Category: Education

I am terrible at forgiving myself. Never good enough. Should’ve said this earlier or have done it another way. Something…

by Terry Heick In our recent post, Education’s Curious Fascination With Uniformity, reader James Foss left a useful comment that…

As many Literature/ELA teachers know, T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is a worth teaching for any…

12 Teacher Productivity Tools That Actually Save Time Time is the scarcest resource in a teacher’s day. Good tools protect…

by TeachThought Staff I’ve written many times about Wendell Berry and the effect he has had on me professionally and…

Originally published in 2012 Like thinking, reading in the 21st century is different than in centuries past, endlessly linked in…

by Terry Heick Every few months, I see an article making the rounds that critical thinking isn’t a skill and…

“We are what we have done, which includes our promises, includes our hopes, but promises first.” — Wendell Berry Source

by Terry Heick What did John Dewey believe? While known by teachers for his work in education (he was a…

by TeachThought Staff Critical thinking isn’t a skill, nor is it content knowledge or even evidence of understanding. While it…

by TeachThought Staff There are many ways to encourage a child, but for students of any age, honest, authentic, and…

by Terry Heick Humility is an interesting starting point for learning. In an era of media that is digital, social,…

A critical thinking strategy is simply a ‘way’ to encourage or facilitate the cognitive act of thinking critically. Critical thinking…

See also The Real You Is All Of Us In the last ten years, too many teachers have left the…

12 Articles About Critical Thinking In The Classroom by TeachThought Staff Critical thinking remains one of the most discussed—and least…

Costa’s Levels of Questioning — designed by educational researcher Art Costa — feature three tiers of questioning designed to promote…

contributed by Angela Peery Picture a classroom full of youngsters. They could be darling, chubby-cheeked kindergartners or swaggering, confident high…

Knowledge is limited. Knowledge deficits are unlimited. Knowing something–all of the things you don’t know collectively is a form of…

0 “Self-belief does not necessarily ensure success, but self-disbelief assuredly spawns failure.” (Albert Bandura) Those who are new to…

1 by TeachThought Staff At the end of the day, teaching is about learning and learning is about understanding. And…

Educators and students at all levels are using design thinking to create solutions for real-world problems. Whether you’re new to…

by Terry Heick The influence of Berry on my life–and thus inseparably from my teaching and learning–has been immeasurable. His…

The New Periodic Table Song In Order (To Make You And Your Students Crazy) by TeachThought Staff There once was…

It boils down to purpose. In 50 Ways To Measure Understanding, I talked about the purpose of assessment: Assessment: Of…

In 2013, I wrote a post for edutopia exploring the difference between students and learners. As ‘learning trends’ become the…

by Terry Heick This is a sponsored post. You can read more about our sponsored content policy here. This is…

by TeachThought Staff In 13 Brilliant Outcomes Of Project-Based Learning, we gave a quick example of project-based learning to illustrate…

Beyond the Hype: Practical Big Data for Educators The term ‘big data’ can sound abstract, but in education, its power…

  What Is Cognitive Dissonance? A Definition For Teaching Understanding Cognitive Dissonance: A Psychological Framework for Growth and Learning As…

Standing for Critical Thinking and Progress by Terrell Heick At TeachThought, we have always focused on promoting critical thinking cross…

by Terry Heick With so much else to do and a subsequent loss of academic structure, most research shows children…

Selected Timeline of Educational Technology (2000–2025) 2000–2003 Digital tools begin to enter classrooms, led by interactive whiteboards and early online…

Teaching Is Human Work. Systems Aren’t Built for That. Teaching Is Human Work. Systems Aren’t Built for That. Education is…

by Terry Heick This post has been updated from a version published in 2013 Good teaching is a major undertaking.…

by Terry Heick Looking for the best source of education research? The one with authentic data, practical studies, and a…

by Terry Heick Learning is a culture. It starts there—with the students first as human beings needing to understand their…

Teaching Is Human Work. Systems Aren’t Built for That. Teaching Is Human Work. Systems Aren’t Built for That. Education is…

26 Of The Best Free Artificial Intelligence Tools by TeachThought Staff This is obviously a field that changes fast. This…

by Terry Heick Understanding where curiosity comes from is the holy grail of education. Education, of course, is different than…

by Terry Heick This article was originally written in 2011 and most recently updated in 2025 Gamification is simply the…

by Terry Heick In his essay Two Minds, Wendell Berry, unsurprisingly enough, offers up two tones of thought produced by…

