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Educational Hip-Hop Songs & Videos for All Subjects, K-12

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Flocabulary is a library of songs, videos and activities for K-12 online learning. Hundreds of thousands of teachers use Flocabulary’s educational raps and teaching lesson plans to supplement their instruction and engage students. Our team of artists and educators is not only committed to raising test scores, but also to fostering a love of learning in every child.

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The skill of reading is built on an understanding of how sounds form words, the relationship between letters and sounds, and other complex elements.

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There's always something new and exciting happening at Super Teacher Worksheets! We are constantly adding awesome new worksheets and printable activities to our website. Make sure to take a peek at the wonderful resources we added recently!

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We have thousands of worksheets for teaching reading and writing.

Spelling word lists, worksheets, and puzzles for elementary students.

These fun holiday worksheets contain puzzles, crafts, holiday math, reading passages, and more.

Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, algebra, integers, place value, and everything else related to math.

Printable phonics worksheets for elementary school students. Teaching students consonants, digraphs, two-letter blends and more.

Print worksheets for teaching students about plants, animals, electricity, matter, and more.

These worksheets cover geography, explorers, map skills, colonial America, and communities.

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Super Teacher Worksheets - Thousands of Printable Activities

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Printable worksheets & activities for teachers, parents, and homeschool families. Math, reading, writing, science, social studies, phonics, & spelling.

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SplashLearn: Fun Math & ELA Program for PreK-Grade 5

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SplashLearn is an award-winning learning program loved by over 40 million kids for engaging Math and ELA practice. Aligned with Common Core and various state standards.

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Join a game of kahoot here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn – any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!

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Three Ways Teachers Can Support Kids With Autism

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Delayed processing in autism

As a consequence of a fragmented perception autistic children may experience delayed response to sensory stimuli, for example, you say something to your child, and there is no response as if the child didn't hear you. However, actually the child has started to process your question/instruction in order to respond with meaning, but he/she may need some time to process the question and prepare their response. (Immediate responses are often given on 'autopilot', triggered by memories. In these cases, a person does not mean and does not know what he 'has said'.) Before proper response autistic people must go through a number of separate stages in perception, and if this long decision-chain is interrupted by the outside world (for instance, we repeat the same question), the autistic person must start all over again because 'the same (but yet unprocessed) question' is a new one for them. In other words, an interruption effectively wipes away any intermediate result, confronting the autistic person literally "for the first time" with the same object/event/situation.

The experience of 'delayed hearing' happens when the question/instruction has been sensed and recorded without interpretation until the second (internalised) hearing (i.e. processing of the received message). They may be able to repeat back what has been said without comprehension that will come later. In less extreme cases, to process something takes seconds or minutes. Sometimes it takes days, weeks or months. In the most extreme cases, it can take years to process what has been said. The words, phrases, sentences, sometimes the whole situations are stored and they can be triggered at any time. You must be a detective to connect the child's 'announcement' with the question he/she was asked a week before.

A person can be delayed on every sensory channel. For example, if they experience delayed visual processing, the acquisition of the full meaning requires some observation time from different points of view; besides, people with autism must translate perceptual images into their proper terminology.

Perception by parts requires a great amount of time and effort to interpret the whole. Many autistic individuals emphasise that they need a great amount of 'thinking' to make sense of the world. Every step of perception they experience explicitly, in a not-automatic way with a great mental effort involved. Their subjective experience of time is also different from that of non-autistics. For them, time might seem faster, whereas non-autistic people may think that autistic children are slow in their decision-making.

There are several consequences of delayed processing:

They are often unable to start the action immediately as they need time to interpret and comprehend the situation.

When they finally reach 'comprehension', the situation has changed. It means that they 'experience meaning' out of the context it should have been experienced. That is why, new experiences, no matter how similar to previous ones, are perceived as new, unfamiliar and unpredictable, and responses to them are poor regardless of the number of times the person has experienced the same thing (Williams, 1996).

The amount of time needed to process any experience often remains slow (or delayed) regardless of having had similar experiences in the past, things do not get easier with time or learning (Williams, 1996). They are not able to apply something they have learned in one situation to another.

What we can do to help:

Give them time to take in your question/instruction and to work out their response. Do not interrupt. Be aware that autistic individuals often require more time than others to shift their attention between stimuli of different modalities and they find it extremely difficult to follow rapidly changing social interactions.
References
Williams, D. (1996) Autism: An inside-out approach. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Written by Olga Bogdashina on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services.

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Delayed Processing in Autism - Integrated Treatment Services

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Delayed processing in autism The experience of 'delayed hearing' happens when the question/instruction has been sensed and recorded without interpretation until the second (internalised) hearing (i.e. processing of the received message). They may be able to repeat back what has been said without comprehension that will come later.

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How to Use Prompts Effectively and Efficiently - The Autism Helper

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Resources, tips, and materials to help you, help children with autism

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A willingness to bring new teaching strategies into your lesson plan is one of the best qualities a teacher can have.

In Effective Teaching and Learning, educational researcher Naga Subramani argues that an effective teacher:

"Constantly renews himself [or herself] as a professional on his [or her] quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible. This teacher has no fear of learning new teaching strategies or incorporating new technologies into lessons. "

Is that you?

There's more than one way to teach a diverse and dynamic classroom. In this post you'll find:

A comprehensive list of 36 teaching strategies to use in math class and beyond

A list of essential resources for using them effectively

Classroom teaching strategies and techniques

1. Classroom management strategies

Infographic: 20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques. Click to expand!

According to research from 2006, teachers overwhelmingly reported a lack of professional development support when it came to improving their own classroom management strategies. This can lead to confusion for students and frustration for teachers.

When students clearly understand what's expected of them, they're more likely to be focused and engaged with their lessons. Some tips for building a positive environment include:

Model ideal behaviour: Clearly explain proper behaviour, and then follow it yourself.

Encourage initiative: Allow students to actively participate in the learning process with class discussions and exercises that support the initiative.

Avoid collective punishment: While it can be difficult, make a point of calling out disruptive behaviours on an individual, not collective, basis.

For more actionable classroom management teaching strategies, read 20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques [+Downloadable List].

2. Flexible seating

Kristine Fourman, a teacher in the Bucyrus Elementary Preschool Program, connects student seating and academics: "When students aren't trying to hold themselves still in their chairs, they can integrate auditory, visual and tactile systems of the body."

There are so many different ways to incorporate flexible seating into your classroom in a way that fits with your students' learning goals. For examples and best practices, read Flexible Seating: 21 Awesome Ideas for Your Classroom.

3. Webb's Depth of Knowledge

Norman Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DoK) is familiar to many teachers from a theoretical perspective, but it can be incredibly difficult to apply practically and consistently in your teaching strategies.

There are four DoK levels:

Level one: Recollection and reproduction

Level two: Knowledge application

Level three: Strategic thinking

Level four: Extended critical thinking

There are a number of engaging activities that can promote different DoK levels: read more about them in Specific Ways to Use Webb's Depth of Knowledge in Class.

4. Summative assessment

Summative assessments are end-of-unit tests, final projects or standardized tests used to assess student understanding on a broad and absolute level.

Critics of summative assessments say they're inauthentic and don't accurately reflect the learning process. But there are important benefits to using summative assessments as a teaching strategy: they motivate students to pay attention and challenges them to apply their learning. They're also a valuable source of insight for teachers, especially for those with larger classes -- allowing them to easily identify and correct any wide gaps in understanding across the classroom.

Don't be afraid to get creative when making summative assessments! Read Summative Assessment: A Comprehensive Guide for ideas on how to get students engaged with the testing process.

5. Formative assessment

Formative assessments are the opposite of summative assessments because they take place during the teaching process.
Formative Assessment Summative Assessment
Formative assessments can reduce student stress around testing. They give you the chance to course correct mid-unit if there are serious comprehension issues and to see which students might need a bit more one-on-one time.

Some examples of formative assessment techniques include:

For more examples and ideas, read 20 Formative Assessment Examples to Try [+Downloadable List].

