How to Get Students Excited About Learning

If you're a teacher, you know that it's not always easy to get students excited about learning. But it's important to find ways to motivate them, because a motivated student is more likely to be successful in school. Here are some tips for getting your students pumped up about learning:

Find out what interests them and try to incorporate those topics into the curriculum. If they're a sports fan, ask them about their favorite team, and you can use those facts as a jumping-off point for your lesson. If they're into music, consider playing songs to help them memorize information.

Make learning fun and interactive by using games, puzzles, and other activities. Use apps like Gimkit, Quizizz, or Kahoot to make learning fun and competitive!

Reward good behavior with positive feedback and privileges.Give students stickers or points each time they show you they can follow your classroom rules and expectations.

Challenge them academically by setting high expectations and helping them reach their fullest potential. For example, if students are working on a project, explain that you expect it to be done brilliantly and don't accept anything less.

If one of your students has a hard time paying attention during class or completing their schoolwork, consider giving them a short break from the lessons every once in a while. After a few minutes of free time, they might be more focused and better equipped to learn.

It can be a challenge to get students excited about learning, but it’s important to find ways to motivate them so they can be successful in school. By finding out what interests them and incorporating those topics into the curriculum, making learning fun and interactive, rewarding good behavior, and challenging them academically, you can help your students get pumped up about learning.

Apps Every Teacher Should Have on Their Phone

Technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives, so it’s no surprise that the education field has taken advantage of innovative technologies, too. Cell phones and other mobile devices are now commonplace in K-12 schools, and there are a multitude of apps that can help teachers enhance their teaching strategies and better engage with their students. In this post, I’ll highlight some must-have apps for teachers that can make their jobs a little bit easier.

1. ClassDojo — ClassDojo makes it easy for teachers to track, manage, and share student behavior with parents in real time.

2. Dropbox — Even the best teachers can forget to bring home copies of their students’ work, but Dropbox makes it simple for teachers to securely store and access important documents like homework assignments, lectures, and even syllabi from any mobile device.

3. Google Translate/Apple Translate — Students today speak a variety of languages. A translate app makes it easy for any teacher to communicate with students in dozens of different languages.

4. Twitter — In a world where social media plays an increasingly large role in political and cultural discourse, it’s important for teachers to have a presence on social media. as well as communicate with their students’ parents. Share student work with other teachers or school admin.

5. Google Keep/Apple Notes — Both apps are generally native to your device, whether it’s an iPhone or Android device. Taking and keeping detailed notes is a fundamental part of the teaching profession, and these apps make it easy for teachers to create, save, and share notes.

6. Instagram — With the increasing popularity of social media and photo sharing apps like Twitter and Instagram, it’s important for teachers to learn how use these tools in a professional way. As with Twitter, teachers can share student work with parents, other teachers, and admin.

7. Google Classroom — Google Classroom makes it simple to create assignments, track student progress, and communicate with students and parents all from one place. It ensures that teachers’ hard work is visible for parents (and other faculty) to see.

8. Remind — Whether it’s providing instructions for an upcoming assignment or reminding parents to buy school supplies, Remind makes it easy for teachers and students to communicate and collaborate.

9. Socrative — Teachers can get immediate feedback on how well their students are doing with this app, which allows them to create quick quizzes and polls on the fly. It also provides real-time results for easy assessment of student understanding.

10. Google Apps for Education — I don’t know how any teacher can get by without using Google apps these days, but if you do, you’re missing out on some of the most powerful educational tools available. My favorite app of the bunch is Google Classroom.

11. Nearpod — One of my favorite ways to engage students in the classroom is by projecting images onto a screen while I demonstrate something on an interactive whiteboard, or give instructions for students to follow along with at their desks. Nearpod makes this easy for teachers and students.

12. Padlet — Google Docs is a great tool for collaborative writing, but what happens when you need to collaborate on something more than just words? Padlet makes it easy to create virtual walls for discussions, events, or simple brainstorms, all on the fly.

13. Pocket — Keeping up with your favorite websites is hard on a full-sized laptop, but on a phone screen? You might as well just give up. Pocket makes it easy for teachers to save their favorite educational websites and access them at any time.

These apps should make your life as a teacher just that much easier, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what’s possible with a smartphone in the hands of a teacher.

Why Teachers Should Embrace the Flipped Classroom

The flipped classroom model is becoming more and more popular in schools across the country. But what is it, exactly? The flipped classroom is a teaching method where students learn new material outside of the classroom and then come to class to practice and apply what they have learned. This model reverses the traditional learning process, where students listen to lectures and do homework assignments in class. So why should teachers embrace this model?

