Author name: Dylan Callens

annual learning plan

Mastering Your Annual Learning Plan: A Teacher’s Guide to a Happier, Smarter Year

Leave a Comment / Happy Teaching /

An Annual Learning Plan (ALP) is a focused strategy for professional growth that aligns with your goals, your students’ needs, and the evolving demands of education. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just beginning your career, a well-constructed ALP helps you stay intentional, reflect on your practice, and measure your impact throughout the year. This guide […]

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job skills matchup

Job Skills Matchup: A Hands-On Career Exploration Activity for Students

Leave a Comment / Instructional Strategies /

If you’ve ever asked your students, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and been met with blank stares or answers like “a YouTuber” or “someone who gets paid to nap” (relatable), then it might be time to introduce the Job Skills Matchup game into your classroom. This simple, hands-on activity helps

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teaching financial literacy in schools

The Importance of Teaching Financial Literacy in Schools

Leave a Comment / Classroom Talk /

Confession time: as a rookie teacher I could quote Shakespeare on command, but I couldn’t explain compound interest without breaking into a cold sweat. If my teen self had known the difference between an RRSP and a rapper, I’d have skipped a lot of ramen‑noodle dinners. That personal “oops” fuels today’s mission‑critical topic—the importance of

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Mnemonic device generator

Unlock Better Memory with a Mnemonic Device Generator

Leave a Comment / Differentiated Instruction /

Need a fast and fun way to remember complex information? Our AI-powered mnemonic device generator creates custom memory aids in seconds—just enter your topic or list, and let the brain-hacking magic begin! Whether you’re cramming for a test, teaching a tricky concept, or trying to recall random facts at a dinner party (we see you,

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acrostic poetry lesson plan

Acrostic Poetry Lesson Plan: The Acrostic Race

1 Comment / Differentiated Instruction /

(Spoiler: It’s part poetry slam, part Mario Kart, and 100 percent classroom gold.) Why Run an Acrostic Race? Mnemonic power – Encoding ideas letter-by-letter creates high-quality memory cues, improving recall by up to 20 percent Verywell Mind. Vocabulary growth – Classroom studies show acrostic writing measurably lifts word-choice sophistication and topic-specific vocab. Repository UM Jember.

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group work in high school

Group Work in High School: A Useful Pros and Cons List

Leave a Comment / Classroom Talk /

Introduction I’m a veteran teacher who has watched group work in high school morph from overhead-projector poster sessions to slick Canva slideshows. Some days, collaboration turns my classroom into a buzzing idea lab; other days, it’s more like a karaoke bar where nobody knows the lyrics. Below is my honest, balanced look at why we

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Boost student memory retention

Boost Student Memory Retention with 5-Minute Priming Mini-Lessons

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Many teachers have experienced the frustration of delivering well-planned lessons only to find that students don’t retain the material later on. After weeks of instruction, test results can be disappointing – not because the content wasn’t taught, but because it never fully transferred to students’ long-term memory​ (edutopia.org). One major reason for this is a

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Salary Guess Game

Salary Guess Game: Exploring Wage Disparities Across Professions

Leave a Comment / Differentiated Instruction /

Understanding the factors that influence salaries is crucial for students as they prepare for their future careers. The “Salary Guess Game” is an interactive classroom activity that encourages students to explore wage disparities across various professions. By estimating and ranking salaries, students gain insights into how education, demand, experience, and societal value impact earnings. Activity

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Individualized Learning Plans with ChatGPT

How to Use Create Individualized Learning Plans with ChatGPT

Leave a Comment / AI in the Classroom /

As a teacher juggling diverse needs in your classroom, it can feel like you’re trying to play chess while juggling flaming dodgeballs. But guess what? ChatGPT has something that can help—its Projects feature, which allows you to organize, store, and build individualized learning plans for each student. This guide will walk you through how to

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Teaching Time Travel Paradoxes

Teaching Time Travel Paradoxes: A Mind-Bending Classroom Adventure

Leave a Comment / Instructional Strategies /

So you want to teach your students about time travel paradoxes. You brave, brilliant soul. Maybe you’ve read The Silent Guardian and thought, “Yes, let’s absolutely unpack the existential horror of collapsing timelines with a room full of teenagers.” I support this decision. There is no better way to build critical thinking skills—and also make

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