February 9, 2026
Digital citizenship is often taught as a list of rules. Do not share passwords. Be kind online. Do not click suspicious links. While these rules matter, they are not enough.
Students need help navigating situations that are not always clear. Digital citizenship today is about judgment, empathy, and understanding how actions online affect others in real life.
True digital citizenship helps students learn to:
Think before posting, sharing, or commenting
Understand digital footprints and permanence
Show empathy and respect in online spaces
Recognize how technology impacts emotions and relationships
Take responsibility for their choices
These skills grow over time and through practice, not one lesson.
Ask students to think about moments when technology made something better or worse.
Questions to ask:
How did that choice affect others
What would you do differently next time
This builds awareness and self-regulation.
Present short scenarios such as:
A group chat message that feels unkind
A viral video shared without permission
A comment posted without full context
Ask students to discuss possible responses and consequences.
Have students reflect on what their online presence says about them.
This can be done through drawing, journaling, or discussion.
Focus on identity and responsibility rather than fear.
Connect digital citizenship to news and media by asking:
Is this information trustworthy
Is it fair to share
Who could be affected
This reinforces habits students can apply daily.
Common Sense Education digital citizenship lessons
Be Internet Awesome by Google
ConnectEd Resources in NCEdCloud for research and source evaluation
SchoolAI for guided reflection and discussion prompts
Padlet for shared norms and community agreements
These tools support meaningful, age-appropriate discussions.
Model respectful online behavior and transparent decision-making
Revisit digital citizenship throughout the year, not just once
Use mistakes as learning opportunities when appropriate
Students learn best when adults model the behaviors we expect.
This works well as a journal entry, class discussion, or advisory activity.
We will focus on empowering students to use technology to express ideas, tell stories, and participate responsibly online.
February 2, 2026
Being informed is not about seeing more information.
It is about knowing how to evaluate it.
Students are surrounded by news every day. It comes through social media, videos, headlines, group chats, and conversations at home. Much of what they see is designed to grab attention, spark emotion, or influence opinions.
National News Literacy Week is an opportunity to pause and help students build the skills they need to ask smart questions, evaluate credibility, and separate fact from fiction.
News literacy is the ability to:
Identify credible news sources
Recognize bias, opinion, and misinformation
Understand how headlines, images, and language shape perception
Verify information before sharing it
These skills are essential for students as learners, citizens, and digital participants.
News Literacy Project (Checkology) for interactive lessons and real-world examples
Common Sense Education news and media literacy lessons
ConnectED Resources (in NCEdCloud) databases for reliable, vetted sources
Media Bias Chart as a discussion tool, not a label
SchoolAI for guided analysis questions and reflection prompts
These resources support age-appropriate conversations about news and credibility.
Show students a headline without the article.
Ask:
What do you think this story is about
What words stand out
Then read the full article and compare.
This helps students see how headlines influence understanding.
Provide short statements from a news article.
Have students sort them into:
Fact
Opinion
Interpretation
This works well across grade levels and subject areas.
Choose a news source and explore:
Who created it
Why it exists
Who its audience might be
This builds awareness of purpose and perspective.
Show a news image without context.
Ask students what they notice, what they wonder, and how images can influence emotion or interpretation.
Great for visual literacy and media analysis.
Teach students a simple pause strategy:
Stop
Question
Check another source
Decide whether to share
This habit is powerful and easy to remember.
Connect news literacy to current events, not just ELA or social studies
Use short, consistent routines instead of one-time lessons
Model your own thinking aloud when evaluating a source
News literacy grows through repeated practice and conversation.
This works well for journaling, discussion, or exit tickets.
We will explore how to move from compliance-based lessons to meaningful digital responsibility.
January 26, 2026
Good lesson design still starts with the teacher. Gemini simply helps streamline the process.
Many educators are already working inside Google Workspace every day. Google Gemini is not a separate platform to learn. It is a support tool built into Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Gmail.
When used intentionally, Gemini can help teachers plan more efficiently, generate ideas, and adjust instruction while keeping professional judgment front and center.
This week focuses on how Gemini can support lesson design, not replace it.
Gemini works best when you already know your learning goal and need help refining or expanding ideas.
Gemini can help:
Generate lesson outlines aligned to objectives
Create examples, scenarios, or discussion prompts
Adapt lessons for different levels or learning needs
Draft slide text, instructions, or formative questions
It is not meant to decide what to teach or how to assess. That remains a human decision.
As with all AI tools:
Do not enter student names or personal information
Review and edit all AI-generated content
Follow WCPS AI Guidelines and Acceptable Use Scales
Be transparent about AI support when appropriate
Gemini works best as a planning partner, not a decision-maker.
