Teachers play an important role in shaping the minds and futures of students today and in the years to come. They work tirelessly to ensure that their students have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. As a token of appreciation for their hard work, giving a thoughtful and practical gift to a teacher can go a long way in showing how much they are valued. From personalized items to classroom supplies, there are plenty of gift ideas for teachers that are sure to be appreciated. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best gift ideas for teachers that will not break the bank.
Personalized Pen Set
A personalized pen set is a practical and thoughtful gift for any teacher. It shows that you’ve taken the time to think about what they might need and is a reminder of your appreciation for their hard work. Get it on Amazon: Personalized pen set.
Coffee Mug
Most teachers run on caffeine, so a cute and funny coffee mug is always a great gift idea. Bonus points if it’s personalized with their name or a message of appreciation. Get it on Amazon: Coffee Mug.
Amazon Gift Card
picture of an amazon gift card
You can’t go wrong with an Amazon gift card. It allows teachers to choose their own gifts or purchase materials for their classrooms. Plus, it’s easy to send via email. Get it on Amazon: Amazon gift card.
Desk Organizer
A desk organizer can help teachers keep their workspace tidy and organized. Look for one with multiple compartments and space for papers, pens, and other supplies. Get it on Amazon: Learn More
Personalized Tote Bag
A personalized tote bag is a practical and stylish gift for any teacher. It’s perfect for carrying books, papers, and other supplies to and from school. Get it on Amazon: Personalized tote bag.
Classroom Posters
Inspirational or educational posters can add some color and personality to a teacher’s classroom. Look for ones that feature motivational quotes, maps, or historical figures. Get it on Amazon:Classroom posters.
Sticky Note Set
A colorful set of sticky notes can be a fun and practical gift for teachers. They can use them to jot down reminders, make to-do lists, or leave notes for students. Get it on Amazon: Sticky note set.
Personalized Notepad
A personalized notepad is a great gift for teachers who like to stay organized. Look for one with their name or initials on it. Get it on Amazon:Personalized notepad.
Classroom Supplies
Teachers often have to buy their own classroom supplies, so a gift card to a store like Staples or Office Depot can be a huge help. (Learn More)
Scented Candle
A scented candle can help create a relaxing and cozy atmosphere in a teacher’s home or classroom. Look for one with a calming scent like lavender or vanilla. Get it on Amazon:Scented candle
Desk Plant
A small desk plant can add some greenery and life to a teacher’s workspace. Look for low-maintenance plants like succulents or air plants. Get it on Amazon:Desk plant
Bookmarks
Bookmarks are a great gift for teachers who love to read. Look for ones that feature literary quotes or cute designs. Get it on Amazon: Bookmarks
Teacher Planner
A teacher planner can help teachers stay organized and keep track of their lessons, meetings, and other important events. Look for one with plenty of space for notes and reminders. Get it on Amazon: Teacher planner.
Personalized Picture Frame
A personalized picture frame is a thoughtful gift for teachers who have a special memory or photo they want to display. Look for one with their name or a special message engraved on it. Get it on Amazon: Personalized picture frame.
Classroom Games
Classroom games can be a fun and educational gift for teachers. Look for ones that help teach math, language arts, or science. Get it on Amazon: Classroom games.
Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is important, especially for busy teachers. Look for a durable and leak-proof water bottle that’s easy to carry around for your teacher. Get it on Amazon: Water bottle.
Personalized Pencil Case
A personalized pencil case is a great gift for teachers who like to keep their supplies organized. Look for one with their name or initials on it. Get it on Amazon: Personalized pencil case.
Wall Clock
A wall clock can help teachers keep track of the time and stay on schedule. Look for one with a simple and stylish design. Get it on Amazon: Wall clock.
Classroom Sign
A personalized classroom sign can add a personal touch to a teacher’s workspace. Look for one with their name or a special message on it. Get it on Amazon: Classroom sign.
Personalized Travel Mug
A personalized travel mug is an excellent gift for teachers who are always on the go. Look for one with their name or a special message on it. Get it on Amazon: Personalized travel mug.
Stress Relief Kit
Teaching can be stressful, so a stress relief kit can be a helpful gift for teachers. Look for one with items like stress balls, essential oils, and calming teas. Get it on Amazon: Stress relief kit.
Smartpen
A smartpen is a high-tech gift for teachers who like to take handwritten notes but also want the convenience of digital storage. Look for one with features like audio recording, handwriting recognition, and cloud syncing. Get it on Amazon: Livescribe Smartpen.
