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If you're ready to launch or refresh your blended learning environment, having the right tools on hand can make all the difference. Whether you're creating Future Ready Studios, fostering student ownership, or personalizing instruction, the setup matters. Below are our favorite go-to items—simple, affordable, and classroom-tested—to support a smooth rollout and sustained engagement in your blended learning classroom. 🎯 Start with the EssentialsBefore diving into supplies, make sure you have these two foundational resources:
🛠️ Classroom Tools That Make a Big ImpactHere are the simple tools we love to use to launch studios and support blended learning routines:
🛍️ Garage Sale Finds: Budget-Friendly Treasures for Your StudiosBlended learning doesn’t have to break the bank—especially when you know where to look! Some of my favorite classroom items have come from unexpected places, like neighborhood garage sales or thrift stores. These finds can turn your studios into inviting, functional, and engaging learning spaces. Here’s what I always keep an eye out for:
The key? Go in with a creative mindset. A box of mismatched Scrabble tiles could become a spelling challenge. A rug might define the space for a reflection station. Garage sale treasures help you build a rich, hands-on learning environment without spending top dollar. 💡 Final Tip: Set the Tone EarlyThe right tools help you streamline routines, minimize confusion, and maximize student ownership from the very first week. When students see a well-prepared classroom, they rise to meet the expectations. Start small, stay consistent, and keep evolving. 👉 Ready to get started? Download the Blended Learning Starter Kit, grab a few of these tools, and check out the Field Guide for step-by-step support all year long. Let’s kick-start your studios with confidence—one station at a time! 👉 Ready to get started?
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What are Learning Choice Boards?
Why Choice Boards Are EffectiveResearch shows that student choice is a powerful motivator (Deci & Ryan, 2000). When students get to choose activities that interest them, they are more likely to engage deeply and enjoy the learning process. With a choice board, even the most reluctant learners can find activities that excite them. Additionally, choice boards are:
Sample Choice Boards for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd GradeTo make it even easier for teachers, we are providing free, ready-to-use choice boards for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade. These boards are designed to reinforce foundational skills in fun, meaningful ways. Teachers can simply print them and send them home with their students.
How to Share Choice Boards with Families
Supporting Parents and StudentsBy sending home choice boards, you are empowering parents to support their child’s learning in a fun, stress-free way. Parents appreciate having clear, engaging activities, and students benefit from continued practice in critical skills. Want to Get Started?Access free, printable summer learning choice boards for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade below, and help your students stay sharp, engaged, and ready for the next school year! Need More Options? If you would like to see a sample Summer Choice Board for another grade level or subject, just leave a comment below. We’re happy to add more options to this blog post for you to download! Interested in More?If you would like to learn more about our Student Engagement Workshops that lead to high student achievement and growth, visit BlendedLearningPD.com. References
As teachers, we’ve all had that moment: you're digging through the back of the supply cabinet, uncovering random items you forgot you had — cups, dice, craft sticks, maybe a half-used pack of index cards. What if you could turn those forgotten treasures into an engaging, standard-aligned activity… in under 10 minutes? With ChatGPT’s camera feature, you can. In this quick guide, I’ll show you exactly how I used ChatGPT to transform a pile of miscellaneous classroom materials into a hands-on math activity for a 3rd-grade learning station — using just a photo and a prompt. ✨ Why Use the Camera Feature in ChatGPT?Instead of typing a long description of what you have on hand, the camera feature allows you to:
🛠 Step-by-Step: Turning Cabinet Clutter into a 10-Minute Math ActivityHere’s how I did it — and how you can too! 2. Snap a Photo Using ChatGPT’s app on my phone, I clicked the camera icon and snapped a quick photo of the materials laid out on a table.
