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You have probably heard of Flip and have seen tons of people sharing their experiences using it on social media. It seems that people all over the world have been using Flipgrid in all sorts of creative ways.

Flip is a video response platform where educators can have online video discussions with students or other educators. Teachers can provide feedback to students AND better yet students can provide feedback to one another.
The best part? Flipis completely FREE!
My first experience with Flip was back in early 2017 in our weekly #Ditchbook Twitter chat where a group of educators from all over the country shared ideas and inspire one another online. Since then I have had the opportunity to use Flip with students, administrators, as well as other educators in workshops and professional development sessions.

Each time I introduce it the reaction is always the same, "Wow! There are so many ways to use this tool. I can't wait to try it out in my class!".

But don't take my word for it, check it out and try it yourself!

In this post you will find over 50 ideas and ready-to-use Flipg activities for your class. You can use the quick navigation box below to jump to any section or scroll through the post to find something that you can use in your class tomorrow!

Getting started with Flip

Getting started with Flip is easy. As a teacher you can sign up (see the steps below) and start creating your grids and topics right away. Students and participants don't need an account, they will simply use the code you provide to log in and start recording!

The Flip Getting Started Guide

Want even MORE assistance bringing Flip to your classroom? Check out their onboarding webinar or visit the updated help center that to get up and running in no time!

Flip conversation starters from the Disco Library

Flip understands the power of community and educators connecting and becoming better together. The "Disco Library" tab at the top of your Educator Dashboard and you will find over 20,000 Flip topics ready for you to add to your Grids. Once you select a Topic to add you will have an opportunity to update and make any changes to the Topic before it is added to your grid.

Below you will find six popular topics from the Disco Library that can help your students get started using Flip in a fun and easy way. Just click on the button Don't see a topic you like? There are lots more here.

50+ Flip activities for your class

English Language Arts

Ready-to-use ELA activities from the Flip Disco Library

Reflect and assess with Flip

Flip Math activities

Ready-to-use math activities from the Flip Disco Library

Science and Social Studies

Ready-to-use science activities from the Flip Disco Library

Creating a community

Ready-to-use community building activities from the Flip Disco Library

Flipgrid beyond the classroom

Conversations about race, equity and justice from the Flip Disco Library

Appsmash with Flip

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Flip for ALL! 50+ ways to use Flip in your class

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Flip, a FREE video discussion platform, gives all students a voice. Here are more than 50 Flip ideas and activities for your class. This post is written

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Google Classroom Tips and Tricks for Teachers | EDTech Made Easy - GOOGLE CLASSROOM TUTORIAL

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Google Classroom Cheat Sheet for Teachers by Shake Up Learning

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Google Classroom Cheat Sheet for Students by Shake Up Learning

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Here are the best remote learning resources for teachers and schools from Shake Up Learning-all on one page!

Remote learning is tough! We all need as much support as we can get right now.

In this post, you will find cheat sheets, templates, tips, blog posts, podcasts, tutorials, online courses, and more to help you rock remote learning!

These are resources and skills that will help you no matter where you find yourself teaching, at home remotely, at school, or somewhere in between.

I hope these tips and resources will help you maximize your time with students and engage them in new ways.

Google Classroom

1. Google Classroom Cheat Sheets for Teachers and Students

2. The Google Classroom Master Class (50% off)

3. 10 Google Classroom Tips for Remote Learning

4. Google Classroom FAQ - Your Most Common Questions ANSWERED!

5. How to Integrate Google Classroom with Google Meet

6. 50 Google Classroom Resources That Will Make Your Day

7. 5 Chrome Extensions that Make Google Classroom Even More Awesome!

8. 70+ Awesome Apps that Integrate with Google Classroom

9. How to Use Google Templates and Assign in Google Classroom

10. How to Package Your Digital Assignments

11. How to Organize Assignments in Google Classroom

General Remote Teaching and Learning

12. Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning From Static to Dynamic (book)

13. 12 Practical Tips for Remote Learning

14. Home Learning Strategies for Primary Students that ALL Teachers Can Use!

15. How to Work From Home and Get Things Done!

16. Lessons Learned From Remote Learning

17. What Students Have to Say About Remote Learning [interviews with a 3rd and 12th grader]

18. Online Teaching Best Practices, Tips, and Tools

19. The Dynamic Learning Workshop (50% Off)

Choice Boards & Templates

20. Home Learning with Choice Boards

21. FREE Interactive Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Board for Google Slides

22. Interactive Learning Menus (Choice Boards) with G Suite

23. FREE Google Templates for Teachers from Shake Up Learning

24. Fake Instagram Template with Google Slides (FREE)

Leadership Resources

25. Leading Through Crisis and Beyond for Teachers and Educational Leaders

26. FREE Webinar: G Suite for School Leaders: Leading the New Normal with a Framework for Meaningful Digital Learning

27. G Suite Training for Schools

More Google Resources

28. 10 Ways Google Certification Can Support Remote Learning

29. The Chromebook Infused Classroom

30. Google Quick Tips Video Library for Teachers

31. 10 Google Docs Tips Every Teacher Should Know

32. 13 Tools to Record Audio on Chromebooks and Other Devices

33. 13 Tips to Organize Your Google Drive

34. The Google Slides Master Class (50% Off)

35. The Google Certified Educator Level 1 Academy

© Shake Up Learning 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

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35 Remote Learning Resources for Teachers and Schools | Shake Up Learning

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In this list, you will find cheat sheets, templates, tips, blog posts, podcasts, tutorials, online courses, and more to help you rock remote learning! These are resources and skills that will help you no matter where you find yourself teaching.

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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Google Classroom, Screencastify, Jamboard, Zite board, Google Meet, Zoom, Flipgrid

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7 BEST Websites and Apps for Distance Learning

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So many classes are moving to distance learning and science may be one of the harder subjects to master. It's not easy to tackle biology and chemistry lab experiments from home! These websites will help supplement material in all middle and high school science subjects. Jump to your field of study:

Best Science Websites for Teaching Biology

You may be familiar with HHMI's free movies and posters, they also offer films that are available to stream from the site. Other options include 3-D interactives, virtual labs, and printable activities.

If you need a template for lab reports, ideas for your biology club, pacing guides or lessons for biology, Pre-AP Biology, or AP Biology, this is a good place to start.

Developed by a high school teacher, Biology Corner includes curated resources from around the web paired with extra practice and presentations and as well as ready-to-use investigations.

Sounds odd I know, but this robust site hosted by Stanford University utilizes sea urchins as an engaging entry point to life science concepts ranging from basic biology (introductory microscopy and predator-prey relationships) to university-level curriculum (gene function in embryos).

This site's evolution lab makes phylogeny and evolutionary history accessible to all students while scaffolding an understanding of the fossil record, the role of DNA in evolution, and an introduction to biogeography. Kids can also play the role of a molecular engineer by solving RNA folding puzzles.

Best Science Websites for Teaching Chemistry

Check out Ward's World, a new destination that offers middle schoolers and their teachers free classroom activities, how-to videos, tips, tricks, and resources that make science easier-and more fun! Find chemistry, biology, physics, and earth science.

