In the realm of personalized learning with AI, BOOKR aims to provide individualized instruction and feedback at scale, similar to human tutoring. This approach tailors educational experiences to students’ unique needs, preferences, and learning pace.

BOOKR has achieved notable milestones in AI-powered content creation, specifically AI-generated animated books. The AI technology employed by BOOKR effectively resolves the consistency issues often associated with AI-generated visuals. This ensures the delivery of curriculum-based stories with a harmonious artistic style. Furthermore, the AI has been trained to replicate the artistic style of senior illustrators, heralding the arrival of an AI-illustrated and animated story, marking a transformative moment in content creation.

BOOKR’s commitment extends to developing advanced AI models for educational and production workflows. These models serve as the foundation for the company’s personalized software, BOOKR Class, guaranteeing tailored and enriching learning experiences.

To augment the learning journey, BOOKR places a strong emphasis on real-time AI-powered feedback and assessment. This approach enables the measurement of student progress, identification of areas requiring improvement, and ongoing optimization of learning materials.

Moreover, BOOKR has introduced pioneering AI-driven features, including comprehension tests, AI-generated word lists, and storytelling-based chatbot games. These innovations further enhance learning and assessment, fostering structured learning, providing instantaneous feedback, and ensuring universal accessibility. Ultimately, BOOKR’s personalised approach to education aims to empower students and educators, marking a significant leap toward a brighter future in education.

With the introduction of these additional levels, our educational team aims to bring a new level of nuance and depth to the BOOKR Class Library, creating a more tailored and comprehensive learning journey for each and every student.

So, why the switch to 9 levels, and how will it benefit you as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher? Let’s delve into the advantages and possibilities that this expansion brings to the classroom.

During the past 2 years since BOOKR Class 2.0 came out, we have learnt and experienced a lot about the functioning of the library, the habits of our users and the teaching practices. 

To better nuance the BOOKR Class Library, our educational team decided to extend the currently available 6 levels to 9 levels, introducing new “transition levels”.

The target age group will remain 4-14, and the proficiency level from pre-beginner to intermediate (pre-A1 to B2), but with more nuance and transition between levels.

Why switch to 9 levels and how does it benefit your work as an EFL teacher? 

With 9 levels instead of 6, teachers can provide a more nuanced and differentiated learning experience for their students. Different students have different levels of proficiency and progress at different rates, so having more levels allows teachers to better tailor the content to each student’s needs and abilities.

By increasing the levels, the content can cover a wider range of language skills, such as vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension. This can help students develop their English language skills in a more comprehensive and structured manner, building a solid foundation for their language development.

More levels provide teachers with greater flexibility in lesson planning. They can easily adjust the content and difficulty level based on their students’ progress and needs, allowing for a more adaptive and personalized approach to English language instruction.

Having more levels allows for more accurate assessment and monitoring of students’ progress. Teachers can easily track students’ performance across different levels, identify areas for improvement, and provide targeted feedback, which can support effective assessment and monitoring of student learning outcomes.

How should you image the CEFR levels aligning with BOOKR Class’s classification of levels? Here’s a cheat sheat, save it, copy it, print it and have it handy if needed. 

Levels one by one

Level 1 was created for young learners who are encountering the English language for the first time. It aims to familiarize learners with the target language and establish basic skills. Some of the Level 1 books are recommended for ages 0-8 and are tailored to young learners who may not yet have reading skills.

The books

The games

Level 2 is designed for beginner learners to get familiar and comfortable with the basics of the English.

The books

The games

Level 3 for beginner learners to improve their confidence with the basics of the English language. 

The books

The games

Level 4 is designed for beginner learners who seek to improve their language skills.

The books

The games

Level 5 is designed for pre-intermediate learners to expand their basic knowledge and improve their language skills

The books

The games

Level 6 is designed for pre-intermediate learners to venture beyond their immediate surroundings.

The books

The games

Level 7 for intermediate learners who want to confidently engage with topics beyond their immediate environment.

The books

The games

Level 8 is designed for intermediate learners to broaden their vocabulary and familiarity with different genres and registers of the language.

The books

The games

Level 9 is designed for upper-intermediate learners to dive deeper into various topics.

The books

The games

You’ve come to the right place, if you’re keen on exploring when kids learn to read, the challenges they face, why reading is crucial for their academic and personal growth and, of course, some practical advice on how to get started with the habit building.

