Know Your Why!: 2022

2022 Year in Review - Resources to Explore and Reflect on the Year

Collection of Resources for Teachers and Students to Reflect on the Year That Was

Two of my favorite moments as the year winds down are when Spotify releases my "Wrapped" and Google releases the "Year in Search". I love both of these because they encourage me to think about where I've been. What went well? What could have been better? They inspire me to be curious and explore.

I think reflecting on where we've been is important, so I always welcome back my students to the New Year with several activities connected to the events, stories, and trends from the previous year. I think that reflecting on where we've been can help us achieve more going forward.

I've also posted our 2023 One Word HyperDoc Activity One Word HyperDoc Activity and our Reboot the Noggin - 2022 Reflection Activity for Teachers & Learners. These are both activities that could be used with students to wrap up 2022 or to look ahead to 2023.

Educators are always welcome to copy and modify anything we create to use with their own students. Please don't just recreate these and then sell them.

Today I wanted to share some of the resources I've compiled as I explore the year that was in 2022. Past years have taught me that these resources are posted from December through the middle of January, so I will update this post as I discover more, Please plan to come back to see updates to this list.

Retro Report - Documentaries Connecting the Past and the Present

Retro Report has produced more than 250 short documentaries and video series in partnership with The New York Times, PBS, the New Yorker, VICE, Scientific American, NBC News, Politico, Time, The Guardian, Univision, and others.

Today I wanted to share another literacy resource connected to past and present events, Retro Reports.

Project Zero - Thinking Routine Toolbox

PZ's Mission: Project Zero’s mission is to understand and nurture human potentials –such as learning, thinking, ethics, intelligence and creativity –in all human beings. Our research examines the nature of such potentials, the contexts and conditions in which they develop, and the practices that support their flourishment.

Today I wanted to explore Project Zero'sThinking Routines Toolbox. The toolbox brings together routines and strategies to support student learning across grade levels and subject areas.

One Word to Rule Them All - 2023 One Word Student HyperDoc Challenge

I always like to welcome my students back after the holiday break with a bit of reflection. I also think it is important to revisit goals and set goals for the new year. For the last several years we've focused on the idea that one word can be the foundation for the year.

Forget New Year’s Resolutions. Scrap that long list of goals you won’t remember a few weeks from now anyway! Choose just one word.

One word you can focus on every day, all year long… One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps. (OneWord365)

Today I wanted to share a HyperDoc designed to help students set goals for the 2023 year with a focus on "one word". This activity is inspired by Mike Ashcraft's and Rachel Olsen's book My One Word: Change Your Life With Just One Word.

News Literacy Project - Resources to Support Media Literacy in the Classroom

"News literacy is the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information and to recognize the standards of fact-based journalism to know what to trust, share and act on." (Source)

Few educators will argue that media and news literacy are essential skills that our students need to develop today more than ever. Today I wanted to share the News Literacy Project. The site provides educators with short activities, quizzes, and graphics to engage learners in concepts and topics connected to media literacy.

Gimkit - Gamed Based Formative Assessment Fun

Gimkit is a great way to bring some gamification into your classroom while still engaging students in content and vocabulary. Gimkit was created by Johs Feinsiber, high school student in 2017. He created the site because he know that games helped him learn and he wanted to share the experience with students and teachers.

Today I wanted to share a bit about Gimkit. Gimkit has become one of my students favorite resources to explore vocabulary in our classroom.

Lifelong Learning - 5 Resources to Help Educators to Grow

Lifelong Learning - the provision or use of both formal and informal learning opportunities throughout people's lives in order to foster the continuous development and improvement of the knowledge and skills needed for employment and personal fulfilment. (Dictionary.com)

It's an amazing time to be a teacher and a lifelong learner. We are spoiled by choice when it comes to places and resources to grow as a teacher and learner. Today I wanted to share 5 free professional development resources for all educators. These organizations have influenced my growth as an educator in many many many ways.

Desmos - Let's Explore Math Together

Desmos offers best-in-class calculators, digital math activities, and curriculum to help every student love math and love learning math.

My mindset generally leads me to explore resources that can be used across grade levels and subject areas, but sometimes something comes along with a narrower audience that is worth exploring. Desmos is one of those somethings.