Ask Gemini to help outline a lesson once you know the standard or objective.
Example prompt:
“Create a lesson outline for a 45-minute class focused on ___.”
Review the structure, revise, and adapt to your students.
Gemini can help create open-ended questions that promote critical thinking.
Try asking:
“Write five discussion questions that encourage students to analyze ___.”
Choose the questions that best fit your classroom.
Gemini can generate multiple versions of activities or explanations.
Examples:
Simplified explanations
Extension questions
Sentence starters
This saves planning time while supporting diverse learners.
Use Gemini to draft slide text, examples, or guiding questions in Google Slides.
Then refine language, add visuals, and adjust pacing to fit your instructional style.
Gemini can generate quick reflection prompts tied to your lesson goals.
Examples:
“What is one thing you learned today and one question you still have?”
“Explain today’s concept in your own words.”
These help close lessons without additional prep.
Model how to refine AI-generated content instead of copying it
Use Gemini during collaborative planning or PLCs
Connect Gemini use to research skills, media literacy, and ethical decision-making
Seeing the process matters as much as the final product.
That question reveals the best place to start.
We will return to media literacy with timely classroom-ready ideas tied to current events.
January 19, 2026
Artificial intelligence is becoming part of how students search for information, create content, and solve problems. That makes ethics an essential part of AI literacy, not an optional add-on.
Teaching AI ethics is not about fear or restriction. It is about helping students develop judgment, awareness, and responsibility when interacting with powerful tools.
When we talk about ethics in AI, we are really talking about how decisions are made, who is represented, and who benefits or is affected.
Key ideas students should explore include:
AI systems are created by humans and trained on human-generated data
AI can reflect bias or incomplete perspectives
AI-generated information should always be verified
Responsibility still belongs to the human user
These ideas fit naturally into media literacy, research, and digital citizenship instruction.
Instead of focusing on rules alone, invite students to ask better questions. These can be used in discussions, journaling, or research activities.
Who created this and why
What data or sources might it be based on
What voices might be missing
How could this information influence decisions or opinions
How can I verify or confirm this information
These questions build habits students can apply beyond school.
Share a short AI-generated response and a human-written source on the same topic.
Ask students to compare accuracy, tone, and clarity.
Provide multiple AI responses to the same prompt.
Discuss how wording, examples, or assumptions change.
Have students label work as:
Created by me
Created with AI support
Inspired by AI and revised
This reinforces honesty and ownership.
Present short scenarios such as:
Using AI to summarize an article
Using AI to write a paragraph
Using AI to generate images
Ask students to decide what is appropriate and explain why.
These resources support ethical conversations around AI:
Common Sense Education lessons on AI and digital citizenship
TeachAI resources for responsible AI use
These tools help ensure AI use remains transparent and intentional.
Use ethics discussions as conversation starters, not compliance checks
Connect AI ethics to media literacy, research skills, and civic responsibility
Model ethical decision-making by explaining your own choices when using AI
Students learn ethics best through examples and dialogue.
This question works well for class discussions, journals, or advisory groups.
We will explore practical, teacher-friendly ways to use Gemini within Google Workspace.
January 12, 2026
As the new semester gets underway, teachers are balancing planning, grading, meetings, and classroom routines. This is not the time for complex workflows or steep learning curves.
This week, No Child Left Offline focuses on simple, time-saving ways AI can support teachers behind the scenes. These ideas are meant to reduce workload, not add to it.
AI is most helpful when it supports repetitive or time-consuming tasks. It is not meant to replace professional judgment or instructional expertise.
AI can help with:
Drafting and revising text
Generating ideas and variations
Organizing information
Supporting differentiation
The key is using it as a starting point, then refining the results.
Use AI to draft parent emails, newsletters, or announcements.
Then edit for tone and context.
Tools to try:
MagicSchool AI
Gemini in Google Workspace
Ask AI to generate a few warm-up or reflection questions tied to your lesson objective.
Try prompts like:
“Create three bell ringers for a lesson on ___.”
“Write an exit ticket that checks for understanding of ___.”
AI can quickly generate multiple versions of a task at different levels of complexity.
Examples:
Scaffolded discussion questions
Sentence starters for writing
Extension challenges for early finishers
This saves time while supporting diverse learners.
AI can help draft feedback language that you personalize before sharing.
Uses include:
“Glow and grow” comments
Next-step suggestions
Rubric-aligned feedback phrases
Always review and adjust to keep your voice front and center.
AI can help brainstorm lesson ideas, learning targets, or activity sequences.
Try using it to:
Outline a lesson framework
Generate examples or scenarios
Suggest real-world connections
This works best when you already know your goal and standards.