Last but not least, we will not let you leave empty-handed. A list of resources is also waiting for you to support your students or your child’s reading development. Let’s get started, taking a look at the basics.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, most children learn to read by the end of third grade. However, children develop at their own pace, and some may learn to read earlier or later.

With gaming apps, television, YouTube, and too much screen time, it can be challenging to cultivate a reading habit in children. However, reading is a critical skill that fosters creativity, improves vocabulary, and enhances cognitive development.

Parents and educators can help young learners develop reading habits by setting aside time each day for reading and providing a conducive environment that encourages reading.

Habits are not easy to build and require some key concepts to be true: consistency and strategy. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it does take a couple of clever steps to achieve, but it is so worth it!

Let’s see what are some of these steps that you can take. 

Begin reading to the little ones as early as possible. Reading to children in kindergarten is very useful, even if, at this point, the child isn’t an active participant.

This experience helps them prepare for the primary school and nurture their love for stories.

As students develop their reading skills, encourage them to read independently. Start with simple books and gradually progress to more challenging books, but with a smart digital tool, you could even assign books to your students through the app and give homework.

BOOKR Class for example enables students to choose their interests – such as sports, nature or animals – and the system automatically shows them books they are likely to read and enjoy. What a great way to engage them!

Create a comfortable and inviting reading environment. Ensure there’s adequate lighting, a comfortable seat, and no distractions.

Children are more likely to develop a reading habit if they see their parents and teachers reading regularly.

Set an example by reading yourself and discussing books with them – of course always in an age-appropriate manner.

Reading is crucial for not only a child’s academic but personal growth. It helps to develop language skills, fosters creativity, and improves cognitive development. Reading also helps children to develop empathy, social awareness, and understanding of different cultures.

Additionally, reading improves academic performance, enhances vocabulary, and improves comprehension skills. The list of benefits goes on and on, however one element stands out: reading has a positive impact on children’s mental health. 

Don’t believe me, believe the experts of leading universities and organizations across the globe, here are some statistics that support the positive impact of reading:

These statistics all highlight the same baseline: reading can have a massively positive impact  on children’s mental well-being.

By encouraging children to read regularly, parents and educators can help promote healthy habits and positive attitudes towards learning and self-improvement, while also providing children with important tools for coping with stress and difficult emotions.

Reading in a foreign language can be an excellent way for children to develop language skills and enhance their cultural awareness. The British Council’s LearnEnglish Kids website offers a variety of reading resources to help children develop their English language skills.

There are also reading applications with graded readers developed specifically for ESL students – so you can improve reading and English skills at the same time, killing two birds with one stone. 

How to change the narrative and make reading a fun and enjoyable activity, rather than a daunting task? 

Let’s see some tips and activities that can help make reading an experience for children.

What to pay close attention to during lesson planning 

How to further discover a topic that you read about in class? Here are some ideas on how to snowball their reading and language development, starting with the reading task. Improve their writing skills, vocabulary, or creativity.

Oh, such crucial areas!

Have your child create their own illustrations for the story. This can help them engage with the content and better understand the plot.

There is no doubt that there is a variety of resources to help promote reading in the classroom. The question is: do you have time to find these resources and make sure you use reliable, quality materials that support your lesson goals?

How about a collection of books that supports you in creating the most exciting and effective ESL reading lessons, aiming to make reading a habit for kids? You can download the 300 pages long Teacher’s Handbook created by BOOKR Class’ qualified teachers and educational content experts.

Mental health, however, by nature, is like improving one’s flexibility. You can increase it as an adult, work hard and consistently to master the perfect split but you most likely won’t be able to compete with athletes who have been working on their flexibility since they were four.

It is very similar to habits and practices of mental health – start working on it in time, and your students or children have a much easier task managing their emotions as an adult.

What do we mean exactly, when we say mental health? Well, mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

It affects how we think, feel, and act, and also determines how we handle stress, build and keep relationships, and make decisions in life. 

Throughout all stages of life, mental health holds significant importance, ranging from childhood and adolescence to adulthood. Any mental health issues experienced during your lifetime could potentially impact your behavior, mood and thinking.

Childhood mental health awareness is inevitable to talk about in any 21st-century institution. Why? 

First, mental health issues can arise in childhood and can have a significant impact on a child’s development and well-being. However, early identification and treatment of mental health problems can prevent them from becoming more severe and having long-term effects.

Raising awareness of childhood mental health issues can also help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and promote more understanding and support for children and families dealing with these issues.

