We spend a lot of time trying to motivate students - better lessons, clearer instructions, stronger routines.

But what if part of motivation is already there?

This week’s Brainy Bit research looks at something surprisingly simple: students may feel better helping others than focusing on themselves. And this week’s Tech Tool helps bring more calm and clarity to your classroom without saying a word.

You’re about to become an even better teacher in the next 7 minutes.

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And now, back to making you an even better teacher. ⬇️ 

TECH TOOL

The Quietest Classroom Management Tool

There’s a moment every teacher knows: repeating instructions for the third time, voice getting louder, wondering how this became the strategy.

The Solution: ClassroomScreen

ClassroomScreen is a browser-based tool that puts everything you need on one screen. Timers, instructions, random name pickers, noise level visuals, and quick activities all live in one place.

What makes it powerful is how it supports routines. 

Use it to replace daily slides, engage students with quick prompts, control the clock during transitions, customize your screen for different lessons, and even drop in simple games. Students quickly learn to follow what they see, not what’s repeated.

The free version covers almost everything most classrooms need. If you want more customization however, it’s about $3 USD a month.

Is This For YOUR Classroom?

You’ll need a screen or projector for it to work well. And like any system, it takes a bit of consistency to build routines. But once students know the cues, it runs itself.

Strategies That Work:

1. Silent Transitions: Use timers and icons so students move without verbal reminders.

2. Attention Reset Signals: Visual cues replace calling for attention across the room.

3. Student-Led Flow: Let students track time and expectations themselves using the screen.

Less talking, fewer reminders, smoother lessons. ClassroomScreen lets the room run quietly - so you don’t have to.

🚀 Noteworthy News

👉️ Disturbing: Nearly half of teachers are now seeing kids with eating disorders in class.

👉️ Manipulative (on purpose): Social media isn’t just addictive—it’s engineered to keep you hooked.

👉️ Frustrating: Students actually like volunteering—but the system is making it harder than ever.

BRAINY BIT

Giving Feels Better Than Getting

We spend a lot of time teaching kindness.

Turns out… we might be reinforcing something kids already feel.

TLDR: In a study of 134 toddlers, children were happier when giving treats to others than when receiving them. Even more interesting - they were also happier giving to others than giving to themselves.

The Study: Kids are happiest when they’re kind

Researchers created a simple game where toddlers interacted with a puppet and a set of treats. Kids went through different scenarios: receiving treats, giving their own treats, giving extra treats, watching someone else give, and even giving to themselves.

Their happiness wasn’t guessed; it was measured. Independent observers rated each child’s facial expressions on a 1–7 scale, from frown to full laughter.

The Results:

The pattern was clear.

When toddlers gave to others, happiness jumped to about 5.1 out of 7, compared to ~4.3 when receiving.

They were also less happy when giving to themselves, showing it wasn’t just about following instructions or getting attention.

And simply watching kindness? Better than nothing - but not as powerful as doing it.

In YOUR Classroom:

Students may already be wired to feel good from helping. Our job as teachers is to give that instinct somewhere to go, and in older grades, this can evolve into peer support, collaboration, and leadership that drives deeper engagement.

Here’s how this study should impact your classroom this week:

Strategies That Work:

1. Build micro-kindness moments: Create quick, daily chances for students to help or share.

2. Make kindness active: Have students participate, not just observe.

3. Focus on impact: Highlight how actions helped others - not just behavior.

Kindness isn’t just taught.

It might be one of the first ways students learn to feel successful..

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

We would LOVE to hear from you!

Reply to this email, or send us a message on Instagram! We’re here to walk with you in these crazy times!

Part of what makes The PEN Weekly community so special is the fact that our readers are teachers from around the world! We’re not going to lie, we think that’s pretty darn cool!

We’ll see you again on Monday 🍎

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