As always:
Do not enter student names or personal information
Review and edit all AI-generated content
Follow WCPS AI Guidelines and Acceptable Use Scales
Be transparent about AI assistance when appropriate
AI supports teaching best when educators remain in control.
Try one AI task this week that saves ten minutes
Share a successful prompt or idea with a colleague
Use AI as a planning partner, not a decision-maker
Small wins build confidence.
"What is one task you would love to spend less time on?"
That question often points to the best place to start with AI.
Ethics in AI: Teaching Students to Ask the Right Questions
We will focus on bias, transparency, and helping students think critically about AI-generated content.
January 5, 2026
Trends are not about chasing the newest tool. They are about understanding where learning is headed.
The beginning of a new year brings renewed energy and curiosity. January is not about doing everything differently overnight. It is about noticing what is emerging, reflecting on what matters most, and choosing what is worth our attention.
This week, No Child Left Offline takes a look at a few education and technology trends that are shaping classrooms, libraries, and learning spaces as we move into 2026.
AI is no longer a future topic. It is part of how information is created, shared, and evaluated. In 2026, the focus continues to shift from using AI tools to understanding how they work and how to use them responsibly.
What this looks like in practice:
Teachers using AI to support planning and differentiation
Students learning how to question AI-generated information
Clear expectations around transparency, ethics, and responsible use
AI literacy is about judgment, not shortcuts.
Media literacy continues to move from an event to a mindset. Students are expected to evaluate sources, understand perspective, and recognize bias across subjects and grade levels.
Libraries and classrooms are becoming places where students learn to:
Ask better questions about information
Compare multiple sources and formats
Understand how media shapes opinions and decisions
This work supports critical thinking and civic responsibility.
Students are being asked to show what they know in more flexible and meaningful ways. Creativity is not an extra. It is a pathway to deeper understanding.
We are seeing more:
Choice in how students demonstrate learning
Digital storytelling, design, and reflection
Projects that value process, growth, and voice
When students create, learning becomes personal.
As technology continues to expand, so does the need for balance. Schools are paying closer attention to screen time, focus, and digital well-being.
This includes:
Mindful technology use
Clear expectations around devices
Teaching students how to unplug and recharge
Healthy tech habits support both learning and well-being.
Technology is increasingly being used to connect ideas, people, and disciplines rather than isolate them.
Examples include:
Cross-curricular projects
Collaboration between classrooms and libraries
Real-world connections through research, storytelling, and problem-solving
Learning feels more meaningful when students see how it all fits together.
You do not need to adopt every trend. The most important question is simple:
"Which of these supports my students and my goals right now?"
Small, intentional choices have the biggest impact.
January is a time for possibility, not pressure. Growth happens through reflection, curiosity, and thoughtful action.
No Child Left Offline will continue to share ideas, tools, and strategies that support teaching and learning without unnecessary stress.
We fill focus on practical, low-risk ways AI can support planning, feedback, and organization.
December 29, 2025
The space between holidays and the new year often invites quiet reflection. It is a time when classrooms are still, inboxes are lighter, and there is room to look back before looking ahead.
As No Child Left Offline closes out 2025, this post is simply a pause. A chance to recognize the work, curiosity, and care that educators and media coordinators across our district brought to teaching and learning this year.
Rather than focusing on tools or initiatives, these are patterns we saw emerge across classrooms, libraries, and learning spaces.
Media literacy showed up far beyond a single week in October. Students practiced questioning sources, analyzing perspective, and thinking critically about what they consume and create. Libraries continued to be safe spaces for these conversations.
This year marked a shift in how educators approached artificial intelligence. Instead of avoiding it, teachers began asking thoughtful questions about purpose, ethics, and classroom fit. AI literacy became about judgment and responsibility, not shortcuts.
Students expressed learning through posters, videos, books, reflections, and digital showcases. Creativity was not about perfection. It was about voice, choice, and pride in work.
Even during busy weeks, students engaged in short investigations, research snapshots, and wonder questions. Inquiry did not require long units to be meaningful. Curiosity stayed at the center.
This year included intentional conversations about mindful tech use, wellness, and boundaries. Educators modeled what it looks like to use technology with purpose rather than urgency.
Teaching in today’s digital world requires flexibility, reflection, and constant decision-making. Every lesson planned, every tool evaluated, and every conversation about digital responsibility mattered.
Thank you for:
Trying something new even when time was tight
Asking thoughtful questions instead of rushing to answers
Centering students in every technology decision
Leading with care, patience, and professionalism
Your work continues to shape how students learn, think, and engage with the world.