Put students at the center of the classroom with active learning strategies - a teaching technique that increases student engagement in daily lessons. According to active learning advocate James Ballencia, the technique can also help teachers as much as it helps students:

"With the goal of teaching mindful learners who actively pursue knowledge, teachers become more actively engaged in how they teach the curriculum and how they develop each student's learning potential. They mix and match a variety of ... tactics to ensure that students not only learn more, better, and faster -- they also learn smarter."

7. Differentiated instruction

Differentiated instruction is a popular and effective teaching strategy that involves reacting to the diverse learning styles in every classroom with adjusted content and processes.

Carol Ann Tomlinson, a reputable thought leader on differentiated instruction, recommends analyzing teaching strategies on a constant basis to respond to needs:

"Frequently reflect on the match between your classroom and the philosophy of teaching and learning you want to practice. Look for matches and mismatches, and use both to guide you."

Strategies like learning stations and the think-pair-share method are small ways that you can bring unique learning experiences to your students.

For more differentiated instruction ideas, read 20 Differentiated Instruction Strategies and Examples [+ Downloadable List].

8. Personalized learning

No two students are exactly alike. That's why personalized learning builds a learning experience that addresses the unique abilities of each student.

According to a study by the Gates Foundation, personalized learning can improve test scores when used to supplement math class:

"Students attending [schools using personalized learning] made gains in math and reading over the last two years that are significantly greater than a virtual control group made up of similar students selected from comparable schools."

Personalized learning allows students to learn without stigma and gets students involved in what they're learning.

Explore different options for bringing personalized learning to your classroom, including Edtech teaching strategies and increased student involvement. For a full list of tips, read 7 Personalized Learning Strategies and Examples.

9. Universal design for learning

Universal design for learning (UDL) is an educational framework that ensures all students have equal access to education. Use it in your classroom to give unique students flexible ways to learn and become more goal-oriented.

Some best practices for UDL:

UDL gives all students an impactful learning experience and helps teachers focus their efforts on students who need it most. For more information on how to make sure all your students succeed, read Universal Design for Learning: Principles and Examples.

10. Response to intervention

Response to intervention (RTI) focuses on early and continuous identification, assessment and assistance for students who have learning or behaviour needs. It's best used as part of a more general classroom management plan, and involves small-group or individual intervention that quickly addresses trouble spots.

The most effective RTI strategies are proactive. Start with everyday teaching and move to targeted intervention as soon as you spot a problem. When you're prepared to move quickly, you're more likely to be able to develop a tailored and effective learning plan.

For more information on RTI strategies and tips for bringing them to your classroom, read The Teacher's Response to Intervention (RTI) Guide: Tiers, Strategies and More.

11. Classroom technology

Technology is a great way to improve student engagement and get students excited for class, but it can be difficult to incorporate seamlessly into the classroom. There are an endless number of ways to make use technology to enhance lessons, including:

A virtual field trip: Use virtual reality apps to explore famous landmarks and natural phenomena. Take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef to study ecosystems, or tour Barcelona as part of a Spanish class.

Video mini-lessons: TeacherTube offers an education-only version of YouTube, with videos on a number of core subjects. This makes the learning process more engaging, especially for visual learners.

Podcasts: Give students relevant podcasts and engage auditory learners, or have older students create their own -- they'll develop research and technology skills at the same time.

For more ideas on how to use technology in the classroom, read 25 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom [+ Downloadable List].

Math teaching strategies and techniques

Similar to classroom gamification, math games can play an active role in getting students engaged in class and excited to learn. Offline or online, they're usually customizable and easy to incorporate into other teaching strategies.

Some examples of popular math games:

Bouncing Sums: Label a beach ball with integers, decimals and fractions. Each student must read the number on his or her label, adding or multiplying it by the sum from the previous student.

101 and out: Divide your class in half and give each group a die. Have groups roll the die and either keep it at face value or multiply it by 10. See which group can get closest to 101 without going over.

Math goodies: Math goodies is a free resource that provides puzzles and word problems. Students can either use this resource on their own or you can use it to create custom worksheets.

For more math games, read 20 Engaging, Skill-Building Math Games for Kids [1st to 8th Grade].

13. Math websites

There are thousands of math websites that can be used as part of a game-based learning approach or differentiation strategy. Online resources get students excited about learning math and can often be scaled based on knowledge and grade level.

Popular resources include:

TeacherVision: Looking for interdisciplinary activities? Look no further. TeacherVision gives teachers access to resources that connect math with subjects like art, history and geography.

SuperKids: SuperKids is a one-stop resource for building worksheets. Select a skill and number range, and generate a custom assignment.

Prodigy Math: Students go on adventures, collect pets and battle with friends, all while answering skill-building, targeted math questions.

Mental math is an important part of math fluency. When students have a quick recall for math facts and can do simple equations quickly, they have the confidence to attempt more difficult problems.

The Manitoba Association of Mathematics Teachers defines mental math as:

"A combination of cognitive strategies that enhances flexible thinking and number sense. It is calculating mentally without the use of external memory aids. It improves computational fluency by developing efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility." There are lots of resources available to boost mental math skills, including:

For more ways to practice mental math skills, read 12 Practices to Improve Students' Mental Math + Downloadable List.

Common Core math is a new framework that seeks to improve students' conceptual understanding of math by encouraging problem-solving, critical thinking, and discussion skills.

Since it's so new, instructors have struggled to prepare materials that align with the standards. If that's you, here are some techniques to get you started:

For a detailed explanation of the eight standards and ways to teach them, read 8 Common Core Math Standards, Explained [+ Examples].

16. Solve math problems faster

Teaching students to solve math problems quickly and without help can improve confidence and math fluency.

Provided your students have a solid grasp on the concepts behind what they've already mastered, math "tricks" can give them more confidence and get them excited about trying new problems.There are tricks for just about every basic function, including:

For a full list of math tricks, read How to Solve Math Problems Faster: 15 Techniques to Show Students.

17. How to teach multiplication

Multiplication is a big and often daunting step for learners, who feel like they've just mastered addition and are suddenly being thrown something new. Teachers also often struggle to communicate new concepts to student effectively.

What if we told you that multiplication could be one of the most rewarding lessons you ever taught?

Our six-step guide to teaching multiplication is designed to engage students in the learning processes with a clear and logical progression of ideas. There are lot of fun ways to teach multiplication and reduce student anxiety, including:

Multiplication doesn't have to be stressful -- start with basic concepts and work your way up, and your students will be multiplication masters in no time at all!

18. Multiplication games

Multiplication is a difficult concept for many students to grasp. Memorizing and understanding core multiplication facts is a key element of math fluency, and provides an essential foundation for further study.

Game-based learning can be a successful way to help students develop this understanding and can engage students on stressful topic. Some multiplication games include:

True or false?: Write a multiplication sentence on the board that's either true or false. In teams, the class has a minute to discuss and respond with "true" or "false" cards.

Beach ball toss: Write multiplication questions on a beach ball and throw it. Have students answer the question that is closest to their pinky finger.

Jeopardy!: It's a classic for a reason -- find an interactive template and fill it with questions. The team with the most points at the end of the game, wins!

For more fun multiplication games, read 15 Multiplication Games to Make Math Lessons Fun.

19. Multiplying fractions

So your unit on fractions is finished, and it's time to move on -- to multiplying fractions.

For some students, this leap is even more daunting than the switch from addition to multiplication. But not to worry! There are teaching strategies that will have your students multiplying fractions in no time at all.Some best practices for teaching your class about multiplying fractions:

For a comprehensive overview on how to teach multiplying fractions, read How to Multiply Fractions (+ 7 Engaging Activities).

20. How to divide fractions

The only thing scarier for students than multiplying fractions? Dividing them.Lucky for them, we did the research. There are three simple steps to dividing a fraction:

The best way to make sure that students understand how to solve a problem is to make sure that they understand what, exactly, is happening. Instead of just teaching the answer, teach students what the answer means. For more details on dividing fractions, read How to Divide Fractions in 3 Easy Steps.

