So many things don't go our way throughout the school day, and if we can learn how to take a step back, to depersonalize these situations, we'll be able to respond rather than react. You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips. ------------------- Thanks to Floop for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

This year's picks include a video conferencing platform that feels more like a physical space, a database of books where the main characters are black girls, a career exploration platform, math lessons that students will actually care about, a device that combines tech with hands-on play, and a collection of art experiments.  ------------------- Learn more about the Teacher's Guide to Tech at teachersguidetotech.com. ------------------- Thanks to Fearless Schools and Google's Applied Digital Skills for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

Popcorn or "round-robin" reading has been around forever, even though it's not supported by research and can actually slow down students' reading progress. Learn more about why you should stop doing it and what strategies to put in its place. You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips. ------------------- Thanks to Floop for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

Building a robust vocabulary is an essential part of any education. Students will learn new words in our classes no matter what, but if we're deliberate about giving them regular instructional opportunities to learn them, they'll learn so many more. In this episode, Dr. Angela Peery shares eight specific strategies you can use to build your students' vocabulary in any subject area and at any grade level.  ------------------- Thanks to fastIEP and Google's Applied Digital Skills for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

If you want to do more differentiation, but you feel overwhelmed by the idea of creating lots of individual lessons, try creating a tiered activity. This simple differentiation strategy gives students an appropriate level of challenge without a lot of prep on your part. You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips. ------------------- Thanks to Floop for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

How is the anti-CRT movement harming and silencing teachers, what damage will it ultimately do to students, and what can be done to fight it?  For a more complete overview of this topic, be sure to check out EdTrust's podcast series EdTrusted: The Critical Race Theory Craze That’s Sweeping the Nation. ------------------- Thanks to CommonLit and Brain Power Academy for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

When students are working in groups, and we need to get their attention, shouting over the noise certainly gets the job done, but huddles work so much better. You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips. ------------------- Thanks to Floop for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

Planning instructional units can be less than exciting when all you have to deal with is words and more words. Creating a vision board at the beginning of a unit can generate fresh enthusiasm and help you focus on what truly matters. In this episode, teachers Amanda Cardenas and Marie Morris share how vision boards work in their classrooms. ------------------- Thanks to CommonLit and fastIEP for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

When we see students making a mistake, we may be tempted to stop them and offer a correction. It might be best to resist that temptation, at least for a little while. You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips. ------------------- Thanks to Microsoft Reading Progress in Teams for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

Teachers are saying this is the worst school year ever. In this episode, I'll explore the reasons why, offer some solutions, and also share a few other loosely related thoughts that may or may not help.  ------------------- Thanks to CommonLit and Brain Power Academy for sponsoring this episode. -------------------