Edutopia

Is it even *school* if there aren’t any graded tests? Short answer: Yes! In the latest episode of School of Practice, we talk with high school teacher Jodie Deinhammer about how she removed high-stakes tests while keeping her class rigorous. Listen and follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! 🎧

“Our favorite books tell a story about who we are; sharing these stories helps us connect with one another on a deeper level.” Read more from teacher Katherine Efremkin:

Students can't always identify what's wrong when they feel overwhelmed. Here's a tool that can help: https://www.edutopia.org/article/tactile-breathing-boards-school?utm_source=Bluesky&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Q42026

Do your students have a case of the wiggles? Break out the jitter sticks for a quick brain break to help them settle and get ready to learn.

Who's heading to #NCTMDEN26 this week!? Drop a 👋 to connect with fellow attendees!

Even the best managed classrooms can be missing something big—connection. 🫂 Educator Kristin Boykin shares 3 ways to build community:

Sometimes the things we stop doing in the classroom can be just as important as the things we start: https://edut.to/4ie9dBN

Students’ curiosity in science class is a fire worth feeding. Here’s how several teachers keep it burning:

You shared hundreds of book recommendations for teachers. So we made a list! @biblio-phile.bsky.social curated your top picks into a handy PDF, which you can download here: https://edut.to/3WEg8Ny! Have you read any of them? We’d love to hear what you think.

It’s important for students to understand that metacognition is thinking about both what worked well and what they want to improve in the future.

”Never underestimate the power of a good movement/brain break!” with middle school math teacher Zander Epps!

I am delighted to share with you my latest article for @edutopia.org Preschool Project-Based Learning Is Doable With These Mindsets www.edutopia.org/article/pres...

"Would this take away their opportunity to struggle productively?" Read how this teacher helped students become more confident, independent problem-solvers: https://edut.to/4k8aBbO

How can you get students to see themselves as scientists in class? Try this routine to get them asking the questions, gathering evidence, and revising their own thinking: https://edut.to/4z3SWqy

I found an Edutopia article about using audio and video recordings to capture student thinking. I love the idea of having students explain their learning in Spanish and reflect on their growth. I would love to try this! #wpued540 www.edutopia.org/article/usin...

Eggs are a go-to tool for science teacher Selim Tlili. He shares 3 lab ideas to explore chemistry, cell biology, and scientific measurement: https://edut.to/4BiPRnR

🧡 @eslfairy.bsky.social

This creative lesson helps students critique AI-generated material, helping sharpen their reading and analytical skills:

Here, @stephenmerrill.bsky.social and I examine a number of scenarios where students using AI is widely viewed as harmless (or even helpful), yet the available research and thinking of leading experts suggests that each instance deserves a much closer look. My latest, for @edutopia.org:

The hardest part of helping a struggling teacher? They may never tell you they need help. Four school leaders share how to recognize the signs and step in with support.

A detail that didn't end up in the article: @nashelsky.bsky.social staring at a cabinet of unused curriculum materials and wondering, Why are these here? Her "operational scope and sequence" template is invaluable in preserving institutional memory even when teachers and other staff leave.

Wondering: what would your classroom look like if high-stakes tests just weren't a thing? How would you design around learning?

Should students really use AI to brainstorm? To summarize learning? The evidence is cautionary...

One of the biggest changes I made is when I stopped thinking about giving assessment and started thinking about looking for evidence. Wild mindset shift for me.

“Writing groups have been a huge indicator of authenticity for me,” she says. “A student will happily turn in AI writing to me, but they will never put AI writing in front of their peers.” This has been my experience too. Using "good peer pressure" can help students feel ownership of their work!

Working on something for @edutopia.org that has me chomping at the bit to sit down and write. I keep going back into my office to write things down on scratch paper so I don't forget them. All I can say for now is.. you won't wanna miss the next issue of The Wired Classroom 👀💥🧠

Elisa Galvan’s third graders use this four-step framework to organize their ideas, back them up with evidence, and think about their audience. 🏁✍️ Watch here: https://edut.to/4jXalfH

Teachers encounter AI all the time. Here's how to start giving them the knowledge to navigate it: https://edut.to/4dMx3Ds

Let's see if any #APChemistry teachers out here on #EduSky can guess what we're looking at in #lab today? #ITeachChem #Chemistry #Education

Educator Todd Finley offers these adjustments to common routines for deepening student thinking: https://www.edutopia.org/article/encouraging-active-learning-classroom?utm_source=Bluesky&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Q42026

Educator Miriam Plotinsky suggests that preparation can make unpredictable moments in the classroom feel more manageable. Find her strategies here: https://edut.to/4k01oCm

Rigor thrives when scaffolding empowers students, balancing challenge and support, unlocking growth, independence, and meaningful learning within every learner’s reach edutopia.org/article...

“Could I have developed that if I’d had a robot leading my thinking all along?” Appreciate very much how this @edutopia.org piece offers healthy pushback to some of the "AI strategies" being used for student learning right now. 🙏 www.edutopia.org/article/5-go...

Most families learn about their child’s math progress through grades, test scores, or completed assignments, but these don't always show how a child thinks, which skills are growing, or where they may need help. Dr. Zoraida Brown's tips on engaging families sooner:

What does purposeful handwriting look like in your classroom? ✍️ Edutopia’s @andreatamayo.bsky.social breaks down the research on handwriting—plus a few practical strategies to help students tap into its benefits. Read more here: https://edut.to/4irxIgf

Parent-teacher conferences can feel stressful for both sides. Try these 3 tips that can lead to problem-solving as a team. https://edut.to/47o7yos

Mounting evidence suggests that AI can impact foundational skill development for K-12 students. We gathered the research for you here: https://edut.to/4dIvVRi