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:

• Phones are impacting how we interact with our kids - even when we’re not even using them.

• Here’s how student use of AI is wrecking havoc on their mental health.

• It’s official - here’s why States really need to up their game when it comes to math teacher prep.

TECH TOOL

Lesson planning without the 2-hour Google spiral

Researching for future lessons is a mess. 

You start with one question -“What’s a good intro activity for ecosystems?”- and twenty tabs later, you’re knee-deep in a teacher forum from 2014 arguing about frogs. 

Between blog posts, Pinterest boards, PDFs, and outdated district links, what should be a 10-minute search turns into a 90-minute spiral. Teachers don’t need more content - they need smarter ways to find and use it.

The Solution: Comet by Perplexity

Comet is a new AI-powered web browser from the folks at Perplexity. Unlike traditional search engines that just list results, Comet gives you full-sentence answers, shows you the sources, and lets you refine or expand your search in real time - without leaving the page. 

Ask a question like “How do I teach climate change to grade 6 students?” and Comet responds with a clean, cited summary and clickable references, all in one tidy window.

Better yet, Comet was designed for exploration. 

The sidebar suggests related questions, tracks what you’ve searched, and allows follow-ups with a single click. That means less hopping between tabs and more clarity. It’s research without the rabbit holes.

In Your Classroom:

It was only a matter of time before someone figured out how to combine AI with a traditional web browser. 

Here’s how you can start using it this week:

Strategies

• Plan Smarter, Faster: Instead of sifting through ten websites to find that one perfect activity or resource, use Comet to ask your question and get an AI-generated response with verified links instantly.

• Model Better Student Research: Pull Comet up on your projector and walk students through how to verify sources, refine a question, or compare perspectives. Since citations are built in, you can teach information literacy while doing actual class prep.

• Stay Focused: Use Comet’s AI summaries to quickly vet whether a source is worth your time. No more scanning five pages just to realize the resource doesn’t fit your grade or subject.

Comet is currently free for those using premium versions of Perplexity, however, the plan is to make it free for all. It’s currently by invitation only for everyone else while they ramp things up for non-premium users. 

We’re not saying Comet will replace your instincts, creativity, or that one teacher friend who always knows the perfect resource. 

But when you’re trying to build a lesson at 9 p.m. and your brain is fried, having a browser that gives you answers and receipts? That’s game-changing.

BRAINY BITS

Five Minutes to a Fitter, Happier You

What if squeezing in just one short burst of exercise each day could leave you feeling stronger and more energized? 

A recent study found that a five‑minute, body‑weight routine boosted both fitness and mood in adults who’d never set foot in a gym.

The Study: Effects of 5-minute exercise

Twenty‑two mostly inactive adults (ages 32–69; four men, eighteen women) first spent two weeks doing nothing new, then jumped into a four‑week trial of daily, five‑minute workouts. 

Each session included slow, controlled reps of four moves - chair squats, reclines, wall push‑ups, and heel drops - with tougher options unlocked as strength improved. 

Before and after each phase, researchers measured everything from grip strength and sit‑up counts to flexibility, step‑test heart‑rate recovery, and even mood surveys. 

The Results:

After four weeks, participants stuck to 91% of sessions and saw no change in weight, body fat, or jump height - but they did gain real strength and flexibility. 

Leg strength jumped 13.0% on average, push‑up counts rose 66.1%, sit‑ups climbed 51.1%, and sit‑and‑reach flexibility improved 9.1% - all from a 5 measly minutes per day. 

Their 3‑min step‑test heart‑rate response fell by 4.8%, signaling better fitness while mental‑health scores improved by 16% and vitality by 20%. 

In Your Classroom:

Busy teachers, take note - carving out just five minutes daily for simple body‑weight moves can pay off.

Strategies

• Micro‑movement breaks: Schedule a 5‑minute “class stretch” before recess - chair squats and wall push‑ups get everyone moving and alert.

• Progressive challenge: Offer easier and harder variations so every student (and fellow staff) feels successful and stays motivated.

• Well‑being check‑in: Pair the routine with a quick self-mood survey to model healthy habit tracking and show students the mind–body link.

Physical health and mental well‑being go hand in hand so those five‑minute moves can boost more than just muscle. 

Of course, it’s not a magic trick for perfect behavior (wouldn’t that be nice?), and we know not everyone can do every exercise at the same level. Feel free to swap in seated stretches, guided breathing, or gentle chair‑based movements when needed. 

It’s simply a quick, researched-backed, and adaptable way to get bodies moving and spirits lifted.

REFERENCES

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

Tech Talk:

Perplexity (2025). Browse at the Speed of Thought.  Retrieved from https://www.perplexity.ai/comet

Brainy Bits:

Kirk, B.J.C., Mavropalias, G., Blazevich, A.J. et al. Effects of a daily, home-based, 5-minute eccentric exercise program on physical fitness, body composition, and health in sedentary individuals. Eur J Appl Physiol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-025-05757-7