14Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
My experience integrating Artsonia in art classes
Student Engagement
Key takeaways Artsonia empowers students by providing a platform to share their artwork, enhancing their confidence and sense of community. The integration of activist teacher resources encourages meaningful discussions about justice and equity in the classroom. Communication with parents through Artsonia strengthens home-school connections, fostering support for students' artistic journeys. Linking student artwork to social issues broadens their engagement, turning the virtual gallery into a space for activism and real-world impact. Understanding Artsonia and Its Purpose Artsonia is an online platform designed to showcase student artwork in a safe and supportive virtual gallery. When I first explored it, I realized it wasn’t just a digital portfolio—it was a space where students could feel proud and recognized beyond the classroom walls. Have you ever seen a student’s face light up after…
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14Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
My thoughts on using TikTok for student projects
Student Engagement
Key takeaways TikTok promotes creativity and concise communication, helping students express complex ideas in engaging formats. Activist teacher resources inspire critical thinking and real-world engagement, transforming the classroom dynamic. Challenges include distractions, privacy concerns, and accessibility issues that necessitate careful integration strategies. Measuring engagement should focus on the quality of interactions rather than just views or likes, highlighting deeper connections with the content. Understanding TikTok as a Tool TikTok is more than just a platform for catchy dances; it’s a dynamic tool that thrives on creativity and brevity. When I first explored it for classroom use, I was surprised by how quickly students could condense complex ideas into short, impactful videos. Have you ever noticed how a message can hit harder when it’s wrapped up in just 60 seconds or…
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14Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
My thoughts on using Edmodo for communication
Lesson Plans
Key takeaways Edmodo provides a user-friendly platform that fosters communication among educators, students, and parents, supporting a virtual classroom environment. Effective communication is crucial in activist teaching, enabling trust, empathy, and productive dialogue around social justice topics. Key features of Edmodo, such as assignment management and small group functionalities, enhance collaboration and engagement in learning. Challenges include limitations in fostering spontaneous dialogue and ensuring equal participation, highlighting the need for careful navigation of communication dynamics. Understanding Edmodo as a Platform Edmodo positions itself as a social learning platform designed specifically for educators, students, and parents to connect in a digital space. From my experience, the interface feels familiar—much like popular social media—but tailored to classroom needs, which can ease the transition for both teachers and students. I often find myself…
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11Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
My personal opinion about using G Suite for education
Student Engagement
Key takeaways G Suite for Education enhances collaboration and organization, allowing real-time interaction between students and teachers. Essential tools like Google Classroom, Docs, and Drive simplify lesson management and improve student engagement. Integrating G Suite with activist teaching empowers students to voice their ideas and participate in meaningful discussions. Challenges include reliance on internet connectivity, a learning curve for users, and concerns about data privacy. Understanding G Suite for Education G Suite for Education is essentially a collection of Google tools tailored specifically for schools. From my experience, tools like Google Docs, Drive, and Classroom have transformed the way I organize lessons and communicate with students. Have you ever felt overwhelmed juggling multiple platforms? G Suite simplifies that by keeping everything in one place. What strikes me most is how…
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11Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
My experience with culturally responsive teaching methods
Lesson Plans
Key takeaways Culturally responsive teaching recognizes and honors students' cultural backgrounds, turning education into a dynamic, inclusive dialogue. Incorporating students' cultural experiences into lessons enhances engagement and helps them see themselves as agents of change. Key practices include creating space for multiple perspectives, reflecting on personal biases, and adapting resources to connect with students' realities. Building genuine relationships and fostering trust are essential for encouraging student participation and enriching the learning experience. Definition of culturally responsive teaching Culturally responsive teaching, in my experience, means recognizing and honoring the cultural backgrounds of all students as a vital part of their learning journey. It’s not just a strategy but a mindset that asks, “How can I make my classroom reflect and respect who my students truly are?” I remember a moment early…
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11Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
