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:

• Here’s how these Texas teachers are making over $100k - and no, it’s not from TPT.

• Recent data shows that young males are struggling with more than just academics.

• Are we preparing students for a work-world that might not exist?

TECH TOOL

My brain is full of ideas—and 12 open tabs

Summer break hits and suddenly you’re trying to plan a family trip, reorganize your classroom, read half a dozen PD books, and jot down curriculum tweaks… all while switching between text threads, email drafts, screenshots, and sticky notes that fall off your fridge.

You don’t need more ideas. You need somewhere to put them.

This week, we’re re-tooling a fan favorite to supercharge your classroom and your summer.

The Solution: Padlet

Padlet is a deceptively simple tool that acts like a digital bulletin board - but with way more flexibility. 

Users can drag and drop links, images, notes, files, and videos onto a clean visual layout that stays easy to sort and fun to look at.

This summer, it can double as:

• A trip planning board, where your whole group adds packing lists, flight info, Airbnb links, or food ideas without losing anything in the group chat abyss.
  

• A brain dump for back-to-school, where you drop classroom layout inspiration, links to edtech tools, or favorite issues of The PEN Weekly (hint hint) as they randomly hit you poolside.
  

You can make boards private, shared, or fully collaborative - and the mobile app syncs with your desktop version, so it’s accessible wherever your summer takes you.

In Your Classroom:

Padlet isn’t just for students (although it shines there too). 

This is your sandbox. It’s like Pinterest and Google Docs had a well-organized, teacher-friendly baby.

Here’s how you can use it (even if you’re already on vacation):

Strategies

• Plan a family trip collaboratively. Create columns for each travel category (lodging, food, activities, documents) and let family or friends contribute in one place. No more forwarding screenshots.

• Start your “Next Year” board now. Drop in websites, photos, or ideas you might use in September. It’s a no-pressure way to ease your brain into your next classroom.

• Tuck it away for fall: When school returns, use Padlet with students for mind maps, digital portfolios, or a (very) simple LMS alternative.

Padlet’s free version should be more than enough to get you started, but monthly subscriptions are available to take it to the next level.

You don’t need another task manager - you need a place to think visually. 

And yes, one that will still be there when the school bell rings again.

BRAINY BITS

Do healthy habits in childhood protect teen mental health?

This week’s Brainy Bit digs into a recently published 8-year study showing that how kids move - and scroll - today can shape their stress and mood by mid-adolescence.

The Study: Childhood habits and teen mental well-being

Researchers followed 504 Finnish children (ages 6–9) from the nation’s PANIC study (Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children), gathering self-reported and device-measured data on physical activity, screen time, sleep, and diet at three points over eight years. 

At age 15, 187 teens completed surveys on perceived stress and depressive symptoms.

The team then linked cumulative behaviors to mental health, adjusting for factors like sex, age, and parental education.

The Results:

Across the eight-year span, higher self-reported total physical activity - especially supervised exercise - was associated with lower stress and fewer depressive symptoms. 

In contrast, more screen time was associated with higher stress and depression scores, with mobile device use showing the strongest link to both outcomes. 

Device-measured light activity unexpectedly correlated with higher stress and depression in boys, suggesting that not all movement confers the same benefit.

In Your Classroom:

This study underscores that structured, supervised activity (like team sports) delivers the biggest mental-health payoff, while unchecked mobile use can quietly erode well-being. 

Here’s how you can translate these findings into action:

Strategies

• Built-In Activity Breaks: Schedule short “movement interludes” between lessons to mimic supervised exercise benefits.

• Screen-Smart Routines: Establish clear “tech-off” periods (e.g., during independent work or transitions) and encourage students to log non-academic screen time.

• Family Engagement Tips: Send home a monthly “Wellness Checklist” with simple goals to involve parents in balancing screens and play.
  

By weaving deliberate movement and mindful screen-use practices into daily routines, you’ll help students cultivate healthier habits that pay mental-health dividends well beyond the classroom.

And remember: adults aren’t immune. This summer, if you’re able, consider putting your phone down for a few hours each day in favor of a some real-life activity. Those small breaks can clear your mind - and give you a head start on next school year with a fresher, more resilient mindset.

REFERENCES

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

Tech Talk:

Padlet (2025). Visual collaboration for creative work and education. Retrieved from https://padlet.com/

Brainy Bits:

Haapala EA, Leppänen MH, Kosola S, et al. Childhood Lifestyle Behaviors and Mental Health Symptoms in Adolescence. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(2):e2460012. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.60012