21. Math puzzles

Math puzzles have been around almost as long as math has - for a reason. One study found that math puzzles "develop logical thinking, combinatorial abilities, strengthen the capacity of abstract thinking and operating with spatial images, instill critical thinking and develop mathematical memory."Math puzzles build foundational skills and increase math fluency, while also connecting to existing curricula and promoting problem-solving skills. Some popular math puzzles include:

Make sure the puzzles are the right level for your students and that they're being used appropriately. For more ideas on how to use math puzzles in the classroom, read 20 Math Puzzles to Engage Your Students.

Student-focused teaching strategies

22. Gamification

Classroom gamification is an effective way to take a child's love for play and turn it into a love of learning. The benefits are huge: gamification can help students focus and build essential skills. A 2011 study from South Korea also found that gamification kept students motivated and engaged in the classroom.

In order to effectively use gamification techniques in your classroom, start with your students: What do they like? Where are their learning needs? Are there any notable behaviour issues? Other tips include:

If you want more examples and techniques for gamifying your classroom, read How to Gamify your Classroom in 5 Easy Steps.

23. Convergent and divergent thinking

Convergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s.

Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It's usually reserved for first or second depth of knowledge (DOK) levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions).

Convergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s.

Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It's usually reserved for first or second DOK levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions).

Divergent thinking requires students to start with one prompt, then think critically about it to diverge towards to distinct answers (think essay-writing, brainstorming and creative analyzing). This takes place at the third or fourth DOK level.

While convergent thinking is an important part of building math fluency, divergent thinking allows students to understand the base concepts underlying their work. Convergent and divergent thinking are essential skills in any subject. When you understand the difference, you're better equipped to incorporate both into your classroom.

For more examples of each and how to teach them, read How to Teach Convergent and Divergent Thinking: Definitions, Examples, Templates and More.

24. Project-based learning

Students have to take an active role in their own learning, but are often disengaged from the learning process. Project-based learning allows students to be fully immersed in an authentic and nuanced problem that has real-life implications.

Project-based learning is open-ended, and allows students engaged in group work to find their own way to the solution. It doesn't look the same in every classroom -- class size, student ability and learning styles play a large role in shaping the process.

While proponents point to increased engagement, knowledge retention and improved critical thinking, there are also significant criticisms: Project-based learning can be too focused on product creation instead of learning, and assessment is often subjective.

To learn how to effectively incorporate project-based learning techniques into your classroom, read The Definitive Guide to Project-Based Learning: Definition, Debates, Ideas and Examples.

25. Experiential learning

Every classroom has a wide range of levels and learning styles, which can be difficult for any teacher to effectively address. Use experiential learning activities to counter student disengagement and get them involved in the learning process.
Traditional learning activities

Teacher-centered/focused

Fixed rubric or scoring system

Explain knowledge or skills by transferring information

Fixed structure, high degree of facilitation

Experiential learning activities

Student-centered/focused

Flexible and open learning outcomes

Develop knowledge and skills through experience

Flexible structure, minimum facilitation

Provide students with new ways of learning to help them stay focused, learn dynamically and learn faster.

Engage students in the process of inquiry and reflection! Ask them to create three to five questions (with answers) on a recent lesson. In pairs, have students quiz their partners on the questions they wrote, and watch to see which concepts students consider to be the most important from their lesson.

For more experiential learning activities, read 7 Experiential Learning Activities to Engage Students.

26. Peer teaching

Proponents have been pointing to the advantages of peer teaching since the 18th century. It's one of many teaching strategies that helps develop reasoning and critical thinking skills, and a pioneering 1988 study found it improved self-esteem and interpersonal skills.

It can be difficult, however, to bring it to the classroom -- students might have different proficiency levels or be hesitant about teaching their peers, and it can lead to confidentiality issues about which students are struggling.

Some best practices for peer teaching include:

For more ideas on how to successfully bring peer teaching to your classroom, read 15 Easy Peer Teaching Strategies to Help Students.

27. Inquiry-based learning

Inquiry-based learning has been around since the 1960s, but can still be a demanding teaching strategy to implement in the classroom.

In the inquiry-based learning classroom, teachers are responsible for guiding students through their questions - past curiosity and into critical thinking and understanding.

There are 4 main types of inquiry-based learning:

Confirmation inquiry: Students are given a question along with a way to answer it

Structured inquiry: Students are given an open question and investigation method

Guided inquiry: Students work from an open question to design investigation methods

Open inquiry: Students develop original questions that they answer through their own methods

A study from the Association for Psychological Science found that students who use inquiry-based learning are more likely to retain information from the activity and curriculum content in general.

For more benefits and examples of inquiry-based learning, as well as how to effectively use it in your classroom, read All About Inquiry-Based Learning: Definition, Benefits and Strategies.

28. Problem-based learning

Problem-based learning is a student-centred pedagogy that puts students in groups to solve open-ended problems together. This teaching strategy has its advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages Disadvantages
Even taking into account the different opinions on problem-based learning, there is an undeniable value in giving students a degree of control over their own education.

For more ideas about problem-based learning and tips for designing projects, read 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Problem-Based Learning [+ Activity Design Steps].

30. Reciprocal teaching

Reading isn't every student's favorite subject. With reciprocal teaching techniques, you can turn even the most reluctant reader into a bookworm.

Reciprocal teaching involves students in reading and gets them excited to learn. Learners are asked to predict what a text is about, ask questions about what they don't understand, re-read for clarification, and summarize what the text is saying -- instead of just absorbing material as quickly as possible.

And the technique can even be adapted for math class: one study found that reciprocal teaching in math can improve understanding of word-based problems, and can help students understand questions better.

For more ideas about reciprocal teaching, read 4 Reciprocal Teaching Strategies to Use.

31. Blended learning

Blended learning combines online learning with traditional classroom instruction. It's a valuable tool to use in differentiation teaching strategies, and can help students learn tailored content at their own pace.

There are a number of different ways to bring blended learning to your classroom, but some common methods include implementing learning stations and putting certain lessons online in part or entirely.

With many classrooms supporting hybrid learning environments in the last two years, blended learning has become a more common teaching strategy across classrooms.

For more information on the six blended learning models and how to use them with your students, read How to Put the Six Blended Learning Models into Action [+ Examples & Download].

32. Culturally responsive teaching

Diverse classrooms are an amazing opportunity for teachers, but it can also be difficult to reach students with dramatically different backgrounds or learning styles.

Culturally responsive teaching aims to link content with students' contemporary and ancestral cultures.

Research by Geneva Gay, Professor of Education at the University of Washington-Seattle and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching, shows that when teaching is tied to lived experiences for students, those experiences are more personally meaningful, appealing and learned more easily and thoroughly.

Dr. Christy Byrd, psychologist and Associate Professor at NC State University, has also published research which found that "elements of culturally relevant teaching were significantly associated with academic outcomes and ethnic-racial identity development."

Start by getting to know your students - where do they come from? What do their parents or guardians do? What's their favorite after-school activity?

Then, take that information and connect it to your lessons. Explain how a topic relates to different cultures, and make sure the classroom is a place where all students feel empowered. Encourage students to ask questions and share unique answers.

Other options for culturally responsive teaching include:

For the full list, read 15 Culturally-Responsive Teaching Strategies and Examples + Downloadable List.

33. Interdisciplinary teaching

Use interdisciplinary teaching strategies to encourage students to develop creative and critical thinking skills - and draw information from a number of different academic disciplines - as they solve real-world problems.

In your classroom, interdisciplinary teaching could involve collaboration with other teachers, or asking your students to make connections between different subjects. Try these activities to get your class started:

For more interdisciplinary teaching activities and tips on how to get started, read 10 Interdisciplinary Teaching Activities and Examples [+ Unit Design Steps].

