MAKING IT EASIER TO BE A BETTER TEACHER

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Here’s our weekly roundup of interesting education stories from around the world. Click each link to dive deeper:

• Let your students day dream - it helps your students retain more info according to some recent research.

• “Understanding” is a terrible learning goal. Here’s how to replace it!

• Maybe phone bans aren’t the answer - at least according to this researcher.

BRAINY BITS

Can puppets teach kids to stop fighting?

This week, we’re diving into a 2022 study that tested whether short, SEL-based (Social and Emotional Learning) lessons using manipulatives like puppets could help young students solve their own conflicts.

The answer? Sort of. Kids learned the steps - but using them in real life is a different story.

The Study: Peacemaking with “Cool Clues”

In a rural Missouri afterschool program, 27 K–2 students participated in four 45-minute lessons on resolving conflict, using puppets, games, and scenarios with familiar characters.

The lessons taught four “Cool Clues”:

1. Use “I” statements
   

2. Show empathy
   

3. Take responsibility
   

4. Solve problems together

Students practiced these steps through role-plays and storytelling activities, with pre- and post-tests measuring their understanding along with teacher observations.

The Results

Students’ knowledge of conflict resolution improved, especially in empathy and recognizing their part in a disagreement.

But when teachers rated student behavior? There was no major shift. The kids understood peacemaking - but didn’t always act it out on the playground.

In Your Classroom:

Kids need more than knowledge - they need structured time to practice SEL.

Here’s what this study suggests:

Strategies

• Make it concrete: Teach “I feel…” statements and let students role-play real classroom moments.

• Emphasize empathy: Have students reflect on how their actions affect others—especially during classroom conflict.

• Repetition wins: Four lessons weren’t enough. SEL habits build with regular, low-stakes practice.

Teaching kids to be peacemakers isn’t a one-and-done. But with puppets, patience, and practice, it can become part of who they are from a young age.

TECH TOOL

Wait… I’m Supposed to Know About AI Now?

AI is reshaping education - but most teachers didn’t exactly minor in machine learning. 

Between grading and lesson planning, there’s little time left to figure out what AI is, let alone how to use it. 

PD sessions often gloss over the details or dive too deep, leaving many educators stuck somewhere between “curious” and “completely overwhelmed.”

The Solution: OpenAI Academy

OpenAI Academy is a free, self-paced online platform designed to make teachers fluent in AI without frying their brains - think of it like a ChatGPT and AI academy. 

Tons of courses can be accessed instantly to take you from beginner to pro at your own pace. And they’re even specialized just for teachers.

Courses like Intro to AI for K–12 Educators and ChatGPT Foundations break down big concepts into bite-sized, classroom-relevant modules. They’re short, jargon-free, and focused on real-world use, including ethics, student safety, and saving time with tools like ChatGPT.

In Your Classroom:

While resources like The PEN Weekly (😘) can be a great way to keep up with edtech developments and strategies, we can only go so deep in a weekly email.

OpenAI Academy is a perfect option for those who want to dive deeper into using AI-like tools in their classroom (and beyond!).

Here’s how you can get started with OpenAI Academy this week:

Strategies

• Sneak It Into a Prep Period: One module, one coffee, one new AI skill. Easy.

• Start a Teacher Tech Circle: Watch a module, bring snacks, and swap takeaways with colleagues.

• Keep It Bookmarked for the Next Tech Meltdown: When someone says “AI is going to replace teachers,” you’ll be ready with calm, informed counterpoints.

You don’t need to become an AI expert - you just need to stop feeling lost.

OpenAI Academy meets teachers where they are: busy, curious, and a little skeptical. Think of it as your no-pressure guide to surviving (and thriving in) the AI age - no lab coat (or credit card) required.

REFERENCES

This week’s issue adapts information from the following sources below:

Tech Talk:

OpenAI. (2025). OpenAI Academy. Retrieved from https://academy.openai.com/

Brainy Bits:

Rembusch, Emily, Parker Heman, Elizabeth Kleitz, Jenna Leong. (2022) “Peacemaking: Conflict Resolution Using Cool Clues for Elementary Students.” Spectrum, Issue No. 8. doi: 10.29173/spectrum133