One of the main benefits of the flipped classroom is that it allows students to learn at their own pace. They can watch lectures and complete homework assignments on their own time, which makes it easier for them to understand the material.

The flipped classroom also gives teachers more time in class to help students who are struggling with the material, since they are not spending their time leading the students through a lesson. Additionally, the flipped classroom gives students more control over their education since they have time to process information before coming into class and participating in discussions or group work.

This model allows teachers to get feedback from their students immediately after presenting new material, which helps them prepare for future lessons better than if they used traditional methods of teaching where it might take days before a student has an opportunity to ask questions about what they just learned.

The flipped classroom also allows for more creativity in lesson planning. Since students are doing homework and watching lectures outside of class, teachers have more time to come up with interactive activities and projects that will help students learn the material better. This also helps teachers differentiate instruction for different types of learners, since all students will be coming to class ready to participate in discussions or group work.

So, why should teachers embrace the flipped classroom model? There are many benefits to using this method, including students being able to learn at their own pace, more time for interactive activities and projects in class, and differentiation of instruction. Give it a try!

The Importance of Student Engagement and the Apps That Can Help

Engagement is the key to any lesson. Engagement makes it easier for students to learn, increases motivation and fosters creativity. But engagement doesn't only improve academic performance. Engagement boosts self-esteem, confidence, and resilience in students as well. And this happens even more through interactive lessons.

Interactive lessons and engagement go hand-in-hand, and the best way to create engagement in your classroom is to use interactive apps. With Chromebooks and iPads taking over, there are multiple ways to incorporate engaging lessons into your classroom with the use of technology.

So what makes an app engaging? For one, it should provide students with instant feedback and rewards. It should also cater to many learning styles and engagement methods. 

Here's a  short list of engagement apps that can be used in your classroom tomorrow. 

Nearpod:  Nearpod is an app that lets teachers post  interactive lessons online or using the Nearpod app, which students can download on their personal devices. It allows the teacher to add activites to slides. You can upload your old and tired slides and modify them to make them more engaging or create new one's right in the Nearpod app.

Pear Deck:  Pear Deck supports the work of teachers in that it makes your Google Slides more engaging by allowing the teacher to insert questions, videos, and other interactive activities. It's an engagement app that gives students a better way to participate in classroom discussion and lectures.

Quizlet Live:  Quizlet Live iallows students to take quizzes and tests right on their devices. Teachers can also use it to give live feedback to their students on topics.

Quizizz:  Quizizz lets students play live quizzes with other classmates. It's a great engagement app that can be used to review for big tests or practice the material that's currently being studied. 

Gimkit:  Gimkit is an app that lets students make their own quizzes while they learn. It's perfect for engagement with lessons that require some form of test beforehand, such as history lessons. 

Kahoot:   Kahoot takes live quizzes and turns them into engaging games. It's perfect engagement app for review before big tests or just to introduce engagement with new topics.

Socrative:   Socrative is an app that allows teachers to create their own quizzes or practice problems right on their devices. It's a great engagement app for quizzes after a lesson has been taught, or simply to introduce engagement with new  material. It also has a game element where students comptete in answering the correct answers to questions. Students can participate online or through the Socrative app.

Kahoot, Quizizz, Gimkit, and Socrative are engagement apps that allow teachers to create their own questions or quizzes for their students, while Pear Deckand  Nearpod are engagement apps that let teachers create engaging lessons using slides for their students. 

And Kahoot, Quizizz and Socrative can be used to review material before a test. 

Classrooms have gotten a lot more interactive since the rise of technology. As you read, there's a wide range of apps that you can use to interact with your students and get them motivated in learning. Make your class engaging today!

Teachers, Don’t Be Boring! Make Students Want to Attend Class.

Don’t be boring!

How many times have you, as the teacher, been bored in class because you’ve given the same lecture all day? Come on, be honest. How many times have your students been bored in class listening to their third teacher in a row drone on about the topic at hand? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably “many.”

One of the reasons for this is that many teachers can be plain boring. There it is, I said it! In some cases they stand at the front of the classroom and read from their notes day in and day out, expecting their students to be engaged and learn the material. This is not an effective way to teach, and it certainly doesn’t make class interesting.

One of the best ways to make your students interested in class is to use technology. There are many different types of technology that you can use, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. If your short on Chromebooks or iPads, check how many cell phones you’ve got in class. These days you’ll find most of your students have these portable pocket computers.