34. Service learning

According to the National Youth Leadership Council, service learning is "a philosophy, pedagogy and model for community development that is used as an instructional strategy to meet learning goals and/or content standards."

Service learning brings the classroom into the larger community and teaches students about the value of being an active citizen. Students get hands-on experience in interdisciplinary study, and often improve their academic outcomes and reduce behavioural problems.

Service learning contains five steps: Preparation, Action, Reflection, Demonstration, Celebration

Pick an issue that your class is passionate about and get them brainstorming. For more service learning project ideas and how to get started, read The Teacher's Guide to Service Learning [+5 Examples].

35. Media literacy

Students are saturated with an endless number of different media influences, from TV to social media to comic books. Students need to be educated on how to interpret and understand what they're consuming.

Media literacy allows students to recognize bias and develop critical thinking skills within the context of their existing interests. Some activities you can try in your classroom include:

There are lots of other ways to teach valuable media literacy lessons to students -- check out our Teaching Media Literacy: Its Importance and 10 Engaging Activities [+ Downloadable List] blog post for more ideas.

36. Growth Mindset

Even though it sounds more like a corporate buzzword, the philosophy of growth mindset has infiltrated the classroom. It focuses on helping students see the value of effort, persistence and risk in their learning environment, and pushes them to try new things and learn new concepts.

Since growth mindset is a relatively new teaching strategy, some teachers might struggle to use it effectively. Here are some best practices:

Give positive feedback: Instead of rewarding intellect, praise students when they try new methods and make plans.

Promote a diverse classroom: When diversity is modelled for students, they're more likely to embrace different perspectives in their future learning goals.

Encourage goal-based journaling: Ask students set goals and reflect on their progress. Have goals follow the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Based) for maximum effect.

For more ways to encourage a growth mindset in your classroom, read 10 Ways Teachers can Instill a Growth Mindset in Students. Your students will benefit for the rest of their lives.

37. Asynchronous Learning

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers have had to deliver their usual content and teaching strategy in an entirely virtual environment. This abrupt transition was difficult for many, with challenges like technology issues and inability to support child in person.

However, while most schools are back in session and remote learning much less common, lessons learned from this experience can easily be applied to situations where students can't attend school in person.

Asynchronous learning is a good complement to your teaching strategy and can help support your students in many different ways. This includes short-term issues like student or teacher illness to longer-term ones like helping students catch up with an intervention program. Techniques for asynchronous learning include:

Resources for effectively using teaching strategies

Google

Books, scholarly articles, maps, news coverage - if there's something you need to do, there's probably a Google application for it. Use Google Forms to collect student feedback on new teaching strategies, Google Drive to store and coordinate student papers, and Google Arts & Culture to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam - without ever leaving the classroom.

With two games - Prodigy Math and Prodigy English - the applications are endless!

Use Assignments and Plans to differentiate learning, track student growth through comprehensive reporting tools, engage students through game-based learning, or use it as part of a blended learning approach.

Students will love practising their math and English skills with these free games.

In Prodigy Math, they'll go on adventures, collect pets and earn rewards; in Prodigy English, they'll gather supplies, gain energy and create their personal village - all while answering curriculum-aligned questions tailored to their individual skill levels.

In order to know which teaching strategies will be the most effective, ask your students to provide you with some feedback: What do they like? How do they think they learn best? What do they want to learn more about? Students are more likely to be engaged in the learning process when they have a voice.

There are a couple of ways to gather feedback:

Professional development

In order to be an effective teacher, you need to have access to resources that allow you to continuously grow your skills. According to a study with teachers from eight different countries, teachers who had access to professional development were more likely to effectively use different teaching strategies in their classrooms:

"This suggests that the exchanging of ideas and experience about teaching with other teachers in the school, observing each other's classrooms and providing mutual support increases the likelihood of implementing good teaching strategies."

Teacher journal

After gathering all this amazing information from student feedback and professional development efforts, you're going to need somewhere to keep track of it all.

Consider keeping a teaching journal to track student progress, new insights, areas you think your class might need extra help in and successes you've had. Build it up as a reference for that year's class, and keep it as a reminder of everything you've accomplished. Bonus: you'll have a ready-made resource for writing stellar report card comments.

Parents

Parent involvement in student learning is a key indicator of student success and performance. Keep parents informed with a quick paper or email newsletter every month, and let them know about new things happening in the classroom. Communicate individual issues quickly and effectively to avoid any report card surprises, but don't just mention the problems -- make time to give praise or share news of an achievement.

Final thoughts on teaching practices and techniques

There are so many different types of teaching strategies available for your classroom that the options can be overwhelming.

But that's good news! Your teaching style, students and classroom are all unique - why shouldn't your teaching strategies be too?

Start small, and work your way up. Don't be afraid to try new strategies and see what works best in your classroom. Not everything's going to be a good fit, and that's OK -- keep engaging with your students and you'll build up lifelong learners with a passion for knowledge.

Create or log in to your teacher account on Prodigy - a free, curriculum-aligned game-based learning platform for math and English that's easy to use for educators and students alike.

Create your free account!

A willingness to bring new teaching strategies into your lesson plan is one of the best qualities a teacher can have.

In Effective Teaching and Learning, educational researcher Naga Subramani argues that an effective teacher:

"Constantly renews himself [or herself] as a professional on his [or her] quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible. This teacher has no fear of learning new teaching strategies or incorporating new technologies into lessons. "

Is that you?

There's more than one way to teach a diverse and dynamic classroom. In this post you'll find:

A comprehensive list of 36 teaching strategies to use in math class and beyond

A list of essential resources for using them effectively

Classroom teaching strategies and techniques

1. Classroom management strategies

Infographic: 20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques. Click to expand!

According to research from 2006, teachers overwhelmingly reported a lack of professional development support when it came to improving their own classroom management strategies. This can lead to confusion for students and frustration for teachers.

When students clearly understand what's expected of them, they're more likely to be focused and engaged with their lessons. Some tips for building a positive environment include:

Model ideal behaviour: Clearly explain proper behaviour, and then follow it yourself.

Encourage initiative: Allow students to actively participate in the learning process with class discussions and exercises that support the initiative.

Avoid collective punishment: While it can be difficult, make a point of calling out disruptive behaviours on an individual, not collective, basis.

For more actionable classroom management teaching strategies, read 20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques [+Downloadable List].

2. Flexible seating

Kristine Fourman, a teacher in the Bucyrus Elementary Preschool Program, connects student seating and academics: "When students aren't trying to hold themselves still in their chairs, they can integrate auditory, visual and tactile systems of the body."

There are so many different ways to incorporate flexible seating into your classroom in a way that fits with your students' learning goals. For examples and best practices, read Flexible Seating: 21 Awesome Ideas for Your Classroom.

3. Webb's Depth of Knowledge

Norman Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DoK) is familiar to many teachers from a theoretical perspective, but it can be incredibly difficult to apply practically and consistently in your teaching strategies.

There are four DoK levels:

Level one: Recollection and reproduction

Level two: Knowledge application

Level three: Strategic thinking

Level four: Extended critical thinking

There are a number of engaging activities that can promote different DoK levels: read more about them in Specific Ways to Use Webb's Depth of Knowledge in Class.

4. Summative assessment

Summative assessments are end-of-unit tests, final projects or standardized tests used to assess student understanding on a broad and absolute level.

Critics of summative assessments say they're inauthentic and don't accurately reflect the learning process. But there are important benefits to using summative assessments as a teaching strategy: they motivate students to pay attention and challenges them to apply their learning. They're also a valuable source of insight for teachers, especially for those with larger classes -- allowing them to easily identify and correct any wide gaps in understanding across the classroom.

Don't be afraid to get creative when making summative assessments! Read Summative Assessment: A Comprehensive Guide for ideas on how to get students engaged with the testing process.

5. Formative assessment

Formative assessments are the opposite of summative assessments because they take place during the teaching process.
Formative Assessment Summative Assessment
Formative assessments can reduce student stress around testing. They give you the chance to course correct mid-unit if there are serious comprehension issues and to see which students might need a bit more one-on-one time.

