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Amir Taron Ayres

@amirtaron.bsky.social
84 followers 95 following 75 posts

mosaic musings from the kid that got kicked out of class

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Reposted by Amir Taron Ayres
Laura DeMars @laurademars.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
How are student voices being centered in this conversation. I’d love to know. Thank you, @amirtaron.bsky.social , for starting this conversation. ✨
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Teacher2Teacher @teacher2teacher.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Amir T asks: "Educators have strong opinions for and against AI use in schools, but how do students feel?" Share your thoughts here: www.edutopia.org/teacher2teac...
edutopia.org
Educators have strong opinions for and against AI use in schools, but how do students feel?
There’s been some great (and sometimes polarizing) dialogue around AI use in education this summer—both here at Teacher2Teacher and on the T2T Facebook page. 👉 Stacy K’s question led a discussion abou...
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Marcus Luther @marcusluther.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
One of my favorite things about this collection: It isn't just finding things that immediately work (though those are there!) but more so how many of them offer mirrors to things I already do—and make me consider my own choices/systems and, potentially, make needed improvements. For example...
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Be sure to check out @Edutopia.org’s Back-to-School Starter Pack. Start the year strong with these valuable reads *and* share with a colleague or three. 😏 I’m grateful to share that one of my articles is included in the Starter Pack. 🙌🏾🙌🏾 (Link in replies.) www.edutopia.org/package/back...
edutopia.org
Back-to-School Starter Pack
A roundup of Edutopia favorites to help you kick off the school year strong, with ideas for classroom design, family communication, community-building, routines and norms, and classroom management.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Educator friends, tap in! 👇🏾 @edutopia.org is hosting two big back to school @teacher2teacher.bsky.social Jam Sessions *at the same time.*🔥 🤔Ask what’s on your mind. 💪🏾Share what you’re planning this year. 👀Take a look at what others are doing. Links to both sessions are in the replies.
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Teacher2Teacher @teacher2teacher.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Teacher educators, Alex V. is updating their syllabus and would love your input. Lend a hand on T2T: www.edutopia.org/teacher2teac...
edutopia.org
Teacher educators: what’s on your syllabus this fall?
This one’s for all of you who teach teachers! What’s your favorite reading on your syllabus this fall? Any classic articles that your students get excited about every year? Or new readings you’re goin...
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
“Use the first week of school to get to know your students.” Great. But how? In this @edutopia.org podcast, @marcusluther.bsky.social provides some easy-lift, very specific ways to begin building the kind of culture every classroom can benefit from. www.edutopia.org/podcast/how-...
edutopia.org
Podcast: How to Jumpstart Belonging in Your Classroom From Day One
The first week of school can set the tone for the entire year. Teacher Marcus Luther shares powerful yet simple routines that build trust, help students feel known, and strengthen the classroom commun...
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 16/07/2026
More slides don’t equal more rigor. @amirtaron.bsky.social explains how to challenge your students in a way that actually builds their skills. #ITeachHistory #EduSky
edutopia.org
Fewer Tasks but More Rigor
Adding more steps to a social studies project doesn’t necessarily make it more rigorous—there are better ways to appropriately challenge students.
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Marcus Luther @marcusluther.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
"When I first started teaching, I would create Sisyphean projects for my kids to work on for days at a time." So appreciate this piece for naming how the quantity and cumbersome-ness of what we assign students often is perceived as "rigorous" when, in fact, there is a much, much better way.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
As a new teacher, I often created cumbersome class projects. I felt like the more tasks kids had to complete, the more I was challenging them. 💪🏾 However, my strategy was flawed. 👀 Here is my latest with @edutopia.org on a better way to create rigorous projects. www.edutopia.org/article/incr...
edutopia.org
Fewer Tasks but More Rigor
Adding more steps to a social studies project doesn’t necessarily make it more rigorous—there are better ways to appropriately challenge students.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
I’m excited about presenting at @isteofficial.bsky.social next week. Here’s the article I wrote for @edutopia.org last year that inspired my session. This piece targets some easy ways to shift AI use from mere task delegation to effective thought partnering. www.edutopia.org/article/ai-t...
