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@edutopia.org
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Edutopia is an initiative of the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
Edutopia.org | Check out our new community forum: https://www.edutopia.org/ask-and-answer
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Edutopia
@edutopia.org
· 6d
How to Use Formative Assessment Like an Expert Teacher
Podcast Episode · School of Practice · 02/03/2026 · 21m
apple.co
New School of Practice episode just dropped!
Assessment expert Jay McTighe shares his favorite formative assessment techniques and how to get the most out of them in class.
Tune in and learn how to use formative assessments like an expert teacher! 🎧
Listen on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3ZaJNMB
Assessment expert Jay McTighe shares his favorite formative assessment techniques and how to get the most out of them in class.
Tune in and learn how to use formative assessments like an expert teacher! 🎧
Listen on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3ZaJNMB
Give students opportunities for close reading through exploration of books paired with visual media! 📚👀
@wordsimagesworlds.bsky.social explains how.
#literacy #ELATeacher #EduSky
@wordsimagesworlds.bsky.social explains how.
#literacy #ELATeacher #EduSky
Pairing Images and Text for Critical Analysis
Teachers can give students opportunities for close reading through exploration of books paired with visual media.
www.edutopia.org
February 10, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Give students opportunities for close reading through exploration of books paired with visual media! 📚👀
@wordsimagesworlds.bsky.social explains how.
#literacy #ELATeacher #EduSky
@wordsimagesworlds.bsky.social explains how.
#literacy #ELATeacher #EduSky
Teachers, here are 7 questions your students can use to think about their own thinking! 💭
February 10, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Teachers, here are 7 questions your students can use to think about their own thinking! 💭
The scripted math lesson doesn’t know your students. 🙋
Here’s how to move math instruction beyond the textbook and into your real-world classroom.
#MathSky #ITeachMath #EduSky
Here’s how to move math instruction beyond the textbook and into your real-world classroom.
#MathSky #ITeachMath #EduSky
4 Ways to Make Story Problems More Engaging and Accessible
Four simple strategies—beginning with an image, previewing vocabulary, omitting the numbers, and offering number sets—can have a big impact on learning.
www.edutopia.org
February 10, 2026 at 1:06 AM
The scripted math lesson doesn’t know your students. 🙋
Here’s how to move math instruction beyond the textbook and into your real-world classroom.
#MathSky #ITeachMath #EduSky
Here’s how to move math instruction beyond the textbook and into your real-world classroom.
#MathSky #ITeachMath #EduSky
A kindergarten teacher explains how she came up with a new, immersive approach to read-alouds, which included costumes, props, classroom rearranging, and sound effects! 📚🎩 🔊
#kindergarten #literacy #EduSky
#kindergarten #literacy #EduSky
Taking Your Read-Alouds From Interactive to Immersive
Story time is a highlight of the day for many young students, and teachers can boost engagement even further by adding costumes and sound effects.
www.edutopia.org
February 9, 2026 at 11:27 PM
A kindergarten teacher explains how she came up with a new, immersive approach to read-alouds, which included costumes, props, classroom rearranging, and sound effects! 📚🎩 🔊
#kindergarten #literacy #EduSky
#kindergarten #literacy #EduSky
Reposted by Edutopia
A great social studies literacy connection is pairing those picture books with primary and secondary source content.
Using picture books in middle school can help students focus on different elements of narrative storytelling and synthesize information! 📚
#MiddleSchool #literacy #EduSky
#MiddleSchool #literacy #EduSky
Using Multigenre Picture Books in Middle School
Books that convey nonfiction topics through poems and images help students learn to process information, a skill they can transfer to other texts.
www.edutopia.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:58 PM
A great social studies literacy connection is pairing those picture books with primary and secondary source content.
Reposted by Edutopia
How to Decide What to Do After Your Formative Assessment | www.edutopia.org/article/what... #education #teacher #k12 #Edutopia
How to Decide What to Do After Your Formative Assessment
You’ve checked for understanding—now you can use this framework to understand what students’ confusion is telling you, and how you can adjust course.
www.edutopia.org
February 6, 2026 at 8:23 PM
How to Decide What to Do After Your Formative Assessment | www.edutopia.org/article/what... #education #teacher #k12 #Edutopia
Reposted by Edutopia
Great tips on AI use from @thevogelman.bsky.social!