Some examples of formative assessment techniques include:

For more examples and ideas, read 20 Formative Assessment Examples to Try [+Downloadable List].

Put students at the center of the classroom with active learning strategies - a teaching technique that increases student engagement in daily lessons. According to active learning advocate James Ballencia, the technique can also help teachers as much as it helps students:

"With the goal of teaching mindful learners who actively pursue knowledge, teachers become more actively engaged in how they teach the curriculum and how they develop each student's learning potential. They mix and match a variety of ... tactics to ensure that students not only learn more, better, and faster -- they also learn smarter."

7. Differentiated instruction

Differentiated instruction is a popular and effective teaching strategy that involves reacting to the diverse learning styles in every classroom with adjusted content and processes.

Carol Ann Tomlinson, a reputable thought leader on differentiated instruction, recommends analyzing teaching strategies on a constant basis to respond to needs:

"Frequently reflect on the match between your classroom and the philosophy of teaching and learning you want to practice. Look for matches and mismatches, and use both to guide you."

Strategies like learning stations and the think-pair-share method are small ways that you can bring unique learning experiences to your students.

For more differentiated instruction ideas, read 20 Differentiated Instruction Strategies and Examples [+ Downloadable List].

8. Personalized learning

No two students are exactly alike. That's why personalized learning builds a learning experience that addresses the unique abilities of each student.

According to a study by the Gates Foundation, personalized learning can improve test scores when used to supplement math class:

"Students attending [schools using personalized learning] made gains in math and reading over the last two years that are significantly greater than a virtual control group made up of similar students selected from comparable schools."

Personalized learning allows students to learn without stigma and gets students involved in what they're learning.

Explore different options for bringing personalized learning to your classroom, including Edtech teaching strategies and increased student involvement. For a full list of tips, read 7 Personalized Learning Strategies and Examples.

9. Universal design for learning

Universal design for learning (UDL) is an educational framework that ensures all students have equal access to education. Use it in your classroom to give unique students flexible ways to learn and become more goal-oriented.

Some best practices for UDL:

UDL gives all students an impactful learning experience and helps teachers focus their efforts on students who need it most. For more information on how to make sure all your students succeed, read Universal Design for Learning: Principles and Examples.

10. Response to intervention

Response to intervention (RTI) focuses on early and continuous identification, assessment and assistance for students who have learning or behaviour needs. It's best used as part of a more general classroom management plan, and involves small-group or individual intervention that quickly addresses trouble spots.

The most effective RTI strategies are proactive. Start with everyday teaching and move to targeted intervention as soon as you spot a problem. When you're prepared to move quickly, you're more likely to be able to develop a tailored and effective learning plan.

For more information on RTI strategies and tips for bringing them to your classroom, read The Teacher's Response to Intervention (RTI) Guide: Tiers, Strategies and More.

11. Classroom technology

Technology is a great way to improve student engagement and get students excited for class, but it can be difficult to incorporate seamlessly into the classroom. There are an endless number of ways to make use technology to enhance lessons, including:

A virtual field trip: Use virtual reality apps to explore famous landmarks and natural phenomena. Take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef to study ecosystems, or tour Barcelona as part of a Spanish class.

Video mini-lessons: TeacherTube offers an education-only version of YouTube, with videos on a number of core subjects. This makes the learning process more engaging, especially for visual learners.

Podcasts: Give students relevant podcasts and engage auditory learners, or have older students create their own -- they'll develop research and technology skills at the same time.

For more ideas on how to use technology in the classroom, read 25 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom [+ Downloadable List].

Math teaching strategies and techniques

Similar to classroom gamification, math games can play an active role in getting students engaged in class and excited to learn. Offline or online, they're usually customizable and easy to incorporate into other teaching strategies.

Some examples of popular math games:

Bouncing Sums: Label a beach ball with integers, decimals and fractions. Each student must read the number on his or her label, adding or multiplying it by the sum from the previous student.

101 and out: Divide your class in half and give each group a die. Have groups roll the die and either keep it at face value or multiply it by 10. See which group can get closest to 101 without going over.

Math goodies: Math goodies is a free resource that provides puzzles and word problems. Students can either use this resource on their own or you can use it to create custom worksheets.

For more math games, read 20 Engaging, Skill-Building Math Games for Kids [1st to 8th Grade].

13. Math websites

There are thousands of math websites that can be used as part of a game-based learning approach or differentiation strategy. Online resources get students excited about learning math and can often be scaled based on knowledge and grade level.

Popular resources include:

TeacherVision: Looking for interdisciplinary activities? Look no further. TeacherVision gives teachers access to resources that connect math with subjects like art, history and geography.

SuperKids: SuperKids is a one-stop resource for building worksheets. Select a skill and number range, and generate a custom assignment.

Prodigy Math: Students go on adventures, collect pets and battle with friends, all while answering skill-building, targeted math questions.

Mental math is an important part of math fluency. When students have a quick recall for math facts and can do simple equations quickly, they have the confidence to attempt more difficult problems.

The Manitoba Association of Mathematics Teachers defines mental math as:

"A combination of cognitive strategies that enhances flexible thinking and number sense. It is calculating mentally without the use of external memory aids. It improves computational fluency by developing efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility." There are lots of resources available to boost mental math skills, including:

For more ways to practice mental math skills, read 12 Practices to Improve Students' Mental Math + Downloadable List.

Common Core math is a new framework that seeks to improve students' conceptual understanding of math by encouraging problem-solving, critical thinking, and discussion skills.

Since it's so new, instructors have struggled to prepare materials that align with the standards. If that's you, here are some techniques to get you started:

For a detailed explanation of the eight standards and ways to teach them, read 8 Common Core Math Standards, Explained [+ Examples].

16. Solve math problems faster

Teaching students to solve math problems quickly and without help can improve confidence and math fluency.

Provided your students have a solid grasp on the concepts behind what they've already mastered, math "tricks" can give them more confidence and get them excited about trying new problems.There are tricks for just about every basic function, including:

For a full list of math tricks, read How to Solve Math Problems Faster: 15 Techniques to Show Students.

17. How to teach multiplication

Multiplication is a big and often daunting step for learners, who feel like they've just mastered addition and are suddenly being thrown something new. Teachers also often struggle to communicate new concepts to student effectively.

What if we told you that multiplication could be one of the most rewarding lessons you ever taught?

Our six-step guide to teaching multiplication is designed to engage students in the learning processes with a clear and logical progression of ideas. There are lot of fun ways to teach multiplication and reduce student anxiety, including:

Multiplication doesn't have to be stressful -- start with basic concepts and work your way up, and your students will be multiplication masters in no time at all!

18. Multiplication games

Multiplication is a difficult concept for many students to grasp. Memorizing and understanding core multiplication facts is a key element of math fluency, and provides an essential foundation for further study.

Game-based learning can be a successful way to help students develop this understanding and can engage students on stressful topic. Some multiplication games include:

True or false?: Write a multiplication sentence on the board that's either true or false. In teams, the class has a minute to discuss and respond with "true" or "false" cards.

Beach ball toss: Write multiplication questions on a beach ball and throw it. Have students answer the question that is closest to their pinky finger.

Jeopardy!: It's a classic for a reason -- find an interactive template and fill it with questions. The team with the most points at the end of the game, wins!

For more fun multiplication games, read 15 Multiplication Games to Make Math Lessons Fun.

19. Multiplying fractions

So your unit on fractions is finished, and it's time to move on -- to multiplying fractions.

For some students, this leap is even more daunting than the switch from addition to multiplication. But not to worry! There are teaching strategies that will have your students multiplying fractions in no time at all.Some best practices for teaching your class about multiplying fractions:

For a comprehensive overview on how to teach multiplying fractions, read How to Multiply Fractions (+ 7 Engaging Activities).