edutopia.org
Using AI as a Thought Partner, Not a Shortcut
Engaging in a back-and-forth with AI programs to refine the prompt and the output can help educators generate high-quality learning materials.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 27/05/2026
“Purposeful circulation allows us to gather the most useful, high-leverage data we can to help all students achieve the goals of the lesson,” @amirtaron.bsky.social writes. Here’s what that looks like. 👇 #EduSky
edutopia.org
What Purposefully Circulating Through the Classroom Looks Like
Close observation during tasks helps teachers correct misunderstandings and celebrate when students are getting things right.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 24/05/2026
Veteran teacher and instructional coach @amirtaron.bsky.social gives advice about how to strategically move around the room—like a chessboard! ♟️ #EduSky
edutopia.org
What Purposefully Circulating Through the Classroom Looks Like
Close observation during tasks helps teachers correct misunderstandings and celebrate when students are getting things right.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
What happens after the ‘I do’ and the ‘We do’? What do *you* do? My latest with @edutopia.org is all about purposefully moving through the classroom when students are released to think and work though a task. www.edutopia.org/article/movi...
edutopia.org
What Purposefully Circulating Through the Classroom Looks Like
Close observation during tasks helps teachers correct misunderstandings and celebrate when students are getting things right.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
It’s that time of the school year again. 💆🏾 Vacancies. 📃 Resumes. 👩🏾‍💼 Interviews. Are you being intentional and strategic about recruiting a diverse team of teachers to fill your vacancies? I wrote this @edutopia.org article to share how I’ve done it. www.edutopia.org/article/recr...
edutopia.org
5 Ways to Recruit a Diverse Team of Teachers
By thinking strategically about the interview process, school administrators can attract a diverse pool of strong candidates.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 18/04/2026
“Mannnnnnn, I can’t wait to do some worksheets today!” said no child ever. Worksheets can feel like busywork, asking students for compliance instead of demonstration of learning. So how can you transform the ready-made worksheet into an engaging & vibrant lesson? @amirtaron.bsky.social explains. ⬇️
edutopia.org
Turning a Boring Worksheet Into an Engaging Lesson
A worksheet is like off-the-rack formal wear—it might be OK, but it needs a little tailoring to really fit your students and your learning objective.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Worksheets are not inherently bad. But in order to effectively engage kids, these materials need tailoring—strategy, structure, and facilitated interaction. I wrote this for @edutopia.org to share how I’ve learned to make boring worksheets pop in the classroom. www.edutopia.org/article/maki...
edutopia.org
Turning a Boring Worksheet Into an Engaging Lesson
A worksheet is like off-the-rack formal wear—it might be OK, but it needs a little tailoring to really fit your students and your learning objective.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 27/03/2026
First year teachers: The struggle not to just put on a video for the whole class is real. Here’s what @amirtaron.bsky.social suggests instead. 📺 #EduSky
edutopia.org
An Effective Strategy for Teaching With Videos
Rather than showing long videos, teachers should design lessons that use clips as resources to spur class discussion.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 25/03/2026
Instructional supervisor and Edutopia community facilitator @amirtaron.bsky.social explains how to integrate videos into your classroom *and* keep students engaged. 📺 #EduSky
edutopia.org
An Effective Strategy for Teaching With Videos
Rather than showing long videos, teachers should design lessons that use clips as resources to spur class discussion.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
👨🏾‍🏫📽️ Teaching effectively with video requires far more than simply pressing play. I wrote this piece for @edutopia.org to share how I do it. 📼📺 Thank you for reading and sharing. 🙏🏾 www.edutopia.org/article/usin...
edutopia.org
An Effective Strategy for Teaching With Videos
Rather than showing long videos, teachers should design lessons that use clips as resources to spur class discussion.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 18/02/2026
“The best classroom management affirms a committed relationship with intellectual engagement,” writes @amirtaron.bsky.social. Here’s the strategies he uses to set expectations and engage students. 🌟 #ClassroomManagement #EduSky
edutopia.org
Student Engagement as an Aspect of Classroom Management
An educator whose class rules once ‘looked like the Ten Commandments’ has found that fostering intellectual engagement is much more effective for maintaining order.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 15/02/2026
Classroom management is all about intellectual engagement, says veteran teacher and Edutopia community facilitator @amirtaron.bsky.social. Here’s how he norms learning activities as a way to set expectations for his classroom. 💫 #ClassroomManagement #EduSky
edutopia.org
Student Engagement as an Aspect of Classroom Management
An educator whose class rules once ‘looked like the Ten Commandments’ has found that fostering intellectual engagement is much more effective for maintaining order.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Effective classroom management is not just about rules and behavior. Check out my latest with @Edutopia.org on stirring intellectual engagement into the management mix by norming learning structures.👇🏾👇🏾 Thank you always for reading and sharing. 🙏🏾 www.edutopia.org/article/stud...
