Pinterest... a Teacher's Secret Weapon

Digital literacy is becoming increasingly importance as electronics and technology stake their claims in our classrooms. Teachers have to constantly adapt and come up with new lessons and new ways to keep their students engaged. One of the best tools a teacher can learn to use for their planning and instruction is Pinterest!

Pinterest is a website that you can create an account and essentially collect or “pin” links and ideas on just about anything and everything. This makes it an elementary school teacher’s secret weapon. Pinterest is a fantastic resource for  teachers for so many reasons…

1. SHARING IS CARING

There is no copy right on pinterest you can re-pin photos and links from other people’s boards as freely as you wish. In fact, this type of sharing and re-posting is actively encouraged. Teachers can collect and share ideas for lessons that other can see, use and add to. Finding inspiration can be difficult half way through the year, or when you have some particularly unengaged students, but with pinterest, you have a plethora of tips, tricks and fun activities right at your finger tips.

2. NETWORKING

Not only can you borrow ideas from other teachers, it is an excellent way to network and collaborate with people you may not have otherwise met. As much as technology has taken over a large chunk of our social realm, our social skills are still as important as ever. Although we may practice them through social media or technological means, the concept is the same. Networking opens up opportunities, for just for career advancement, but for personal growth in your teaching. Could you imagine what a couple teachers from different school boards, provinces or even countries could come up with in an open, fun online setting?

3. IT’S VISUAL

            We learn a lot about Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, and how our students have different learning styles. As teachers we strive to reach each student on their terms because we want to see them succeed, but sometimes we forget, teachers have learning styles too! Just because the majority of your students are auditory learners, doesn't mean you are! Pinterest is developed on a visual platform that is appealing to look at and work with. If you like to see your ideas develop on a screen in front of you, Pinterest is for you.

4. ORGANIZATION IS KEY

            Our lives are busy, we can’t deny it. How many times have you seen something online, loved the idea and book marked it, and then it was never seen again. It's hard to keep track of all the articles, and posts we come across on a daily basis. Enter, Pinterest. The functionality of a board is to collect “pins” that you now have access to again later. You can have as many boards as you want, dividing them up by subject, grade, or anything else, and then pin each thing in the appropriate board. This is an organized teacher’s  dream.

5. THERES MORE…..?

Not only can you find some awesome lesson ideas… I’ll link a couple below:

The Lorax Lesson

Adios Textbooks!

Root Beer Floats Matter!

You can find ideas for so much more. Classroom atmosphere, desk set up, decorations and classroom management, the list goes on. You can find all of it on a variety of Pinterest boards. So maybe you're not using a Christmas décor for your room in Decemeber, Pinterest has you covered with other culturally pluralistic ideas. Are your classroom management techniques losing their effectiveness? Take a look on Pinterest for some new techniques to keep your students on task and engaged.

There are so many resources out there for teachers, professional and otherwise. Pinterest is a fun, casual way to enhance your teaching, your classroom, and youre student’s learning!