20. How to divide fractions

The only thing scarier for students than multiplying fractions? Dividing them.Lucky for them, we did the research. There are three simple steps to dividing a fraction:

The best way to make sure that students understand how to solve a problem is to make sure that they understand what, exactly, is happening. Instead of just teaching the answer, teach students what the answer means. For more details on dividing fractions, read How to Divide Fractions in 3 Easy Steps.

21. Math puzzles

Math puzzles have been around almost as long as math has - for a reason. One study found that math puzzles "develop logical thinking, combinatorial abilities, strengthen the capacity of abstract thinking and operating with spatial images, instill critical thinking and develop mathematical memory."Math puzzles build foundational skills and increase math fluency, while also connecting to existing curricula and promoting problem-solving skills. Some popular math puzzles include:

Make sure the puzzles are the right level for your students and that they're being used appropriately. For more ideas on how to use math puzzles in the classroom, read 20 Math Puzzles to Engage Your Students.

Student-focused teaching strategies

22. Gamification

Classroom gamification is an effective way to take a child's love for play and turn it into a love of learning. The benefits are huge: gamification can help students focus and build essential skills. A 2011 study from South Korea also found that gamification kept students motivated and engaged in the classroom.

In order to effectively use gamification techniques in your classroom, start with your students: What do they like? Where are their learning needs? Are there any notable behaviour issues? Other tips include:

If you want more examples and techniques for gamifying your classroom, read How to Gamify your Classroom in 5 Easy Steps.

23. Convergent and divergent thinking

Convergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s.

Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It's usually reserved for first or second depth of knowledge (DOK) levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions).

Convergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s.

Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It's usually reserved for first or second DOK levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions).

Divergent thinking requires students to start with one prompt, then think critically about it to diverge towards to distinct answers (think essay-writing, brainstorming and creative analyzing). This takes place at the third or fourth DOK level.

While convergent thinking is an important part of building math fluency, divergent thinking allows students to understand the base concepts underlying their work. Convergent and divergent thinking are essential skills in any subject. When you understand the difference, you're better equipped to incorporate both into your classroom.

For more examples of each and how to teach them, read How to Teach Convergent and Divergent Thinking: Definitions, Examples, Templates and More.

24. Project-based learning

Students have to take an active role in their own learning, but are often disengaged from the learning process. Project-based learning allows students to be fully immersed in an authentic and nuanced problem that has real-life implications.

Project-based learning is open-ended, and allows students engaged in group work to find their own way to the solution. It doesn't look the same in every classroom -- class size, student ability and learning styles play a large role in shaping the process.

While proponents point to increased engagement, knowledge retention and improved critical thinking, there are also significant criticisms: Project-based learning can be too focused on product creation instead of learning, and assessment is often subjective.

To learn how to effectively incorporate project-based learning techniques into your classroom, read The Definitive Guide to Project-Based Learning: Definition, Debates, Ideas and Examples.

25. Experiential learning

Every classroom has a wide range of levels and learning styles, which can be difficult for any teacher to effectively address. Use experiential learning activities to counter student disengagement and get them involved in the learning process.
Traditional learning activities

Teacher-centered/focused

Fixed rubric or scoring system

Explain knowledge or skills by transferring information

Fixed structure, high degree of facilitation

Experiential learning activities

Student-centered/focused

Flexible and open learning outcomes

Develop knowledge and skills through experience

Flexible structure, minimum facilitation

Provide students with new ways of learning to help them stay focused, learn dynamically and learn faster.

Engage students in the process of inquiry and reflection! Ask them to create three to five questions (with answers) on a recent lesson. In pairs, have students quiz their partners on the questions they wrote, and watch to see which concepts students consider to be the most important from their lesson.

For more experiential learning activities, read 7 Experiential Learning Activities to Engage Students.

26. Peer teaching

Proponents have been pointing to the advantages of peer teaching since the 18th century. It's one of many teaching strategies that helps develop reasoning and critical thinking skills, and a pioneering 1988 study found it improved self-esteem and interpersonal skills.

It can be difficult, however, to bring it to the classroom -- students might have different proficiency levels or be hesitant about teaching their peers, and it can lead to confidentiality issues about which students are struggling.

Some best practices for peer teaching include:

For more ideas on how to successfully bring peer teaching to your classroom, read 15 Easy Peer Teaching Strategies to Help Students.

27. Inquiry-based learning

Inquiry-based learning has been around since the 1960s, but can still be a demanding teaching strategy to implement in the classroom.

In the inquiry-based learning classroom, teachers are responsible for guiding students through their questions - past curiosity and into critical thinking and understanding.

There are 4 main types of inquiry-based learning:

Confirmation inquiry: Students are given a question along with a way to answer it

Structured inquiry: Students are given an open question and investigation method

Guided inquiry: Students work from an open question to design investigation methods

Open inquiry: Students develop original questions that they answer through their own methods

A study from the Association for Psychological Science found that students who use inquiry-based learning are more likely to retain information from the activity and curriculum content in general.

For more benefits and examples of inquiry-based learning, as well as how to effectively use it in your classroom, read All About Inquiry-Based Learning: Definition, Benefits and Strategies.

28. Problem-based learning

Problem-based learning is a student-centred pedagogy that puts students in groups to solve open-ended problems together. This teaching strategy has its advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages Disadvantages
Even taking into account the different opinions on problem-based learning, there is an undeniable value in giving students a degree of control over their own education.

For more ideas about problem-based learning and tips for designing projects, read 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Problem-Based Learning [+ Activity Design Steps].

30. Reciprocal teaching

Reading isn't every student's favorite subject. With reciprocal teaching techniques, you can turn even the most reluctant reader into a bookworm.

Reciprocal teaching involves students in reading and gets them excited to learn. Learners are asked to predict what a text is about, ask questions about what they don't understand, re-read for clarification, and summarize what the text is saying -- instead of just absorbing material as quickly as possible.

And the technique can even be adapted for math class: one study found that reciprocal teaching in math can improve understanding of word-based problems, and can help students understand questions better.

For more ideas about reciprocal teaching, read 4 Reciprocal Teaching Strategies to Use.

31. Blended learning

Blended learning combines online learning with traditional classroom instruction. It's a valuable tool to use in differentiation teaching strategies, and can help students learn tailored content at their own pace.

There are a number of different ways to bring blended learning to your classroom, but some common methods include implementing learning stations and putting certain lessons online in part or entirely.

With many classrooms supporting hybrid learning environments in the last two years, blended learning has become a more common teaching strategy across classrooms.

For more information on the six blended learning models and how to use them with your students, read How to Put the Six Blended Learning Models into Action [+ Examples & Download].

32. Culturally responsive teaching

Diverse classrooms are an amazing opportunity for teachers, but it can also be difficult to reach students with dramatically different backgrounds or learning styles.

Culturally responsive teaching aims to link content with students' contemporary and ancestral cultures.

Research by Geneva Gay, Professor of Education at the University of Washington-Seattle and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching, shows that when teaching is tied to lived experiences for students, those experiences are more personally meaningful, appealing and learned more easily and thoroughly.

Dr. Christy Byrd, psychologist and Associate Professor at NC State University, has also published research which found that "elements of culturally relevant teaching were significantly associated with academic outcomes and ethnic-racial identity development."

Start by getting to know your students - where do they come from? What do their parents or guardians do? What's their favorite after-school activity?

Then, take that information and connect it to your lessons. Explain how a topic relates to different cultures, and make sure the classroom is a place where all students feel empowered. Encourage students to ask questions and share unique answers.

Other options for culturally responsive teaching include:

For the full list, read 15 Culturally-Responsive Teaching Strategies and Examples + Downloadable List.

33. Interdisciplinary teaching

Use interdisciplinary teaching strategies to encourage students to develop creative and critical thinking skills - and draw information from a number of different academic disciplines - as they solve real-world problems.

In your classroom, interdisciplinary teaching could involve collaboration with other teachers, or asking your students to make connections between different subjects. Try these activities to get your class started:

For more interdisciplinary teaching activities and tips on how to get started, read 10 Interdisciplinary Teaching Activities and Examples [+ Unit Design Steps].