My thoughts on using Canva for student presentations
Teaching Strategies
Key takeaways Activist teacher resources empower students to think critically and reflect their real-life experiences in their learning.Canva enhances student presentations by providing user-friendly design options that encourage creativity and collaboration.Effective presentations should prioritize clarity, maintain consistency in design, and tell a compelling story to engage the audience.Technology, like Canva, can foster teamwork and ownership in projects, but educators must prepare for potential technical challenges. Understanding activist teacher resources Activist teacher resources aren’t just materials; they’re tools to spark change and empower students to think critically about the world around them. When I first explored these resources, I felt a surge of hope—finally, teaching that aligns with my passion for justice and equity. Have you ever wondered how a simple lesson plan could challenge deep-rooted biases or inspire action in…
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09Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
My experience with incorporating SEL in lessons
Lesson Plans
Key takeaways Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is crucial for fostering trust and empathy in classrooms, enabling deeper learning experiences. Integrating SEL into everyday routines, such as emotional check-ins, creates a sense of community and enhances student engagement. Modeling emotional vulnerability as a teacher encourages students to open up about their challenges, aiding in their emotional development. Flexibility in lesson planning allows for meaningful discussions that address students' emotional states, enhancing learning outcomes. Understanding social emotional learning Social emotional learning, or SEL, is about more than just teaching kids to get along. It’s about helping them understand their own feelings and the feelings of others — something I learned firsthand when a student opened up about her anxiety during a group activity. Have you ever noticed how much energy goes into…
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09Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
How I utilized storytelling to teach complex concepts
Teaching Strategies
Key takeaways Activist teacher resources encourage critical thinking and emotional connections, transforming the educational experience into one that fosters social justice and equity. Storytelling effectively humanizes complex concepts, making them relatable and engaging, encouraging students to connect ideas with personal experiences. Techniques like creating relatable characters, maintaining suspense, and incorporating reflection enhance storytelling's effectiveness in the classroom. Building a safe classroom environment promotes shared storytelling, increasing student engagement and deepening their understanding of complex issues. Understanding Activist Teacher Resources Activist teacher resources are more than just lesson plans or materials; they embody a commitment to social justice and equity in education. Have you ever felt that the standard curriculum misses the deeper stories behind complex issues? That’s where these resources become powerful tools—they invite us to challenge norms and spark…
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08Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
How I integrated virtual reality into lessons
Lesson Plans
Key takeaways Activist teacher resources empower educators to inspire critical thinking and empathy by connecting real-world issues to classroom learning. Virtual reality (VR) enhances education by turning abstract concepts into immersive experiences, fostering deeper understanding and engagement. Effective VR lesson planning includes mapping activities to activism themes, allowing for reflection and discussion to deepen emotional connections. Overcoming challenges in VR lessons, such as disorientation and technical glitches, requires preparation, clear instructions, and a focus on reflection to ensure impactful learning experiences. Understanding activist teacher resources Activist teacher resources are more than just lesson plans; they are tools that empower educators to challenge the status quo and inspire critical thinking in their students. I remember feeling a mix of excitement and responsibility when I first discovered these resources—they opened my eyes…
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08Jul 2025 by Lydia Prescott No Comments
How I organized a virtual field trip
Lesson Plans
Key takeaways Virtual field trips enhance accessibility, allowing all students to participate regardless of physical limitations. Using interactive tools and multimedia resources fosters engagement and creates memorable learning experiences. Planning and preparation are crucial for a successful virtual field trip, ensuring smooth execution and meaningful interaction. Reflecting on the experience helps improve future trips, emphasizing the importance of student comfort in sharing insights. Understanding Virtual Field Trips Virtual field trips are more than just a digital tour; they are gateways to experiences that might otherwise be out of reach for many students. I remember setting one up and feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness—would the technology hold up, and would the students be as engaged as they would be on a real trip? What I found was that virtual…
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