Getting Creative with Book Creator

Book Creator is a great resource for students and educators to create interactive ebooks on iPads, Chromebooks, and on the web. I really believe that students need to be telling stories as part of the learning process and Book Creator is a great tool to support this idea.

Book Creator is free, but like many EdTech resources, there are paid upgrades available. I am going to focus on the free features today, but you can learn more about the upgrades here.

Engaging Students in Reading and Literacy with Newsela

When it comes to literacy skills, students these days have a lot of potential for learning and growth. With the advent of technology, our students are more engaged than ever before in reading and writing activities that can help them improve their literacy levels. Whether they’re using text on the table, online sources, or interactive reading programs within the classroom, there’s plenty of opportunity to practice and hone their skills with guidance from teachers and peers. With a combination of quality instruction, stimulating lessons, and ample practice opportunities, students now have more tools then ever to become confident readers and writers.

Today I wanted to share Newsela. Newsela is an online news and literacy platform that features articles for a range of topics and subject areas.

Canva for Education - Create to Learn | Learn to Create

Canva for Education is a free creativity resource for K-12 teachers and students. From presentations to posters, and infographics, to worksheets, project-based learning, and lesson plans, the possibilities are endless.

Today I wanted to share some of my exploration of Canva. I've used Adobe Express for quite a few years, so I want to admit up front that I am still learning to love Canva. From what I've read and explored it looks like an awesome resource.

TEDEd Video Lessons Worth Sharing

TEDEd is a online video lesson collection that can be used across grade levels and subject areas. Educators can even create their own video lessons. It's 100 % free!

I use the TEDEd videos and lessons several times a month with my students. We sometimes complete these together as a class and sometimes independently with discussion to follow. It is a great resource to engage students in essential concepts and skills for any subject or topic.

Reboot the Noggin - 2022 Reflection Activity for Teachers & Learners

Learn to Create - Create to Learn

I love being an educator and I am always excited to return to school after a break, but for some reason, I don't always think many of my students feel the same way? This is one reason why I always try to come back after the break with something outside of our content. Something that I hope will be fun, reflective, and maybe a little inspiring for my learners.

Today I wanted to share a HyperDoc designed to help students reflect on 2022 and set some goals for 2023. I will use this after we come back from break, but I also think this also could be used before the holiday break.

Three Ways to Use Wakelet as a Teaching & Learning Resource

Image Source: Wakelet Blog

Wakelet for Education is a digital bulletin board, digital gallery, and more. It is a digital space where teachers and students can save, organize, and present resource and ideas. Wakelet is an incredbily versatile resource that educators and students can use to share and collaborate.

Today I wanted to share a few ideas on how teachers can use Wakelet with students.

Engage Students in Digital Literacy with Google's Applied Digital Skills Lessons

Digital literacy and competency have become a part of many schools missions and classroom goals. There are many great tools to help educators engage students in these skills. One of my favorites is Applied Digital Skills. The lessons are engaging and help students develop skills they need.

Google Applied Digital Skills is a free online project based learning curriculum. The lessons engage students in essential digital skills connected to Google's Suite for Education Resources. Students have access to short step-by-step video tutorials, that support a variety of activities embedded in each lesson.

Give Students an Interactive Worksheet Upgrade With Wizer

You can probably guess by the image that I am not a big fan of the worksheet. I much prefer using interactive HyperDocs that engage students in content using the 4 Cs of collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. Too many worksheets I've used and seen over the years really just focus on content and memorization

That being said, I realize that using a worksheet to focus on content still has a place in many classrooms, but we can make these better. Not just prettier, but better for students. In my oppinion the best worksheets do more then engage students in content. A great workshet can also engage students in the 4 Cs. If you are going to do worksheets, please make them as interactive as possible to engage all learners. Challenge your students to do more than fill in the blanks.

Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Drawings are great resources to create content-driven worksheets, but today I wanted to share another resource that teachers can use to create interactive digital worksheets.

Education Blueprint - Education Sharing and Collaboration

The Education Blueprint Mission

Education Blueprint is elevating educator capacity within our collaborative, digital ecosystem by aggregating, generating, rating, and distributing resources that support schools, teachers, and students.

Education Blueprint makes it easy for educators to find highly rated content and resources shared and vetted by other teachers. Share, access, and recommend educational websites, kid-friendly mobile apps, engaging videos, and emerging research on our platform for free!

