# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Big Thank You for an Awesome Time in Fiji!

# data[].attributes.headline
A 5-Step Guide to Making Your Own Instructional Videos

# data[].attributes.subject
A 5-Step Guide to Making Your Own Instructional Videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Replacing your lectures with self-made videos can boost students' engagement and free you up to work with them directly.

Imagine lecturing to a class in which some of your students are grade levels behind, some are grade levels ahead, some have special needs, and some are absent. It's pretty hard to do that effectively, isn't it?

To replace traditional lecture-style direct instruction, freeing us up to work directly with individual students;

To give directions for projects and other complex tasks; and

To provide remediation on skills that students might need to practice.

As teachers in a Title I high school, we developed an instructional model built around self-made videos that empowered students at all levels to learn at their own pace and build mastery skill-by-skill. We used these screencast-style videos:

Now, as founders of The Modern Classrooms Project, we train teachers to create blended learning classrooms of their own. The key is empowering educators to build their own high-quality instructional videos. Unlike externally created videos, these allow teachers to multiply themselves in the classroom without losing their authenticity-they can provide direct instruction via the videos while also circulating around the room, answering questions and guiding students to deeper learning.

Step 1: Chunk Instruction

Great teachers have a lot to say about their subjects. When it comes to video creation, however, time is of the essence. Research on instructional videos shows that learner engagement with videos begins to drop after the 6-minute mark-and it falls dramatically after 9. So it's essential to chunk instruction such that each video covers a single learning objective or task, and nothing more. Multiple short videos are better than one long video.

For example, this video on inference by middle school English teacher Toni Rose Deanon introduces an important concept, provides several examples, and gives the students a task-all in just over 4 minutes. Her colleague Emily Culp's video on four-box notes is equally concise, walking students through an example and teaching a note-taking strategy in 3:25. In a world of short attention spans, videos like these make their points clearly and quickly.

Step 2: Build Video-Ready Slides

Studies also show that the best instructional videos are highly focused, use visual cues to highlight key information, and minimize the use of on-screen text. The slides that a teacher would use in a lecture may not work in a video-it's critical to build a slide deck that is clear, simple, and visually compelling. (We have templates for math/science and English/history.)

In her video on the big bang theory, high school science teacher Moira Mazzi uses compelling visuals and clear annotations to explain a complex idea to her students. This keeps student attention on what Mazzi is saying and gives students an idea of the key terms and ideas they need to record in their notes.

Step 3: Record

There are many tools you can use to create a strong instructional video. Here are a few that can really simplify the process and enhance the quality of the video.

Recording device: Ideally, you have a touch-screen tablet or laptop with a high-quality stylus. This ensures that you can easily annotate visuals and show work. Handwriting also adds a nice personal touch. But if you have a non-touch-screen laptop, or a tablet but no stylus, you can still make your own videos.

Screencasting program: The best programs, like Explain Everything, allow educators to pause and re-record specific segments of their video easily, which removes the pressure of getting a perfect take. Look for a program that has a robust video editor and an embedded annotation tool.

Microphone: This is often forgotten, but it's really helpful to have a pair of headphones with an external mic-these headphones help you improve the sound quality and ensure that your videos don't contain background noise.

In this video on digital sound production (note: video is in Spanish), music teacher Zach Diamond uses highlighting, annotating, and a computer screencast to show students how to create their own songs using a program called Soundtrap. The clarity of Diamond's voice and the video helps students follow along, even with a complex task.

Step 4: Enhance Engagement

Simply sitting and watching videos can lead students to lose focus-the best instructional videos keep them actively engaged. Research shows that when students take notes or answer guided questions while watching, they retain material better than students who watch passively. Embedding questions in your instructional video using programs like Edpuzzle can improve student interaction and provide you with invaluable formative assessment data. Students should think of video-watching as a task they perform actively in order to learn.