Thank You Cards
A set of thank you cards can be a thoughtful gift for teachers to use when expressing gratitude or appreciation. Look for ones with cute designs or inspirational quotes. Get it on Amazon: Thank you cards.
Portable Charger
A portable charger can be a useful gift for teachers who are always on their phone or tablet. Look for one with a high capacity and multiple ports. Get it on Amazon: Portable charger.
Personalized Tumbler
A personalized tumbler can be a great gift for teachers who love their coffee or tea. Look for one with their name or a special message on it. Get it on Amazon: Personalized tumbler.
Classroom Posters
Classroom posters can be a fun and educational gift for teachers to decorate their walls. Look for ones that feature inspirational quotes or colorful designs. Get it on Amazon: Classroom posters.
Personalized Mouse Pad
A personalized mouse pad can be a practical gift for teachers who use a computer or laptop. Look for one with their name or a special message on it. Get it on Amazon: Personalized mouse pad.
Desk Lamp
A desk lamp can be a useful gift for teachers who work late or in dimly lit classrooms. Look for one with adjustable brightness and a stylish design. Get it on Amazon: Desk lamp.
Classroom supplies like markers, pens, and stickers can be a practical gift for teachers. Look for high-quality supplies that are durable and long-lasting. Get it on Amazon:
Personalized Apron
A personalized apron can be a fun and practical gift for teachers who love to cook or bake. Look for one with their name or a special message on it. Get it on Amazon:
Inspirational Jewelry
Inspirational jewelry like bracelets or necklaces can be a meaningful gift for teachers. Look for ones with inspirational quotes or symbols. Get it on Amazon:
Personalized T-Shirt
A personalized t-shirt can be a fun gift for teachers to wear on casual Fridays or spirit days. Get it on Amazon:
Personalized Stationery Set
A personalized stationery set can be a thoughtful and practical gift for teachers. It’s perfect for writing notes, letters, and other important documents. Get it on Amazon:
Gift Card to a Local Restaurant
Treat your teacher to a meal at a local restaurant and support the community at the same time. Look for a restaurant that offers takeout or delivery options.Get it on Amazon: View a list of restaurants here
Art Print
An art print can add some color and personality to a teacher’s classroom or home. Look for one that features a favorite artist, style, or subject. Get it on Amazon:(https://www.etsy.com/market/teacher_art_print)
A personalized journal can be a great gift for teachers who like to write or keep a diary. Look for one with a cover design that reflects their personality or interests. Get it on Amazon:
Classroom Subscription Box
A subscription box that delivers classroom supplies, teaching resources, and other goodies can be a fun and practical gift for teachers. Look for one that’s tailored to their grade level or subject area. Get it on Amazon:(https://www.cratejoy.com/category/classroom-subscription-boxes/)
Handwritten Note or Card
Sometimes the simplest gifts can be the most meaningful. A handwritten note or card expressing your appreciation and gratitude can be a heartfelt and personal gift for any teacher. Get it on Amazon: Handwritten note or card.
In conclusion, there are plenty of great gift ideas for teachers that can show appreciation for all that they do. From practical supplies and personalized items to thoughtful keepsakes and high-tech gadgets, the possibilities are endless. Consider the teacher’s interests, needs, and preferences when selecting a gift, and don’t be afraid to get creative. With a little bit of thoughtfulness and effort, you can give a gift that will truly make a teacher feel valued and appreciated.
Brain Sensei is an online platform that provides PMP (Project Management Professional) exam preparation courses. The courses use a storytelling approach to make the learning process more engaging and memorable. Brain Sensei's courses are self-paced, and they include videos, quizzes, and practice exams. The platform also offers a mobile app for convenient access to the course materials.
In the world of project management, two important certifications are the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and Project Management Professional (PMP). CAPM is an entry-level certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). This project management certification is designed for individuals with little or no project management experience. PMP, on the other hand, is a more advanced project management certification. This certification is for experienced project managers who are looking to further their knowledge and skills. In this review, we will be comparing the CAPM and PMP certifications offered by Brain Sensei to help you determine which one is right for you. Additionally, we will include a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section to address some common inquiries about these certifications.
Variety of learning options: Brain Sensei offers options for those who are independent learning and programs for those who need independent motivation.
Interactive learning experience: Brain Sensei uses the Articulate platform, which makes the learning experience interactive and engaging. You can touch the screen to select options, take self-assessment quizzes, and more.