If correctly prepared for, a Socratic seminar can be a powerful catalyst for social learning. Many teachers we know have…

1. Brian Johnson: How to teach ‘for’ students, not ‘at’ them Big Idea: Educators should prioritize student engagement by teaching…

by TeachThought Staff The activities below are designed to be simple, flexible, and fun, making them perfect for learners of…

by TeachThought Staff There is a difference between gamification and game-based learning, and this post focuses on the latter. Essentially,…

by Terry Heick It’s not the thinking behind an idea that should bother us, but rather the effect of the…

On Student Engagement: How To Be As Interesting As A Video Game Terry Heick Agreeing on how to best establish…

by Terry Heick Note: This has been updates from a 2018 version Just a quick post that’s self-explanatory enough: It’s…

A Conversion Chart For Reading Level Measurement Tools by TeachThought Staff If you’ve used AR (Accelerated Reader) as a reading…

by TeachThought Staff At TeachThought, we’re interested supporters of any learning taxonomy. (We even created our own, the TeachThought Learning Taxonomy.)…

by TeachThought Staff At TeachThought, we’ve described Bloom’s Taxonomy as “a hierarchical ordering of cognitive skills that can, among countless…

by TeachThought Staff Bloom’s Taxonomy’s verbs–also known as power verbs or thinking verbs–are extraordinarily powerful instructional planning tools. In fact,…

by TeachThought Staff At TeachThought, we’re enthusiastic supporters of any learning taxonomy. (We even created our own, the TeachThought Learning Taxonomy.)…

by TeachThought Staff At TeachThought, we’ve described Bloom’s Taxonomy as “a hierarchical ordering of cognitive skills that can, among countless…

by Terry Heick Agreeing on how to best establish what a learner understands isn’t simple — if for no other…

by Terry Heick Are there questions students can ask themselves while you’re teaching? Questions that can guide and support their…

Learning–real, informal, authentic, and lifelong learning–can ‘begin’ with just about anything. In that way, this is obviously not an exhaustive…

by TeachThought Staff The activities below are designed to be simple, flexible, and fun, making them perfect for learners of…

by TeachThought Staff What makes up a classroom? Is it the space? A room, for example? Is it the purpose?…

by TeachThought Staff In The Difference Between Between Gamification and Game-Based Learning, we learned the difference between the two. “Gamification…

by TeachThought Staff There is a difference between gamification and game-based learning, and this post focuses on the latter. Essentially,…

by Terry Heick It’s not the thinking behind an idea that should bother us, but rather the effect of the…

1. Brian Johnson: How to teach ‘for’ students, not ‘at’ them Big Idea: Educators should prioritize student engagement by teaching…

If correctly prepared for, a Socratic seminar can be a powerful catalyst for social learning. Many teachers we know have…

Teach Students To Think Irrationally by Terry Heick Formal learning is a humbling thing. As planners, designers, executors, and general…

by TeachThought Staff While the scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Investigating Healthy Minds (CIHM) at the Waisman…

What Is The Library Of Congress? by TeachThought Staff The recent dismissal of Dr. Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of…

contributed by Kathy Glass We often ask students to use context clues to figure out a word’s meaning. That makes…

by TeachThought Staff So you’re considering taking a teaching job? Or at least interviewing? What should you be asking to…

12 Articles About Critical Thinking In The Classroom by TeachThought Staff Critical thinking remains one of the most discussed—and least…

The concept of teaching creativity has been around for quite some time. See also What Is Divergent Thinking? Much of…

1. Master the Search Bar: Your Time-Saving Powerhouse Don’t waste time scrolling through endless files. Google Drive’s search bar is…

by TeachThought Staff Creativity is often associated with elementary students who are encouraged to draw or color to self-express. According…

In a world full of stimuli, sensory rooms are becoming an essential tool for schools looking to better support students…

by TeachThought Staff Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space (University of Arizona) Comprehensive introduction to the universe, from planets to galaxies.…

The Foundational 4 Cs of Critical Thinking in K-12 Education by TeachThought Staff What Are The 4 Cs of Critical…

by TeachThought Staff We’ve looked at icebreakers for kids–elementary school students, for example. How about another of an easy to…

Teaching Strategies For Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs by TeachThought Staff Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, developed by psychologist Abraham Maslow in…

by TeachThought Staff Today’s product Pick Of The Day is a childhood classic on almost every self-respected reading list in…