Like most chemistry sites, virtual labs and lesson plans are freely available, but ChemCollective stands out with their scenario-based activities and forensics tie-ins with activities like the " Mixed Reception " Murder Mystery.

Want clear, standards-aligned videos? If so, Bozeman Science is a great resource for teaching AP Chemistry. You'll be able to flip your classroom and provide additional support to your students.

One of the best resources for Chemistry teachers nationwide, the AACT produces consistently high-quality resources including labs, demonstrations, and activities. The best part is that their materials are organized by grade and topic-including options for elementary school teachers, too.

Don't let the name fool you. Sure, this site is perfect for middle school learners, but if you teach introductory chemistry or physical science, the level of materials is perfect for grades 9-10, as well. Lesson plans are easy to find and some are even available in Spanish for English language learners!

Chemdemos are virtual interactives for more advanced chemistry students complete with particulate models and real-time data help you get through labs that you may not have sufficient materials to complete. They can also give your students extra practice at home before or after "wet" labs.

This site facilitates a microscopic understanding of our macroscopic world. You'll be blown away by resources like their Semiconductor and Chemical Bonding Module. All of the modules contain embedded assessments to keep your students on track and inform you of their progress.

Always free for everyone, this is a terrific resource for middle school and high school science teachers as well as parents. Each issue provides a new collection of articles on chemistry topics that students will find engaging and relatable. The back-issue online library offers interesting downloadable articles on all sorts of chemistry-related topics, while the Teacher's Guides help you direct your students as they learn from their reading.

Best Science Websites for Teaching Earth Science

The Dynamic Earth Interactive takes students through a visual feast through Earth's layers and plate tectonics. The lessons can be extended by incorporating the Rock Cycle and Volcanoes Interactives.

Along with oceans and coasts, weather and more, instructors can find lesson plans in this collection that contain NOAA data and real-time weather information.

Thoroughly covering all of earth science, including meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy, this site's investigations take students through a series of pages that incorporate reading, animations and real data to introduce or extend topics, including tricky ones like El Niño and Sunspots.

Best Science Websites for Teaching Environmental Science

If you're among those who calculates the ecological footprints as an activity in your AP Environmental Science class, you'll enjoy this site. The questions are relatable to daily life and the quiz can be retaken to analyze how lifestyle changes impact our footprint.

This site helps to build a firm foundation so you can fully explore pollution, ecology, and biodiversity. It boasts interactive maps, a Find a Lesson feature, and learning materials available in Spanish.

For science-based environmental resources, this one is hard to beat. Created by scientists, economists, and educators, the website offers over 1000 pages of curricular materials and textbook reviews on environmental topics.

This great resource provides accurate energy usage data and information on energy technological advances through games, kits, math extensions, and their free downloadable Energy Infobooks.

Best Science Websites for Teaching Physics

Complete with teacher-submitted and reviewed lessons, these activities help students explore topics including circuits, waves, and quantum mechanics.

With a curriculum corner, question bank, lab area, and a NGSS-devoted page, this is a valuable resource is among the best science websites for K-12-including distance learning!

Search through this great collection of hundreds of categorized ready-to-use handouts, labs, and lectures submitted by physics teachers. You'll find resources on the conservation of energy and momentum, electromagnetism, fluid mechanics, and more!

The content from this popular site is comedic, clear and includes helpful algebra and calculus reviews. That means you can focus on the science content without mathematical misunderstandings.

This resource is a one-stop-shop for teaching-textbook included! You'll find learning units, videos, interactive simulations, and even a comprehensive Facilitator's Guide!

A wealth of resources for physics, math, and chemistry online.
What science websites would you add to the list? Come share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. Plus, check out our lists of science books and STEAM apps.

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Best Science Websites for Middle School and High School

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So many classes are moving to distance learning and science may be one of the harder subjects to master. It's not easy to tackle biology and chemistry lab experiments from home! These websites will help supplement material in all middle and high school science subjects.

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EDU webinar 04/02/20: Create to Learn with Matt Miller

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Online Professional Development through EdPuzzle

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Online Professional Development through EdPuzzle

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-EdPuzzle tutorials
-other PD outside of EdPuzzle (google, PBL, edutech, etc.)
-Learn at your own pace, get officially certified, and earn CEC hours!

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Learn at your own pace and get certified!

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How to Create a Digital Worksheet from a PDF 

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How to Create a Digital Worksheet from a PDF 

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Turn your PDF or hard copy worksheet into an editable digital worksheet!

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Playlist of recorded webinars on a variety of remote learning topics

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Videos, articles, advice, and more! UTeach PD for Remote Instruction

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Videos, articles, advice, and more! UTeach PD for Remote Instruction

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Our teachers have really put into practice what they gained from your Blended Learning course. Because of this course, we had a lot of support within our staff to help transition to distance learning. Luci Rodriguez, Principal, Welder Elementary School, Sinton ISD, Texas
Pear Deck Resources for Distance Learning

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Our teachers have really put into practice what they gained from your Blended Learning course. Because of this course, we had a lot of support within our staff to help transition to distance learning. Luci Rodriguez, Principal, Welder Elementary School, Sinton ISD, Texas Pear Deck Resources for Distance Learning

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Your go-to resource for classroom ideas and inspiration to make teaching science easier- and more fun.

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How to Keep Users from Crashing your Zoom Meeting/Class

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How to Keep Users from Crashing your Zoom Meeting/Class

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We love that so many people are finding Zoom to be an easy way to stay connected in this time of social distancing, school closures, and work-from-home routines. All these virtual happy hours, coffee breaks, afternoon hangs, dance practices, yoga sessions, and so many other events over Zoom - your creativity and resilience in these tough times are inspiring!

Some fun & much needed comic relief on our @zoom_us happy hour today. ? pic.twitter.com/vLpxusPeJw

- Beth Duncan (@bttopo) March 20, 2020

What's more impressive is that many of us are learning to host these events on the fly! As more people use our platform and host their virtual events using Zoom, we wanted to offer up tips to ensure everyone joining an event does so with good intentions. Like most other public forums, it's possible to have a person (who may or may not be invited) disrupt an event that's meant to bring people together.

So, a couple of reminders on using Zoom to host public events:

When you share your meeting link on social media or other public forums, that makes your event ... extremely public. ANYONE with the link can join your meeting .

Avoid using your Personal Meeting ID (PMI) to host public events. Your PMI is basically one continuous meeting and you don't want randos crashing your personal virtual space after the party's over. Learn about meeting IDs and how to generate a random meeting ID ( at the 0:27 mark ) in this video tutorial .

Familiarize yourself with Zoom's settings and features so you understand how to protect your virtual space when you need to. For example, the Waiting Room is an unbelievably helpful feature for hosts to control who comes and goes. (More on that below.)

Read on for a list of Zoom features that can help you safely share your Zoom virtual cocktail hour or dance break without unwanted interruptions. Ok, Zoomer? Let's do it!