34. Service learning

According to the National Youth Leadership Council, service learning is "a philosophy, pedagogy and model for community development that is used as an instructional strategy to meet learning goals and/or content standards."

Service learning brings the classroom into the larger community and teaches students about the value of being an active citizen. Students get hands-on experience in interdisciplinary study, and often improve their academic outcomes and reduce behavioural problems.

Service learning contains five steps: Preparation, Action, Reflection, Demonstration, Celebration

Pick an issue that your class is passionate about and get them brainstorming. For more service learning project ideas and how to get started, read The Teacher's Guide to Service Learning [+5 Examples].

35. Media literacy

Students are saturated with an endless number of different media influences, from TV to social media to comic books. Students need to be educated on how to interpret and understand what they're consuming.

Media literacy allows students to recognize bias and develop critical thinking skills within the context of their existing interests. Some activities you can try in your classroom include:

There are lots of other ways to teach valuable media literacy lessons to students -- check out our Teaching Media Literacy: Its Importance and 10 Engaging Activities [+ Downloadable List] blog post for more ideas.

36. Growth Mindset

Even though it sounds more like a corporate buzzword, the philosophy of growth mindset has infiltrated the classroom. It focuses on helping students see the value of effort, persistence and risk in their learning environment, and pushes them to try new things and learn new concepts.

Since growth mindset is a relatively new teaching strategy, some teachers might struggle to use it effectively. Here are some best practices:

Give positive feedback: Instead of rewarding intellect, praise students when they try new methods and make plans.

Promote a diverse classroom: When diversity is modelled for students, they're more likely to embrace different perspectives in their future learning goals.

Encourage goal-based journaling: Ask students set goals and reflect on their progress. Have goals follow the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Based) for maximum effect.

For more ways to encourage a growth mindset in your classroom, read 10 Ways Teachers can Instill a Growth Mindset in Students. Your students will benefit for the rest of their lives.

37. Asynchronous Learning

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers have had to deliver their usual content and teaching strategy in an entirely virtual environment. This abrupt transition was difficult for many, with challenges like technology issues and inability to support child in person.

However, while most schools are back in session and remote learning much less common, lessons learned from this experience can easily be applied to situations where students can't attend school in person.

Asynchronous learning is a good complement to your teaching strategy and can help support your students in many different ways. This includes short-term issues like student or teacher illness to longer-term ones like helping students catch up with an intervention program. Techniques for asynchronous learning include:

Resources for effectively using teaching strategies

Google

Books, scholarly articles, maps, news coverage - if there's something you need to do, there's probably a Google application for it. Use Google Forms to collect student feedback on new teaching strategies, Google Drive to store and coordinate student papers, and Google Arts & Culture to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam - without ever leaving the classroom.

With two games - Prodigy Math and Prodigy English - the applications are endless!

Use Assignments and Plans to differentiate learning, track student growth through comprehensive reporting tools, engage students through game-based learning, or use it as part of a blended learning approach.

Students will love practising their math and English skills with these free games.

In Prodigy Math, they'll go on adventures, collect pets and earn rewards; in Prodigy English, they'll gather supplies, gain energy and create their personal village - all while answering curriculum-aligned questions tailored to their individual skill levels.

In order to know which teaching strategies will be the most effective, ask your students to provide you with some feedback: What do they like? How do they think they learn best? What do they want to learn more about? Students are more likely to be engaged in the learning process when they have a voice.

There are a couple of ways to gather feedback:

Professional development

In order to be an effective teacher, you need to have access to resources that allow you to continuously grow your skills. According to a study with teachers from eight different countries, teachers who had access to professional development were more likely to effectively use different teaching strategies in their classrooms:

"This suggests that the exchanging of ideas and experience about teaching with other teachers in the school, observing each other's classrooms and providing mutual support increases the likelihood of implementing good teaching strategies."

Teacher journal

After gathering all this amazing information from student feedback and professional development efforts, you're going to need somewhere to keep track of it all.

Consider keeping a teaching journal to track student progress, new insights, areas you think your class might need extra help in and successes you've had. Build it up as a reference for that year's class, and keep it as a reminder of everything you've accomplished. Bonus: you'll have a ready-made resource for writing stellar report card comments.

Parents

Parent involvement in student learning is a key indicator of student success and performance. Keep parents informed with a quick paper or email newsletter every month, and let them know about new things happening in the classroom. Communicate individual issues quickly and effectively to avoid any report card surprises, but don't just mention the problems -- make time to give praise or share news of an achievement.

Final thoughts on teaching practices and techniques

There are so many different types of teaching strategies available for your classroom that the options can be overwhelming.

But that's good news! Your teaching style, students and classroom are all unique - why shouldn't your teaching strategies be too?

Start small, and work your way up. Don't be afraid to try new strategies and see what works best in your classroom. Not everything's going to be a good fit, and that's OK -- keep engaging with your students and you'll build up lifelong learners with a passion for knowledge.

Create or log in to your teacher account on Prodigy - a free, curriculum-aligned game-based learning platform for math and English that's easy to use for educators and students alike.

Create your free account!

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37 Powerful Teaching Strategies to Level Up Learning in 2023

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A willingness to bring new teaching strategies into your lesson plan is one of the best qualities a teacher can have. In Effective Teaching and Learning, educational researcher Naga Subramani argues that an effective teacher: "Constantly renews himself [or herself] as a professional on his [or her] quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible.

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Birdville ISD: Making Thinking Visible in 2013-14

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21st Century Skills: Higher Order Thinking – Science

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GeoGebra - the world's favorite, free math tools used by over 100 million students and teachers

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Free digital tools for class activities, graphing, geometry, collaborative whiteboard and more

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With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) can program their own interactive stories and games.

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The Colors of Nature project has developed a series of kits that explore the art and science of nature's colors. The kits will be distributed to school curriculum libraries, museums, science centers, and public libraries for use in programs. We will be offering associated professional development to educators in institutions that adopt the kits. While we can only provide fully equipped kits to project partners, our lesson plans are freely available at the links below.

Science and Art Core Practices
How do art and science help us understand the world around us? This kit is designed to help students explore the core question: how do art and science help us understand the world around us? Through a series of investigations, students will become familiar with the core practices of art and science, and develop scientific and artistic habits of mind that empower them to engage in self-directed inquiry through the generation and evaluation of ideas.
Investigation 1 Suminagashi

Investigation 2 Observational Drawing

Investigation 3 Drawing with Tools

Click here to download the PDF of Kit 1 (1MB, 24 pages)
Kit 1 Resources How does the chemistry of color help us understand the material world around us? This kit is designed to help students explore the core question: how does the chemistry of color help us understand the material world around us? In this series of STEAM investigations, students separate pigments from natural and manufactured sources using chromatography, develop paintings by changing pigment colors with acid base reactions, and create images using photochemical reactions.
Investigation 1 Chromatography

Investigation 2 Cabbage Chemistry

Investigation 3 Cyanotypes

Click here to download the PDF of Kit 2 (3MB, 31 pages)
Kit 2 Resources How does color help us understand the living world around us? This kit is designed to help students explore the core question: how does color help us understand the living world around us? In this series of STEAM investigations, students investigate adaptive coloration strategies, apply their findings to design camouflage patterns for specific habitats, explore signals beyond the visible spectrum, and create stop-motion animations to communicate about UV signals that we cannot see ourselves.
Investigation 1 Adaptive Coloration: Camouflage

Investigation 2 Adaptive Coloration: UV Signals

Investigation 3 Communicating the Invisible: Stop Motion Animation

Click here to download the PDF of Kit 3 (5MB, 20 pages)
Kit 3 Resources
How does light help us understand the colors of the world around us?
This kit is designed to help students explore the core question: how does light help us understand the colors of the world around us? Through a series of STEAM investigations, students learn about the colors of the visible spectrum that make up white light, explore selective absorption and reflection, and experiment with structural color.
Investigation 1 White Light

Investigation 2 Reflection and Absorption

Investigation 3 Structural Color

Click here to download the PDF of Kit 4(5MB, 30 pages)
Kit 4 Resources

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The Colors of Nature project has developed a series of kits that explore the art and science of nature's colors. The kits will be distributed to school curriculum libraries, museums, science centers, and public libraries for use in programs. We will be offering associated professional development to educators in institutions that adopt the kits.