In this video on the Pythagorean theorem, math teacher Michael Krell embeds frequent checks for understanding and provides feedback for students who get those checks wrong. Students are free to jump ahead to key points in the video to test their mastery of the material, if they so choose. Krell makes paper copies of the video slides for his students so that they can take notes as they watch.

Step 5: Be Yourself

Perhaps the most important element of a strong video is authenticity. The most effective blended instruction isn't pretty-it's personal. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, and make sure your authentic personality shines through. Research shows that videos in which the instructor speaks in a natural, conversational manner, with an enthusiastic tone, are the most engaging. In our experience, students really appreciate knowing that it's their actual teacher behind the video.

In this video on states of matter, for instance, middle school science teacher Demi Lager lets her personality shine through. No matter how interested students may be in solids, liquids, and gases, her warm tone and sense of humor are likely to keep them engaged.

Learning to create a high-quality instructional video doesn't happen overnight-it requires continual trial, error, and innovation. We've been recording videos for years, and we still often struggle to be compelling and concise. Yet we keep trying, because we believe that teacher-driven blended instruction is what's best for our students. So start planning, grab some recording software, be yourself, and have fun!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A 5-Step Guide to Making Your Own Instructional Videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Replacing your lectures with self-made videos can boost students' engagement and free you up to work with them directly.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Session #2 Self Pacing Structures - Google Jamboard

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The version of the browser you are using is no longer supported. Please upgrade to a supported browser. Dismiss

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Self Pacing Structures - Google Jamboard

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The version of the browser you are using is no longer supported. Please upgrade to a supported browser. Dismiss

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Modern Classrooms Project - Teacher Discussion | Facebook

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This group is open for discussion and collaboration by educators interested in Modern Classroom practices. We encourage every member to ask and respond to questions, although individual members'...

# data[].attributes.headline
Making Self-Paced Learning Work for Younger Kids

# data[].attributes.subject
Making Self-Paced Learning Work for Younger Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Making Self-Paced Learning Work for Younger Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Examples of Modern Classrooms Progress Trackers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Teachers in traditional classrooms often struggle to meet their students' needs.

We help teachers build classrooms where ALL students can learn.

Modern Classrooms are built on three core practices:

We empower teachers, across grade levels and subject areas, to adapt this model in their own classrooms.

Together, we build better learning environments for students and teachers alike.

Our Approach benefits Both teachers and students:

"This is the most I've ever interacted with my students on a personal level. I notice that kids that usually aren't good at math, are making some serious strides in their math careers. I actually enjoy my job now!!"

-Lyndsey Reinheimer, high-school math teacher

"I can't begin to describe how much more positive and cheerful my classroom feels this year. It makes teaching more sustainable and less stressful."

-Zach Diamond, middle-school music teacher

"I've never had stronger relationships with my students. Teaching as a career is more sustainable for the long term as I feel much less burned out at the end of every day."

-Angel Ballard, High-School Special Education Teacher

We offer three types of training for interested educators:

Modern Classroom Fellowship

Our Flagship program: an intensive year-long fellowship for DC-area educators.

School and District Partnerships

Bring our experts to your school or district for a fully customized training experience.

All training materials, plus personalized support, from the comfort of your home.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Modern Classrooms are built on three core practices: Our Approach benefits Both teachers and students: We offer three types of training for interested educators: Modern Classroom Fellowship Our Flagship program: an intensive year-long fellowship for DC-area educators. School and District Partnerships Bring our experts to your school or district for a fully customized training experience.