I believe Educational Blueprint has a great deal of potential to bring teachers togethe to help each other and our students. I highly recommend creating a free account and getting started exploring and sharing.

Learn More

Google Autodraw - Visual Design and Sketchnoting Resource

I always try to remember it’s not about the tech, it’s how you use it. This being said, sometimes learning about a new tool or resource will open the door to bigger discussions about, creativity, pedagogy, and learning. It is ok to sometimes start with a tool and then explore how or why you might use it to enhance teaching and learning.

Today I am asking everyone to explore Google Autodraw as a tool to start thinking about creative visual activities and notes for all students.

Trauma Informed Education Resources for Teachers & Schools

While I've expierenced trauma in my life and worked with many students who stuggle, I am far from knowledgable about the best ways to help students who are experiencing trauma. The tweet above started me thinking about the topic and I started exploring to learn more.

When I explore, I try share what I discover. Today, I wanted to share some of the resources and books I discovered. I am sure there are many addtional resources and ideas I've not discovered, so if you have any suggestions, you can add a comment on the Twitter post or in the comments below.

Pear Deck Orchard - Partnerships to Support Student Engagement

If you've explored Pear Deck as a resource, you know that it is a great resource to engage students in interactive lectures and activities. You can take any existing presentation and use the Pear Deck features to increase student engagement as you gather formative feedback.

Did you know that Pear Deck also has partnered partnered with Newsela, PBS NewsHour, ThinkCERCA, Canva, and more organizations to create and share a collection of templates, quick-start activities, and ready-to-teach lessons?

Adobe Express - Exploring Creative Lessons, Ideas, and Activities

Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark) has been one of my favorite resources to help my students engage in creating. We've used graphics, videos, and pages multiple times the last several years to engage in creating as part of our learning experience.

This post will start with a brief overview of Adobe Express features. The rest of the post will focus on the creative resources connected to the Adobe Education Exchange, a great place to be inspired.

Even if you choose not to or are unable to use the platform, there are some great ideas shared in the Adobe Education Exchange to get students creating as they learn with any resource.

Adobe Express is free for teachers and students and this page has the details needed to get started, Adobe Express for Education. There is also a free plan for non- educational accounts and several paid options.

Using Google Slides to Create Stunning Images for Teaching and Learning

Created with Google Slides and Unsplash Photo Add-on.

I am always looking for quick and easy ways to create visuals for teaching, learning, and sharing. I also believe the more my students create the more learning sticks.

Did you know that you can create a graphic using Google Slides and then download it as a high-quality image? Sometimes the simplest tool is the best.

24 Days of Teaching and Learning Resources to Explore in 2023

Once upon a time, there was a teacher and learner who wanted to explore and share resources with his PLN. He decided to try an advent-style 24 days of teaching and learning in 2022. Starting on December 1st, I will add a new resource link on the calendar for each day.

24 Days of Teaching and Learning Resources - December 2022

I will be sharing a lot of tools, but where I can I will also focus on the ideas that lessons that work with or without the resource. I use most of the resources with my students, but some are more for my growth as a teacher and a learner.

Bonus: I will also update this post with additional winter/holiday-themed resources that I discover as learn with my PLN.

I will also update a list at the end of this post for each day.

Study Smarter, Not Harder - Tips to Prepare for Exams

Exams will be here faster than we know, so here are a few resources to help students organize, prioritize, and prepare for assessments.

Learning Should Be Fun - Take A Break to Play and Explore

My students and I always seem to struggle a bit in November and December to stay engaged in our learning experiences. I don't know if it the time change, the weather, or just plain old fatigue. I have to remind myself that we sometimes need a reminder that learning should be fun. For my classes, I usually bring in some brain breaks with a bit of content hidden somewhere.

Today, I wanted to share an activity that I am either going to do the day before or the day after our Thanksgiving break.

Google Earth Cheat Sheet

Google Earth is a powerful and underutilized resources available to all educators, at all grade levels, and in all subject areas.

Today, I wanted to share a cheat sheet we recently put together to help staff and students get started exploring all of the incredible resources packed into the site.

Getting to Know Google Earth

Google Arts and Culture Cheat Sheet

Google Arts & Culture is a powerful and underutilized resources available to all educators, at all grade levels, and in all subject areas.

