Buchtman Diving in on Web Resources

Hello! The tech tool of this week is Write the World , an online writing platform made just for teens. It’s aimed at grades 7-12 and gives students a safe space to write, share, and get feedback from other young writers all over the wold. The goal of this program is simple but powerful: help teens build confidence in their writing and learn to give and receive constructive feedback. What I really like about Write the World is the sense of community it creates. Students can join weekly prompts or take part in themed competitions. They also offer writing workshops that are a great option for students who want to build their skills outside of just doing the regular prompts. One of the best parts is how much the program encourages revision. Students don’t just post their work and move on, they can edit their writing pieces after receiving feedback, which makes the process feel more real and professional. It teaches them that writing isn’t just about a grade but how it’s about growing and c...

Hello! Our tech tool of the week is Wild Classroom , a free resource hub run by the World Wildlife Fund to help educators and families connect students with the natural world. The program is designed for all grades and subject areas. Wild Classroom offers lesson plans, activity guides, printables, videos, and games that focus on topics like wildlife conservation, ecosystems, climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable living. The goal of the program is to inspire students to care about the environment and to empower them with the knowledge and skills to protect it. One feature that I also enjoyed in Wild Classroom is the Adoption Center. This is where students and families can symbolically “adopt” an animal (like a sea turtle, red panda, or emperor penguin) to support conservation efforts. While the adoption itself is a donation based program run through WWF, it can be a meaningful impact on the classroom. Teachers can incorporate it into fundraising projects, writing activities ...

Hello! This week we will dive into the tech tool of  Book Creator , a program that lets students of all ages and abilities create digital books. Students can use text, images, audio, video, drawings, and even embedded content like maps or quizzes to bring their stories to life. This allows students to not just be consumers of information, but as authors and designers of their own work. One of the things I appreciate most about Book Creator is how inclusive it is. The platform supports features like voice recording and read aloud tools that makes it accessible for emerging readers, English learners, and students with diverse learning needs. The program is browser based, so it works on Chromebooks, iPads, and most devices without requiring downloads. Students create books with a drag-and-drop style means even very young students can quickly learn how to build pages, insert photos, and narrate their own stories. Book Creator offers both free and paid options. With the free plan, teach...

Hello! For this week our tech tool will be EarSketch , a free platform developed by Georgia Tech that teaches students how to code through music creation. Designed for grades 6-12, EarSketch uses popular programming languages of Python and JavaScript, but instead having students try to code a “Hello World" message, students write scripts that generate beats, loops, and full music tracks. It’s a way to blend computer science with artistic expression that helps students see coding not just as something technical, but as something creative and personally meaningful. What stands out immediately is how engaging EarSketch is, especially for students who might not originally see themselves as “tech people.” The platform comes with a vast library of sounds (including hip hop, EDM, pop, and Latin samples) which students can combine and modify using their code. They learn fundamental programming concepts like loops, functions, and variables. The feedback they get isn’t just seeing an image ...

Hello! The tech tool of the week is  Elementari , an online platform that helps K-12 students learn coding by having them create interactive stories, games, and apps. Something I love about Elementari is how the platform is designed so students don’t need any prior coding experience. Instead of writing lines of complex code, they can simply drag blocks or visual elements into place; making the program as easy as building a slideshow. This makes it accessible for younger learners or anyone who might feel intimidated by programming. It keeps keeping the focus on creativity and storytelling, while still teaching fundamental coding concepts like events, logic, and sequencing. For the classroom Elementari comes with a whole library of ready to use lessons, making it easy for educators to get started. There’s also the option to build your own custom lessons, so teachers can tie projects directly to what students are learning in the classroom; whether that’s a retelling of a historical ev...