# data[].attributes.headline
A Student-Centered Model of Blended Learning

# data[].attributes.subject
A Student-Centered Model of Blended Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Student-Centered Model of Blended Learning

# data[].attributes.headline
Student Facing Exemplars - How to learn from videos

# data[].attributes.subject
Student Facing Exemplars - How to learn from videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Learn From an Instructional Video: Student-Facing Exemplars

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Comprehensive Guide to Guided Notes in a Modern Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Modern Classrooms: Slide Development Template 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explained using the cloud collaboration platform built on the learning technology of tomorrow - Explain Everything.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Copy of MCP Copy of Module 2A Game Board - Addition

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Research 📄 Self-pacing: what does the research say? 📄 Research-based best practices for a self-paced classroom 📰 Self-Regulated Learning Strategies Predict Learner Behavior and Goal Attainment 📰 Personalized Learning and Online Instruction 📰 Autonomous, Self-Paced Quest-Based Learning: Is it

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

# data[].attributes.body
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13CKlv2Q9bxns_13a4eaBDc4NSTx46CBwyO6GEkbSA18/edit?usp=sharing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Not sure how to set up this Google Site? No problem! Here are directions , and a video explanation . (Once you're set up, please delete this and other text in orange 😎).

Welcome! My name is _______________, and I'm excited to teach __________ at _________ this year.

This website explains who I am, how my class will work, and how you (or your child) can be successful this year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Not sure how to set up this Google Site? No problem! Here are directions, and a video explanation. (Once you're set up, please delete this and other text in orange 😎). Welcome! My name is _______________, and I'm excited to teach __________ at _________ this year.

# data[].attributes.body
A helpful framework:
Role
Task
Format

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ChatGPT is your AI chatbot for everyday use. Chat with the most advanced AI to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Google's most popular tools -- Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs -- are staples for getting organized and getting work done. These collaboration-friendly tools have revolutionized the way we communicate, work together, and store information online. For teachers and students, the education-friendly platform Google Classroom brings the benefits of paperless sharing, assessment, and digital collaboration to classrooms. Tens of millions of teachers and students use Google Classroom in thousands of schools worldwide, making it one of the most popular edtech tools around.

Read on to find answers to teachers' most commonly asked questions about the platform, with all kinds of information on how you can use Google Classroom with your students. Also, be sure to check out our guide for parents and our detailed review of Google Classroom's learning potential.
Use these links to jump to any section below:
Google describes Google Classroom as "mission control for your classroom," which might be the easiest way to think about it. Simply put, it's a platform that ties together Google's Workspace tools (formerly known as G Suite) for teachers and students. It also acts as a digital organizer where teachers can keep class materials and share them with students -- all paperless-ly. From there, you can pick and choose the features you want to incorporate. This flexibility and seamless integration with Google's popular tools have made Google Classroom one of the most widely used edtech tools today.

Technically, no. Google Classroom is not a stand-alone learning management system (LMS), course management system (CMS), or student information system (SIS). That said, Google regularly adds new functions to Google Classroom. As of April 2021, Google Classroom can sync data with the Skyward 2.0 and Infinite Campus student information systems. According to Google, more SIS integrations currently are being piloted or are in development. As Google continues to add features, it may start to look, and function, more like an LMS. But for now it's best to think of the tool as a one-stop shop for class organization.

Anyone! Google Classroom is included as a free service for anyone with a personal Google account. It's also free for organizations using Google Workspace for Education or Google Workspace for nonprofits. In most cases, teachers and students can access Google Classroom using a Google account provided by their school. While teachers and students in schools are the primary users of Google Classroom, there are also features that administrators, families, clubs, after-school programs, and homeschoolers can use.

Because it's a fairly flexible platform, educators use its features in a lot of different ways. With Google Classroom, teachers can:

Streamline how they manage classes. The platform integrates with Google's other tools like Docs, Drive, Forms, Meet, and Calendar, so there are many built-in "shortcuts" for classroom-management tasks. For example, if you post an assignment with a due date, it's automatically added to your students' class calendar for them to see.

Digitally organize, distribute, and collect assignments, course materials (think: videos, websites, PDFs, and more), and student work. Teachers also can post an assignment to multiple classes or modify and reuse assignments from year to year. If your students have regular access to devices, Google Classroom can help you avoid some trips to the photocopier and cut down on some of the paper shuffling that comes with teaching and learning.