-discuss nuances
-model acceptable use
-use to push (not replace) thinking
-be transparent
-be curious
-be reflective
AI Transparency Surveys: A Tool for Navigating Student Choices Together via @edutopia.org www.edutopia.org/article/ai-t...
-discuss nuances
-model acceptable use
-use to push (not replace) thinking
-be transparent
-be curious
-be reflective
AI Transparency Surveys: A Tool for Navigating Student Choices Together via @edutopia.org www.edutopia.org/article/ai-t...
AI Transparency Surveys: A Tool for Navigating Student Choices Together
A high school English teacher wondered: What happens when students can openly discuss AI boundaries, then reflect on their own use through a simple survey?
www.edutopia.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Great tips on AI use from @thevogelman.bsky.social!
-discuss nuances
-model acceptable use
-use to push (not replace) thinking
-be transparent
-be curious
-be reflective
AI Transparency Surveys: A Tool for Navigating Student Choices Together via @edutopia.org www.edutopia.org/article/ai-t...
-discuss nuances
-model acceptable use
-use to push (not replace) thinking
-be transparent
-be curious
-be reflective
AI Transparency Surveys: A Tool for Navigating Student Choices Together via @edutopia.org www.edutopia.org/article/ai-t...
Middle school classrooms can transform from chill to rowdy in a matter of seconds. 🔊
These teacher-tested attention-getting routines will help you quickly restore calm! 🔈
These teacher-tested attention-getting routines will help you quickly restore calm! 🔈
23 Ways to Quiet a Chaotic Middle School Class
Teacher-tested attention-getting routines to help you quickly restore calm and focus to noisy middle school classrooms.
www.edutopia.org
February 9, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Middle school classrooms can transform from chill to rowdy in a matter of seconds. 🔊
These teacher-tested attention-getting routines will help you quickly restore calm! 🔈
These teacher-tested attention-getting routines will help you quickly restore calm! 🔈
Using picture books in middle school can help students focus on different elements of narrative storytelling and synthesize information! 📚
#MiddleSchool #literacy #EduSky
#MiddleSchool #literacy #EduSky
Using Multigenre Picture Books in Middle School
Books that convey nonfiction topics through poems and images help students learn to process information, a skill they can transfer to other texts.
www.edutopia.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Using picture books in middle school can help students focus on different elements of narrative storytelling and synthesize information! 📚
#MiddleSchool #literacy #EduSky
#MiddleSchool #literacy #EduSky
Have you ever seen 10-year–olds holding a Socratic circle? In this Idaho classroom, it’s a regular thing! 🎉
#ElementaryTeacher #EduSky
#ElementaryTeacher #EduSky
Adapting Socratic Seminars for Elementary
With a few key modifications, teachers can make a complex academic discussion into an excellent learning opportunity for younger students.
www.edutopia.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Have you ever seen 10-year–olds holding a Socratic circle? In this Idaho classroom, it’s a regular thing! 🎉
#ElementaryTeacher #EduSky
#ElementaryTeacher #EduSky
Teachers can empower their students to co-create the type of classroom and learning that works for them by developing structures for students to give feedback! 🙌
#EduSky #MiddleSchool
#EduSky #MiddleSchool
Creating a Culture of Feedback in Middle School
Teachers can work to meet the needs of their students by embedding opportunities for feedback throughout lessons.
www.edutopia.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Teachers can empower their students to co-create the type of classroom and learning that works for them by developing structures for students to give feedback! 🙌
#EduSky #MiddleSchool
#EduSky #MiddleSchool
Small steps—testing an assignment on a student device, assessing directions for clarity, and identifying potential friction points—can make a noticeable difference in how smoothly a lesson with technology runs (as well as how confident we feel when it launches). 🖥️
#EdTech #EduSky
#EdTech #EduSky
Pressure-Testing Your Tech-Integrated Lesson
Pressure-testing your lesson first helps catch friction points early and launch with confidence. Download the free checklist to get started.
www.edutopia.org
February 8, 2026 at 10:10 PM
So you’ve checked for understanding with a formative assessment—what now?