It all starts at home, but teaching mental health in school cannot be avoided.

Because improving the mental health of students is not ‘only’ crucial for their overall well-being, but for their academic success as well.

If you are an educator looking for ideas to pay more attention to mental health awareness, this quick guideline was made for you.

Teachers should make sure their classroom is a safe and welcoming space for all students.

As an educator, you can encourage students to express themselves and their feelings without fear of judgment. Promote inclusivity and respect for diversity in their classrooms! 

Teachers can teach their students coping skills such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and positive self-talk. These skills can help students manage stress and anxiety and improve their overall mental health.

So many books are available that can help you introduce these topics, read on for the full list.

Physical activity is known to improve mental health by reducing stress and anxiety. Teachers can encourage their students to participate in physical activities such as sports, dancing, or yoga.

It’s okay if you’re not a dance teacher – it’s all about creativity and fun. Find ways to bring these playful elements into your English or Maths classes and do a favor to your kinesthetic learners by creating a little routine to memorize vocabulary or maths theories. 

Teachers can create a supportive network for their students by connecting them with school counselors, mental health professionals, or community resources.

You can also encourage students to build positive relationships with their peers, there are great resources available in form of books or worksheets.

While as an educator you are not required to possess the abilities and knowledge of a professional psychiatrist, you should be aware of mental health issues that can affect students, such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

Your role here is to recognize the signs and symptoms of these conditions and provide appropriate support and resources. 

High academic pressure can have a negative impact on students’ mental health. You can reduce academic pressure by setting realistic expectations, providing support, and encouraging students to take breaks and practice self-care.

In addition to these tips and tricks, it is essential to have mental health programs in schools.

These can help students with mental health issues by providing them with the necessary support and resources, and they can include counseling services, mental health education, and support groups.

Consult your school about the programs available and the policy to follow. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Suggest starting mental health programs in school!

Seek out your school’s counsel and be prepared to notice if a student shows early signs of any issues. We’ve gathered some of the most common disorders children could face and the most basic early symptoms that could raise suspicion: 

An exciting term that we must touch upon when talking about mental health awareness in school.

Even though SEL is not a new concept, there are so many questions that are still left unanswered. 

While you think that social-emotional learning is related to how we connect in our social sphere and manage and understand our emotions, it’s so much more. 5 components form the basis of SEL. 

Amongst these five, Self-awareness is the core. This refers to the ability to recognize and comprehend emotions, thoughts, values and ultimately, how they affect behavior.

As our behavior and the decisions that we make basically compose all aspects of our lives, this means that social-emotional learning can really change the world. This is what mental health awareness month aims to achieve. Get more tips for SEL at home from this article.

Teaching mental health in schools is an essential component of SEL programs. 

Mental health education in schools can take many forms, such as classroom lessons, workshops, guest speakers or other events unwrapping the topic. These programs can help students – and teachers! – learn about mental health in a safe and supportive environment.

If you don’t have the means to make these a reality in your school just yet, there are baby steps you can take, and they are threefold:

Read.
Listen and discuss.
Be the role model. 

While it is often thought of as a leisurely activity, mental health benefits of reading could surprise you.

How does reading help your mental health?

 Reading can help reduce stress by allowing the reader to escape into a different world and forget about their problems for a while.

Research has shown that just six minutes of reading can reduce stress levels by up to 68%. Well sign me up!

Reading can improve cognitive function by keeping the brain active and engaged. It can also improve memory, focus, and concentration.

Reading can enhance empathy by allowing the reader to experience the lives and perspectives of different characters. This can help develop emotional intelligence and increase understanding and compassion for others.

Reading can provide a sense of community by allowing readers to connect with others who share their interests. This can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Reading before bed can improve sleep by relaxing the mind and reducing stress levels. This can lead to better quality sleep and improved overall well-being.

Reading can be beneficial for those struggling with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. It can provide a healthy distraction and escape negative thoughts and emotions.

Read more about making reading a habit on this detailed article tackling each and every question you may have regarding.

There are many stories specifically designed to introduce and discuss some of the mental health topics in an age-appropriate way. 

At BOOKR Class stories and hand picked and selected by educiational experts and psychologist to ensure children become familiar with concept such as relaxation for example. 

The collection of our book recommendations

As easy and obvious as it may seem – talking is the key. 

Regular check-ins with students is a great practical implementation of mental health awareness support. 