Communicate with students about their classwork. You can use the platform to post announcements and reminders about assignments, and it's easy to see who has or hasn't completed their work. You can also check in with individual students privately, answer their questions, and offer support.

Give students timely feedback on their assignments and assessments. Within Google Classroom, it's possible to use Google Forms to create and share quizzes that are automatically graded as students turn them in. You'll not only spend less time grading, but also your students will get instant feedback on their work. Teachers can view individual and class data within Forms or an automatically generated Google Sheet.

Can teachers use Google Classroom for assessments and grading?

Yes. Google Classroom can help teachers streamline summative and formative assessments. For example, you can use the platform to quickly create, distribute, and collect digital exit tickets or auto-graded assessments. Teachers also can pose discussion questions for quick insights into what students are thinking.

With these same tools, teachers also can create summative assessments, like unit tests. These tests can include traditional question types like multiple choice, short or paragraph answer, checkbox, and more. There also are options for students to upload files (like movies or photos) when responding to a question or prompt, allowing students to share their knowledge in a variety of ways. Of course, there are plenty of other formative and summative assessment tools out there, many of which now offer Google Classroom integration.

Recent updates to Google Classroom have included features for grading and rubrics. Teachers can simply assign points to different assignments, or give different types of assignments (essays, classwork, homework, etc.) different weights. You can create rubrics right in Google Classroom, and students can view these as they work. Turned-in work can be graded using the rubric, and the score will be automatically calculated. Take note, however, that it isn't possible to use standards-based grades (at least not yet).

Do teachers use Google Classroom to teach live, like with Zoom?

Some teachers use Google Meet as a videoconferencing solution (instead of Zoom or another similar tool). Google Classroom integrates with Google Meet, and teachers can set up video meetings from within Google Classroom for live, or "synchronous," instruction. By default, students can't begin a meeting before the teacher, or rejoin the meeting if the teacher is the last person to leave. Meet videos created from within Google Classroom are only accessible from school-managed Google Workspace for Education accounts.

In addition to live-video capabilities, the recording feature in Google Meet gives teachers an easy tool for creating prerecorded video lessons for asynchronous learning, where students could watch on their own time. The Google for Education Teacher Center has helpful video tutorials about Google Meet to help teachers get started.

How do I set up Google Classroom?

The basic setup process for Google Classroom is pretty intuitive, even for first-time users. The Google for Education Teacher Center offers several tutorials for getting started -- this is your best bet if you're looking for the most up-to-date videos and information. There are also plenty of do-it-yourself tutorials on YouTube posted by teachers and tech-integration specialists. Many of these teacher-created videos include practical tips and tricks they've learned from using the platform in their classrooms.

How can Google Classroom support differentiation in the classroom?

Google Classroom makes it easy to customize assignments for individual students or small groups. Teachers can give modified or differing assignments to specific students or groups in a class. You also have the option to check in with a student privately to see whether they have questions or need extra help. An online differentiation strategy like this can make your efforts less conspicuous to the class, so students won't feel singled out in the way that they might with other types of in-person differentiation.

With or without a tool like Google Classroom, differentiation is always going to be a matter of creative problem-solving, and there's no one or "right" way to do it. Luckily, lots of teachers share their tips, tricks, and creative solutions online. Here's an example of how one teacher uses Google Classroom to meet students at their levels.

How can administrators and curriculum coaches use Google Classroom?

Google Classroom isn't just for teachers. Superintendents, principals, and curriculum coaches can benefit from using Google Classroom to organize staff notes, announcements, dates, documents, and other resources for teachers and other school staff. When utilizing Google Classroom in this way, administrators can intentionally model many of the technological skills and proficiencies they'd like teachers to use.

Curriculum coaches can create anonymous questionnaires (using Google Forms) to receive feedback on recent professional development. Coaches could even go a step further and upload videos of model lessons for teachers in their district to view -- a great way to bring teachers who are new to a school or district up to speed.