If you must lecture, you can use software such as Screencastify or Loom to record your PowerPoint or Keynote presentations. Upload them to a tool such as Edpuzzle and insert check for understanding questions. Remember, make your videos short. A good rule of thumb is five minutes or less.

Another great way to use technology is to create online assignments and quizzes. This allows students to work on their assignments from anywhere, which can be especially helpful for students who live far away from school. It also allows teachers to assess student progress more easily. Tools such as Nearpod, Socrative, Pear Deck, Formative, and Gimkit are great for online assignments and quizzes. You can also create hyperdocs which allow for the insertion of different types of media, websites, and assessments.

Finally, you can engage your students with social media such as Twitter and Instagram. They allow you to share photos and videos of class activities, which can help students feel more connected to school. You can also use these tools to connect with other teachers and learn about new teaching strategies.

So, teachers, don’t be boring! Use technology to engage your students in many different ways. Make your students want to be in class, and they will learn more effectively. Thanks for reading!

Some of the Best Education Apps Are…

There are a multitude of apps on the market designed to help students learn. With so many options, it can be difficult to determine which apps are the best for your needs. That’s why I’ve put together a list of 15 fantastic education apps! These apps will help you with everything from vocabulary to math. Check out my list and find the perfect app for your classroom!

The first app on my list is Vocabulary.com. This app is great for students who need to build their vocabulary skills. With over 75,000 words and definitions, Vocabulary.com can help students learn new words and improve their reading comprehension.

Next up is Math Duel. This app is perfect for students who are struggling with math. Math Duel allows students to compete against each other in a quiz-style game. The app covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Number three on my list is Gimkit. This app is perfect for review games or assessment purposes . Gimkit is a game-based learning platform that makes it easy for teachers to create and administer quizzes. What sets this apart from other game based apps is that students can create the questions for the Gimkit games!

Number four on my list is MindNode. This app helps students brainstorm and organize their ideas. MindNode makes it easy for students to create mind maps that help them understand complex topics.

At number five is Google Drive. This app allows students to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations online. Google Drive is perfect for students who need to work on projects collaboratively.

Number six on my list: Quizlet. This app is perfect for students who need extra practice with their vocabulary or math skills. Quizlet allows students to create digital flashcards and study anywhere, anytime.

Number seven on my list: Duolingo. This app is perfect for students who want to learn a new language. Duolingo offers lessons in over 20 different languages, making it the perfect choice for any student looking to expand their horizons.

Number eight on my list: Edmodo. This app helps teachers connect with their students and share resources online. Edmodo is perfect for teachers who want to use technology in their classrooms.

Number nine on my list: Nearpod. This app helps teachers create and administer interactive lessons online. Nearpod is perfect for teachers who want to bring a little bit of magic into their classrooms.

Number ten on my list: Evernote and or Google Keep. These apps allows students to take notes, organize ideas, and collaborate with classmates online. Both are perfect for students who need a digital space to store all of their schoolwork.

Number eleven on my list: ClassDojo. This app helps teachers track student behavior and give feedback instantaneously . ClassDojo is perfect for busy teachers who need to keep track of everything happening in their classroom.

Number twelve on my list : Google Classroom. This app helps teachers create and administer assignments online. Google Classroom is perfect for teachers who want to use technology in their classrooms.

Number thirteen on my list: Animoto. This app allows students to create videos about their favorite topics . Animoto is perfect for students who want to share their thoughts with the world.

Number fourteen on my list: DropBox. This app helps students share files with classmates and teachers online . DropBox is perfect for students who need a digital space to store all of their schoolwork.

Finally, at number fifteen is TED Talks. This app features over 1600 talks on a variety of topics, from science to history. TED Talks is perfect for students who want to learn more about the world around them.

These are just a few of the best education apps available today. With so many options available, it’s easy to find an app that fits your needs.

The Five Best Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom

1) Use Technology To Aid In Instructional Delivery

Using technology to aid in instructional delivery allows for the teacher to save time when organizing lesson plans and assessing students understanding. Teachers can utilize an assortment of educational media such as videos, online animations ,  and digital presentations to help deliver their lessons. By using technology in the classroom, instructional time is not wasted delivering information "the old fashioned way" and students get a more engaging delivery of class information.