4. Get a Custom Activity Within seconds, ChatGPT responded with a fully formed, standard-aligned activity. For example:
5. Print, Prep, and Go!I copied the activity into a station card, set it on the table, and boom — learning studios ready to go in under 10 minutes. 💡 Bonus Tips
🔗 Ready to Try It?All you need is your phone, the ChatGPT app, and a photo of what’s already in your classroom. 👉 Want to see how I did it? Check out my video [Insert Link to Video]! 📦 Want more station ideas? Visit www.blendedlearningpd.com for free resources and templates. Want to Go Deeper? Join Us This Summer!If this quick project using ChatGPT sparked your interest, imagine what’s possible with a full toolkit of AI strategies for your classroom! This summer, we’re offering a series of hands-on professional development workshops designed to help educators harness the power of AI to save time, boost engagement, and personalize learning. One of our most popular sessions is: 🧠 “Did AI Write That?”: How to Authenticate the Learning In this eye-opening workshop, we explore how to tell when students use AI, how to guide them in ethical AI use, and — most importantly — how to design assignments that showcase authentic thinking. Other workshops include:
👉 Visit www.blendedlearningpd.com to explore sessions, download free resources, or book a custom workshop for your team. Let’s transform classroom planning — one photo (and one prompt) at a time. ✨ 🧠 AI Prompts You Can Try with ChatGPT’s Camera Feature📸 General Prompt“Here’s a photo of some classroom materials I found. Can you create a 10-minute, hands-on activity using these materials that aligns to [insert grade level] [subject] standards?” ✏️ Math Prompt (Grades 3–5)“Using the materials in this photo, create a 10-minute math station that practices [multiplication, division, fractions, etc.] and aligns with 3rd-grade TEKS.” 🎨 Cross-Curricular Prompt (STEM + Art)“Design a STEM activity that integrates math and art for 3rd graders using the materials in this photo. Make it hands-on and fun for a learning station.” 📚 Reading or Writing Prompt“Using the materials in this photo, create a short ELA activity aligned to 3rd-grade reading or writing standards. I want it to be creative and interactive.” 👥 Group Work Prompt“Can you turn these materials into a fast-paced, self-directed activity for early finishers in 3rd grade?” 🔁 What Could You Create?Before tossing those random materials — snap, upload, and let AI help you turn them into meaningful learning. Teachers, your cabinet clutter just became your creative superpower. 💪
Start with Your District Resources
Explore and Analyze Your Student Data
Choose the Right Project FrameworkNot all projects are created equal! Based on student needs and abilities, decide which type of project structure fits best: Learn More by reading our Blog Post about Projects, Choice Boards, and Project Based Learning   Time Saving Choice Board Creation Incorporate Progression BoardsTracking progress is key to maintaining momentum. Progression boards help students visualize where they are in the project process, foster a sense of urgency, and celebrate milestones. 🔗 Learn how to implement progression boards here: bit.ly/kishprogression25
Set Data-Driven GoalsFor each student or group, set specific, measurable goals tied to their data points. This will help guide project expectations and provide a clear focus for feedback. Use goal sheets like this one to track progress:
Why Data-Driven Projects Matter
 Ready to Plan Your End-of-Year Projects?Make the last weeks count by designing intentional, differentiated, and data-driven projects that set your students up for success. 🔗 Learn more and grab free templates at BlendedLearningPD.com and DynaGuide.org. 📣 Book a Summer Workshop!Want even more hands-on support? We still have a few openings for Student Engagement and Data-Driven Small Groups Made Easy Workshops this summer!
Our workshops focus on actionable strategies like data-driven projects, choice boards, project-based learning, and building high-energy, student-centered classrooms. 📅 Reserve your spot today before our summer calendar fills up! 🔗 Contact us at BlendedLearningPD.com to learn more and schedule your workshop. In today’s classrooms, educators are increasingly seeking ways to deepen student engagement, promote agency, and ensure meaningful learning experiences. While “project” is a term often used interchangeably across education, there’s a clear distinction between a traditional class project, a choice board activity, and a project-based learning experience (PBL). In this post, we’ll break down these differences using a relatable classroom example: a garden.  The Class Project: Structured Creativity
The Choice Board: Empowering Student Voice
Project-Based Learning: Purpose-Driven Inquiry
Conclusion: Know the Difference to Know the ImpactWhile all three strategies—projects, choice boards, and PBL—can add variety and engagement to your classroom, the depth of learning and student empowerment increases dramatically as you move from teacher-directed projects to student-centered, inquiry-based PBL. By understanding these distinctions, you can more intentionally design classroom experiences that spark curiosity, ignite agency, and foster a love of learning.
Ready to transform your classroom with PBL? Start with a simple hook, connect it to a real-world challenge, and let students lead the way. Want to Learn More? Explore free resources and professional learning opportunities at blendedlearningpd.com. Choose for Student Engagement Workshops, AI Workshops, and Data-Driven Small Groups Made Easy
Part One: Tools and Resources for the StudentsThe Planning Process Made EasyTo get started, teachers can introduce brainstorming sessions where students employ tools like Goblin.tools to outline their projects. This platform offers a user-friendly interface that helps students organize their thoughts and research into structured outlines. By using customizable templates, students can ensure they cover all essential elements of their projects, streamlining the planning process and emphasizing clarity and creativity. Collaboration and OrganizationGroup projects can be both rewarding and challenging, which is why effective organization and collaboration are key. Padlet is an excellent tool for students to curate resources, take notes, and share ideas in a visually engaging format. It allows team members to post, comment, and organize concepts in real-time, facilitating a dynamic workflow. Similarly, Wakelet.com can enhance collaboration by enabling students to collect and arrange links, notes, and multimedia, ensuring that all project materials are easily accessible to everyone involved. This collaborative environment not only promotes teamwork but also enriches the depth of the projects.
