Canva Updates: Droptober is HERE!
Canva just dropped a massive update, and trust us—you don’t want to miss this! From the new Dream Lab AI image generator to automatic page numbers (finally!), Canva’s latest features are designed to make your work easier, faster, and more impactful. Imagine creating stunning visuals in seconds, adding page numbers with a click, and designing accessible, on-brand video captions—all within Canva! Plus, the Teacher Work Kit is packed with templates and resources to take your lesson planning to the next level. 🌟 Ready to see how these tools can transform your classroom or library? Dive in and discover what’s new!
Making Magic in the Secondary School Library with Monthly Missions
Tired of seeing bored students during study hall? Looking for fresh ways to get them excited about visiting the library? In this post, I’ll share creative monthly challenges that I’ve used to transform my school library into a hub of activity and imagination. From turning a ghost into a famous book character in October to building epic summer reading stacks in June, these simple yet impactful ideas will inspire students to engage, create, and explore—all while keeping your library lively and fun. Curious? Dive in to discover how you can bring these exciting activities to your own library!
Flip, Flash, and Flourish: Flippity’s Formula for Fun-Filled Learning
Flippity has long been a favorite tool for educators looking to bring more interactivity and engagement into the classroom. With its latest updates, including multimedia flashcards, a vintage video game quiz, and a customizable board game creator, Flippity continues to offer flexible, fun ways to elevate learning. What makes Flippity truly stand out is its ease of use—no coding required. Teachers can simply copy and paste their content into pre-made Google Spreadsheet templates, allowing for quick and simple customization. From embedding YouTube videos and audio into flashcards to turning content into competitive quizzes, Flippity’s tools help chunk information into digestible,…
EDU AI Tool: NotebookLM
Looking for a smarter, more flexible way to learn or teach? Google’s NotebookLM, launched in 2023, is an AI tool that turns articles, videos, and PDFs into personalized, conversational podcasts! Imagine summarizing all your educational resources into a podcast you can listen to while commuting, exercising, or just relaxing. Whether you’re an educator creating dynamic lesson content or a student juggling assignments, NotebookLM makes multitasking a breeze. Simply upload your materials, select the ones you want to summarize, and with just a few clicks, you’ll have an engaging audio overview that feels like a real conversation. Perfect for auditory learners…
A Few of My Favorite Library Things!
After rewatching *The Sound of Music*, I was inspired to share some of my favorite library tools and items! As a school librarian, I'm always on the lookout for resources that make my job easier, engage students, and add a little fun to our daily routine. In this blog post, I’ll highlight some essentials that have become staples in my library setup. From innovative shelf labeling solutions to creative ways to display read-alikes, these items have transformed my space. I’ll also introduce some engaging activities, like using button makers and board games, that spark joy and excitement among students. Plus,…
Schoolai.com – Sandbox Chatbots for Students
With so many AI tools available, deciding which ones are worth your time can be challenging. In New York, using any tool with students involves ensuring data protection, which limits many options. That’s why I'm excited about Schoolai.com—no student login required! This multifaceted platform harnesses AI within a safe, controlled environment. Teachers can create custom chatbots, known as Sidekicks, to enhance learning experiences without distractions. Schoolai.com offers a practical, secure way to integrate AI into education, making it a valuable asset for any educator. Ready to explore? Create your free teacher account today!
EduProtocol: Fast and the Curious
The Fast and the Curious EduProtocol is ideal for teaching new information such as math facts or vocabulary words. Anything that with repetition would improve understanding and more to long term memeory. This protocol spans five class days, using just 15 minutes each day. It is perfect to start at the beginning of the school week.
📚 But Where is the Red Book? Introducing Talpa.ai Innovating Book Discovery!
Discover Talpa.ai, the revolutionary AI-powered tool transforming library interactions. Utilizing advanced LLMs from Anthropic and OpenAI, it ensures accurate bibliographic searches validated by Bowker, Syndetics Unbound, and LibraryThing. Seamlessly navigate genres, character data, and even identify books by cover design. Explore the future of library innovation at Talpa.ai today.
Canva Can Help with Bulk Award Creation
It's that time of year again, and I'm busy creating awards. With over 1,800 Battle of the Books awards to produce, handcrafting each one was not feasible. Canva came to the rescue with its user-friendly design and extensive templates, making the process easy and ensuring professional results every time.
Embracing the Fidget: A Transformative Approach to PD for Teachers
As a Mathematics Teacher Trainer, I’ve discovered that working with adults during professional development sessions is remarkably similar to teaching in a classroom. Teachers often joke that they are the worst students, and there’s some truth to that. Teaching is an exhausting profession. You’re always “on,” wearing multiple hats, and masking your true feelings to be the best educator for your students. The stress is compounded when you have to plan for a substitute teacher, knowing that your students might only receive review material instead of advancing in new lessons. You might even have to reteach the content upon your…
