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

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
Pinned
Ready to talk about the warm demander approach to classroom management? Jump into our January Jam Session: edut.to/3Zc6sb2

Join us, @marcusluther.bsky.social, @amirtaron.bsky.social, @jessicacabeen.bsky.social, and @alterishea.bsky.social for tips, resources, and advice you can use right away!
Aligning instruction starts with trust. And trust starts with teacher-led teams, writes elementary school principal Erika Kersey.

#SchoolLeaders #Principals #EduSky
Reimagining PLCs as Instructional Impact Teams
Repurposing traditional professional learning communities as teacher-led teams builds trust and strengthens instructional alignment.
www.edutopia.org
January 15, 2026 at 2:18 AM
In the debate activity ”Philosophical Chairs,” students defend their position—or switch to the other side.

And yes, sometimes they stand on a chair to make a point. 🪑

#ITeachELA #ITeachEnglish #ELATeacher
Philosophical Chairs Brings Out the Passion in ELA Classrooms
This low-prep, high-engagement activity prompts students to debate a question and critically examine their own and opposing positions.
www.edutopia.org
January 15, 2026 at 1:27 AM
It’s called homework, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have students discuss it in class.
In fact, that’s a great way to make it more effective! 📝💬

#EduSky
How I Make Homework Meaningful for My Students
Creating tasks with a focus on students’ autonomy—by providing choices, for example—helps them see the relevance of homework.
www.edutopia.org
January 15, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Reposted by Edutopia
Trying is hard!

I’m grateful to the folks @edutopia.org for giving me a platform to share some of my ideas about trying. Work collaboratively, keep things playful and develop some strategies for when you get stuck…

Give ‘em a try…
Helping Students Learn the Art of Trying in Math
These four classroom shifts can make academic risk-taking feel safer, clearer, and more worthwhile for middle school students.
www.edutopia.org
January 14, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Preschool teachers: You don’t have to worry about getting off track when your students get excited about a particular moment. 💫 Here’s how to embed spontaneous learning into curricular conversations!

#PreK #preschool #EarlyChildhoodEducation
Integrating Spontaneous Learning Into Pre-K Curriculum
Teachers can use moments when children express curiosity as entry points to foster deep learning within planned lessons.
www.edutopia.org
January 14, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Instead of memorizing definitions on their own, this strategy can help students learn new words by exploring the nuances of their meaning with peers! 🧭

#literacy #EduSky
How to Turn Vocabulary Lessons Into Nuanced Conversations About Meaning
Use 'semantic gradients' to turn vocabulary study into a shared thinking activity that explores the subtle differences between related words.
www.edutopia.org
January 14, 2026 at 10:08 PM
“Behavior is communication, and when we slow down, observe, and listen, we can respond to a child’s real need instead of reacting to the behavior we see on the surface.”

#PreK #preschool #EarlyChildhoodEducation
Modeling Calm for Preschool Students
Teachers can focus on promoting a sense of emotional safety to help students develop self-regulation and resilience.
edut.to
January 14, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Does doodling sharpen focus? Surely, grades motivate learners!?

Two Edutopia editors pore over the research. 🔎

#EdResearch #EduSky
5 Popular Education Beliefs That Aren’t Backed by Research
Making adjustments to these common misconceptions can turn dubious strategies into productive lessons, the research suggests.
www.edutopia.org
January 14, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Research-backed tip of the day: Keep brain breaks short *and* frequent. 🧠
January 14, 2026 at 10:03 AM
What happens when SPED teachers are seen as school leaders?

Administrator Stephanie Gross says that when schools embrace special education professionals as instructional leaders and curriculum co-designers, learning for *all* students thrives. 🌻

#SpecialEducation #UDL #SchoolLeaders
What It Takes to Lead an Inclusive School
Administrators can elevate special education teams from support roles to central drivers of inclusive instruction.
www.edutopia.org
January 14, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Looking to focus on students' foundational skills? 🧰 Montverde Academy took advantage of a short, weekly advisory block to prioritize individual students’ skill building.