How can families and parents stay in the loop with Google Classroom?

Google Classroom has options for teachers to send out updates about students' classwork, but it doesn't offer the level of communication you'll find in tools like Seesaw, ClassDojo, or Remind. Google refers to parents and families as "guardians" who can opt in to receive email summaries about missing work, upcoming work, and other class activity. However, it doesn't include direct-messaging features for families or allow families to comment on their children's work.

What's new in Google Classroom?

The platform has been updated quite a bit since its launch, and Google continues to introduce new features regularly, often based on feedback from teachers. For example, grades, rubrics, and Google Meet integration all are features that were added recently. Another new feature called "originality reports" is essentially a plagiarism-checking tool that checks a student's Google Document against webpages and books readily available on the internet. If the feature is turned on, students can run reports before submitting assignments -- teachers can run them after. Teachers may want to use the originality reports feature as an opportunity to teach the importance of citing sources.

How can I make Google Classroom more engaging and interactive for my students?

To make learning with digital content more dynamic for students, consider mixing up the types of resources you share with them in Google Classroom. In addition to Google Workspace tools like Docs and Slides, teachers and students can share other types of media, including images, links to websites, YouTube videos, and screencasts. Some teachers even give students a variety of options for submitting their work within Google Classroom. For example, you might offer students the choice to respond to a reading assignment with a comment, video clip, or drawing that shows their thinking (see our section on differentiation above).

If you're looking to create an interactive hub for students, you might consider doing this on Google Classroom's Stream page. Within Google Classroom, the Stream is a feed where everyone in the class can find announcements and upcoming assignments, and it's the first thing students see when they log in. Alice Keeler, a well-known blogger who writes extensively about Google Classroom, recommends using the Stream to post your class agenda and suggests using Screencastify to post video messages for students.

Some teachers use the Stream to set up class discussion boards, where students can interact online by asking questions or commenting on each other's posts. These discussion boards can help increase class participation and offer students more equity in having their voices heard (or read) by the class. With discussions, you can use the Stream as a closed social network of sorts, and it can be a great way to help kids practice using all kinds of different digital citizenship skills in a "walled garden" type of setting.

What other apps and websites integrate with Google Classroom?

There are now hundreds of external apps and websites that integrate with Google Classroom. Some of these apps may partner with Google, while others create and publish their own third-party add-ons as Chrome extensions. If you're using Google Classroom extensively, integrating other edtech tools can be a way to streamline your instruction.

For example, say you want your students to study some vocabulary words using Quizlet; you can use the Google Classroom integration to directly share and assign a particular flash card set to your class. Or, if you're looking for other learning content online, there are integrations with publishers like Newsela, Khan Academy, and BrainPop, among others -- you'll find all kinds of articles, videos, and other educational content to share with your students.

Our article Nine Apps and Websites That Integrate with Google Classroom covers a handful of these, but the list certainly doesn't end there. If there's an edtech app or website you like using with your students, chances are there's a way to link it within Google Classroom.

What is Google doing with my students' data? Should I be worried about privacy?

As an educator, protecting your students' privacy and data should definitely be a consideration whenever you're choosing a digital tool for your classroom. Anytime a tool might collect data from students, it's essential to ask questions about how the companies involved are securing, using, or storing student data. For more information, be sure to read our full privacy review of Google Classroom.

Google says that data privacy and security are high priorities for all Google Workspace for Education products. However, educators should keep in mind that parents and families have a right to opt out if they don't want their children to use Google products in school. Before launching Google Classroom, school administrators and teachers might want to have an alternative plan in place for students who may opt out.

In the past, some educators, families, and advocates have expressed doubts about Google's ability to deliver on promises about privacy and data protection. What's more, the prominence of Google branding and products in schools has raised questions about the trade-offs of allowing Google to build its brand in schools. Whether you use Google Classroom or not, it's important to get students thinking critically about data privacy and the commercialization we see in different aspects of our lives -- including our classrooms.