January will bring renewed energy and new opportunities. In the months ahead, No Child Left Offline will continue to explore:
Emerging technologies and classroom-ready tools
AI literacy with practical, responsible applications
Creativity and student voice
Inquiry, media literacy, and durable skills
Simple strategies that support teaching without adding stress
There will be room to explore, reflect, and grow together.
May this break offer rest, clarity, and moments of joy. Learning continues, but so does the importance of pausing and recharging.
Thank you for being part of the No Child Left Offline journey in 2025. We look forward to continuing the work with you in the new year.
A future-focused look at emerging technologies, instructional shifts, and ideas worth keeping an eye on as we begin a new year.
December 22, 2025
A digital showcase is a short reflection or collection of student work that highlights growth, creativity, or effort over time. It can be completed in one class period and adapted for any grade level.
The focus is not on grades. It is on voice, reflection, and process.
As the semester comes to a close, students and teachers have done a lot of meaningful work. Digital showcases offer a simple way to slow down, reflect, and celebrate learning without introducing new content or heavy prep.
A showcase does not need to be perfect or polished. It simply gives students space to say, “Here’s what I learned, and here’s what I’m proud of.”
Use showcases as a soft assessment instead of a test or worksheet.
Share selected student work on hallway screens or school websites with permission.
Host a quiet “celebration day” where students explore and reflect rather than rush.
Digital showcases help close the semester with purpose and pride.
Ask students to create a single page that answers three questions:
Something I learned
Something I improved
Something I am proud of
Tools to try: Canva, Google Slides, Adobe Express, or Book Creator.
Students record a short message reflecting on their semester. Prompts might include:
A challenge I overcame
A project I enjoyed
A skill I want to keep building
Padlet works well for collecting and sharing reflections in one place.
Collect student work on a shared slide deck or Padlet. Allow students to explore classmates’ work and leave kind or thoughtful comments.
This works especially well in media centers or during flexible learning time.
Students select two or three pieces of work from the semester and add a short reflection for each.
This is a great introduction to portfolio thinking without creating a long-term system.
Invite students to revisit a favorite project and make a small improvement or update.
This reinforces growth mindset and reflection rather than starting something new.
"What is one thing you are proud of from this semester?"
Students can respond with a sentence, a drawing, or a short recording.
This week is also about rest. Reflection is a form of learning, and celebration is form of care.
Thank you for the creativity, patience, and dedication you bring to students every day.
In January, No Child Left Offline will shift into future-focused topics such as emerging technologies, AI Literacy, and creative classroom strategies for the new year.
December 15, 2025
Inquiry begins with a spark of curiosity and grows through the questions students choose to explore.
December is often full of review days, testing schedules, and transition activities. It is also a perfect time to explore something they are curious about. Inquiry does not have to be a long, complex unit. Even short mini-inquiries help students practice essential skills such as questioning, evaluating sources, synthesizing information, and communicating what they learned.
Inquiry encourages students to take ownership of learning and reminds them that research can be joyful, meaningful, and creative.
Invite students to choose a “What if” question connected to your content area. Examples:
What if two historical events happened in a different order
What if animals could speak
What if a natural resource suddenly disappeared
Students gather a few facts, create a short explanation, or design a simple visual to share.
Assign a topic and have students create a single page showing what they discovered. Tools to try:
Canva
Google Slides
Book Creator
Encourage them to include one main idea, one surprising fact, and one question they still have.
Set up three short stations:
A short video clip
A news article or image
A website to explore
Students rotate, gather notes, and compare how different types of media present information.
(Perfect for Media Coordinators)
Students select a scientist, artist, athlete, or figure from your curriculum. They answer five guided questions, such as:
Who is this person?
What problem did they solve?
What challenges did they face?
Why do they matter today?
They can present in a short video, a slide, or a small poster.
Students choose something they know well. They research one new piece of information about the topic, then create a visual explaining it to others.
This is great for building confidence and encouraging voice and choice.
These tools help students organize, explore, and share their research.
ConnectEd Resources in NCEdCloud (Britannica, EBSCO, NCKids, NCMuseum of Natural Sciences Virtual Tours, PBS Kids, etc.)
Newsela for leveled informational texts
SweetSearch for curated results
Canva for posters and visuals
Adobe Express for videos
Book Creator for digital books or portfolios
SchoolAI for generating inquiry questions or reflection prompts
Try a "two-day" inquiry during a review week. Students choose a topic, gather three resources, and create a short product.
Build an inquiry corner in your library or classroom with books, magazines, and QR codes that link to kid-friendly articles.
Use inquiry as a station rotatioin during centers for flexible learning time.
Short bursts of inquiry keep engagement high during the busiest weeks of the year.