Short study time: With Brain Sensei, you only need one to two months to study for the PMP or CAPM exams, which is shorter than other prep courses.
Complete content: You will get all the materials you need to pass the PMP or CAPM exam.
Easy to test your skills: The self-assessments and practice exams built into Brain Sensei help you identify your weakest areas and prepare for the real exam.
Pass Guarantee: Brain Sensei offers a 100% pass guarantee, so you can feel confident that you will pass the exam after completing their prep course. The 100% Pass Guarantee only applies to the PMP Course (Self-paced), CAPM Course (Self-paced), and the PMP Course (Live Virtual Instructor) courses
Progress Tracking: The platform provides real-time progress tracking to help you stay motivated by showing you the progress that you are making through the course.
Makes learning fun: The interactive nature of the course and material presentation makes learning fun and engaging.
Cons:
Limited access time: You only get 1 year of access to the materials. If you would like additional access, you will have to contract Brain sensei and pay the additional cost.
On year
What is the Course Structure of Brain Sensei?
This course teaches you how to manage a project. You will learn about the different steps involved in managing a project, from starting it to finishing it. The course covers the responsibilities of project managers and how project management fits in an organization.
Module 101:
Initiating Projects This part of the course teaches you how to start a project or a new stage of an existing project. Project managers need to identify project phases to get the right authorization, and this module teaches you how to define new projects and stages.
Module 102:
Planning Projects This module teaches you how to plan a project. You will learn how to figure out what needs to be done, what goals to set, and what requirements are necessary to achieve those goals.
Module 103:
Executing Projects In this part of the course, you will learn how to do the work defined in the project management plan and achieve the set objectives.
Module 104:
Monitoring and Controlling Projects This module helps you understand how to track and review the progress of the project and regulate its performance. You will learn how to identify areas that need changes in the project management plan and how to initiate them.
Module 105:
Closing Projects This part of the course covers the processes involved in finalizing project activities to formally close project phases.
Module 106:
Project Management for Sponsors and Stakeholders This module covers important project management concepts, trends, and practices. You will learn how to tailor your project proposals to suit stakeholder needs in an adaptive environment.
Module 107:
Agile Practice Guide This module covers different project management methodologies to help you prepare for the PMP exam and gain an in-depth understanding of project management concepts.
Module 108:
Exam Prep and Samurai Challenges This part of the course includes practice questions to test your knowledge and track your progress. You can take unlimited practice questions with detailed answers and access a complete set of mock tests with Samurai simulations.
The rankings for the best public high schools in Gwinnett County have been released for 2022. This ranking takes a number of key factors into consideration. These factors include test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, etc.
The quality of schools in a community is a determining factor for a large percentage of the population. In some instances, it may determine where companies or corporations may choose to have a location and ultimately determine where people may choose to buy a home.
According to Gail Bryant of Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council, “Some of the top factors that businesses consider are a high-performing school district” when they chose where to set up their locations.
Some of the top factors that businesses consider are a high-performing school district
Gail Bryant
Here is a breakdown of the top 20 high schools in Gwinnett County.
Rank
High School
Homes Nearby
1
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology (GSMST)
Homes for sale near School of Mathematics, Science & Technology
The Gwinnett County Public School system is one of the top-performing school districts in Georgia and in the United States. Not to be outdone, even though Buford City Schools are not administered by Gwinnett Couty, they have consistently held their own and ranks among the top high schools in Georiga. The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology is consistently the top-ranked school in Georgia and is ranked among the top-10 high schools in the United States.
How to get into the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology (GSMST)?
Students are chosen based on a lottery system to get into GSMST. Any student from Gwinnett County is eligible as long as they meet the entry requirements. For more information on how to get into the GSMS, please click here to learn more.
The Spring Testing season is almost here. You know once it hits April in Georgia, testing is on. #crunchtime
Here are some sites to maximize your time and get your students ready for their various end of course (EOC) and end of grade (EOG) assessments. If you are in Georgia, that means the Georgia Milestones. If you are checking out this list before February, you can still use most of these applications to power your classroom curriculum and save boatloads of time. Some of these applications are adaptive and provide useful information that you can use to power your instruction. You can easily see where your students are struggling and take corrective measures.