Where can I find more ideas about using Google Classroom?

If you're looking for official information about Google Classroom, check out Google for Education's Twitter feed for product updates, ideas for teachers, videos, and even a newsletter about Google Workspace for Education products. Many Google Classroom fans are also tweeting, blogging, and even podcasting about all the ways they're using the platform with students. With millions of teachers and edtech specialists field-testing, experimenting, and innovating with Google Classroom, it's easy to find tips and inspiration from fellow educators online.

As you're using Google Classroom, don't be afraid to get creative with your own strategies, hacks, and innovative uses for the platform. Like most edtech tools, Google Classroom is what you make of it, and how it works will probably look very different from classroom to classroom. What's most important is to find the strategies and tools within Google Classroom that work best for you and your students. You can share the ways you're using Google Classroom with your students by leaving a Teacher Review today.
Image courtesy of Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for American Education: Images of Teachers and Students in Action.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teachers' Essential Guide to Google Classroom | Common Sense Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Google's most popular tools -- Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs -- are staples for getting organized and getting work done. These collaboration-friendly tools have revolutionized the way we communicate, work together, and store information online.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.sybilhall.com/aissp

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Time management; a guide for teachers and education staff

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Whatever your role in education, this article offers tips to help you manage your workload and life goals productively.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you click these and make a purchase from Amazon, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.

Professional Development: The phrase has a way of striking dread into the hearts of teachers. But not because teachers don't WANT to improve. Not because we believe we're done growing and learning. Far from it.

In fact, so many teachers bristle at the thought of PD because most of the time, it's executed so poorly. Although the typical one-size-fits-all format-where every teacher in the building is herded together to listen to an expert speak-has been widely denounced, it still persists as the default model. Sometimes, if the speaker happens to be engaging, some teachers will walk away with a small tidbit they can apply to their own work. For most teachers, though, it feels like a waste of precious time, time that could be spent developing skills that would make a real difference in their specific practice.

But things are starting to change. More and more schools are experimenting with personalized approaches to professional development; this guide from EdSurge takes a comprehensive look at all the different shapes this can take. And as new unconferences pop up every week all over the world, teachers are seeing just how easy it can be to learn from each other, without the need for any kind of outside expert.

And now, taking PD to an even simpler, more local, more affordable level, we have the Pineapple Chart.

What is a Pineapple Chart?

A Pineapple Chart is a system that allows teachers to invite one another into their classrooms for informal observation. The chart is set up in some location where teachers go on a daily basis: the teacher's lounge, the copy room, or wherever teacher mailboxes live in your school. On the chart, teachers "advertise" the interesting things they are doing in their classrooms, activities they think others might want to observe. The activities could be as complex as a science lab, a history simulation, or a Skype session with a school in another country. Or they could be as simple as a read-aloud or a lesson on badminton.

The chart represents one week of school. Along the top, five columns are labeled Monday through Friday. Along the side, rows assigned to various chunks of each school day. In a middle or high school, these would be class periods. In an elementary school, the rows could be divided by hours or half-hours.

When a teacher sees something on the chart she (or he) is interested in, she goes to that classroom at the designated time, sits down in an out-of-the-way spot, and watches. That's it. No note-taking is required, no post-observation conference, no write-up. Just a visit. She can even grade papers or catch up on email if she wants, paying closer attention when the moment calls for it, but getting work done in the meantime. She can stay for five minutes or a whole class period. The key word here is informal, and it's the best way for teachers to learn lots of skills and techniques just when they need them.

