is In. Research Reveals the Power of Small Wins. By Youki Terada & Stephen Merrill. Illustration of a student with a backpack climbing up a ladder into a bright yellow sun, with rays radiating from it and clouds behind them.
November 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
edutopia.org
How to maintain high expectations in a fun class culture!

#ClassroomManagement #EduSky
Balancing Friendliness With Firmness
By setting clear expectations for behavior early on, teachers can have fun with their students without losing control of their classrooms.
www.edutopia.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:54 PM
edutopia.org
When students talk through material with well-designed chatbots, they can see impressive boosts to learning, research shows. 💡

Here’s how to create a custom chatbot—for free—that can help students study class material.

#EduSky #EdTech #EduSkyAI
AI Tool Demo: Building an Effective Tutor With MagicSchool AI
Assistant editor Daniel Leonard shows how teachers can customize a free AI tutor that enables students to review the class material on their own time.
www.edutopia.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
edutopia.org
“My 5-year-old explained to me that it's okay when she makes a mistake because she’s growing the neurons in her brain. I just want to hug her teacher.” —Erin Brisbin, Teacher
November 10, 2025 at 10:17 AM
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Thomas shares his time-saving strategy for creating great sub plans: https://edut.to/47fxtzs

#EduSky #teachers
"When I come back, I’ve noticed that kids’ work is stronger. Substitute notes are shorter. Kids’ faces are happier, and I feel a whole lot better about being sick or—God forbid—sunburned from a well-deserved vacation." —Thomas Courtney, Teacher
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
edutopia.org
Helping teams solve problems isn’t easy. Here are 4 tips from veteran administrators that can help. ⭐

#SchoolLeaders #Principals #EduSky
4 Ways to Increase Your Leadership Team’s Problem-Solving Capacity
Both the collective talents of team members and robust team processes are needed to address the multidimensional challenges schools confront today.
edut.to
November 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
edutopia.org
If you want smart, healthy, well-rounded students, it pays to invest in recess! 🏃 🎉

#EduSky
The Importance of Recess
Recess is often sacrificed to make room for more academics. The research says that’s a big mistake.
www.edutopia.org
November 9, 2025 at 6:54 PM
edutopia.org
Early childhood educator Cara Zelas explains how to use circle time, stories, and role-play to help young students create classroom agreements! 🙌

#ClassroomManagement #EarlyChildhoodEducation #preschool #PreK
Guiding Preschoolers to Create Shared Classroom Norms
When children have a role in creating class agreements, they begin to see themselves as active participants in shaping their community.
edut.to
November 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
edutopia.org
Playful learning can inspire joy, laughter, and connection in your classroom. 🧡 Here’s how to get older students on board!

#HighSchoolTeacher #PlayfulLearning
Reintroducing Playful Learning in High School
These strategies for using play-based learning with older students can get them more engaged with your course content.
www.edutopia.org
November 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
edutopia.org
”Sometimes the best learning happens in the midst of what looks like chaos. Don't be afraid to get messy.” —Leah Ross Henry, Educator
November 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
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Tired of students skipping your comments and only looking at the grade? Try giving them a picture of how they performed. 🖼️

Want a blank version of this teacher’s bar chart rubric and spiderweb lab report rubric? Get editable copies here: edut.to/42ppMnp

#ITeachScience #HighSchoolTeacher #EduSky
Helping Students Look Beyond Grades With Visual Rubrics
When students see their content mastery mapped out, they’re more likely to understand their proficiency—and take ownership of their progress.
edut.to
November 9, 2025 at 1:34 AM
edutopia.org
Whether they’re worried about making a mistake or just plain shy, it can be tough to get students talking in the language they’re learning. These fun activities can help. 🎉

#WorldLanguages #LanguageEducation
12 Fun Speaking Games for Language Learners
Every teacher has faced the struggle of encouraging students to speak. Here's a list of a fun activities to get your students to talking.
www.edutopia.org
November 8, 2025 at 11:21 PM
edutopia.org
Studies show the benefits of a more knowledge-rich approach to reading instruction. So how do you move beyond traditional skills like “finding the main idea?” These research-backed strategies can help. 📚

#EdResearch #literacy #EduSky
How to Move From the ‘Main Idea’ to ‘Background Knowledge’
Traditional approaches to reading instruction—such as finding the “main idea”—are less effective than a knowledge-rich approach, the research shows.
www.edutopia.org
November 8, 2025 at 10:09 PM
edutopia.org
We sat down with influential psychologist David Yeager to talk about the recent science shaping our understanding of the adolescent brain and why kids resist feedback. 🧠

#EdResearch #EduSky
The Science of Student Motivation
Noted author and psychologist David Yeager on the common mistakes we make when giving feedback to students, and how to tap into purpose and belonging to make classroom work more meaningful.
www.edutopia.org
November 8, 2025 at 8:11 PM
edutopia.org
We tend to measure academic success by the big wins: Passing a test with flying colors, for example, or earning top grades in a demanding course.

But it’s the small wins that motivate students to keep going amid the inevitable academic struggles, new research shows.

🧵1/6
1-Minute Read. The Research Is In. Research Reveals the Power of Small Wins. By Youki Terada & Stephen Merrill. Illustration of a student with a backpack climbing up a ladder into a bright yellow sun, with rays radiating from it and clouds behind them.
November 8, 2025 at 6:22 PM
edutopia.org
Strategies that develop self-regulation, executive function skills, and self-agency: https://edut.to/4ofs69i

#ExecutiveFunction #SEL #EduSky
“Giving students strategies to become self-reliant learners encourages them to determine their own choices and control their own lives, even in a disruptive and chaotic world.” —Peg Grafwallner, Instructional Coach
November 8, 2025 at 2:43 PM
edutopia.org
#EduSky #teachers
“If students don’t collaborate well, that’s your clue to do it more often, not less. But structure it. Teach them how to create norms, find consensus, and move on after a disagreement.” —Heather Wolpert-Gawron, Teacher
November 8, 2025 at 12:25 PM