Let’s face it. Everyone wants to learn faster. Whether you’re working with a maths tutor in Brisbane or studying on…

Standing for Critical Thinking and Progress by Terrell Heick At TeachThought, we have always focused on promoting critical thinking cross…

by TeachThought Staff Self-Directed Learning is not a new concept, but it’s often misunderstood—especially in the context of K-12 classrooms. In…

  What Is Cognitive Dissonance? A Definition For Teaching Understanding Cognitive Dissonance: A Psychological Framework for Growth and Learning Human…

What is social learning? Social learning theory is a behavioral theory that posits that new behaviors can be learned by…

A List Of Free MOOCs For Teachers & Students contributed by TeachThought Staff While the initial surge of enthusiasm for…

by TeachThought Staff Understanding how the brain actually learns has been a a scientific challenge for millennia. Based on recent…

by TeachThought Staff Reading is simply a sequence of symbol interpretation. By understanding that letters make sounds, we can blend…

by TeachThought Staff In the always-changing–recently even more so–landscape of education, the cultivation of creativity is a vital component of…

A critical thinking strategy is simply a ‘way’ to encourage or facilitate the cognitive act of thinking critically. Critical thinking…

Good training data is key for AI models. Mistakes in data labeling can cause wrong predictions, wasted resources, and biased…

by Terry Heick How can you tell if a student really understands something? They learn early on to play the…

Social media content creators make anywhere from $500 to $50,000+ monthly. Learning to edit videos that stand out on social…

contributed by Irena Nayfeld, TeachThought PD Inquiry Workshop Facilitator Those of us who spend our days around young children hear…

by Terry Heick What does ‘critical thinking’ mean? Well, that depends on who you ask. For educators, as a term,…

Billions upon billions of people in the world have been connected by the internet, which has provided the ability to…

contributed by Owen M. Wilson, University of Texas El Paso A logical fallacy is an irrational argument made through faulty reasoning…

by Terry Heick What’s the 3-2-1 strategy? The 3-2-1 strategy is simply a format that can frame–well, really anything. Examples…

Protecting Student Data In The AI Classroom With A VPN AI is transforming education, but with increased tech comes increased…

The world is changing fast, and traditional education often fails to keep up. While students are taught math, science, and…

by Terry Heick The long-term output of any school should be not just proficient students, but enabled learners. An “enabled”…

In this blog, we’re diving into 10 game-changing ways a simple video clipper can save you tons of time and…

College students face rising costs for education every year, causing many to juggle work, studies, and looming debt. The CollegeBoard’s…

by Terry Heick This is a quick post that just occurred to me while writing about–well, writing about writing. I…

I. Human beings are capable of extraordinary joy and extraordinary suffering. II. Suffering is inherent in the human condition and…

contributed by Rob Steller Engagement isn’t an on and off switch. There are levels to student engagement and if a mind…

Cybersecurity 101: Essential Tips for Students & Teachers The rise of digital learning has transformed education, providing unprecedented connectivity and…

Why People Play Video Games Why We Play Video Games: How Our Desire For Games Shapes Our World was first…

Critical thinking is a skill we’re told to cultivate, like reading literature or maintaining eye contact during small talk. It’s…

by Terry Heick Simple premise, as titled: what sorts of ‘things’ make teaching unsustainable, and what sort of advice can…

Whether you’re using formative assessment for data to personalize learning within a unit, or more summative data to refine a…

by Terry Heick As a follow-up to our 9 Characteristics of 21st Century Learning we developed in 2009, we have…

The Precious First Few Minutes Of Class The traditional scene is familiar: Students drift into class while we announce “Your…

To grow, teachers must be able to reflect critically on their own performance. Education is ‘actuated’ by teachers. It makes…

In today’s digital landscape, social media platforms have become crucial for educational engagement, especially in STEM fields. TikTok, a leading…

In the digital age, branding has evolved into an art and a science, requiring businesses to craft unique visual identities…

Everyone loves Instagram Reels. Content creators are facing high competition to gain the attention of their audience. Attractive and clean…

Use Classroom Management Platforms and Other Tools to Overcome Barriers in Learning a Language contributed by Al Kingsley, CEO of…

College planning often feels overwhelming for families. Parents juggle excitement about their child’s future with anxiety over the financial, emotional,…

The massive T-Mobile data breach in 2023, which exposed 37 million customers’ data, was a stark reminder: cybersecurity isn’t just…