You can use this framework from @toddfinley.bsky.social to understand what students’ confusion is telling you, and how you can adjust course. 🗺️
#assessment #EduSky
You can use this framework from @toddfinley.bsky.social to understand what students’ confusion is telling you, and how you can adjust course. 🗺️
#assessment #EduSky
How to Decide What to Do After Your Formative Assessment
You’ve checked for understanding—now you can use this framework to understand what students’ confusion is telling you, and how you can adjust course.
www.edutopia.org
February 8, 2026 at 8:28 PM
So you’ve checked for understanding with a formative assessment—what now?
You can use this framework from @toddfinley.bsky.social to understand what students’ confusion is telling you, and how you can adjust course. 🗺️
#assessment #EduSky
You can use this framework from @toddfinley.bsky.social to understand what students’ confusion is telling you, and how you can adjust course. 🗺️
#assessment #EduSky
“Creating a classroom environment rooted in transparency—through open conversations, consistent reflection, and tools like transparency surveys—helps students map the ever-changing landscape of AI use while building the discernment to navigate it thoughtfully,” @thevogelman.bsky.social writes.
AI Transparency Surveys: A Tool for Navigating Student Choices Together
A high school English teacher wondered: What happens when students can openly discuss AI boundaries, then reflect on their own use through a simple survey?
www.edutopia.org
February 8, 2026 at 7:04 PM
“Creating a classroom environment rooted in transparency—through open conversations, consistent reflection, and tools like transparency surveys—helps students map the ever-changing landscape of AI use while building the discernment to navigate it thoughtfully,” @thevogelman.bsky.social writes.
Looking for writing prompts to spark students’ imaginations, no matter the grade level? 💥
Edutopia’s @tatertutt.bsky.social collected dozens of creative ideas to help learners grow as storytellers.
Edutopia’s @tatertutt.bsky.social collected dozens of creative ideas to help learners grow as storytellers.
54 Excellent, Low-Stakes Writing Prompts
Across grade levels, engaging and creative writing prompts encourage kids to explore their opinions, reflect on experiences, and build strong arguments.
www.edutopia.org
February 8, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Looking for writing prompts to spark students’ imaginations, no matter the grade level? 💥
Edutopia’s @tatertutt.bsky.social collected dozens of creative ideas to help learners grow as storytellers.
Edutopia’s @tatertutt.bsky.social collected dozens of creative ideas to help learners grow as storytellers.
School leaders can empower *all* teachers to participate in schoolwide decision-making by combining staff meetings with committee work! Here’s how. ⬇️
#SchoolLeaders #Principals
#SchoolLeaders #Principals
Making Committee Work More Efficient
Principals can help teachers actively contribute to schoolwide projects by shifting the structure of their staff meetings.
www.edutopia.org
February 8, 2026 at 1:40 PM
School leaders can empower *all* teachers to participate in schoolwide decision-making by combining staff meetings with committee work! Here’s how. ⬇️
#SchoolLeaders #Principals
#SchoolLeaders #Principals
Amanda shares a project that incorporates interdisciplinary learning and student choice: https://edut.to/4kd3tZQ
#EduSky
#EduSky
February 8, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Amanda shares a project that incorporates interdisciplinary learning and student choice: https://edut.to/4kd3tZQ
#EduSky
#EduSky
Find out why using bird calls as attention getters was a goofy but effective tactic in @mrrablin.bsky.social’s classroom. 🐦
Plus, 10 more small changes that can have a big impact!
#EduSky #ClassroomManagement
Plus, 10 more small changes that can have a big impact!
#EduSky #ClassroomManagement
11 Classroom Management Tweaks You Don’t Learn in Teacher Prep
Over time, every teacher makes small changes that have a big impact on how their classes run. A veteran teacher shares the hacks that work for him.
www.edutopia.org
February 8, 2026 at 2:25 AM
Find out why using bird calls as attention getters was a goofy but effective tactic in @mrrablin.bsky.social’s classroom. 🐦
Plus, 10 more small changes that can have a big impact!
#EduSky #ClassroomManagement
Plus, 10 more small changes that can have a big impact!
