Getting Creative With Lyria Song Creator

 

Have you seen the most recent Gemini tool update? You only need the skill of prompt writing to create a 30-second track about any topic or person.

Smithsonian Learning Lab

 

Smithsonian Learning Lab Playlist

The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a free, interactive platform allowing educators to discover over a million digital resources—images, recordings, and texts—to create, customize, and share interactive learning experiences. Teachers can build, annotate, and publish collections, track student responses, and foster critical thinking through in-depth analysis of art, history, and science, making it a versatile tool for both in-person and remote instruction. 

One Word to Rule Them All - Welcome to 2026 Student Activity

  

"History repeats itself, and that's one of the things that's wrong with history." - Clarence Darrow

Success and failure should never be an endpoint. The best learning happens when we build on what we know and reflect on what we need to still learn and explore. 

I always like to welcome my students back after the holiday break with a bit of reflection on the year that was. It is also important to revisit successes and failures to help reset goals for the new year. 

A few years ago, I read a post about most New Year's resolutions failing too often before we flip the calendars to February. For this reason, I decided to scrap the long list of resolutions I won’t remember a few weeks from now anyway! The focus is now on choosing just one word as a foundation for the new year.

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 an activity template designed to help students set goals for the 2024 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. 

2025 Year in Review - A Collection of Resources to Explore and Reflect on the Year

 

I'm back to start 2026. It's been too long since I've posted. Sorry if you've followed my blog and wondered what happened to my sharing of learning. 2025 was a challenging year, and I am not sorry to see it go.

I'm looking forward to a reset in 2026, and I wanted to start sharing again. I am starting today with this collection of resources to reflect on 2025. In the next several days, I will also share my "One Word Student Activity" and some additional resources to revisit the year that was and look ahead to 2026. 

I hope everyone has a great year!

The Joy of Not Knowing! - Unanswered Questions

Educators spend countless hours preparing lessons, crafting explanations, and striving to impart knowledge. We often aim to be the source of all answers, guiding our students through the complex topics and ideas. But what if the true measure of our success isn't when a student perfectly recites a fact, but when they ask a question that leaves us momentarily stumped?

"The test of a good teacher is not how many questions he can ask his pupils that they will answer readily, but how many questions he inspires them to ask which he finds it hard to answer." — Alice Wellington Rollins

This quote perfectly encapsulates the idea that our role isn't just to provide answers, but to ignite a thirst for knowledge that leads students to uncharted territory. 

It might sound counterintuitive, but for many teachers, the greatest joy is when kids ask us questions we don't know the answer to. This isn't a moment of inadequacy; it's a profound indicator that something truly remarkable is happening in the classroom.

Summer Reading for Teachers - Articles to Grow as Teachers and Learners

In past years, I've ambitiously published a long list of summer learning opportunities for educators. (Last year, I never quite got anything published.)

This summer, I will start by focusing on the stories and articles I added to my Chrome reading list over the past year. In the rush of a school year, there are just too many that I never found the time to explore. Time to remedy that!

To help me hold myself accountable, I will explore one or two articles each week and add any that I find valuable to this post. Stop by weekly or wait until the end of the summer to be part of my learning experience. 

Book Recommendation - The Depth Advantage by John Spencer

 The Depth Advantage: Deeper Learning in a Distracted World

by Dr. John Spencer

In a landscape of diminishing student focus and increasing teacher burnout, "The Depth Advantage" challenges the limitations of conventional, compliance-driven education. The book proposes a shift towards deeper learning, a pedagogical approach designed to equip students for a future dominated by artificial intelligence and automation. It systematically breaks down this approach into eight fundamental competencies: Focus, Mastery, Problem-Solving, Curiosity, Self-Direction, Resilience, Collaboration, and Communication. Through a blend of research, actionable strategies, and engaging narratives, the author provides a comprehensive framework for cultivating these essential skills, aiming to foster academic achievement and the development of well-rounded, adaptable human beings.

Imagine a classroom buzzing with genuine curiosity, where students are not just passive recipients of information but are empowered to think critically, persevere through challenges, and master concepts at their own pace. "The Depth Advantage" offers more than just a critique of the current educational climate; it provides a tangible and hopeful roadmap for creating such an environment. This book is a vital resource for any educator who has felt the strain of a system that often prioritizes speed over understanding. It will rekindle your passion for teaching by offering practical, creative strategies to move beyond the frustration of "fast clicks" and "instant answers," and instead guide your students toward the profound and lasting benefits of deep, meaningful learning.

Looking for more learning? Be sure to visit my Teaching and Learning Book Recommendations. 

Happy and Inspirational Music for Students

I'm searching for songs to add to this playlist, which I will share with my students as a gift at the end of the year.

Happy and Inspirational Songs for the Soul

(YouTube Playlist)

It's a work in progress, so please let me know if you have any additional suggestions in the comments below. 

Little Language Lessons - Learning Experiments with Gemini

 

The Little Language Lessons page on Google Labs features three experimental tools designed to make language learning more practical and integrated into everyday life.

Reboot the Noggin - 2024 Reflection Activity for Teachers & Learners

 

Learn to Create - Create to Learn

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

Today, I am sharing a HyperDoc designed to help students reflect on 2024 and set some goals for 2025. 