The State Library of NC provides access to public library card holders to even more databases and digital resources through NC LIVE than what can be found on your NCEdCloud! Probably the top-used resource educators and librarians tap into from their public library card is the NC KIDS Digital Library which has proven to be such a needed & celebrated platform for children’s eBook and Audiobook options across our state!
Those cards can also open access to helpful learning resources for educators like:
📑Praxis & text prep
📽️documentaries that can be streamed
💬language learning platforms
🤖 and even AI Literacy self-paced courses!
Students and their families can also benefit from:
📑 test prep for ACT, SAT, and AP Exams,
🎒 Learning Express practice materials for a variety of subject areas,
📝GALE and other writing databases,
🗞️plus modern publications like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.
"What is something you learned this week that you want to explore more deeply in the new year?"
Ask students to write their responses on a sticky note or post it digitally before leaving for break.
Celebrating Learning: End-of Semester Digital Showcases
We will close the semester by highlighting easy digital tools students can use to share what they learned in 2025.
December 8, 2025
AI is now part of the world our students are growing up in, and it is becoming part of the tools teachers use every day. The goal of AI literacy is not to master every tool. It is simply to understand how AI works, what it is useful for, and how to use it responsibly in the classroom.
This week, we focus on small, practical steps that help educators build confidence with AI.
Choose something that makes your planning easier. For example:
Ask MagicSchool AI to draft a parent email.
Use Gemini to generate three bell-ringers for a topic you are teaching.
Try SchoolAI to create a warm-up question or vocabulary review.
Success comes from starting small and choosing tasks that save time.
Pick something you normally write, such as a rubric line or an exit ticket question. Then compare your version with an AI-generated version. Ask yourself:
What did it get right?
What did it miss?
How would you improve it?
This helps build your “AI judgment,” which is a key part of literacy.
Follow the WCPS AI Guidelines. These reminders are essential:
Never enter student names or personal information.
Always review and edit AI content before using it.
Be transparent with students when AI assisted in creation.
AI works best when teachers remain in control of the decisions.
Once you are comfortable, try using AI in instruction. Here are ideas that require very little preparation:
Generate differentiated questions for a reading or video.
Create a set of discussion prompts that build critical thinking.
Ask SchoolAI to build a reflection chatbot students can use after a project.
Use Canva Magic Write to help students brainstorm ideas for a digital product.
Choose something you can try in ten minutes or less.
AI literacy is part of preparing students for the future. You can introduce simple concepts without using chatbots directly:
How do algorithms make decisions
What is bias and why does it matter
How do we verify information created by AI
How do we use AI tools responsibly and ethically
These lessons fit naturally into media literacy, digital citizenship, and research skills.
Introduction to Gemini for Education: AI for Teachers (Coming Soon!)
What is one small AI task you are willing to try this week?
Share your ideas during your planning meetings or share on social media! Tag @BIblioTechGal and @BarberTeaches or use #NoChildLeftOfflineWCPS
"The Joy of Discovery: Inquiry Projects That Connect Media and Research"
We will shift into inquiry-based learning and highlight easy research tasks for the weeks before winter break.
December 1, 2025
December can be a busy month for everyone. One of the best ways to keep students focused and engaged is to give them a chance to create. When students design, build, and publish original content, they strengthen communication skills, practice critical thinking, and express themselves in meaningful ways.
This week, we highlight three tools that make it easy to bring creativity into any grade level or subject area.
Canva is perfect for quick, polished visuals that help students communicate ideas.
Ideas to Try
Design an “All About Me in December” one-pager
Create vocabulary posters
Build a class banner or digital holiday greeting
Make character trait trading cards for ELA
Design simple infographics for science or social studies
Why Teachers Love It
Templates make it easy for all learners to get started, and the drag-and-drop interface supports students who may struggle with writing but excel visually.
Adobe Express supports photo editing, video creation, posters, and short multimedia projects.
Classroom Uses:
Create a short “How To” video
Produce digital book covers
Make classroom celebration slideshows
Build simple animations with text and images
Design meaningful holiday messages for staff or families
Tip:
Use the built-in “guidance” features to support students with step-by-step design instructions.
Book Creator is ideal for publishing work, digital storytelling, portfolios, and collaborative class books.
Try These Ideas:
Create a class anthology of poems
Build a digital “December Memories” journal
Publish a research project or biography
Develop a comic strip retelling a historical event
Make a “Kindness Countdown” book for the month
Why It Works:
Students feel proud when they see their work in book format. It groups text, audio, drawings, and video in one easy place, which is perfect for diverse learners.
Choose one tool and try a fifteen-minute creativity prompt this week.
A few ideas:
“Design a postcard for your future self”
“Create a mini poster explaining something you learned this semester”
“Make a digital thank-you card for someone in your school”
Add a few student creations to hallway screens or morning announcements.