Today, I wanted to share a cheat sheet we recently put together to help staff and students get started exploring all of the incredible resources packed into the site.

Getting to Know Google Arts & Culture

Brain Breaks and Bell Ringers - Engage Students with Local Trivia and More

I have always been a proponent of the power of brain breaks for students. These can be connected to a curricular area or just plain fun. Brain breaks should be part of every teacher and student's toolbox.

One of my favorite brain-break ideas is to share and explore local trivia. Today I wanted to share a few trivia resources and a Midwest Trivia Set created with Gimkit. I am also a big fan of using trivia as a bell ringer question posted in Google Classroom or in a Slide Deck.

Google Read Along Comes to the Web

The Read Along App has been around for a few years for Android. Google Recently announced that Read Along is now available on the web!

Students can now explore their favorite stories and practice reading skills on Chromebooks, Laptops, and more devices with a web browser.

If you work with reading students, this might be a resource to add to your tool kit.

Planners, Calendars, and Agenda Templates for the 2022 - 23 School Year

Many educators have upped their digital agenda game over the last few years. I personally keep a general unit overview in a Google Doc. Daily, I display an agenda slide at the start and end of class. I also use Google Classroom to post assignments and due dates.

Today I wanted to share some agenda resources that we can use to continue to support students as we get ready to head back to our classrooms with our students in 2022.

Google for Education PD Choice Board

We've organized some Google PD resources with the goal of the Google Workspace For Education Choice Board is to help educators explore resources that can be used with students across grade levels and curricular areas. The choice board focuses on Google tools and resources that can be used to engage all students in learning.

If you are looking for additional Google Resources, never fear we've got more in this document.

Google PD Resources 2022

Let us know if you have any questions in the comments. #HappyLearning

All About Me - Heart Maps to Start the Year

I am always looking for creative ways to get to know my students. I also love creative ideas that we can use to introduce them to some of the tools we use throughout the year. The past several years I have modeled our use of Padlet with a 7 Pictures - All About Me Project.

This year I was inspired by Marwa Elkelani to try something a little different. We are going to start with some Heart Maps and get some practice with Google Drawings or Google Slides.

Positive Education in the 21st Century

Positive education for the 21st century | John Doran

I just wanted to share this video with everyone as we get close to starting the new year. I think it shares some ideas that are worth exploring as we continue to learn and grow as educators.

I think this was originally posted before the pandemic, but it recently came back to me as I plan for the 2022 - 23 school year. It might be more important now than it even was then?

What do you think? Please share in the comments below?

If you are looking for a bit more positive inspirations, here are a few books and resources that might be worth exploring.

Collection of Digital Collaboration Resources for Teachers and Learners

Supporting the 4Cs in Learner-Centered Classrooms

My "why" for teaching and learning is centered on how the 4 Cs can be used to support student growth and engagement in my classroom. I believe skills connected to creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration must be skills that students practice throughout the process of learning.

I have long believed that my content should support the development of student skills connected to the 4 Cs of collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity.

Today, I wanted to share our updated collection of digital resources to support personal and digital collaboration skills in our classrooms.

Collection of Digital Creativity Resources for Teachers and Learners

Supporting the 4Cs in Learner-Centered Classrooms

My "why" for teaching and learning is centered on how the 4 Cs can be used to support student growth and engagement in my classroom. I believe skills connected to creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration must be skills that students practice throughout the process of learning.

Today, I wanted to share our updated collection of digital resources to support creative student engagement.

Emoji Bullet List - Add Emoji's to Any List

I am always looking for new ways to add some creative design to my tutorials, lessons, and student activities. Thanks to @TonyVincent I have another fun way to use emojis.

Today I wanted to share the Emoji Bullet List Website. With a single list uses of the Emoji Bullet List can turn any list into a list with emoji bullet points.

⚗ Plan for Earth Science 2022
🗂 Organize EdTech Resources
🏧 Submit Payment for Neuqua Subscriptions
📕 Read 15 minutes a day
💗 Grow as an educator
⚒ Build my PLN

Additional Creative Ways to Use Emojis

📔 Creative Organization of Your Drive Folders, Keep Labels, Google Classroom Topics and More with Emojis
🎨 emojimix - Combine Popular Emojis to Design Your Own Unique Creations

📁 Recent Google Docs Updates - Awesome Features to Enhance Student Learning With Documents (Includes NotoEmoji for Google Docs)

Thanks for taking a look. If you have any suggestions on using Emoji's in the classroom, please share in the comments below. #HappyLearning

Three Books to Inspire and Re-energize Educators

I share quite a few books that I've read or have on my reading list. Today I am going to do something a little different and share three books I don't think I am going to read. I've heard they are great books, but they probably don't fit me current mindset.