One Word to Rule Them All - Welcome to 2025 Student Activity

 

"History repeats itself, and that's one of the things that's wrong with history." - Clarence Darrow

Success and failure should never be an endpoint. The best learning happens when we build on what we know and reflect on what we need to know better. I always like to welcome my students back after the holiday break with a bit of reflection on the year that was. It is also important to revisit successes and failures to help reset goals for the new year. 

A few years ago, I read a post about most New Year's resolutions failing before we flip the calendars to February. For this reason, I decided to scrap the long list of resolutions I won’t remember a few weeks from now anyway! The focus is now on choosing just one word as a foundation for the new year.

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 an activity template designed to help students set goals for the 2024 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. 

Graphic Templates for 2025 "One Word" Challenges

"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

There is nothing wrong with New Year's Resolutions, but too often, I make resolutions that are just not sustainable. A few years ago, I was inspired by my PLN and Jon Gordon's One Word that Will Change Your Life book to shift my thinking about making New Year's Resolutions and to the idea of choosing a word as my foundation for the year. 

Today, I wanted to share some graphic templates to help students and teachers share their "One Word" for 2025. 

Internet Easter Eggs to Enhance Student Engagement

An internet easter egg is a secret or hidden message, feature, or joke placed within a website or software by a programmer or developer. Think of them like little digital surprises! (Look carefully, and you may find a few in this post. 😀)

Why should we occasionally use them in student activities?

• Fun and Unexpected: They add a touch of whimsy and playfulness to the digital world.

• Showcases Creativity: Easter eggs demonstrate the creativity and personality of the developers who created them.

• A Bit of a Challenge: Finding them can be a fun little puzzle or game, encouraging exploration and curiosity.

• A Break for the Brain: Some easter eggs can provide a short brain break for students exploring content and concepts. 

• A New Perspective: An easter egg can sometimes be used as part of the content exploration. Images and videos make great hidden additions to help students remember important concepts. 

Links can be hidden in images or text. Easter eggs are a reminder that even in the world of technology, there's room for a bit of fun and surprise.

2024 Year in Review - A Collection of Resources to Explore and Reflect on the Year

 

Two of my favorite moments each year are when Spotify releases my "Wrapped," and Google releases the "Year in Search." I love both because they encourage me to think about where I've been and look ahead to what's next. 

Today, I am sharing one of my yearly passion projects. Starting mid-December, I will explore and share resources to wrap up the year. When we return from Winter Break, I typically connect some of the best reflection resources to student activities. 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.

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. 

Student Engagement Using Interactive Features in Google Documents

Enhancing Engagement with Google Docs 

This document explores Google Docs features for creating interactive student activities. These features can enhance the design and support student and staff engagement in any Document. This document includes brief tutorials and resources connected to various interactive features in Google Docs.

Student Engagement Using Google Docs Interactive Features

I'll update the doc as new features become available. If I missed something, please let me know in the comments below! 

Educator Coloring Books - Get Creative, Practice Mindfulness, & Release Stress

 

Today I was reflecting on the past school year and somehow it led me to explore some ideas to reduce stress for the upcoming school year. This led me to the amazing world of adult coloring.

Adult coloring offers a surprising range of benefits, both for mental health and well-being. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Stress and Anxiety Relief
• Improved Focus and Concentration
• Enhanced Relaxation and Mindfulness
• Better Sleep
• Creative Expression
• Mindfulness 

Today I wanted to share some amazing coloring books for educators. 

Exploring AI with Google Arts and Culture Projects and Experiments

Google Arts & Culture uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create interactive and engaging experiences for students. For example, students can use "Art Selfie 2" to see themselves placed within famous artworks, or "Poem Postcards" to generate AI-written poems inspired by art pieces. This lets them creatively explore art. Features like "Art Remix" challenge them to imagine how artworks could be different, sparking their critical thinking skills. AI: More than Human features stories and videos that explore the evolving relationships between humans and technology.

Artificial Intelligence in Education - A Collection of Professional Development Resources

Education is constantly evolving, and artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future classroom. From personalizing learning experiences to automating administrative tasks, AI offers a wealth of potential benefits for both teachers and students. This curated collection of professional development resources empowers educators to explore the possibilities of AI in education. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to dive deeper, these materials can help equip you with the knowledge and tools to leverage AI effectively with your students. 

Amazing Chrome "New Tab" Extension - Google Arts and Culture

The standard new tab page in Chrome has some great customization features, but did you know you can make your new tab experience even more amazing with a "New Tab" extension? 

Today I wanted to share one of my favorite "New Tab" extensions. The Google Arts & Culture Extension replaces the default new tab screen with a masterpiece from the Arts and Culture digital collection.

TimeGuessr - Guess the Place and the Year From a Single Historic Image

If you've followed this blog you know we are big fans of brain breaks and using images to inspire curious critical thinking. Today, I want to share a site that could be used in a variety of ways connected to curiosity and critical thinking.

TimeGuessr - the game that tests both your geography and history knowledge. Guess the right time and location of a historical photo.

The best way to learn more about it is to try it out. What do you think? How did you do?

If you are looking for something similar be sure to check out Geoguessr and City Guesser.