Manage screen sharing

The first rule of Zoom Club: Don't give up control of your screen.

You want random people in your public event taking control of the screen and sharing unwanted content with the group. You can restrict this - before the meeting and during the meeting in the host control bar - so that you're the only one who can screen-share.

To prevent participants from screen sharing during a call, using the host controls at the bottom, click the arrow next to Share Screen and then Advanced Sharing Options.

Under "Who can share?" choose "Only Host" and close the window. You can also lock the Screen Share by default for all your meetings in your web settings.

Manage your participants

Some of the other great features to help secure your Zoom event and host with confidence:

This is useful if you want to control your guest list and invite only those you want at your event - other students at your school or colleagues, for example.

Lock the meeting: It's always smart to lock your front door, even when you're inside the house. When you lock a Zoom Meeting that's already started, no new participants can join, even if they have the meeting ID and password (if you have required one). In the meeting, click Participants at the bottom of your Zoom window. In the Participants pop-up, click the button that says Lock Meeting.

Set up your own two-factor authentication: You don't have to share the actual meeting link! Generate a random Meeting ID when scheduling your event and require a password to join. Then you can share that Meeting ID on Twitter but only send the password to join via DM .

Try the Waiting Room

One of the best ways to use Zoom for public events is to enable the Waiting Room feature. Just like it sounds, the Waiting Room is a virtual staging area that stops your guests from joining until you're ready for them. It's almost like the velvet rope outside a nightclub, with you as the bouncer carefully monitoring who gets let in.

Meeting hosts can customize Waiting Room settings for additional control, and you can even personalize the message people see when they hit the Waiting Room so they know they're in the right spot. This message is really a great spot to post any rules/guidelines for your event, like who it's intended for.

The Waiting Room is really a great way to screen who's trying to enter your event and keep unwanted guests out.

Keep Zooming responsibly

Zoom is a great way to stay connected right now, and we hope these tips will help you continue to host amazing events using our platform! If you're not sure whether a public Zoom event is the way to go, share the meeting link only with your close friends, co-workers, and clients. You can even password-protect it for another layer of security.

And keep those pictures from your Zoom virtual events coming! Share them with us on , , and and we'll like, fave, or retweet a few!

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How to Keep Uninvited Guests Out of Your Zoom Event - Zoom Blog

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We love that so many people are finding Zoom to be an easy way to stay connected in this time of social distancing, school closures, and work-from-home routines. All these virtual happy hours, coffee breaks, afternoon hangs, dance practices, yoga sessions, and so many other events over Zoom - your creativity and resilience in these tough times are inspiring!

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Learn basic and advanced skills across Google tools with free of charge online training courses designed for educators of all levels.

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Transforming your Google Docs to include Hyperlinks that guide students through the lesson

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Copy of Try Out Hyperdoc - Google for Education Style

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G Suite

It's easy to feel anxious, overwhelmed and frustrated if you're asked to create elearning activities and teach remotely because of a school closure.

You might be asking ...

What are my students going to do?

How can they continue learning at a high level?

Can I maintain that teacher/student connection through elearning?

How can I keep up with the demands of elearning?

Some ideas and examples to follow can help. Having some plug-and-play activities to assign students can help, too -- even if you need to adjust them to fit your students' needs.

We've got you covered.

In this post, you'll find 100 elearning activities, templates and tutorials. They'll help you create elearning activities that lend themselves to powerful learning when students are away from school.

Some ideas to keep in mind as you roll out your eLearning activities:

Keep communication with students and parents at the forefront. Be ready for questions. Make your communication more thorough than you anticipate.

Simplicity is key. Activities that are too complicated can be hard to follow through without the proper support.

Make space for students' emotional needs, too. Their routine is disrupted. They don't get to see their teacher or their fellow students. Help them to make those connections while they're away.

Don't be too hard on yourself. If you've never taught with eLearning activities, it'll be a learning process. Do your best. Learn and improve.

Lean on others for support. Use social media and colleagues in your school/district to brainstorm ideas.

Here are over 100 remote learning activities, templates and tutorials you can use tomorrow:

Free Remote Learning Online Course

14 modules

2.5+ hours of video

Downloadable planning guides

Lifetime access

Forum for sharing ideas

Tech Like A PIRATE is now available!

Looking for more teaching ideas like these?

Get three FREE ebooks sent right to your inbox!

101 Practical Ways to Ditch That Textbook, Matt's insanely practical guide full of new teaching ideas.

101 Ways to Ditch That Textbook with G Suite, tons of practical, creative ways to use Google tools in the classroom.

50 FREE Templates for Teachers, with templates you can copy and download to assign directly to students.

Do More with Google Classroom

Teach better. Save time. Make a difference.

The short how-to tutorials on Google Classroom are EVERYWHERE. But how do we teach well with it? In this book, you'll find practical ideas to do great teaching with Google Classroom and thrive.

Looking for more remote learning resources? Our distance learning page has TONS of resources for bringing learning directly to your students no matter where they are! 💻 100 remote learning activities templates and tutorials
💻 Distance learning lesson planning guides and templates
💻 FREE ebooks for getting started or taking your remote teaching farther

For notifications of new Ditch That Textbook content and helpful links:

Are you looking for quality, meaningful professional learning that both equips and inspires teachers?

Matt provides in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops and breakout sessions that equip, inspire and encourage teachers to create change in their classrooms. Teachers leave with loads of resources. They participate. They laugh. They see tech use and teaching in a new light. Click the link below to contact us and learn how you can bring Matt to your school or district!

FREE teaching ideas and templates in your inbox every week!

Subscribe to Ditch That Textbook

©2023 Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller.

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100 remote learning activities, templates and tutorials

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Remote learning activities can be fun AND promote quality learning. Here are lots of examples and templates to use!It's easy to feel anxious, overwhelmed

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How to Support your Students During School Closures

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How to Support your Students During School Closures

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Recorded Webinars from Edmentum. Part 1 in link. Part 2 here: https://tinyurl.com/uxu96yz

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R10 Remote Learning - Discovery Education

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There are multiple videos in the playlist. When you click the link below it will begin with video 1. To access the playlist and choose your video click "open in new window" at the top of your browser.

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Getting started with online teaching? Trying to use Google Classroom but don't know how? This playlist is a greatest hits of the videos by friEdTechnology th...

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There are multiple videos in the playlist. When you click the link below it will begin with video 1. To access the playlist and choose your video click "open in new window" at the top of your browser.

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friEd's Favorite Creation Tools Playlist

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Here is a curated list of some videos to get you started with some of our favorite creation tools!

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It took a set of costumes, funny voices, and made-up characters for Jamie Ewing, a K-5 science teacher at P.S. 277 in New York City, to settle into a groove with video lessons, and rekindle a connection with his students after instruction shifted wholesale to remote learning this spring.

Karl Lauer, a history teacher at James Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, found success reaching out remotely to students through his own set of goofy videos, featuring teachers lip synching popular tunes, like the theme song to the sitcom "Friends."