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Discover the Universe with scientists, educators, writers, artists, and other cosmic enthusiasts at a bar near you! - Astronomy On Tap

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Upcoming Events Each (usually free) event features accessible, engaging presentations on space and science topics ranging from planets to black holes to galaxies to the beginning of the Universe, along […]

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Play free math games on fractions, shapes and more with Cyberchase on PBS KIDS!

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Nearpod: Foster a love of learning in every student

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Create active learning experiences students can’t wait to be a part of.

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Have a planetarium show inside!

Constellations are pictures that people have imagined in the patterns of the stars, and they are familiar in some form or another to most children. It's also fun to look for them at night...but why wait until night time? Creating homemade projections of these constellations is a fun way to connect to astronomy, and to engage in some basic problem solving and even practice some math. This activity is a good follow-up to Constellation Creation, from this curriculum.

VIEW ACTIVITY

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Explore the many creative, innovative, and interactive activities created by the Beyond the Chalkboard team. Try them out with your kids today!

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Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

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The following resources are perfect for families who would like to enrich their time at home with fun, motivational, and educational activities. Many have been adapted from ALSF's standards-based lesson plans, while others were designed for children to simply explore and play as they learn more about Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Learning From Alex's Story

Hands-On and Movement-Based Activities

Critical Thinking Activities

Researching Online Resources

Coloring Pages and Word Search

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The following resources are perfect for families who would like to enrich their time at home with fun, motivational, and educational activities. Many have been adapted from ALSF's standards-based lesson plans, while others were designed for children to simply explore and play as they learn more about Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

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Builds Confidence

Eyewords™ are designed to build confidence and allow learners to trust in their own natural abilities. Our program enables students to feel good about themselves as learners, empower themselves with confidence, and take risks for the future.

The evidence shows that confident students achieve more, are generally happier, and experience more success.

Makes Learning Fun

Behavioural research and neuroscience confirm that children learn naturally through active play. When children engage in movement, their attention and learning retention are high.

Our multisensory materials help learners quickly and effortlessly sight read the high frequency words in a fun and engaging way.

Learning with Eyewords™ activates all modalities through experiences of seeing, hearing, and moving reinforced through play-based activities.

Eyewords™ integrate seamlessly with any reading curriculum or phonics program.

Fits Your Needs

Eyewords™ is essential for some, but good for all.

Eyewords resources benefit all learners, whether they are high-level achievers who aspire to advance further, developing readers who need additional support, or students who require special educational programming. Our materials can close learning gaps and also raise the bar!

The emergence of COVID-19 has impacted all learners and Eyewords™ can help those who may have missed critical educational milestones in their learning journey.

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Eyewords | Evidence-based Multisensory Learning

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Eyewords is a Evidence-based Multisensory Learning system. Our flashcards, dictionaries, and learning products are supported by Stanford University research and empower learners all around the world.

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Building relationships between parents and teachers: Megan Olivia Hall at TEDxBurnsvilleED

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Part 1--Methods of Assessment Used in Special Education

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StudyJams! Interactive Math and Science Activities | Scholastic.com

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Introduce and reinforce more than 200 math and science topics with videos, slideshows, step-by-step tutorials, and other activities.

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Teens and Texting

Most teenagers I know love texting their friends and always have their phone within arm's reach. I want the same for my son, Liam (age 14, deafblind). Liam uses a refreshable braille display (Focus 40 or 14) paired with an iPad or iPhone as his way of to text his friends and family. One of my goals for him is for Liam to see the value in texting. I want him to "buy in" to the fact that texting gives you the power to communicate, helps you discover information, helps you get answers to questions, gives you the ability to stay in contact with family far away, and it is just fun! Texting is an important telecommunication skill that is especially important to someone who is deafblind as he cannot Facetime or call on the phone independently.

Technology Skills Needed

I always recommend teaching refreshable braille and technology skills early on and in "small chunks". Technology lessons should be brief and taught just a few skills at a time in a logical order. Some examples of starting skills: knowing the names of the parts of braille display and what they do, practicing typing using a refreshable braille display, moving the cursor using the refreshable braille display, reading display prompts and app names, etc.

Liam began using technology during his elementary years and has a good solid foundation to start on before we really began hitting the 'texting' hard. See some past posts below about Liam learning how to use refreshable braille technology those earlier years!

Snowman Texting Scavenger Hunt

Sometimes getting students to be engaged in a technology lesson, especially when what they are learning is difficult, can be a challenge. It is important to teach them a lesson using something that is motivating to them. What is motivating can change from student to student. Liam happens to enjoy finding things. He likes scavenger hunts. He also likes crafts. I created a lesson that would be motivating to him that included his friends, a scavenger hunt, a snowman craft and of course texting!

Ahead of time, I gave everyone from our team (staff and students included) a piece of a felt snowman. I got the snowman from dollar tree and added Velcro to the pieces. You could easily make a snowman out of construction paper. Each person hid a piece of the snowman in our work room. Also beforehand, I had a list instructions for each person so they knew what to do when Liam texted them.

Instructions to Staff and Friends

Hide your snowman piece in the work room where Liam could find it with simple directions. He will text you and ask where you hid the piece. After you tell him and he finds it, he will then ask you who has the next item on the list. This is a fun way for Liam to practice his texting skills. Thanks for your help!!

Hat - Serenity

Two eyes - Jenna

Smile - Sophia

Buttons - Kati

Snowflake - Mom

Two arms - Joan

Instructions to Liam in Braille

Snowman texting activity
The snowman is missing all his pieces! Text your friends and teachers to find the missing pieces and to complete the snowman.

Find the following pieces:

Directions:

1. Start with Angie. Text Angie and ask her where to find the snowman's nose!

2. Once you find the nose, Velcro it on the snowman's body.

3. Then text Angie and ask her who has the next item on the list.

4. Text that person and ask them where to find the item. Ask that person who has the next item and then text that person.

5. Continue until all the pieces are found!

The Result

Liam absolutely loved this activity! I have never seen him text so quickly and efficiently! Fun was had by all. He had multiple times to practice his skills, texting fluency, and problem solve when texting/technology problems arrived. He discovered that texting was a great way to get answers to something he cared about; finding pieces to his snowman!

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Snowman Texting Scavenger Hunt: Supporting Telecommunication Goals - Paths to Literacy

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Paths to Literacy Snowman Texting Scavenger Hunt: Supporting Telecommunication Goals. For teachers, families, and others interested in literacy for children and youth with visual impairments

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It's not an easy thing, learning to read and write. Discover what it takes to build important literacy skills, and how you can help your children grow as readers, writers, and thinkers!

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Supporting Your Child's Reading at Home

Supporting Your Child's Reading at Home

Learning to read begins at home through everyday interactions with children, long before they attend school. Your continued support of literacy development as children enter elementary school and progress through the grades positively affects their reading ability. We are pleased to provide these Family Activities with easy-to-follow instructions to help your child practice foundational reading skills. We invite you to view the short Family Videos for tips on how to use the activities to help your child grow as a reader. Using the Family Activities at home can help your child develop language, link sounds to letters, blend letters and word parts to read and write words, and read for understanding.

Connect with REL Southeast

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educational improvement; excellence in education; educational research; statistics; statistical data; statistical surveys; regional educational laboratory program; rel; rigorous studies; fast response projects; no child left behind

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REL Resource | Supporting Your Child's Reading at Home

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Learning to read begins at home through everyday parent-child interactions, long before children attend school. Your continued support of literacy development throughout elementary school positively affects your child's reading ability.