USATESTPREP
USATESTPREP is a testing engine. They have all sorts of practice tests on this site. This is a great site to use throughout the year to monitor your students’ mastery of the standards. In addition, you can use this site to keep the content fresh in the minds of your students at various intervals, so that the students do not forget concepts learned at the beginning of the school year.
Edulastic
Edulastic has compiled some of the released tests that the state has published and they have it in their database. That means that you can just assign the students the practice tests online. This will save gallons of ink and time. See my review of Edulastic here.
Georgia Testpad
Georgia ended GOFAR, sort of. They are now using a testing platform called Testpad. It feels like GOFAR. And yes, it is just as slow as GOFAR. I think the publisher should create a better package than the one they currently offer. The site is really too slow to be fully beneficial. It is the same as GOFAR, if you are in Georgia. If you are in another state, they probably have the same product under a different name. Did I mention that this site is slow? It would be awesome if Georgia could bring back Georgia OAS, that site was much better… and faster.
Prepdog.org
Prepdog has practice test questions on their site. The student results cannot be saved, and there is no backend for individual teachers. That is a huge bummer. Apparently, their business model was unsustainable, so they are practically in maintenance mode at this time.
Lumos learning
Lumos learning provides test preparation materials that align with national Common Core Standards. In addition, they have a section that is dedicated to the Georgia Milestones. Test drive the free questions, that they have available. Maybe that is exactly what you are looking for to energize your instruction.
Splash Learn
Students learn and practice their math skills by playing educational math games (K-5). Teachers and parents may create free accounts to manage the accounts of their students. Check out SplashLearn.
Prodigygame
I guess witchcraft is the in-thing. Just like the spell that Minecraft has cast over millions of minds, Prodigy is doing the same thing, but their main focus is to get students to learn basic math skills. It is one of the very few educational sites that students actually want to use. I think it is one of those sites where you encourage your students to use it and you hope that they use it when they have free time. You know that the average student is not going to go home and use that other site without your prodding, but they may use Prodigy.
IXL Learning
IXL Learning is really popular. It is used in classrooms the world over. They provide a useful dashboard to keep track of your students’ progress. Not only can you use their resources to prep for the Milestones, but you can also use it year-round in your classroom. It is not cheap. If you purchase their entire curriculum for all content areas k-12, you’re looking at close to $1000 per year. Lookout Education Galaxy, IXL bought ABCYA. See my review of IXL Math here.
Mobymax
MobyMax is very similar to IXL learning. The jury is out as to which is a better solution. I have used MobyMax in the past and I really liked it. It is a good solution to keep track of your students’ learning as you go through the classroom curriculum. Mobymax also adapts to your students’ learning and creates a unique learning path based on the needs of your students. In addition, you can see how your class is doing compared to others using the platform. See my review of MobyMax here.
GoFormative
You can use GoFormative to share assessments that you created with other teachers. Also, if you find good released tests, as I have on this page, you can upload the documents here and share them with your students. One of the cool features of this site is that you can see what your students are doing in real-time. So if you have a key standard or concept that you want to make sure that your students understand, you can assign that task and help your students in realtime.
SeeSaw.me
This is a great site. It is like Pinterest on steroids for the classroom. To prepare for assessments, the teacher can upload, or reuse content that is already on the site and assign it to students. You can see your students work in real-time. So if there’s a particular skill that you want to assess your students on, you can simply assign that to them and see how they are doing.
Iknowit.com
Get your students feeling confident in math and it will reap dividends all across the curriculum. I know it will help your students master the mathematics standards. You can try it free for 60 days. See my review of Iknowit.com here.
Videos have made the internet a storehouse of knowledge and information available to huge audiences. The internet has reshaped the world in ways that were unimaginable, before YouTube and other social media. As the old adage goes, a picture can say a thousand words.
A video can say untold multiples of that amount. Videos are powerful. They are even more powerful when they are used to bring meaningful technology to the classroom.
The following tools may be used to add end-user interactions and features to videos (either created or remixed) to meet your classroom needs. You will notice a common trend among these applications: users simply import the videos and add interactive elements (quizzes, polls, surveys) to them in most instances. These interactions may then be analyzed from the data captured. This is an important concept: Gone are the days when you had to manually pause videos and hold discussions with the students infront of you. Instead, the content may be available to students outside the classroom and they can all still be a part of the conversation.
Google Forms is a dynamic software. The videos from YouTube may be embedded directly into Forms. Questions may then be built around the video. The teacher would then collect the student’s responses in a sheet. You can do even more when you integrate Google Classroom in the whole equation.