And Mark Joseph, a 6th grade math teacher at KIPP Rise Academy in Newark, N.J., employed somewhat of a kitchen-sink approach: He pounded out more than 300 text messages a week to parents and students, harnessed an array of social media apps to "hype" his synchronous learning sessions, and held virtual movie nights and talent shows.

When the coronavirus hurled K-12 education into its biggest upheaval in recent history by forcing all learning to take place remotely, exposing inequities in digital access and tech-skill preparedness, teachers around the country reached deep into their bag of tricks to salvage bonds forged in-person throughout the school year.

They made home visits. They sent cards in the mail. They sang Happy Birthday through webcams. There were countless text messages and check-ins on the phone. Virtual office hours developed into a de facto platform for deeper one-on-one conversations about the stress of living through a pandemic.

"We're in the middle of a grand experiment here," said Mike Magee, the CEO of Chiefs for Change, a nonprofit whose members lead education systems serving 14,000 schools. "We're going to find out a lot about the degree to which relationships can be built online between teachers and students."

Many school districts are already set to start the school year remotely as COVID-19 cases continue spiking, or they are offering parents the choice to keep their kids home and maintain instruction through online learning. Teachers are already preparing for the reality that they'll not only be meeting students for the first time through a video conference but that those bonds will need to be cultivated at a distance for the foreseeable future.

Following are several stories and examples about what works and what doesn't to improve teacher-student relationships during remote learning. The stories and examples are organized by three key age levels in K-12 education: elementary, middle, and high school.

When school buildings closed in New York City this spring, Ewing, the K-5 science educator from the Bronx's P.S. 277, said he fell into a bit of a rut. His students were used to having humor and the theatrics of wigs and made-up characters woven into daily lessons, but Ewing said the instruction he provided for the first couple of weeks fell flat.

So he started using a tech platform to jazz up bland video lessons with graphics and slides. And then he broke out his kit of costumes and characters once reserved for the classroom. Class participation increased, Ewing said, after he "found his personal voice on video."

"If you're going to post a YouTube video and some worksheets, you're going to lose kids in a day," he said. "But if you're not the type of person who feels comfortable throwing caution to the wind and doing silly voices, then don't. It needs to be authentic."

What's the plan for this school year?

"That's a huge thing weighing on my mind right now," said Ewing, who attended a workshop over the summer about engaging children. "I'm going to have to work twice as hard to create those interpersonal relationships. I realize now there were so many missed opportunities, so I'm spending this summer trying to integrate those pieces to make sure I can connect at a much deeper level this school year."

In Samantha Westberg's 2nd grade class in Dickerson Elementary School in Chester, N.J., she used Flipgrid daily to post questions and videos during this spring's remote learning.  Her advice: maintain a strong visual presence with those young learners, and keep it consistent.

Moving forward, she's planning to either teach live lessons on video next school year or have students meet twice throughout the day on video.

If relationship building remotely during the spring was measured purely in metrics, then Mark Joseph, who teaches 6th grade math at the KIPP academy, was off to a good start this spring.  Joseph said he successfully lured 80 percent of his students to Zoom video lessons daily.

The secret? A whole lot of hustle.

As a grade-level chair at his school, Joseph is in touch weekly with the families of more than 100 6th graders attending that KIPP academy. Pre-pandemic, it was typical for families to receive one text message a week. Once school shifted to remote learning, Joseph upped the contact to three text messages a week, often pinging students directly on their cellphones.

He also used his personal social media accounts and those tied to the school to "build energy and momentum" for his online lessons by having students post and repost their virtual class experiences on Instagram. "It creates that hype when kids see their friends posting something like that," Joseph said.

"It's easy for an administrator to say don't do social media at all, but that's a missed opportunity for communication," he said.

For the upcoming school year, Joseph said he might set up virtual home visits via video before classes begin to lay out expectations and to get to learn a bit about his new students and vice versa.

One tidbit he offers educators: "Don't be like a bill collector," when contacting parents about grades during the ongoing crisis. Steady communication, he said, needs to be fostered without academics in mind before hounding about missing assignments.

Pren Woods, a 7th grade teacher at Alston Middle School in Summerville, S.C., found this out the hard way. Woods maintained steady checks on students by video, phone and email during the spring, shifting the focus of his lessons to social-emotional and reflective instruction once classes moved to a remote setting.

But when he called to prod parents on grades or assignments, it didn't go well.

"It was not fun. It was not unique or a Mr. Woods thing. There were other teachers that got burned by trying to help like that," he said, noting that some responses from parents were profanity laced. "It's tricky if parents don't hear from you, but you have to frame it in a way that's showing sensitivity that we're in a pandemic."

Woods said he noticed elementary teachers successfully stopping by the homes of students for in-person visits, and if classes this fall are moved to a hybrid or virtual setting "that might be something to steal from the elementary school playbook, if a parent thinks it's OK to come by."

Asked by an instructional tech coach to come up with a video that would put a smile on students' faces, Karl Lauer, who teaches history at James Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, landed on having teachers lip sync the theme song from the show "Friends." He had them record 10-second clips mouthing the song's catchy hook "I'll be there for you," at a time when the district had learned classes were staying online for the rest of the semester.

The video was emailed to all students and teachers, and posted on the school's social media.

"The feedback was great, and it seems like morale went up," he said. "The big point was to just show them we're here. We're trying to be as normal as we can be as teachers by making this silly video."

Over the course of those months in the spring, Lauer said his relationships with students "didn't decay, but some did grow distant."  Self-described as sarcastic and a jokester, he's planning to record "a satirical, ham-it-up video" for his new students in the coming weeks as a virtual intro.

"Hopefully it's a bridge to showing them my teaching style and personality," he said.

Teaching high schoolers in the midst of a pandemic that has upended the economy also means understanding that some of those students are going to be picking up new jobs or extra hours at work to help out with finances at home.

Taylor Ohlstrom, who taught math in Denver's Northfield High School last spring, said she only she saw half her students at the most during those months. Some had conflicts with work or childcare.

"You have to be willing to talk to kids about being honest with what's going. Nothing is too little when talking through these things," said Ohlstrom, who is starting a new teaching position this fall at Lakeside High School in Atlanta. "I tried to connect with each one of my students and ask them pretty bluntly what's going on, and I tried to be as flexible as I could with them."

Sometimes teacher-student connections didn't require any video.

Michelle Peck Williams, an AP World History and Current Events teacher at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Ky., said she ditched video platforms early in the process.

Prior to the pandemic, Williams didn't do much in terms of online instruction aside from posting a few links in Google Classroom. But she had used an ed-tech tool called Nearpod, which facilitates class discussion through a chat feature.

Not every student is comfortable learning through a webcam and a microphone, and some quiet students unexpectedly shined when classes were held on the chat tool, she said.

"They drove the discussion way better than I could have expected," Williams said. "It was a whole other opportunity for these kids to learn and participate."

Williams is getting advice for the upcoming school year from college professors who teach remotely full time, and has come to the acknowledgement that she's going to "have to add Zoom and make it work" to enhance her online lessons in the future.

That doesn't mean that fostering a true connection with brand-new students she possibly won't meet in person will be any easier.