#EduSky
Strengthening Students’ Foundational Math Skills in Middle School
If many students are struggling with operations like dividing decimals, this schoolwide approach to scheduling can help.
www.edutopia.org
January 14, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Tips for starting the spring semester off on the right foot—so your class can thrive, not just survive, until summer. 🏖️

#EduSky
Getting Your Class Back on Track for the Spring
As the spring semester begins, have students reflect on what worked in the fall—and what didn’t—to make a plan for the rest of the year.
www.edutopia.org
January 14, 2026 at 12:33 AM
“From work-based learning to career advisement, students gain key insight into their future when school is connected to the real world.”

Here are 3 strategies high school leaders can use to build career-connected learning into a school system. 🏫

#SchoolLeaders #Principals #CTE
3 Ways to Support Career-Focused Learning in High School
Linking concepts from the classroom to practical applications in career fields boosts engagement and helps students plan for their future.
www.edutopia.org
January 13, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Want to talk about the warm demander approach to classroom management? Join our January Jam Session!

@marcusluther.bsky.social (HS English teacher + co-host of The Broken Copier podcast) is in the chat, sharing practical strategies and answering your questions.

Jump in now: edut.to/3Zc6sb2
January 13, 2026 at 10:36 PM
“As a HS history teacher, I use secondary sources to promote curiosity, engage students to evaluate evidence within an argument, & realize that history is complex—because it is about people’s lives. For students, this becomes much more meaningful than memorizing a list of facts.”

#HistoryEducation
Using Secondary Sources in High School History
Teachers can use differing interpretations of historical events to help students move from memorizing events to analyzing and interpreting them.
www.edutopia.org
January 13, 2026 at 9:24 PM
English language development specialist Eliana Belle shares 3 of her favorite MagicSchool AI tools to help students practice English skills in engaging and responsive ways! 🚀

#MLL #ELL #MultilingualLearners
3 Ways to Use MagicSchool to Support English Language Learners
The AI tools in the popular platform can guide students to practice language skills and receive feedback while working independently.
www.edutopia.org
January 13, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Edutopia
EduGems!  is a growing collection of pre-made prompts ("Gems") for educators to use with Google Gemini. edugems.ai #EduSky #EduSkyAI #TLSky #EdTech #AIinEducation #aisky #ai #googlel #gemini #Gems
EduGems
💎 Welcome to EduGems! This is a growing collection of pre-made prompts ("Gems") for educators to use with Google Gemini. 🖱️ Click on any item below to get details on that Gem, with options to use or m...
edugems.ai
January 13, 2026 at 4:53 PM
January 13, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Edutopia
Ready to talk about the warm demander approach to classroom management? Jump into our January Jam Session: edut.to/3Zc6sb2

Join us, @marcusluther.bsky.social, @amirtaron.bsky.social, @jessicacabeen.bsky.social, and @alterishea.bsky.social for tips, resources, and advice you can use right away!
January 11, 2026 at 10:29 PM
When you make endurance and critical thinking focal points of your instructional practice, students can feel more prepared and confident during standardized tests. 📝

#EduSky
How to Develop Test-Ready Students
There’s a difference between teaching to the test and developing test-specific thinking that will help students effectively apply what they’ve learned all year.
www.edutopia.org
January 13, 2026 at 1:04 PM
From targeted audio notes to whole-class error analysis, these strategies can streamline feedback for busy teachers while deepening student understanding! 🌟

#EduSky
13 Tips to Quickly Deliver Super Effective Feedback
These efficient feedback strategies support student learning without sacrificing a teacher's nights and weekends.
www.edutopia.org
January 13, 2026 at 11:38 AM
January 13, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Built-in screen readers can level the playing field for all students, providing them with more independence and opportunity to dive deeper into content!

#literacy #EdTech #EduSky
Using Text-to-Speech Technology to Support All Students
Built-in screen readers improve the accessibility of texts and can help students achieve success in building higher-level literacy skills.
www.edutopia.org
January 13, 2026 at 3:08 AM
What’s warm and fuzzy like a pom pom? Acts of kindness in this elementary school classroom. 🥰

#ClassroomManagement #SEL #EduSky #60SecondStrategies
January 13, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Here’s a how-to guide and sample culture map: https://edut.to/4b0aryI
January 13, 2026 at 1:06 AM