Capture Ideas and Creative MomentsDuring project meetings and brainstorming sessions, students often generate a wealth of ideas. However, it can be difficult to keep track of everything discussed. This is where Otter.ai comes in handy. This tool provides real-time transcription of meetings, allowing students to focus on the discussion without worrying about missing important details. They can revisit the transcripts later, capturing thoughts, decisions, and action items to guide their projects effectively. This feature fosters accountability and keeps students engaged in the planning process, ensuring a smoother workflow. Enhancing Visual Learning with Design ToolsVisual aids play a crucial role in helping students communicate their ideas effectively. By incorporating tools like Canva, students can design stunning visuals, infographics, and presentations that will captivate their audience. With a diverse range of templates and design elements at their disposal, students can enhance the overall aesthetics of their projects, making them not only informative but visually appealing. Encouraging students to create engaging slides means that their presentations are more likely to resonate with their peers and teachers. Project ShowcaseAs projects near completion, encourage students to prepare a showcase where they can present their work to the class. This not only allows them to demonstrate their understanding but also builds their confidence in public speaking and presentation skills. By emphasizing the visual elements they’ve created using Canva, along with the structured outlines from Goblin.tools, students can effectively convey their ideas and findings. This culmination of their efforts provides a sense of accomplishment and a chance to celebrate their hard work. Part Two: Tools and Resources for the Teachers
Project Hooks through AI PromptsUsing AI prompts can effectively generate engaging hooks for end-of-year student projects rooted in project-based learning. Teachers can have students input specific themes into AI tools to receive creative prompts that spark curiosity. For example, a prompt like "What if your project could solve a real-world problem?” encourages critical thinking about their work's connection to broader societal issues, fostering a more meaningful learning experience. Sample AI Prompts that I used to generate ideas for the Project Based Learning activities. Generate a project based learning activity for biology students. The project should start out with a hook showing a video of a sea turtle struggling to swim due to the fact that it has a balloon wrapped around its fins. The project should take about 10 hours to complete and be aligned to the TEKs. Please provide an outline of the project, a rubric, student choice in the type of project based on the hook, and possible small group lessons that are Differentiated based on three levels. The small groups should be a reteach or an enhancement of the TEKs that would align to the project  AI Rubric Generators
Manage the Progress of the Projects
Keep The Student On Task With Checklist
Platforms like Canva provide customizable checklist templates that enable students to create not only functional reminders but also visually appealing ones. Aesthetic elements can make the checklist more engaging and personalized, which may further increase students’ commitment to their tasks. Additionally, visually striking checklists can serve as constant reminders of their goals, helping students maintain momentum and stay focused on their project milestones. Click here to grab a copy of the project checklist that I created in Canva.com Ask the ExpertsVirtual field trips can immerse students in real-world settings connected to their learning—whether exploring ancient ruins, touring a NASA facility, or visiting a wildlife reserve—all from the classroom. To deepen the experience, character chatbots can serve as interactive guides or historical figures, allowing students to ask questions, gather insights, and simulate interviews to enrich their final projects with unique, personalized perspectives.
ConclusionIn conclusion, harnessing the power of AI tools and resources significantly enhances the quality and creativity of student projects. These technologies not only streamline the research and brainstorming processes but also facilitate collaboration and visual communication, ultimately leading to a more engaging learning experience. However, to ensure that learning is authentic and meaningful, educators must implement strategies that monitor and assess student progress effectively.
Utilizing checklists allows students to track their own achievement of project milestones, ensuring they understand the essential elements of their work. Progression boards can visually display each student's journey through the project, highlighting their growth and areas for improvement. Furthermore, fostering small group interactions encourages peer feedback and collaboration, enriching the learning environment and reinforcing collective understanding. By combining these strategies with the powerful resources available, educators can create a robust framework that not only validates student learning but also nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration in their projects. |
AuthorMarcia Kish is a Blended Learning Specialist, Instructional Coach, and author of The 12 Elements of Student Engagement and Ownership Field Guide, dedicated to helping educators create dynamic, student-centered classrooms. Categories
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