Jotform is an easy-to-use form builder. Read this post here about how to set up Jotform to create video quizzes and capture test results easily. You simply create the form and embed the video into the quiz into the software and share the link.
GoFormative allows users the ability to capture videos from outside the platform and make them easily accessible to students. Teachers may create quizzes and other video-based tasks inside of the platform.
The title of this website suggests that this classroom technology tool is for “second language” students. Actually, I think that this site may benefit all learners or learners at any level of English language proficiency. ESLvideo.com has quiz activities and lessons created by teachers. On ESLvideo.com, teachers may favorite quizzes, assign quizzes, view student scores, and create new quizzes.
Teachers may use TED-Ed to turn TED and YouTube videos into lessons. This website is very easy to use. Simply create an account, search for the video that you would like to use, and add relevant information about the video. Quizzes may be added to the video. As part of the quiz creation process, a time-stamped video quiz option is built into the quiz creation process to provide video hints. Reinvent your lessons by turning them into watch + think + discuss sessions. With useful analytics, the teacher may utilize the helpful information.
Vialogue, as the name implies, is a way to effectively combine video and discussion. It is like a thread and cloth: you can combine them to make clothes. Users may interact with the content by adding time-stamped comments. It is very easy to use. All you have to do is add a video (videos from the site or your own videos uploaded). Once you have identified the target video, you may then add polls, open-ended questions, to time-stamped locations within the video. Enhanced videos, now called vialogues may be used on websites, blogs or LMS. All of this is free thanks to EdLab – Teachers College, Columbia University. This is a great tool. To get started, simply create an account with EdLab and you are on your way.
Edpuzzle allows you, the teacher, to turn any video into a lesson. The learning curve of this application is very accommodating. Within a matter of minutes, any video can be used to flip the classroom or blend a lesson to meet the needs of students. With huge and prominent icons, with just a click a teacher may trim a video to the section that is needed, add voice notes to narrate videos, add quizzes to check for understanding, and add questions at any point in the video to track your students’ understanding. Students log into the application and complete the actions prompted by the teacher. The analytics that the software generates from student activity may provide actionable information for the teacher. Edpuzzles may be embedded into webpages or learning management systems (LMS). Save time by sharing Edpuzzles with other teachers. Get even more out of Edpuzzle by installing the Chrome extension.
Educaplay empowers the teacher to easily select a video from YouTube. With the selected video, you can add interactive elements, such as quizzes, and assign them to your students. Teachers can create their own video quiz or choose from among those created by other users.
Vizia is a simple application that allows teachers the ability to transform videos into powerful and interactive lessons. Simply enter the URL of the video (Wistia and YouTube) and then add interactive features (quizzes, polls, surveys ) from a clean and unobtrusive interface. The marked-up videos may then be embedded into web pages and learning management systems. Collect student responses in Google Sheets or download responses in a CSV file.
PlayPostit, formerly eduCanon, is the leader among this genre of technology tools. This classroom technology tool is very dynamic. Quizzes and various checks for understanding may be added to enhance the very video itself by adding interactive elements. Turn those YouTube and teacher created videos into flipped and blended lessons to enhance what you are already doing.
There you go. That is my list of favorite tools to effectively enhance what you are already doing. The cool thing about these tools is that users are able to collaborate and share the lessons that they have created. This could be a huge timesaver.
The Georgia Online Formative Assessment Resource (GOFAR) is a very useful tool for teachers preparing students for the Georgia Milestones and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). GOFAR is a compilation of assessment items that students would most likely experience on those tests. The assessments are rigorous and align to the standards. The State has provided this resource to school districts in Georgia. Through school district administrations, teachers are then able to assign and administer standards based assessments.
What is Under the Hood
Currently, the state says that there are over 1600 assessments from 3rd through High school math, science, social studies and ELA. The questions are primarily at Levels 3 and 4 when it comes to Depth of Knowledge (DOK).
How to Use GOFAR
Below is a useful tutorial from the Georgia DOE.
After you have watched this video, you can now log into GOFAR and create assessments. After you have created an assessment, you have two options: print the assessment you create or administer it online.
The online access link for students to reach the assessments that you create will be located at the link below:
If you administer the assessment online, you will need to provide your students with the link above. To log into the assessment, they will need their GTID and the test code. Your student’s GTID is a state issued testing identification number. It can be located in the student account under the student’s profile. Make certain to write the test code and the test admin codes down for future reference.