2) Use Technology To Assess Student Learning

In order for learning to take place, it requires students to have an understanding of what they  are learning. Technology offers a variety of assessment tools, such as multiple choice quizzes, open ended response questions and for more in-depth projects – project based curriculum. Teachers can use technology to assess student understanding by creating tests and quizzes online using tools such as Formative, Socratic, and Google Forms. Digital grading tools allow the teacher to save time on grading written work and give them the ability to provide  instantaneous feedback. 

3) Use Technology To Engage Students In The Learning Process

Students love to use technology! As a result, teachers find that students are more engaged when the teacher has incorporated technology into their class instruction. Utilizing software programs such as Gimkit,  Kahoot and Quizizz allows for interactive classroom time where questions can be delivered  to the student in a variety of ways. 

4) Use Technology As A Tool For Differentiation

All students are different learners. They will not learn at the same pace, or in exactly the same way. By utilizing technology to differentiate learning opportunities for students, teachers can ensure that all their students are understanding content at their own level and  in their own way. Technology allows the student to learn in a mode and pace that works for them, such as watching video lectures at their own pace or proceeding through a presentation at their own pace using a tool like Nearpod.

5) Integrate Technology Into Your Curriculum Planning

Integrating technology into curriculum planning is becoming more and more common place. Teachers can use apps such as Google Classroom and  Edmodo to create a digital class roster, post assignments and communicate with their students. Administrators are finding that teachers who can effectively utilize technology in the classroom have higher test scores from their students. 

Technology is transforming the way we learn, and it’s important for educators to stay on top of these trends. The five best ways to use technology in the classroom are just a starting point. The future of education is digital – it's important for educators to adapt to this new way of learning.

A Must Have Digital Tool for Distance Learning and the Flipped Classroom

With distance learning upon us, teachers are looking for a way to create a virtual community with their class.  Teachers can have class discussions while being miles apart. And, when teachers return to the classroom, they can take the tools they used to facilitate distance learning and use them in their flipped classroom.  One of the best tools for these tasks is Backchannel Chat. And I have to say, this is one of those instances where dishing out for the paid version is worth it. 

Backchannel Chat is a handy app to have in your tool belt during this time of distance learning. And, if you’re looking to flip your classroom, this could be an indispensable tool to use when returning to the classroom. Backchannel Chat is not a discussion board. It’s essentially a real-time chat tool where you, the teacher, can interact with your class. Along with access to the web version, students can access their classroom chat via the iOS and Android apps. 

With the free version comes the ability to approve students' posts before they’re actually posted for all to see. It also comes with a built-in profanity filter. The teacher also has the ability to print a web version of the chat transcript which can be saved for grading purposes.

Like I said, the paid version of well worth it. The upgrade allows for the hiding of student names wherein only the teacher can see who is posting, and not the students. This is a fantastic feature in that it allows students to participate anonymously in a class discussion. Private messaging between the teacher and a student is also a handy feature to have, allowing for a virtual side chat with a student. Files can also be uploaded by the teacher and students, allowing for the critiquing of work or the analysis of a piece of text by all of the students. It’s also a good tool for online office hours. Let your students know you’ll be there at certain times where they can pop in with questions.  

Again, Backchannel Chat is a fantastic tool to have in your distance learning/flipped classroom toolbelt. Its uses are only limited by your imagination. 

How An EdTech Coach Can Use Wakelet

One of my favorite tech tools is Wakelet.  Wakelet is a fantastic curation tool that has a multitude of uses.  And, it is especially handy if you’re a technology coach and want to curate information for your staff. As a technology coach, I not only want to show teachers how to effectively use technology in their classrooms, but I also want to curate resources for them.  I want to save them the trouble of searching for how-to videos or guides about certain apps.  I simply want them to access a multitude of ed-tech information with a couple of clicks.  That’s where Wakelet comes in. 

For those not in the know, Wakelet is a fantastic curation tool that has many uses in the classroom.  For an education coach, it’s a great way to save and curate information for your staff.

As an edtech coach, I’m constantly combing through edtech blogs, Pinterest, Twitter, and other sites to find the latest and greatest technology that teachers can use in the classroom. Not only that, but I’m also always looking for new and innovative ways to use current technology in the classroom. If there’s a new feature to an edtech app, I want to know about it so I can share it with the staff.

That’s why Wakelet is such a great tool. It allows me to save the information and categorize it for the staff.

How I use Wakelet: 

1. A department-specific Wakelet. I save content specific (English, Science, etc) lesson ideas in each Wakelet. That is, how specific tools can be used in that discipline. I then share it with each department.

2. An edtech blog Wakelet.  I scour the internet for resourceful blogs and include them in the Wakelet. If a staff member wants to take in a little professional development, they can simply choose from the list of blogs in the Wakelet.

