Author: sanjay

Kids are gifted questioners.  Why does the sky change colors at sunset? Who decided what words mean? Why do we call it a building if it’s already built? Do fish know they’re wet? Why do we have to learn this? Those questions—even the tricky or silly ones—are signs of something remarkable happening in a child’s brain. Curiosity is one of the most powerful drivers of learning, yet it’s rarely treated as something we actively teach. We expect it to show up on its own, or we hope it survives the school day intact. But a 2022 University of Virginia study…

by Terry Heick If the ultimate goal of education is for students to be able to answer questions effectively, then focusing on content and response strategies makes sense.  If the ultimate goal of education is to teach students to think, then focusing on how we can help students ask better questions themselves might make sense, no? Why Questions Are More Important Than Answers The ability to ask the right question at the right time is a powerful indicator of authentic understanding. Asking a question that pierces the veil in any given situation is itself an artifact of the critical thinking…

Here’s an alarming fact: The average 1st- through 8th-grade student loses between 24% and 34% of their school-year math gains during the summer months. That’s why it’s so important to encourage families to make time for a little daily learning in the midst of all the summer break fun. Playing quality math games online keeps kids engaged in learning, helping to fight summer learning loss in fun and meaningful ways. The games at PlayMath.org support important skills like math facts and fractions, but they also deepen mathematical thinking as kids navigate unique games and logic puzzles. Plus, every game is…

What’s not to love about summer reading? Opening an enticing novel under an umbrella by the pool is one of the joys of summer. For kids, reading in a hammock, under a tree, or in a tent are all great ways to enjoy books during the summer (and summer reading has academic benefits too). Get kids into summer reading with summer reading programs and activities that keep them motivated to read while earning prizes along the way. Here’s our list of the best 2026 summer reading programs and challenges for kids. We Are Teachers FREE PRINTABLES Summer Reading Book Lists…

Freedom was once an exclusive party, and not everyone received an invitation. Though the ancestors of African Americans laid the bricks of the nation’s foundation, they were not on freedom’s guest list. This is why I cherish my freedom—because I know that freedom was not given, it was earned. And it’s also why, as an educator, I know that sharing meaningful Juneteenth activities with students is so important. Jump to: We Are Teachers FREE PRINTABLES Juneteenth Worksheet Bundle Help students learn about Juneteenth with our free bundle of activities, reading passages, projects, and more. Just fill out the form on this page…

All of your time and energy is dedicated to finishing the school year strong, which means other items on your to-do list might need to take the back seat. After it all, it can be difficult to find the time to do it all, especially when there’s something that requires a fair bit of shopping around for a decent price… such as with tires. Luckily, the Tire Streets teacher discount might be able to make the process less of a drag. Educators can get 5% off with Tire Streets Whether you need new tires for your everyday commute or something…

With countless opportunities to design creative learning experiences and develop critical thinking skills, 3D printers are an innovative tech tool that can be used to teach just about any subject. There’s something extra special about witnessing awe-inspired students as they eagerly watch their 3D printing ideas take shape. We asked STEM coach Naomi Meredith to share some of her top tips for teaching 3D printing to kids. Naomi’s been working with 3D printers for over six years and loves teaching kids how to use them. She also shared a roundup of her favorite 3D printing ideas, featuring real projects and…

Who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt? Try assigning them to students as a fun homework alternative for families during spring break, add them to your sub folders, or use them as time fillers at the end of the day. This big roundup of scavenger hunt ideas works as well in kindergarten as it does with high school kids. Get a big collection of 24 free printable scavenger hunts by filling out the form on this page. Hot tip: Print out the whole bundle (it even includes a cover page) and put them in a clipboard with storage space—we like…

Every modern teacher recognizes a familiar tension. Artificial intelligence is completely reshaping the web, but classrooms still run on genuine human relationships. You might wonder if bringing more technology into your teaching will slowly push out the personal connections that make your job so rewarding. The truth is, smart tools can actually give you more time to focus on your students. Going online is a standard part of a modern educator’s toolkit. Whether you use Wix to understand how to create a website for your class or rely on smart apps to grade papers, these resources exist to help you…

What Is Whataboutism? Whataboutism is a rhetorical move in which a person avoids responding to a criticism, claim, or question by pointing to a different problem, usually with a response such as, ‘What about this other thing?’ Whataboutism matters because it can sound like fairness while functioning as avoidance. Instead of answering the question in front of the discussion, it redirects attention to another issue, another person, or another example of wrongdoing. This does not mean that every comparison is a fallacy. Comparisons can clarify patterns, expose inconsistency, or help students see how two situations are similar and different. Whataboutism…