"I'm a bit terrified overall, honestly," she said. "Not knowing the kids already and having to teach them online is going to be a giant barrier."
> For more on this topic, read: How Did COVID-19 Change Your Teaching, for Better or Worse? See Teachers' Responses
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Nurturing Teacher-Student Connections in a Virtual World

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It took a set of costumes, funny voices, and made-up characters for Jamie Ewing, a K-5 science teacher at P.S.

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On any given day in schools across America, many students exchange warm greetings with a smiling teacher, then perhaps move on to a morning check-in, followed by a quick mindfulness exercise to start the day grounded and mentally focused. Surrounded by peers they've known for months, or perhaps even years-and a teacher they see daily-kids feel connected.

In spite of some critics who downplay the importance of social and emotional learning and the value of belonging-the number of such skeptics is falling, to be sure-the research is clear and has been for some time: When kids spend their daytime hours in safe, supportive schools where adults work every day to build strong relationships with every student, they are simply better, more engaged learners.

But how should educators foster that sense of belonging in this new, decentralized world-with teachers and students tethered loosely together via Wi-Fi and cellular networks?

"Right now, it's all about the technology-the mechanics of how to teach remotely. But when I speak to my colleagues who are high school teachers, it's about: 'How are we going to hold our students' hearts?'" says Mays Imad, a professor of pathophysiology and biomedical ethics at Pima Community College.

So we asked dozens of teachers, and peeked in on Instagram and Twitter threads, to find some of the best ideas that teachers are experimenting with to maintain the relationships that drive engagement and learning.

1. Try to Say Hello Frequently, If You Can

Try to make sure your kids know you are thinking of them, care for them, and miss them. For kids with access to technology, simple daily hellos via video might be the only time the student sees the teacher on some days-and that sense of connection is important to sustain.

First- and second-grade teacher John Thomas' masterful, fun hello video to his students is a great example.

For students without internet connectivity, try calling by phone; consider rotating through small groups of students each day to make this a more manageable task. "Taking the time to reach out and call each kid takes forever," says sixth- and eighth-grade English teacher Cathleen Beachboard, but she's seeing a big impact: "The first few days, I had only a few kids logging on, but now I have almost 98 percent attendance," she says.

2. How to Maintain Morning Meetings

Routines that foster connection are a core part of classroom life, and finding ways for students to experience these at home will go a long way toward easing students' transition to home-based learning. "If you do morning meeting, reflect on the elements you have in your meeting and what could be completed virtually at home," writes Thomas. "If technology allows, record and share daily video announcements and read-alouds."

Margaret Shafer, a third-grade teacher, has kids respond to daily prompts during her morning meetings. Kids can see each other's responses and react if they want to. "My relationships with my students are part of my instruction, and their relationships with each other are critical to their enjoyment of school," she says, underscoring the fact that maintaining relationships is not an afterthought. "So when I planned (very quickly!) to start distance learning, the first thing I wanted to start daily was a way to comfort the kids and let them know that I still care about them and their friends are still out there."

3. Reimagine Temperature Checks

Routine, everyday check-ins- roses and thorns or selecting an emoji to match your mood, for example-shouldn't fall by the wayside. Keep it quick and simple: "I posted on Schoology to give me a thumbs up, thumbs sideways (meh), or thumbs down to describe their day.... I encourage them to take selfies of their thumbs," says high school teacher Javier Rivera via Twitter.

Along with checking in with her students herself, Imad is making connecting with peers part of her students' homework: Each student is assigned the task of connecting with one classmate. "Then, I'm asking them to write to me and tell me how, say, Jackie is doing today. They can decide how they want to check in-email, text, Skype," she says, adding that she sets up guidelines and models the practice for her students first. "This exercise might work even better with K-12-'My homework is to check on Allie.'"

4. Try Snail-Mail Pen Pals, Phone Pals, or Virtual Turn and Talk

We learn better in social contexts. For many students, transitioning to learning from home is complicated by the impact of being cut off from peers-even though many older students might communicate with friends via social media and texting.

"If technology doesn't allow, create pen pals or other paper-and-pen activities by sending home envelopes, paper, and stamps if your school is able," says Thomas. "Or mimic 'turn and talk' by setting up phone pals where students call each other on the phone several times a week to discuss specific topics or prompts."

Third-grade teacher Michael Dunlea follows his whole-group instruction via Zoom with breakout rooms so that peers can reflect on the learned material together. Then he seeks deeper connections with students individually: "I keep one student on for a one-on-one conference and ask them to read out loud for a few minutes. This time also provides an opportunity to check on their emotional well-being and see if they need clarification on assignments."

5. Create Virtual Tables (but Don't Just Group Friends)

For older kids, says Kasey Short, an eighth-grade English teacher at Charlotte Country Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, teachers can set up virtual table groups. Short uses Google Classroom for this because her students are already familiar with the platform. "I will set up discussion threads with four to five students so they can discuss assignments, ask each other questions, and stay connected," she says.

Though many kids will stay in touch with their circle of friends, she says it's important to think about pairing kids with peers who aren't in their immediate social circle-and then mix up the groups weekly. "There will also be spaces for whole class discussions, but I know many students will feel more comfortable sharing ideas in a smaller group setting," she says.

6. Consider Including Parents

Dunlea, the third-grade teacher, asks students to invite a parent online, giving the adults an opportunity to ask questions, express concerns, or request advice.

Beachboard, the sixth- and eighth-grade English teacher, connects with parents each day-she uses the messaging platform Remind, or a dedicated Google Voice phone line for parents who don't have text messaging. She also connects with families by email. "I check in with them once a day with a 'How are you?' and 'Do you need anything?'" she says. "It's important at this time, more than any other, that we are looking out for the mental health of our families and students."

7. Get Kids to Name-and Process-Their Own Emotions

Writing assignments, says Short, the English teacher, offer valuable opportunities for students to process the complex mix of emotions they may be experiencing as a result of their upended routines and schedules, social isolation, and the challenges of being cooped up at home.

"I am going to use some writing opportunities for students to get their thoughts, feelings, fears, and questions down in a creative format of their choice," she says. "I will give them an option to share with the class, or only share with me. This will not only allow them to share out their feelings but also give me a place to check on them and follow up if I see any of them expressing sadness, fear, etc., that their parents may need to know about."

Most important, says Short, "I am going to be honest and as understanding as possible to let students know we are all in this together and will likely all need a little grace."

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7 Ways to Maintain Relationships During Your School Closure

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Suddenly, you're not in the same physical space as your students. We asked teachers to share strategies for maintaining relationships-both peer-to-peer and student-teacher-when everything's gone remote.

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Candid Conversations: Managing What's Beyond Our Control (Episode 2)

Dr. Becky Bailey offers insights and problem solving for everyday challenges with special guests in the Candid Conversations webinar series. Kyndal Easter, this episode's guest, shares her experience of being 39 weeks pregnant and an Assistant Principal for a primary school in the context of COVID-19. Discover how Kyndal uses her foundation in Conscious Discipline to manage feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and loss of control, and uncover ways to apply self-regulation concepts in your own life.