Harnessing Kairos: Balancing Structured Time and Learning Velocity in K-12 Classrooms Time in education is about more than minutes on…

by Terry Heick What are the different types of questions? Turns out, it’s pretty limitless. I’ve always been interested in…

by Terry Heick Reflection is a fundamental tenet of learning; it is also, therefore, a fundamental part of teaching. Why…

by TeachThought Staff In a world filled with noise, division, and endless demands on our attention, Wendell Berry’s poem The…

by Grant Wiggins & The TeachThought Staff Admit it–you only read the list of the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, not…

The Best Science Podcasts by TeachThought Staff Today, there is a wealth of content out there that’s both educational and…

Tone As A Cause And Effect Of Learning by Terrell Heick In 20 Words That Can Affect How Students Think,,…

by Terry Heick I first encountered the 40/40/40 rule years ago while skimming one of those giant (and indispensable) 400…

This post was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2024 by Terrell Heick 1. In the article, headline, or…

by Terry Heick In a profession increasingly full of angst and positioning and corrective policy, there are few ideas as…

Gamification is used in many fields and industries. It is meant to promote customer loyalty in business: ” Find a…

There are many obstacles to navigate when running a business. Challenges are around every corner, and one wrong move can…

by TeachThought Staff The internet loves many things. It loves cats, for example. Memes, too. It loves videos, which means…

50 Inspirational And Motivational Quotes by TeachThought Staff What are some of the most inspirational quotes about life? Well, that…

We make lasting connections through play, but the role of play in learning is an idea that continues to meet…

by TeachThought Staff What is learned helplessness? Definition Learned helplessness is a psychological condition in which a person, after repeated…

by TeachThought Staff AI-Driven Climate Modeling Researchers use advanced AI models to predict climate changes more precisely. This project integrates…

Transform Education By Building A Legacy Of Teacher-Principal Partnership contributed by Joe Griffin, PhD Abstract Collaboration between teachers and principals…

by Terry Heick I was speaking (tweeting) with Mark Barnes tonight, and he mentioned the idea of challenging existing forms…

by TeachThought Staff There are many ways to encourage a child, but for students of any age, honest, authentic, and…

by TeachThought Staff Definition: Duolingo is a popular language-learning platform that provides free online courses in multiple languages. Audience: K-12…

For better or for worse, visual information is the new internet, and infographics are pioneers in mashing information and images…

Information and Communication Overloading (ICO) and “Mindful Media” contributed by Dr. Domenico Meschino In today’s digital age, children are immersed…

by Terry Heick While I often talk about ‘scale’ as one of the primary challenges in education–and have also wondered about…

by Terry Heick Grading problems are one of the most urgent bugaboos of good teaching. Grading can take an extraordinary…

15 Alternatives To Report Cards In The K-12 Classroom by TeachThought Staff Like lunchboxes (or brown paper sacks), field trips,…

contributed by Dr. Kymm Ballard, Executive Director for SPARK Think about any time you’ve seen “army boot camp” portrayed in pop culture…

Bertrand Russell’s 10 Essential Rules Of Critical Thinking by Terry Heick For a field of study that explores the nature…

Labeling a book “great” is a matter of opinion, but when you pile together the opinion of 13 other book-loving…

How To Filter Your Email using Search Operators by TeachThought Staff It’s almost 2025, and I’m on what seems to…

What Are Google Search Operators? by TeachThought Staff Google search operators are special characters and commands you can use to…

Using Goal Setting and Data Tracking to Enhance Student Agency and Achievement contributed by Samantha Lopez As educators, we are…

What Is Life About? The Best Quotes We Could Find by TeachThought Staff What Is Life About? The Best Quotes…

contributed by Samantha Saumell, I Have, Not I Am All teachers want to help students become successful readers and writers. Whether…

Critical thinking is the ongoing application of unbiased analysis in pursuit of objective truth. Although its name implies criticism, critical…

Education has gone beyond acquiring knowledge to acquiring skills using EdTech tools; students learn digital literacy, teamwork, and critical thinking…