The reasons the visiting teacher might come in are endless: It could be that she wants to start using Google Cardboard, but would like to see another teacher do it first. Maybe she's struggling with classroom management and knows this teacher runs a tight ship. Or maybe she's there because she always wanted to learn more about World War I. Regardless of the initial reason, what she ends up learning is likely to be far more than she expected. During that Google Cardboard visit, she'll also notice a cool bulletin board in that teacher's classroom and decide to try something similar in her room. While watching the lesson on World War I, she'll pick up a questioning technique she ends up using in her own teaching. Every teacher in your building has their own unique blend of skills and talents, but the only way you'll ever learn about them is to see your colleagues in action.

The Origins of the Pineapple Chart

The pineapple has long been a symbol of hospitality; it's used in the chart in the spirit of welcoming one another into our school "homes."

But that's just the beginning. Here's how the Pineapple Chart came to be: In early 2015, Mark Barnes and I were compiling innovative teaching "hacks" for our book, Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School. I remembered my sister, who teaches science in Massachusetts, telling me about her attempts to start a "Pineapple Welcome" initiative at her school, where teachers would hang a picture of a pineapple outside their classroom doors, indicating that any other teacher who wanted to visit was welcome to stop by.

When I asked her how the whole pineapple thing went, she said, "Eh. Some people came in, but usually I would hang the pineapple and nothing would happen. I stopped doing it after a while."

This bothered me, because some of the most valuable skills I have picked up as a teacher came from informally observing my colleagues in their classrooms. I feel strongly that some of the best professional development available to teachers lives right inside the walls of our schools, and if we could just watch each other teach more, we would all grow exponentially.

Just hanging the pineapple on the door, I realized, had two shortcomings. One, it was only visible to teachers who happened to pass by that door on that day. And two, it didn't offer enough information: Just seeing a pineapple on the door tells the visitor nothing about what's going on inside. If a teacher is going to spend time visiting another teacher's classroom, he wants to know that the thing he's coming to observe is something he's actually interested in. A chart posted in a central location, with a bit of information about the day's activities, solves both problems.

We asked my sister to pilot this centralized system at her school, and the first Pineapple Chart was born. Since the publication of Hacking Education, the Pineapple Chart system has taken off in schools all across the world, and the results have been fantastic.

Two Schools Where Pineapple Charts Are Making an Impact

Gator Run Elementary, Weston, Florida

"The Pineapple Chart has been a game changer for the staff at Gator Run," says Intern Principal Cyndi Felton, who initiated Gator Run's first Pineapple Chart in January of 2016. "We have some of the very best PD available under our own roof. Now teachers have the opportunity to get into each other's classrooms and learn from one another."

Since the chart has been going, Felton has seen teachers trying new things more quickly. "Last year we noticed tools and strategies spreading throughout the building after Pineapple Chart visits. Kahoot, Nearpod, Plickers, in-class flipped lessons, SeeSaw, and performance scales in addition to unique procedures, classroom management and teaching strategies."

Maple Avenue Middle School, Littlestown, Pennsylvania

In January of 2016, when Assistant Principal Cortney Golden first launched the chart in her school, she worked hard to keep it full. "I was very aware that if we lost momentum, and the chart was blank, it would die. I sent staff-wide emails, group emails, personal emails, face to face requests, and even had my secretary appealing to teachers to sign up. Getting teachers to sign up was my first priority....then, once that became more automatic, we began to 'push' visiting."

Since then, informal observation and an open-door policy have become part of the school's culture. So much so that the word "pineappling" has become a verb:

"Collectively, we embrace pineappling now more than ever," says Golden. "As teachers desire to grow their craft, to foster 21st century skills, and to help students discover and pursue their passions, it becomes clear to all that teachers need each other. Pineappling gives teachers the permission they feel they need to collaborate, observe, ask, and reflect. It is a 'safe' and powerful professional development opportunity. Pineappling is free, fits within the school day, and has proven to be the BEST professional growth experience."