Candid Conversations provide a relatable, practical window into the world of Conscious Discipline. Join Dr. Bailey and her guests as they explore personal challenges, successes and ways to use Conscious Discipline in everyday life.

Hosted by Conscious Discipline Master Instructor Jill Molli, this episode of Candid Conversations explores healthy ways to cope when the proverbial rug gets pulled out from under your feet. In Kyndal's words, "All of a sudden I lost control of the things I thought I had control over." Yet, from this place of uncertainty, we can cultivate a sense of acceptance, support and trust within ourselves. In this episode of Candid Conversations, we explore self-regulation in terms of active calming, gratitude, acceptance, going within, and the essential roles a support person and a School Family can play during times of stress.

Webinar Outline

00:17 General introduction with Jill Molli

1:50 Introducing Kyndal Easter, Assistant Principal and expectant mother

2:58 Feeling safe and secure during the first few months of pregnancy

3:37 COVID-19 hits: Loss of control, big feelings, big responsibilities

4:29 Uploading and downloading composure to co-regulate

5:25 Seeking outside control vs. going inside to calm

7:25 Who is your support person?

8:43 Managing a disappointment with a support person

9:55 The best environment for a child is one where adults get their needs met

10:47 How the pandemic is bringing awareness and changing teaching

11:50 When you don't have a support person, gratitude and faith can help

14:18 Workarounds during COVID-19

16:50 Acceptance allows you to reach a higher brain state so you can think and plan

18:40 Becky summarizes acceptance, the power of a School Family and trust/faith

20:12 "I'm so glad to see you, the world was waiting"

20:40 Managing what's inside via self-regulation rather than attempting to control what's happening around us

Helpful Next Steps

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Webinar: Candid Conversations: Managing What's Beyond Our Control (Episode 2) | Conscious Discipline

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Dr. Becky Bailey offers insights and problem solving for everyday challenges with special guests in the Candid Conversations webinar series. Kyndal Easter, this episode's guest, shares her experience of being 39 weeks pregnant and an Assistant Principal for a primary school in the context of COVID-19.

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Many students are experiencing high levels of stress as school schedules change due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some students may be separated from friends and stuck at home. Others might be worried about getting sick. Students whose families are experiencing financial worries or illness are especially vulnerable. There are ways you can support students socially and emotionally even if they're not physically in your classroom every day.

School - whether it's done online, in person, or a mix of the two - can give students a sense of normalcy. But it's important to acknowledge the anxiety students might be feeling. Chronic stress and trauma can interrupt the learning process. You can help by incorporating social-emotional learning (SEL) in your teaching. SEL can help students learn better.

1. Schedule regular check-ins with students and their families.

Research shows that positive teacher-student relationships improve student learning - especially during stressful times. This is also true for online learning. To help build relationships, try to schedule regular check-ins with your students.

From the series: Back-to-School for Educators: Start With Relationships

Learn the research behind relationship building, download a printable to share with families, and get tips for connecting with students and families.

Show articles Hide articles

Articles in this series: Back-to-School for Educators: Start With Relationships

Use these individual check-ins to talk with students about how they're feeling. Before you start scheduling the check-ins, see if your school district has recommendations for tools to use to communicate with families. Then consider what format and frequency will work best for your students. Students who are falling behind on assignments might need more frequent check-ins. Finding out where they're struggling can help you suggest new strategies.

2. Teach strategies for organization, planning, and self-regulation.

3. Read and discuss current events.

When teaching about current events like the coronavirus pandemic or racial injustice, give students age-appropriate, factual information. For example, students can read about how health care workers and scientists are tackling the coronavirus or how people are coping with stress.

Current events also give students a chance to talk about their feelings. This can help them feel less alone. Many families are experiencing a variety of challenges. Learning about these challenges can help students build social awareness and empathy.

4. Assign a project that encourages students to be "helpers."

Taking action can ease anxiety and depression. It also gives students a way to build their social awareness and relationship skills.

Read to younger siblings or help them with schoolwork .

Make a video that helps other kids have fun while stuck at home.

Help with cooking meals or snacks.

Call or send a card to someone who might feel isolated.

5. Share stress-reduction and mindfulness strategies.

From the series: Back-to-School for Educators: Start With Relationships

Learn the research behind relationship building, download a printable to share with families, and get tips for connecting with students and families.

Show articles Hide articles

Articles in this series: Back-to-School for Educators: Start With Relationships

About the Author

About the Author

Trynia Kaufman, MS is the senior manager of editorial research at Understood. She is a former educator and presents nationwide at education conferences.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Shivohn N. García, PhD is an experienced educator and the senior director of the Impact team at Understood.

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5 tips for supporting students socially and emotionally during distance learning

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Many students are experiencing high levels of stress as school schedules change due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some students may be separated from friends and stuck at home. Others might be worried about getting sick. Students whose families are experiencing financial worries or illness are especially vulnerable.

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Common Sense Education provides educators and students with the resources they need to harness the power of technology for learning and life. Find a free K-12 Digital Citizenship curriculum, reviews of popular EdTech apps, and resources for protecting student privacy.

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Advancing Social and Emotional Learning - CASEL

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CASEL is helping make evidence-based social and emotional learning an integral part of education, preschool through high school.

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SEL and Self-Care Resources for Educators, Schools, and Parents During the Pandemic

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A compilation of social-emotional learning (SEL) and self-care resources for educators, parents, and school communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Welcome to our supplemental Social Emotional Learning Activities page!

As you will see below, many of the supplemental SEL activities and lesson plans include characters from our game-based, social emotional learning interventions. And when you use the online programs with your students, these activities will reinforce the learning that occurs during game play.

These supplemental resources - lessons, activities, and worksheets - are in the following SELskill areas: Communication, Cooperation, Emotion Regulation, Empathy, Impulse Control, and Social Initiation.

These resources are age-appropriate for elementary and middle school students and are typically used in a classroom or a small group setting. And in most cases, if materials are required for the activity, they are items that you already have in your classroom or office.
Note: Please share this page on your school website so other educators may also benefit.
Social Emotional Learning at Home

Additional Resources for Social Emotional Learning

Our classroom management plan is a step-by-step guide and includes proven strategies, tips and printables for elementary school teachers, and it covers four key components for establishing a successful, well-managed classroom.

These free downloadable posters will decorate your classroom and be great teaching resources, reinforcing social and emotional skills in your classroom and reminding students to practice their skills like emotion regulation, impulse control, empathy, and more.

Social Emotional Learning Quotes

For each of the topics below, we have curated a list of quotes. You can incorporate these quotes in your social emotional learning lessons, add them to social media images, create classroom posters, or write one on your whiteboard each day.

Need Something More Engaging And Effective For A Few Students?

Simply request a FREE Centervention educator account and start using our online programs!

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95 Free Social Emotional Learning Activities

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95 free social emotional learning activities, worksheets, and lessons to help students in elementary and middle school. Most are no-prep and ready to go.