Introduce a “Design of the Week” showcase and rotate student work.
Offer a short five-minute demo of your favorite tool during a PLC or staff meeting.
Which tool helped your students express their ideas most clearly this week?
Encourage students or staff to post reflections on a Padlet or submit a short animated video using Adobe Express.
“AI Literacy for Educators: Small Steps to Start”
We will focus on small, safe, and easy ways to build AI confidence in the classroom.
November 24, 2025
As we head into Thanksgiving break, our students and staff are stepping away from the structure of the school day and into a season filled with excitement, family, rest, and often a lot of screen time.
This week, No Child Left Offline focuses on simple ways families can use technology more mindfully, reconnect with one another, and enjoy a healthier balance during the holiday break.
Choose small, meaningful times for disconnecting such as meals, game nights, or the first hour after waking up.
Mini challenge: Try three device-free dinners during break.
Encourage families to talk with students about why we manage screen time, not just how much.
Conversation starter: How does your body feel after a long time on screens? What helps you reset?
Listening to a family-friendly audiobook or podcast can turn screen time into shared time. Suggestions include:
Smash Boom Best
Brains On!
The Past and The Curious
These are great for long drives or quiet afternoons.
Not all screen time is the same. Invite students to:
Create digital Thanksgiving cards in Canva
Design a mini comic in Book Creator
Use a device to make a "What I'm Thankful For" photo collage
A short walk or time outdoors helps reset the brain.
Try this prompt: Take five photos of nature that represents gratitude.
Here are quick activities you can use this week:
Have students write a short list of Mindful Tech Tips for their families
Create a digital "What We're Thankful For Online" padlet such as favorite learning tools or meaningful online communities.
Share a simple parent handout with your top three recommendations for healthy tech use at home.
Common Sense Media: 5 Simple Steps to a Healthy Family Media Diet
This is a short, visual, and practical article for all age groups.
What tech habits help you recharge instead of draining your energy?
Invite your class or staff to write one idea on a sticky note or post it digitally before the break.
Top Tools for Student Creativity: Canva, Adobe Express, Book Creator!
We will shift into creation mode for the holiday season and highlight quick and fun ways to spark creativity in your classroom or media center.
November 17, 2025
As we approach Thanksgiving, it's the perfect time to slow down and celebrate the good in our schools: the colleagues who collaborate, the students who persevere, and the small moments that remind us why we teach.
This week, try blending gratitude and technology to help students (and staff!) create, share, and reflect on what they're thankful for.
Create a "Kindness Chatbot" that guides students through reflection prompts about gratitude, empathy, and kindness. It's a great journaling alternative for younger grades or a mindfulness activity before the break.
In your custom SchoolAI space, build a chatbot with prompts like "Tell me about someone who helped you this week" or "What's something you can do to make someone's day brighter?"
Host a "Gratitude Wall" padlet where students or staff can post short thank-you notes, GIFs, or messages of appreciation.
Create a Gratitude Display in your media center featuring student artwork or digital thank-you graphics made in Canva or Adobe Express.
Add a mini-lesson on digital citizenship through kindness online: how positive posts and comments shape a healthier digital community.
How can technology help us express gratitude more often -- not just in November?
Invite students to post one digital thank-you before Thanksgiving break, or have staff share their favorite "gratitude moment" of the semester.
If your class or library creates digital gratitude projects, take @BiblioTechGal and @BarberTeaches or use #NoChildLeftOfflineWCPS so we can spotlight your celebrations across the district!
November 24: Mindful Tech Use Over the Holidays
A short and meaningful post on unplugging, balancing screen time, and recharging over break.
November 10, 2025
Technology can't replace the human connection in feedback, but it can give us more time to make that connection count.
Great feedback does more than grade -- it guides.
But between grading, planning, and everything else teachers juggle, meaningful feedback can feel impossible to sustain.
That's where the right technology can help. This week's focus is on tools that make feedback faster, smarter, and more personal -- without adding to your workload.
What It Does: Generates personalized comments on writing or projects aligned to rubrics.
Why Teachers Love It: Saves time while reinforcing consistency. Use responsibly -- always review and edit.
What It Does: Adds quick voice notes directly into Google Docs, Slides, or Classroom
Why Teachers Love It: Humanizes feedback -- students hear tone, empathy, and encouragement.
What It Does: Annotate and comment directly on PDFs or student submissions
Why Teachers Love It: Great for detailed, visual feedback on math work or graphic organizers.
What It Does: Integrates with Google Docs for targeted voice and text feedback linked to skills.
Why Teachers Love It: Encourages revision and growth mindset.
What It Does: Lets you build custom feedback chatbots that help students reflect on drafts.