#EduSky #ClassroomManagement
Even if you aren’t teaching in a Montessori classroom, you can still apply these 8 concepts to create positive change for your students! 💫
#ElementaryTeacher #EduSky
#ElementaryTeacher #EduSky
Applying Montessori Ideas in Your Classroom
Elementary teachers can use these concepts to shift how they set up spaces, design learning opportunities, and empower students.
www.edutopia.org
February 8, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Even if you aren’t teaching in a Montessori classroom, you can still apply these 8 concepts to create positive change for your students! 💫
#ElementaryTeacher #EduSky
#ElementaryTeacher #EduSky
If rushing to put together required IEP documentation sounds familiar, try @cathleenbeachbd.bsky.social and her co-teacher’s free template!
By helping Ts regularly and quickly provide updates, it not only eases the paperwork burden but also results in better support for students. 🌟
By helping Ts regularly and quickly provide updates, it not only eases the paperwork burden but also results in better support for students. 🌟
How to Streamline IEP Paperwork for Special and General Education Teachers
With this simple Google Form and spreadsheet—free template included—the whole IEP team can keep up to speed on the supports students need.
www.edutopia.org
February 8, 2026 at 1:25 AM
If rushing to put together required IEP documentation sounds familiar, try @cathleenbeachbd.bsky.social and her co-teacher’s free template!
By helping Ts regularly and quickly provide updates, it not only eases the paperwork burden but also results in better support for students. 🌟
By helping Ts regularly and quickly provide updates, it not only eases the paperwork burden but also results in better support for students. 🌟
@cathleenbeachbd.bsky.social & her co-teacher have streamlined IEP paperwork:
“A teacher submits an update in 2 minutes, tops. The case manager sees the data immediately. The gen ed team can adjust instruction starting that same day. Students get targeted support in real time, not weeks later.” 👏
“A teacher submits an update in 2 minutes, tops. The case manager sees the data immediately. The gen ed team can adjust instruction starting that same day. Students get targeted support in real time, not weeks later.” 👏
How to Streamline IEP Paperwork for Special and General Education Teachers
With this simple Google Form and spreadsheet—free template included—the whole IEP team can keep up to speed on the supports students need.
www.edutopia.org
February 7, 2026 at 10:34 PM
@cathleenbeachbd.bsky.social & her co-teacher have streamlined IEP paperwork:
“A teacher submits an update in 2 minutes, tops. The case manager sees the data immediately. The gen ed team can adjust instruction starting that same day. Students get targeted support in real time, not weeks later.” 👏
“A teacher submits an update in 2 minutes, tops. The case manager sees the data immediately. The gen ed team can adjust instruction starting that same day. Students get targeted support in real time, not weeks later.” 👏
Teachers: Ever feel like you don’t have time to do what you need to do? ⏰
“We often think about affluence when it comes to money, but not time,” explains Yale professor and cognitive scientist @lauriesantos.bsky.social, “and social scientists are learning that it’s really important.”
🧵1/7
“We often think about affluence when it comes to money, but not time,” explains Yale professor and cognitive scientist @lauriesantos.bsky.social, “and social scientists are learning that it’s really important.”
🧵1/7
February 7, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Teachers: Ever feel like you don’t have time to do what you need to do? ⏰
“We often think about affluence when it comes to money, but not time,” explains Yale professor and cognitive scientist @lauriesantos.bsky.social, “and social scientists are learning that it’s really important.”
🧵1/7
“We often think about affluence when it comes to money, but not time,” explains Yale professor and cognitive scientist @lauriesantos.bsky.social, “and social scientists are learning that it’s really important.”
🧵1/7
“Anchor tasks provide a strong framework for the daily classroom, centering and grounding it in structured, repeated activities that form the backbone of daily curriculum,” says high school librarian and teacher Benjamin Barbour. ⚓
#EduSky
#EduSky
Using Anchor Tasks as a Strong Foundation for Daily Learning
Quick, predictable, and consistent activities provide a foundation to get students thinking and ready to learn.
www.edutopia.org
February 7, 2026 at 4:24 PM
“Anchor tasks provide a strong framework for the daily classroom, centering and grounding it in structured, repeated activities that form the backbone of daily curriculum,” says high school librarian and teacher Benjamin Barbour. ⚓
#EduSky
#EduSky