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Join the Peartember celebration for giveaways, exclusive templates, and more! Learn more >

From webinars to custom professional development sessions, there are lots of ways to learn about Pear Deck and our team of educators is here to help! Whether you're an administrator or a classroom teacher, our pre-recorded webinars can help you get started.

INTRODUCTION TO PEAR DECK FOR GOOGLE SLIDES

Designed for beginners, this webinar moves at a pace that allows you to follow along in lock-step as we build slides and start a live Pear Deck presentation. Join us if you're new to Pear Deck or if you'd like a review of how to create interactive presentations.

Watch the Introduction to Pear Deck for Google Slides webinar!

PEAR DECK FOR GOOGLE SLIDES: ACCELERATED

Everything you need to know about Pear Deck at a faster pace than the Basic Introduction session. Very much like the former Pear Deck 101 webinar, this webinar will teach you how to create slides, present lessons in Instructor and Student Paced modes, give formative assessments, evaluate responses, embed websites and videos, publish responses, and more. This comprehensive session is for those who already have some familiarity with Pear Deck, and/or are comfortable with digital learning tools. We'll also save time for your Q&A!

Watch the Pear Deck for Google Slides: Accelerated webinar!

PEAR DECK FOR PowerPoint Online

Discover the amazing tools at your fingertips with Microsoft for Education and Pear Deck. This course will teach you everything you need to know about creating interactive slides and presenting with Pear Deck for PowerPoint Online. We'll also save time for your Q&A!

Watch the Pear Deck for Powerpoint Online webinar!

Set your sights on a milestone

Earn a Pear Deck Achievement

We're amazed by your dedication to delivering powerful learning moments and growing as educator, and we to want to celebrate that! After joining a Pear Deck webinar, we'll send you a Lifelong Learner Badge. When an achievement is unlocked, the full-color badge will come directly to your inbox! There are tons of Pear Deck achievements to earn - make a goal to collect them all!

Alternative learning options

Can't join a live session?

Schedule a Pear Deck workshop

Conducted by Pear Deck team members or one of our trained coaches, these customized workshops can help departments, schools, and districts maximize the usage and efficacy of Pear Deck! Depending on the length of the session and number of attendees, additional costs may apply.

Schedule a Workshop

Pear Deck 101 PRE-RECORDED WEBINAR

The same great content from our live Webinars, but at your own pace. Learn how to create Decks using the Google Slides Add-on and PowerPoint Online Add-in, use templates to add formative assessments, and see best practice examples to help cultivate an engaging classroom with Pear Deck.

Watch Pear Deck 101 Pre-Recorded Webinar Here

Looking for more resources? Check out the Knowledge Base to browse our library of help articles or our collection of Help Videos.

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From webinars to in-person professional training, the Pear Deck team of educators is here to help you be the best teacher you can be!

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Beginner ➡️  https://bit.ly/3fKh881
Advanced click image below ⬇️

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Google Classroom PD for Virtual and F2F Learning-Advanced Digital Icebreakers Slides Templates Teaching Slides Digital Assignments Uploading Materials Slides Add-ons Drag and Drop Slides Using Peardeck Using Jamboard Student Projects

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22 Ways to introduce yourself to students

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22 Ways to introduce yourself to students

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If you're looking for a new and creative way to introduce yourself to students this year, we've got you covered! We gathered lots of terrific ideas, including some from teachers on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. They range from quick and easy options to some that will take some planning, but they're all great ways to start the new year off on the right note.

1. Do a Teacher Feature on school social media

Lots of schools use their social media accounts to introduce teachers, like this example from @tstlongview. Propose the idea at your school, suggesting they do a teacher a day in the weeks leading up to back-to-school time.

2. Have last year's students introduce you

This fun learning activity not only allows your current students to introduce you to next year's class, it gives you a chance to get feedback about how this year has gone! See how this teacher runs the lesson with her students.

3. Send postcards to introduce yourself

No time for a full letter? Try postcards instead. "I took a picture of me playing fetch with my trusty golden retriever and sent it to each of my new students over the summer," James C. shares. "On the back, I wrote a short note introducing myself and telling them how excited I was to have them in my class." See how The Techie Teacher uses this idea here.

4. Show them a slideshow

Lots of teachers use a slideshow to introduce themselves. We've made it even easier to create one with our free editable template-grab it here!

5. Introduce yourself with a quiz

First-day quizzes are a really popular way to introduce yourself to students. Kahoot even has an easy-to-customize template just for getting to know your teacher! Lisa T. does a slideshow about herself on the first day and then follows up on the second day with a quiz to see how much they remember.

6. Share your talents

Students expect the usual bio intro-I'm Ms. Smith, I've been teaching for 10 year, etc. But why not open with a bit of pizzazz by sharing one of your unique talents with students? Play a song on your trumpet, pass out cookies you made, display a quilt you made. Opening up with something personal will encourage your students to do the same.

7. Plan a meet-the-teacher escape room

OK, we admit this is going to take some work. But it's a surefire way to amp up student excitement from day one! Set up an escape room to help kids learn more about you and explore the classroom at the same time. See how Mskcpotter does it here.

8. Play 20 Questions

After a brief introduction, open the floor to students' questions about yourself and the coming year. This is a great way to reveal students' wishes and hopes for the year as well as any concerns that are lurking beneath the surface. Be sure to have a "pass" option if students ask any questions that are too personal for you so you can deflect with good humor.

9. Use a student-created brochure

Emily F. lets her previous year's class help her introduce herself to incoming students. Then she gives a quiz to see if kids really took the time to read it! "At the end of the year, I have my students make a brochure for next year's students. If the kids read it, they get a lot of answers to my quiz questions right." Looking for a template? We like this one from Teacher Trap.

10. Decorate a Bitmoji virtual classroom

Whether you're teaching in person or online, Bitmoji classrooms are a fantastic way to show off your personality. This one from The Social Studies World of Ms. J has clickable images to take students to different important links. Learn how to create your own here.

11. Read, run, and write

Get your students working collaboratively and focusing on their writing skills right away with this activity from the Busy Teacher . Write a list of facts about yourself-your background, family, hobbies, etc.-and post several copies of the list in the front of the room.

Divide your class into small teams and give each team a sheet of paper. One student in each group will stay at their desk while the others take turns running up to the board, reading and memorizing as much as they can before running back to the student at the desk who will listen and write down what they're told. The first group to correctly write down the full list wins.

12. Build a word cloud

Word clouds are fun to make, and you can use this as an activity for all your students on the first day if you like. Make your own using instructions from Happy Hooligans using words that describe your background, hobbies, style, and more. Plus, check out these free word cloud generators for teachers.

13. Set up a question-and-answer match

Fourth grade teacher Lori Silviera shares this fun activity: "I make Q and A's on index cards about me," she says, "and then the students try to find a classmate who has the answer or question that matches the card they get. After they partner, the person with the question reads it and then the partner that has the answer reads it to the rest of the class. For example: How many pets do I have? (One cat named Lenny)."