Address Common Project-Based Learning Challenges Through Culture-Building contributed by Sara Segar, Experit Learning Depot I would never claim to be…

by TeachThought Staff In ‘Shifts For The Classroom of the Future,’ Terrell Heick said, “It’s challenging enough to manage a…

by TeachThought Staff As learning becomes increasingly digital, access becomes increasingly important. The Flipped Classroom, for example, requires technology that…

by Terrell Heick It isn’t clear what the original goal of social media was. No single person, organization, or platform…

by Terry Heick Education is a series of learning experiences informed by policy, and actuated by teachers. Policy, by its…

by TeachThought Staff Welcome to a new school year! While most teachers and students have so much to look forward…

by TeachThought Staff Team-building activities are great–especially for the first day of school or early in the school year, Not…

by TeachThought Staff Life can be crushingly busy–especially if you’re an educator or any other profession where deadlines are constant…

Strategies for Teaching AI Concepts Without Technology by TeachThought Staff Preface: This post is primarily for general content-area K-12 teachers…

by Terry Heick My wife is a schoolteacher, and recently I’ve been listening to her online meetings. And there have…

by Terry Heick It’s possible that there is no time in the history of education that our systems of educating…

AI is quickly becoming a powerful change in online language learning (i.e., through eLearning), and it can significantly change how…

by Terrell Heick Will robots replace teachers? I was asked this in an interview a years ago for Futurism and…

by TeachThought Staff Paulo Freire’s “The Pedagogy of the Oppressed” is a foundational text in educational theory. Its enduring significance…

In the vast ocean of academic tasks, writing is a challenging and crucial skill for success at school and beyond.…

Technology has transformed how you interact with your educational materials. From AI tutors that provide personalized learning experiences to digital…

Setting specific goals isn’t just about ticking off checkboxes; it’s about charting a path toward academic excellence and personal growth.…

by TeachThought Staff In just the last decade, the image of technology in the classroom has shifted from rows of…

by Terry Heick Phonemic awareness is knowing that certain letters make certain sounds. Phonemic awareness is knowing that sounds can…

by Terry Heick Quality—you know what it is, yet you don’t know what it is. But that’s self-contradictory. But some…

“Let’s get out our [independent/book club/whole class] books and open to page __!” At least one student in the room…

The Difference Between Constructivism And Constructionism by Terry Heick While working on the learning theory visual overview, I realized I…

by TeachThought Staff The field of healthcare is experiencing rapid growth globally as people live longer lives.  This expansion requires…

by Terry Heick Having gone on for decades now, discussions around the idea of ed reform are a bit tired.…

by Terry Heick If the ultimate goal of education is for students to be able to answer questions effectively, then…

by TeachThought Staff What are the types of assessment for learning? And more importantly, when should you use which? If…

by Terry Heick A few years ago, I wrote about Types of Learning Journals and reflection was a part of…

Embracing the Future of Social Work Through Online Education by TeachThought Staff The social work profession is on the cusp…

by Terry Heick Reflection is a natural part of learning. We all think about new experiences–the camping on the car…

Title: Embracing Statistics: A Pillar of Modern STEM Education In today’s rapidly evolving landscape of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics…

Once it’s begun, it’s difficult to fully separate the person from the task.  When the artist is painting, the painter…

contributed by Beth Rush, Managing Edition at Body + Mind The image of your 5-year-old sitting serenely on a yoga…

50 Of The Best Quotes About Reading by TeachThought Staff Literacy—the ability to read and write—is the foundation of formal,…

How to Transform Your Study Sessions: Notes, Help, and Hacks for the Modern Student by TeachThought Staff Transforming your study…

contributed by Edelyn Bontuyan What makes traditional learning click?  In-person learning.  As a teacher, your students look up to you…

contributed by Michael Mirra Abstract Diversity has been at the forefront of educational discussions over the last few years. When…

Richard Feynman On Knowing Versus Understanding by TeachThought Staff Who is Richard Feynman? Richard Feynman, born in 1918, was a…

contributed by Barbara R. Blackburn Differentiation is a popular concept in today’s schools. After all, it makes sense. We’d all…

contributed by TeachThought Staff Language is a wonderful thing. It is the common thread that binds entire societies, allowing ease…

contributed by Dr. Kara Stern, SchoolStatus Head of Education Solutions  Recognizing school/home communication’s profound impact on student success and well-being…

contributed by Dr. Zak Cohen In 2009, President Obama spoke to a group of students at Wakefield High School in…

by TeachThought Staff Thinking in the 21st century is just different. That doesn’t mean we’re all suddenly omnipotent cyborgs, nor…

by TeachThought Staff Do not limit a child to your own learning, for they were born for another time. R…

Language is a wonderful thing. It is the common thread that binds entire societies, allowing ease of communication and understanding.…