Why Teachers Love It: Perfect for collaborative or visual assignments.
Traditional feedback looks backward. "Feed-forward" looks ahead—it gives students specific guidance for their next attempt.
Try this formula:
Next time, focus on __ so that your __ will be even stronger.
You can even make it fun:
Create a Feed-Forward Template in Google Slides or Book Creator
Ask students to respond with their own "next-step goals."
Or use SchoolAI's reflection chatbots to prompt: "What part of this project would you improve if you had more time?"
Feedback doesn't just happen in classrooms! In the library, try:
Leaving audio book reviews using Mote
Adding digital sticky notes on collaborative research projects
Having students self-assess after a STEM challenge using a quick SchoolAI prompt.
(MagicSchool Feedback Generator, glow and grow comment bank, AI Feedback Coach, Rubric Assistant)
Mote: Voice Feedback for Teachers
How do you make feedback feel personal, not automated?
Share your best strategies using #NoChildLeftOfflineWCPS or tag @BiblioTechGal and @Barberteaches to be featured in a future post!
Digital Gratitude: Tech Tools That Say Thanks!
November 3, 2025
Once, "digital citizenship" meant keeping passwords private and avoiding plagiarism. Now it also means understanding how artificial intelligence influences what we see, create, and share.
As AI becomes part of everyday learning (from Gemini and MagicSchool AI to School AI and Canva's Magic Tools), we must guide students to use these tools ethically, responsibly, and effectively.
Classroom Application:
Teach students to disclose when AI has assisted in a project. Discuss how authorship changes when tools help generate text or art.
Tech Tie-in:
Use Canva Magic Write or Google Gemini side-by-side with student drafts
Classroom Application:
Practice fact-checking AI outputs. Compare AI answers to trusted databases, books, or news outlets.
Tech Tie-In:
Use Perplexity or Newsela to verify responses. You can also use your EBSCO/Britannica resources in your NCEdCloud.
Classroom Application:
Reinforce never entering personal, student, or identifiable data into AI prompts.
Tech Tie-In:
Connect to our WCPS AI Guidelines and Acceptable Use.
Classroom Application:
Explore how AI systems reflect data biases. Ask, "Whose voices might be missing?"
Tech Tie-In:
Try Google's Teachable Machine or AI Experiments from Google Arts and Culture.
Classroom Application:
Encourage students to use AI to create good: kindness campaigns, sustainability posters, study tips.
Tech Tie-In:
Use Adobe Express or Book Creator to publish their work.
A few quick ways to bring this to life this week:
"AI or I" Challenge: Show a mix of AI- and human-created paragraphs or images; have students vote and justify their reasoning.
Digital Footprint Reflection: Have students Google themselves (or their favorite influencer) and analyze what digital footprints reveal.
Kindness by Design: Ask students to use AI tools to design posters that promote empathy, inclusion, or sustainability.
Teacher Chat Debate: Split staff or students into teams (pro-AI vs. caution-first) to model constructive digital discourse.
How can we use AI tools to make our digital spaces more human?
Share your thoughts on social media using #NoChildLeftOfflineWCPS and tag @BiblioTechGal and @BarberTeaches.
November 10: Tools for Better Feedback
We'll showcase quick tools and strategies that help teachers save time and give students richer, more personalized feedback.
October 27, 2025
It's here -- Media Literacy Week (October 27-31)!
This nationwide celebration, led by NAMLE and UNESCO's Global Media and Information Literacy Week, is all about helping students become critical consumers and creative producers of media.
This week, educators and librarians across wayne County are embracing the five pillars of media literacy: Access, Analyze, Evaluate, Create, and Act.
Let's explore how you can turn these into quick wins for your classroom or library.
Middle School students can use Book Creator to publish "Fact or Fiction?" mini-magazines summarizing news articles.
Elementary students can design Fact-Checking Detective posters for the hallway using Adobe Express.
High School students can use MagicSchool AI to critique the reliability of AI-generated summaries.
Here are ready-to-use resources for all grade levels:
NAMLE Media Literacy Week Toolkit - includes graphics, sample social posts, and posters.
Resource Showcase (2025) - highlights classroom-ready, cross-curricular tools and strategies.
UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Curriculum - a full curriculum with modules covering misinformation, AI, representation, data, and more.
10 Ways to Celebrate Global Media and Information Literacy Week - easy ideas to implement
Media Monsters – bias, tone, and message for grades 3+
Checkology – interactive news literacy modules
All4Ed: Beyond Clickbait – article for faculty discussion
A recent University of Cambridge study revealed that younger adults are less accurate than older generations at identifying false headlines, and that the more time someone spends online recreationally, the worse their accuracy becomes.