14. Make a photo book to introduce yourself

Start the year by reading your kids a book that's all about you! Heidi J. says, "Last year, I made an 'ABC' photo book on Shutterfly and included one thing about myself for each letter of the alphabet. (And yes, I really had to stretch to figure out 'X' and 'Q.') After reading it to my students on the first day of school, I left it in the classroom library. The kids read it over and over again throughout the year." Learn how teacher Sarah Chesworth uses her autobiography with her class here.

15. Create a Fakebook profile

It's not a great idea to show students your real social media pages. Instead, create a "Fakebook" profile, like teacher Marissa Q. does. Use the free online tool, or mock up one on paper, sharing interesting facts, photos, and other info about you that you're comfortable with kids knowing.

16. Model a survey

Try this fun and educational activity from the Art of Education. Student questionnaires/surveys are a great way to get to know your students, and for students to have an opportunity to share things with you at the start of the school year. Ask things like, "Do you have a nickname or middle name that you go by instead of what is on the roster?" "What is your preferred pronoun?" "How do you like to receive feedback?" etc. We like this list of questions from the Inspiration Board.

17. Let students research your life

Introduce yourself to your students with a lesson on gathering info from trustworthy primary sources. "I give students a stack of primary documents from my life (letters, report cards, class pictures, etc.) with all the sensitive information blacked out," eighth grade teacher Phil L. says. "I ask the students to create a timeline from that information, hypothesize about what happened in the gaps, and draw conclusions about the kind of person they think I am."

18. Try a game of This and That

Your new students will love this hands-on "get to know you" game from Amateur Craft Hour. The game begins with the first person securing a ball of yarn to their wrist. Then, they choose a stick with a word written on each side-for example, fame and money. They choose which one they would prefer. Then, they ask those who would make the same choice to raise their hand and toss the yarn to one of them. Play continues until the yarn has woven quite a web illustrating that we are all connected in some way.

19. Hold a scavenger hunt

Jan R. expands on the research activity by turning her students into detectives. She puts all the documents in envelopes marked TOP SECRET and stashes them around her room. She even gives them magnifying glasses to read the fine print! Use the free printables from Moms & Munchkins to make this even more fun.

20. Introduce yourself in a movie

It's a bit more work, but teachers point out that you can use these to introduce yourself again and again. Plus, a movie works in both regular and virtual classrooms. Many teachers already have access to iMovie on their school computers. Learn how to use it here.

21. Introduce yourself on Flip

Flip (formerly Flipgrid) is the best interactive tool you're not using yet. It allows teachers and kids to record and safely post short videos ... and it's completely free! Record a Flip video to introduce yourself to students, then have them do the same. Whether you're teaching in person or online, this is such a fun way for everyone to get to know each other.

22. Let them do the math

Sneak a little math review into your teacher introduction with this clever idea! Come up with a series of facts about you that can be represented in numbers, then turn those into math problems. This works at a variety of grade levels, and kids always get such a kick out of it! Learn more from The Magnificent Fourth Grade Year.

23. Design a T-shirt

Wear your personality on your sleeve! Draw the outline of a shirt and decorate it with information about yourself. Have your students do the same and then use them to adorn your room, like Counseling Corner does. (Feeling ambitious? Decorate and wear a real T-shirt instead!)

24. Draw a name map

Mapping is an excellent writing strategy, and you can teach the concept early on with a fun name map. Create one to introduce yourself on the first day of class, then have your students do the same. Find out more from TeachWithMe.com.

25. Put together a name tent

Name tents work in traditional or virtual classrooms. In an in-person classroom, prop this on your desk for the first week or so. Online, post the image during breaks or leave it on the corner of the screen. (Kids can do this activity too!) Learn more from Spark Creativity.

26. Give them the scoop on you

Is there any cuter way to introduce yourself to your students? If you really want to guarantee yourself the "best teacher ever" award, you could have an ice cream sundae party to go along with it! Learn more from True Life I'm a Teacher.

27. Let your star shine

"Every week during the year, one student is Star of the Week and they get to display a collage of their favorite things in the classroom," says Judith G. "For the first week, I'm the star and my collage allows my students to get to know me." Use this example from Amanda Hager on Pinterest for inspiration.

28. Dress the part

"I know my students think of me as a bit of a geek (hey, what can I say, I'm a math teacher!) so I totally geek out for the first day of school," admits Greg S. "I wear a pi T-shirt and thick glasses and really play up the geeky math teacher thing." Want to go all out? Try these teacher dresses that make you look just like Ms. Frizzle!

29. Play Red Light, Green Light, getting-to-know-you style

Here's a fun twist on the classic "Two Truths and a Lie" (another teacher-introduction favorite). Line kids up on one end of the room or playground. Stand on the other side, and make a statement about yourself. If students think the statement is true, they take one step forward. If they're wrong, they go back to the start! The first student to reach you is the winner. Learn more about this unique way to introduce yourself from Rulin' the Roost.

30. Write an autobiographical poem

This idea comes from Brianna H., who says, "I like to do an autobiographical poem. I do a model about myself to use as a guide for them. Students write their own using the template and then write it on construction paper and cut out images to create a collage around it." See this project in action from Melulater.

31. Show them you're one part of the puzzle

Use this cute idea to introduce yourself and create a terrific back-to-school bulletin board all at once! Personalize your puzzle piece with pictures or facts about yourself. Have kids do the same, and put all the pieces together to make a terrific mural for your classroom. Learn more from Supply Me.

32. Assemble a picture collage

Use pictures to make a collage that tells kids about you with pictures instead of words. "We do a Get to Know Me in Pictures," says Paige T. "I made one for myself and I introduce myself to the whole class using mine." If you really want to get creative, make your collage in the shape of your silhouette. Learn how from Kix. (This works online too- try it using Padlet.)

33. Map out a timeline of your life

Draw a timeline on the whiteboard before you introduce yourself, suggests Jan R. As you share facts about yourself from different points in your life, have kids come up and add those events to the right place on the timeline. Make it even more fun by adding photos from your life, like this one from Surfin' Through Second.

34. Craft a get-to-know-you cloudburst

This simple and colorful craft lets students know what's important to you. Have them make their own so you can get to know them too. Hat tip to GuysTeachToo on Instagram for this idea.

35. Write a Mystery Box essay

Dawn M. explains, "I put 3 items that represent me in a bag and use it to teach the 5-paragraph essay format. Each item is one paragraph of my essay. Then I share my essay with the kids and pull each item out while reading that item's paragraph." She follows up by having kids write their own introductory essays using the same format. See how one teacher uses this activity at Welcome to Room 36!

36. Pop an emoji bubble

We love this clever little game that works with Google Slides and is perfect for virtual or traditional classrooms. Students pick an emoji and "pop" the bubble, and you answer the question to tell them a bit about yourself. Kids can play too! Get the game from SSSTeaching on Teachers Pay Teachers.

How do you introduce yourself to your students? Come share your ideas and get advice on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

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36 Unique Ways To Introduce Yourself to Students This Year

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Make a meaningful first impression when you introduce yourself to students using these engaging ideas. Your students can use them too!