Tips for Making Pineapple Charts Work

Find creative ways to make the time.
The simplest way to squeeze these visits in is for teachers to do them during their planning time, or part of it. Remember, we're not talking about a whole class period necessarily; a 15-minute visit may be all that's needed to pick up a new strategy. In cases where teachers want to see something that doesn't coincide with planning time, the staff will need to be more creative:

A floating sub can be arranged for a day (or a few days) and teachers can "sign up for the sub" in order to visit another room.

Administrators (or other certified personnel) can step in to cover a class. This solution does double-duty, as it gives the principal some time to interact more closely with small groups of students. Instead of covering the teacher's regular material, the administrator could use this time for having discussions about school issues or just getting to know the students.

Teachers can team up to cover each other's classes. Imagine a scenario where teacher A agrees to cover teacher B's class while teacher B observes in teacher C's room. Then everyone switches roles two more times. A motivated school might even experiment with a second chart (beside the Pineapple Chart) where teachers post a need for coverage and other teachers sign up to cover for them.

Keep it voluntary.
Administrators, be warned! The quickest way to suck the life out of this initiative is to make it mandatory for all teachers. By keeping visits informal and strictly voluntary (for the host teacher AND the visitor), you'll ensure that the Pineapple Chart is always seen as a positive thing, a learning opportunity initiated by the teacher.

Skip the documentation.
An equally fast way to drain people's enthusiasm for visits is to force them to do some kind of write-up afterward. Please don't turn the chart into another reason to require teachers to document. If they know paperwork is expected of them, they will be far less likely to visit.

Start with the bold and the brave...
When you first launch the Chart, many teachers will be shy about posting lessons. Get things going by having your most extroverted teachers sign up first. If you get a group of 5-10 teachers willing to put themselves out there, this will eventually help others step forward as well.

...but set the bar low.
Make sure teachers know they don't have to be doing something 'impressive' in order to post a lesson to the chart. "The hardest part is getting teachers to understand it doesn't have to be an extravagant lesson to sign up," says Felton. "Their everyday strategies and standard procedures can be incredibly helpful to someone who has never seen or thought of it. You really never know what you might learn whether it's a 5- or a 25-minute visit."

Sell it.
Especially when you first get started, encourage those who do the observing to share the good things they saw by talking about it in faculty meetings, sharing a compliment on a teacher "brag board" or posting about it online. At Maple Avenue, Golden encouraged teachers to tweet about their experiences using the hashtag#MAMSLearning. "This helped keep the excitement high, and the pressure low," she says. "Although I still have to harass teachers every once and again (I call it "gently wooing") to showcase the teaching and learning in their classroom, it has become very much part of our culture."

Share Your Story

If your school has already started using a Pineapple Chart, tell us about it in the comments. I would love to hear about tweaks you've made to the system and how the system is impacting teacher relationships and student growth.

Learn More

The Pineapple Chart is just one of the 10 hacks Mark Barnes and I share in our 2015 book, Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School. Get your copy today and start hacking tomorrow! ♦

Learn something new every week.
Join my mailing list and get weekly tips, tools, and inspiration all geared toward making your teaching more effective and fun. You'll also get access to my members-only library of free resources, including my e-booklet, 20 Ways to Cut Your Grading Time in Half, which has helped thousands of teachers spend less time grading!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Pineapple Charts Revolutionize Professional Development

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As one-size-fits-all PD fades into obscurity, more personalized professional development models have emerged. The Pineapple Chart may be the greatest of them all.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mastery-Based Learning Resources
💻 Mastery-Based Learning and Grading in a Modern Classroom
💻 Assignments vs. Mastery Checks
📄 Mastery-Based Learning: What Does the Research Say? 📄 Mastery Check Template
📄 Elementary Mastery Check Template
📄 Mastery Check Rubric Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Revision & Reassesment Policies: Student-Facing Exemplars

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover an approach that meets every student's needs.

# data[].attributes.headline
Template: Modern Classroom Daily Planner

# data[].attributes.subject
Template: Modern Classroom Daily Planner

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Template: Modern Classroom Daily Planner