This week is our reminder that media literacy isn't just about spotting lies, it's about building discernment.
The goal isn't to make students distrust everything, it's to help them understand why something deserves their trust.
Which pillar of media literacy do your students need the most support in -- Access, Analyze, Evaluate, Create, or Act?
Digital Citizenship in the Age of AI
We'll explore how educators can help students make smart, ethical choices as AI becomes part of their everyday learning.
We'd love to feature what's happening in your school!
Tag @BiblioTechGal and @BarberTeaches on socials and use #NoChildLeftOfflineWCPS so we can spotlight your work in an upcoming post! Snapshots, quotes, and hallway displays are all welcome, too!
October 20, 2025
October feels like the perfect month to talk about truth, perspective, and information. And what better place to explore all that than the school library?
With Media Literacy Week just around the corner and Wicked: For Good about to cast its spell on audiences, this is our moment to help students question what they see, hear, and share.
Across the nation, libraries are leading the charge: helping students rediscover focus, curiosity, and the joys of sustained attention as cell phone restrictions and mindful tech initiatives take hold in schools. This month, we can lean into our shared roles as curators of curiosity and champions of critical thinking!
The end of October marks Media Literacy Week, a nationwide celebration led by the National Association for Media Literacy (NAMLE) and UNESCO's Global Media and Information Literacy Week.
This year's theme, "Minds Over Media: Critical Thinking in the AI Era," spotlights five core components of media literacy:
Access
Analyze
Evaluate
Create
Act.
These remind us that media literacy goes far beyond fact-checking. It's about empowering students to think critically, engage responsibly, and create throughtfully in an AI-rich world.
Here are some ways to bring Media Literacy Week to life in your Library or Classroom:
With Wicked: For Good releasing in November, this Broadway tie-in makes a magical bridge to media literacy.
Librarians or teachers can use the story's themes of truth, perspective, and propaganda to spark rich discussion on how narratives and media influence perception.
Our very own NCDPI DTLs Mollee Holloman, Meredith Ward Hill, and Sabrina Steigleman have created an incredible presentation, Defying Reality: Wicked Media Literacy, which they debuted at NCSLMA and will offer virtually on November 6.
Don't miss their Wicked Media Literacy Handout for ideas you can adapt into centers or library stations.
All of these are clickable, classroom-tested, and free for educators:
Media Literacy Week official site (NAMLE) – curated lessons and media literacy toolkits
Media Monsters – fun for grades 3 +
Checkology – powerful news literacy simulations and word-wall vocabulary
Project Look Sharp – 500+ lessons aligned to multiple content areas
All4Ed: Beyond Clickbait – article on fostering media-savvy students
The Misinformation Susceptibility Test – fascinating data showing younger adults are often less accurate than older ones at identifying false headlines
How might you use stories and media to help students recognize how power and perspective shape truth?
October 27: Media Literacy in Action
Real classroom examples, teacher spotlights, and resources for celebrating each of the five pillars.
If you create a Media Literacy display, activity, or lesson next week, tag @BiblioTechGal and @BarberTeaches and use #NoChildLeftOfflineWCPS so we can spotlight your work in November's post!
October 13, 2025
Welcome to No Child Left Offline! This weekly series is designed to keep our Wayne County educators inspired, informed, and connected as we explore the intersection of technology, literacy, and learning.
This year, our focus is on empowering every learner and every educator to thrive in a world shaped by digital transformation and AI innovation. We will spotlight tools, resources, and strategies that help bridge gaps, spark creativity, and ensure all students have equitable access to opportunities technology can provide.
Each quarter, we'll dive into themes aligned with our district's goals and the NC Portrait of a Graduate durable skills framework. Each week you'll find:
A practical tip you can apply immediately
A spotlight story from one of our schools
A featured tool or trend to explore
A mini challenge or reflection question
Kick off your year by exploring a few of the tools we'll be featuring soon:
Adobe Express - quick classroom graphics and student storytelling
MagicSchool and SchoolAI - AI tools designed for educators
Gemini in the Google Workspace - smart assistance within Google tools
Book Creator - for digital portfolios and story-based projects
We'll share tutorials, examples, and lesson tie-ins as we go!
Let's make this an interactive community effort!
Share your successes, classroom ideas, or EdTech wins using #NoChildLeftOfflineWCPS or by tagging @BiblioTechGal and @BarberTeaches on social media. You can also email us with your stories or photos. We would love to spotlight you on an upcoming post!
Together, we'll keep every learner connected -- not just to Wi-Fi, but to opportunity!
Get ready for Media Literacy Week (Oct. 27-31)!!
We'll unpack what it means, share classroom-ready ideas, and highlight resources for teaching student to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act in today's digital world.