Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Social-emotional Learning (SEL) is the process by which students of all ages develop and use social and emotional skills, knowledge, and attitudes. Using SEL skills, students better understand emotion, manage their own, and show empathy towards others. SEL skills also help students set and achieve positive goals. Although this is an ongoing process through all grade levels, you can begin to instill these skills and understandings in even your youngest students. We encourage you to find appropriate tools and resources in this collection to use with your students and in your lessons.

tag(s): emotions (53), empathy (37), social and emotional learning (110)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Pulling all of your lesson content into one collection that students can navigate independently is a great instructional strategy. When used to implement flipped/blended learning, Wakelet allows students to be more self-reliant and gives the instructor more time to help students who struggle. Wakelet offers flexibility in how you share content with your students encouraging creativity in both the instructional sequence and in the ways students demonstrate learning. Join us to learn how Wakelet can be used to reshape your classroom. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand how Wakelet can be used to deliver differentiated blended learning lessons; 2. Explore Wakelet's built-in tools that support instruction; and 3. Plan to deliver a lesson using Wakelet. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): Accessibility (11), blended learning (36), classroom management (118), curation (32), flipped learning (9), professional development (393), remote learning (54), teaching strategies (52)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from May 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Microsoft's Office Online is a completely free, web-based version of Microsoft Office. Designed to facilitate workplace readiness skills including communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity, Office online can be used with students of all ages. We will share promising practices as well as strategies for staying organized, easily sharing files, and using these tools with your students. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the features of Office Online that support the 4Cs; 2. Explore classroom applications for Microsoft Forms and Sway; and 3. Plan for the use of Office Online in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): collaboration (94), communication (130), creativity (87), critical thinking (137), Microsoft (79), professional development (393)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from May 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Creating and using timelines is a great instructional strategy that can scaffold student comprehension in all subjects. From the introduction of a concept to assessment, timelines can help empower learners and inform your instruction. Explore, compare, and contrast three different online timeline creators. Participants will learn about the features of these three free tools and then explore ways to use them in the classroom. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand various ways that timelines can be used in the classroom; 2. Explore 3 timeline tools to use in the classroom; and 3. Plan for the use of one of the three tools in your educational setting This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): professional development (393), timelines (57)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Join us for this light-hearted session where you take the role of a student working on a real-world connection project. Learn to use Google search tools like a Ninja as you prepare and submit your project. The tips and tricks presented in this session will help empower your students as they use research strategies to locate information and resources for projects and other creative work. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand how effective search strategies assist with student research; 2. Plan for the introduction of search strategies in the classroom; and 3. Create a project exemplar to share with students. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): digital citizenship (93), Google (48), media literacy (113), professional development (393), Research (88), search strategies (22)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Integrating visual and written content can increase the impact of the writing that your students do. As students learn to use imagery to illustrate critical points in an argument or visualize the action in a storyline, they become better communicators. Join this session and help your students develop the ability to communicate clearly and creatively. Model and nurture creative expression while providing a new way for your students to reflect on what they have learned. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the components of a visual essay; 2. Explore a tech tool that can be used to create visual essays; and 3. Create a visual essay exemplar to share with their students. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): essays (21), professional development (393), visualizations (11)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from February 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Humans respond to and process visual data better than any other type of data. Whether students are learning to collect, organize, graph, or interpret data, this webinar offers proven tools and strategies that assist learners in developing and applying those skills. Together we will explore and plan for the use of forms to collect data, web resources to access data, spreadsheets to manipulate and graph data, and Google MyMaps to visualize data. Students from beginner to advanced can use these tools to visualize and connect math, science, and social studies concepts to concrete, real-world applications. Let's get students excited about learning and help them incorporate complex data literacy into their world view. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels. Participants will: 1. Understand how to use data visualization in the classroom; 2. Explore digital tools that will assist students with data visualization projects; and 3. Plan for the use of data visualization in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): charts and graphs (169), data (150), Google (48), infographics (57), professional development (393), visualizations (11)

This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about the MakerSpace movement and mindset. Engage your students, challenge their minds, teach cooperative learning, and more. There is no right or wrong way to do a MakerSpace. Use the tools provided to find digital options to use in your MakerSpace area. Read the professional information to educate yourself about the mindset of MakerSpace.

tag(s): circuits (20), coding (87), creativity (87), engineering (137), makerspace (40), musical instruments (54), robotics (26), STEM (312)

This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about and use gamification in the classroom. Various subject areas are included in the collection. Explore online workshops to learn more about gamification. Find tools that you can use to gamify your classroom. Remember to start small with gamification and add more to your gamification "toolbox" as you are more comfortable.

tag(s): coding (87), game based learning (208), gamification (86), polls and surveys (49)