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
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Marcus Luther @marcusluther.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Thoughts on the term "warm demander"? I have quite a few, which is why I am really excited to be a part of this conversation with @edutopia.org. Quick Sunday morning question: 👍 or 👎 on that term?
Jam Session invitation to a conversation on being a Warm Demander with Edutopia
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 11/01/2026
Ready to talk about the warm demander approach to classroom management? Jump into our January Jam Session: edut.to/3Zc6sb2 Join us, @marcusluther.bsky.social, @amirtaron.bsky.social, @jessicacabeen.bsky.social, and @alterishea.bsky.social for tips, resources, and advice you can use right away!
Jam Session: The Warm Demander Approach to Classroom Management. With Marcus Luther, Amir Taron Ayres, Jessica Cabeen, & Alissa Alteri Shea. Join us on Edutopia.org! January 11-17. Photos of all 4 featured educators.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
I’m co-facilitating an @edutopia.org Jam Session this week with @alterishea.bsky.social. If you or anyone you know faces challenges with classroom management or if you are skilled as a Warm Demander, jump on the space and get active with us. #EduSky www.edutopia.org/ask-and-answ...
edutopia.org
January 2026 Jam Session: The Warm Demander Approach to Classroom Management
Here’s how to join the chat: Drop your questions, share a challenge you’re facing, or post a strategy about balancing high expectations with deep care—the heart of the warm demander approach. Welcome!...
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Time is currency. Every school leader should internalize this concept as a core value.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
This is a must read for school leaders. “Want real change in schools? Start by subtracting things.” www.ascd.org/el/articles/...
ascd.org
The Power of Doing Less in Schools
Want real change in schools? Start by subtracting things.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 12/12/2025
“When the system isn’t working, and the people in the system are exhausted and overwhelmed, you can’t fix those problems by adding more things to the system and making it more complicated,” professor Justin Reich wrote for ASCD. Here’s how schools can subtract instead. #SchoolLeaders #EduSky
edutopia.org
Why Schools Should Stop Adding and Adopt a ‘Subtraction Mindset’
When trying to solve problems, we rarely think of what to take away. As schools face new crises, is subtraction the secret weapon to getting them back on track?
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 06/12/2025
Want your students to push themselves in the classroom? Veteran educator @amirtaron.bsky.social says the answer is to start with how the material connects to their lives. 🖇️ #EduSky
edut.to
Looking to Increase the Level of Rigor? Start With Relevance
Making sure students see the connection between the material and their own lives cultivates curiosity and interest, allowing a deeper understanding of content.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 04/12/2025
“I use relevance to cultivate curiosity and interest so we can then dive deeply into the material. In other words, relevance opens the door and ushers student thought into the realm of rigor.” 🚪 Here’s how that plays out in @amirtaron.bsky.social’s classroom: #EduSky
edut.to
Looking to Increase the Level of Rigor? Start With Relevance
Making sure students see the connection between the material and their own lives cultivates curiosity and interest, allowing a deeper understanding of content.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
It pains me that the same system that benefits one population simultaneously and often severely cripples another. In affluent schools an IEP creates a competitive edge. In the lowest achieving schools, an IEP can lead to 13 years of basic skills and disproportionate discipline.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Relevance opens the door for rigor. When students can relate, we can push them further. Rigor without relevance is boring…at best. Thank you, @edutopia.org for giving me space to write about this. #EduSky #TeacherEducation www.edutopia.org/article/crea...