These books connected to falling or re-falling in love with being a teacher and learner have come highly recommended by my PLN. I am curious about all three, but right now I still love being an educator. I don't think I have space on my reading list for these today, but I wanted to share with anyone who is looking for a bit of inspiration to keep going. My plan is to save these just in case I ever feel the need to overcome burnout.

Haikei - A Newer Addition to Our Creative Design Toolbox

Tony Vincent shared the Haikei Website last summer and it is become one of my go to design tools to create quick graphics outside of Canva, Google Slides, and Adobe Express.

Haikei is a currently a free web app to generate unique SVG shapes, backgrounds, and patterns – ready to use with your design tools and workflow. No sign in or payment required. The interface is intuitive and the templates are diverse.

What do you think of the resource? What other creativity resources have become part of your teaching toolbox?

Addtional Creativity Resources

New Google Classroom Training Courses and Resources

Google Classroom continues to evolve as a resource for teachers and students. Today I wanted to share some of Google for Education's recently updated training resources for teachers and students.

Google Applied Digital Skills - Back to School in 2022 Collection

Google Applied Digital Skills is a free online project based learning curriculum. The lessons engage students in essential digital skills connected to Google's G Suite for Education applications. Students watch short step-by-step video tutorials, that support a variety of activities in each lesson.

Today I wanted to share the Back to School 2022 Collection. If you are new to the Applied Digital Skills curriculum, this document is a great place to start exploring.

This back to school collection has 18 ready to uses lessons organized in three categories

"Kick off the school year with lessons that help students express themselves, build relationships, and stay organized while learning new technology skills."

Be sure to check these out and if you have ideas or questions, please share in the comments below. #HappyLearning

Creative Organization of Your Drive Folders, Keep Labels, Google Classroom Topics and More with Emojis

In another post, I shared Tips for Organizing and Managing Google Drive and Tip #7 suggested using special symbols (~ # ^ *) to group and order drive folders. I've done this for years and I thought I was quite happy with this practice.

"The best plans of men and mice often go awry." - Robert Burns

I am always learning and a few years ago I came across a post by John Sowash that flipped this well establish practice upside down. I always love learning something new! Today, I want to share a bit about using icons and emojis to enhance and organize digital learning spaces.

Exploring Resources to Support a Future Ready Classroom with the 4 Cs

The skills connected to collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity are essential for all students. The best classroom activities engage students in content while providing opportunities to practice the 4Cs in learner-centered environments.

I believe some of the best professional development also models the 4 Cs for staff. We've created a free flipped PD HyperDoc to connect educators to 4 Cs resources and experiences.

Teaching Resources and Ideas for Engaging & Supporting All Students

A good education friend asked me if I had read or hear about any books to support teachers working with students who are struggling? My focus immediately shifted a bit to resources that can engage all students. Too often we focus on one group in education and this often leads to less support for everyone else.

Today, I wanted to share a document and and some additional resources that my PLN helped me explore as I explore engagement, student academic support, and SEL.

"Museums for Digital Learning" Website - Exploring a Collection of Museums Around the World

A question on Twitter, inspired me to start exploring some virtual field trip resources and I discovered the Museums for Digital Learning Website. Today, I just wanted to share a quick introduction to the Museum for Digital Learning Website.

Summer Reading - Book Recommendations for Educators

I have a stack of 6 books that I hope to read over the summer with another handful waiting in my Amazon Wishlist.

Today, I wanted to share some of the books I am excited to explore this summer. I don't know for sure that I will read them in the order listed, but right now this is how they are stacked up.

Recent Google Docs Updates - Awesome Features to Enhance Student Learning With Documents

Tom Mullaney recent shared this French Revolution study guide. (To use the drop down feature, you need to make a copy.) This guide models the recent/newish Google Docs features. Today I wanted to share a bit more about some of these Google Document updates.

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