3. A Twitter Wakelet. Many tweets contain tips and information on apps and the edtech world in general. A great way for the staff to stay up do date on the latest in edtech.

4. A podcast Wakelet. I curated a list of some great edtech podcasts and shared them with the staff. 

5.  A YouTube Wakelet. A curation of edtech video how to’s, lesson ideas, and information on the world of edtech.

6. A staff Wakelet. In this Wakelet, I include best practices and lesson ideas from fellow staff members. A great way for the staff to share lesson ideas with each other.

7. App specific Wakelet. I focus on certain apps and insert how-to videos and examples of how that particular app can be used in the classroom. For example, a Pear Deck Wakelet that features how to use the app, its features, and examples of its use.

Deliver Content To Your Distance Learning Students With This App Smash

I was recently approached by a colleague about an unavoidable absence she was going to be taking. Her concern centered around her students losing valuable learning time in her absence. She planned to deliver a Google Slides presentation to her students on the day of her absence. She asked me if it was possible to still deliver her presentation even though she wasn’t going to be there. “Aha!” I exclaimed! I told her a certain app smashing combo was what she was looking for!

For those new to “app smashing,” it’s combining apps to create a learning outcome or product. In this case, using Screencastify and EdPuzzle along with Google Slides. This particular app smash is simple and only takes a few steps. Install the Screencastify extension to her Chrome browser. Then, record yourself delivering your Google Slides as you would in the classroom. Now here’s the cool part. After saving her recording, she uploaded it to EdPuzzle.

But it doesn’t stop there! To check for understanding, she inserted questions into her EdPuzzle presentation. She sent the link to her Google Classroom and voila! She was ready to have her students take part in her virtual lecture!

Many of today's students get their content from online videos done by other people. They’ll marvel to hear the sound of your voice on their device! Try it!

What are some of your favorite app smashes? Send me a DM @Mrmosleyteacher.

Screencastify + Whatever = Teaching Joy!

Screencastify is a magical tool for distance learning and the flipped classroom. Couple Screencastify with various other apps and you’ve got app-smash heaven. That’s why Screencastify + Whatever = Teaching Joy!

Check out the following equations:

Screencastify + Google Forms

Provide a video of yourself in your Google Forms assessment. Record a brief video where you give helpful hints for a particular question or words of encouragement.

Screencastify + Google Drawings

Have your students create a Google Drawing then, use Screencastify to explain the elements in their drawing.

Screencastify + YouTube

Use Screencastify to record classroom announcements then upload them to YouTube. Or, instead of doing school announcements the old fashioned way by using the classroom loudspeaker (which can be disruptive), send out a daily link to teachers where they can play the announcements on their own class time.

Screencastify + Google Slides

Lecture with Google Slides. But instead of asking your students to stay on your Zoom session or Google Meet, simply record your lecture and slides with Screencastify and post it to your LMS.

Screencastify + EdPuzzle

Record your presentation or other online lesson and upload them to EdPuzzle. Then, insert your check for understanding questions into the Edpuzzle.

Screencastify + Google Canvas (or your favorite online whiteboard).

A fantastic solution for the math and science classroom. Use Screencastify to record you working out example problems before assigning them to the students.

Screencastify + Google Classroom

Use Screencastify to post a video of yourself explaining the plan for the week. Include what you'll be covering as well as the assignments students will be working on. Post your video in the stream.

Apps for Student Journaling in the Distance Learning Environment

During this time of distance learning, it may be difficult to get your students to write on a consistent basis. One of the ways you can do that, no matter the discipline, is to have your kids journal. No matter the discipline, you can ask your kids to write by simply asking them to journal about their day. On occasion, you can give them something to write about, but it’s easier to ask them to journal once per day. If you’re meeting with the class only, they should have five journal entries by the following Monday (they can write on the weekends, but don’t require it). 

Four digital tools you can use for student journaling:

Google Keep

Google Keep is a great note-taking tool, but it can also be used for journaling. Students create a note and label it for the week. Then, they share it with you as a collaborator.

Google Slides

Google Slides is great for journaling in that each slide can serve as one entry. Students title the slide with the date and then write away!

Google Docs

The traditional way of journaling. Students simply start with the date and then their entry. They can share the doc or turn it in at the end of the week.

Book Creator

Students can turn their journals into a book! They can add text, voice, photos, and illustrations to their entries. They can share their “book” with you so you can check on their progress.