edutopia.org
Looking to Increase the Level of Rigor? Start With Relevance
Making sure students see the connection between the material and their own lives cultivates curiosity and interest, allowing a deeper understanding of content.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
AI is not a silver bullet. If you are an educator who is content to plop a prompt into Chat and accept the first thing that comes out, I’m just letting you know…there is a stain on your shirt. #EduSky #AIinEducation
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Teacher2Teacher @teacher2teacher.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Your high expectations can be transformative, reminds educator Kareem Farah:
"Hold students to high expectations. It isn't easy. They will feel like it isn't fair. But over time it will become intrinsic. They will have a newfound belief in themselves and set their own high expectations." —Educator Kareem Farah
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 22/10/2025
Next time you launch a new unit, try this: engaging students with big, exciting themes instead of going straight to vocabulary! @amirtaron.bsky.social explains how. 🚀 #EduSky #MiddleSchool #ITeachSocialStudies #HistoryEducation
edut.to
Setting Up an Engaging Launch for a New Unit in Middle School
By encouraging students to think deeply at the beginning of units, teachers can help them see why the material is relevant to their lives.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
When engagement and relevance break bread together, kids generate electricity. #EduSky
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Teachers and admin: as we approach a new marking period and new unit, check out my new @edutopia.org piece on launching into deep thinking from day one. #EduSky www.edutopia.org/article/them...
edutopia.org
Setting Up an Engaging Launch for a New Unit in Middle School
By encouraging students to think deeply at the beginning of units, teachers can help them see why the material is relevant to their lives.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
A deficit mindset will always rob you of contentment and peace of mind.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Frustration is a thief of progress. When you are a problem solver, understanding your locus of control is a necessary skill set in order to nullify the inevitable moments, people, and systems that can frustrate your work and your purpose.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
#aiineducation is bigger than time saving and reducing workload. The question is, are you using AI to maximize your effectiveness as an educator? I recently had a great discussion with @classtechtips.com about this. #EduSky check it out. classtechtips.com/2025/09/23/a...
classtechtips.com
AI Strategies from an Instructional Supervisor with Amir Taron Ayres - Easy EdTech Podcast 338 - Class Tech Tips
Elevate lesson planning & leadership with Amir Taron Ayres! Explore practical AI strategies to design lessons & support diverse learners.
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Monica Burns @ClassTechTips @classtechtips.com · 23/09/2025
NEW today! #EduSky 🎧 How can AI support teachers and streamline lesson planning? 🧠 Amir Taron Ayres (@amirtaron.bsky.social) shares practical strategies in this Easy EdTech Podcast episode. 🎙️ Perfect for educators and coaches looking to use AI with intention. classtechtips.com/2025/09/23/a...
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
I recently had the privilege of speaking with Monica Burns (aka @classtechtips.com) about AI strategies for educators on her Easy EdTech Podcast. You can listen on the web or on any podcast app. Be sure to listen and share your thoughts. 🙏🏾 Stream right here: classtechtips.com/2025/09/23/a...
classtechtips.com
AI Strategies from an Instructional Supervisor with Amir Taron Ayres - Easy EdTech Podcast 338 - Class Tech Tips
Elevate lesson planning & leadership with Amir Taron Ayres! Explore practical AI strategies to design lessons & support diverse learners.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
1/2: I read a social media post today on another app that said, “teachers should not have to sacrifice rigor for relevance.” This is a false dichotomy. Rigor and relevance are not at odds. No such trade off is necessary. #EduSky
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
1/ Two words that don’t often bode well for me on educator resumes: “Title I” as in, “Teacher at Title I School” or “Title I Teacher.” What does this even mean? Is this an indicator to Black and brown schools that you are qualified to teach these “Title I” students? #EduSky
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Looking forward to this #ISS session. Mixing and Mastering 101. #InnovativeSchoolsSummit #EduSky
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
Today is a Fela Kuti day. Conduct your playlist accordingly.
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Amir Taron Ayres @amirtaron.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Was just discussing this idea in the world of secondary ed w/ a colleague. Educators use AI to lighten their workload. Students do the same. Yet, the same educators disparage student AI use. The goal for our students should be AI fluency. #EduSky #EduSkyAI
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Mike Kentz @mikekentz.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
New research raises red flags about long-term #LLM use (and confirms what most educators already knew)... A 206-page study out of Boston tracked student writing across three modes: 1. ChatGPT 2. Google 3. Brain-only #cognition #AIinEducation #EduAI #AIinEdu #EduSky arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
arxiv.org
Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task
This study explores the neural and behavioral consequences of LLM-assisted essay writing. Participants were divided into three groups: LLM, Search Engine, and Brain-only (no tools). Each completed thr...
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