It can foster a sense of solidarity among students, as they realize that not all of their peers are as flawless and they might not be doing as great themselves, as they may seem. This realization could provide a sense of relief for students and hopefully encourage them to seek assistance if necessary.

Introduce Feeling Fridays once a month, and let your students share what’s going on in their lives in a playful way. Try this printable worksheet on one of your Friday sessions and talk about what the little ones can do to support each other on a bad day.

Your students look at you as role models. Whether you are an educator or a school administrator, students’ faith is quite literally in your hands. Although you want your students to respect you and your work, you can be genuine and humane with them at times.

Introduce the topics through stories, or just by hanging this visual in the classroom and discussing the topic. Students might share their experiences, the times they made a mistake. What a great way to create a classroom environment full of acceptance, sense of community and love.

Content and Language-Integrated Learning is a teaching approach where English becomes a tool for learning content while both the language and the subject matter are kept in focus. 

A great example for CLIL is bilingual education, where students learn selected subjects (e.g. geography, world history, etc.) in their target language. Speaking in English in these classes is not enough, there is a separate, scientifically-proven methodology for implementation. 

According to Coyle’s 4C’s curriculum, besides focusing on the

As an example, let’s analyze the BOOKR Class story of ‘Thessalonike’.

When teaching the ancient Greek legend of Thessalonike, students will learn about the content covering King Alexander, Thessalonike the mythical mermaid, and the aim of myths and legends to explain why certain phenomena occur, for instance, why the sea is calm or rough at times. 

Students read the story in English, therefore it teaches vocabulary about Ancient Greece, sailing and the weather at the sea.

The legend engages students in critical thinking about the characters’ behaviour, attitude and mood swings while understanding and interpreting the story itself.

The book also raises awareness of the cultural differences between a sea-farer nation and a landlocked one without a sea, as well as the role of deities and myths or legends in general.

At BOOKR Class we are true believers that children benefit greatly from developing 21st-century skills at a very young age. 

A CLIL classroom has a very strong, meaningful nature. Students quickly understand why a reading activity can be useful for them beyond improving their reading skills.

CLIL materials are not the typical sample textbook stories (focusing on reading comprehension and vocabulary) but texts about useful knowledge which will come in handy later on. 

Content-based education is useful both language-wise and content-wise. Each learning experience will build fluency and help them understand similar texts. 

CLIL lessons provide more authentic input than typical textbook-type conversations. They are well-structured texts and often carefully curated and edited to fit the needs and skills of language learners, yet because of their content, they can still keep their academic nature.

If we think about culture and civilization, such stories and texts offer an authentic context and are often capable of giving students the big picture as well as a personal narrative. 

Eager learners find new information engaging and exciting. Some students find fact files, actual subject matter, and content-based lessons more engaging than a graded reader of a classic literary oeuvre they are already familiar with.

New information is always exciting as it engages the learners, helping them become generally more content-aware.

When students are busy absorbing information, language learning and the internalisation of content or skill can occur incidentally. Trying to make sense of a text involves thinking skills as much as language skills in the ESL / EFL classroom.

Students’ attitude towards academics will improve as they discover that English is a powerful tool for learning. They will see that the language enables them to find specific information of interest and entertainment in the educational context and beyond.

Research shows that even though the beginning of CLIL and bilingual education in general can be truly challenging, students’ skills improve better in CLIL classrooms. 

For more, read this article. 

That is why BOOKR Class has been more focused on integrating various subjects in their books in order to extend the scope from literature to other subjects, such as history, geography, and, of course, science!

“The Science Content You Need – Customized for Your Students’ Reading Abilities”

Focus Curriculum, founded by Thomas Hatch and his partner, Tom Sibila, concentrates on the education market. Since 2008, the company has been publishing digitally-formatted books, selling them directly to schools. Their materials are used by teachers and students in most of Ohio’s more than 600 school districts, and now they are available in the BOOKR Class library for all! 

The books cover the U.S. Core Curriculum, and each is written at three different reading levels: basic level, on level, and advanced level. Differentiation and value-added instruction is built right in. 

Each title is accompanied by different English Language Arts activities that teach and apply comprehension, vocabulary and critical thinking skills and strategies. With these books, it is possible to cover science content and teach informational text reading skills at the same time.

Read more about Focus Curriculum on their website!

From the Focus Curriculum x BOOKR Class collaboration, we brought these science books alive. We have created interactive multimedia books that have all the content of the Focus Curriculum books – including the follow-up activities – that are enhanced with lively illustrations, animation, sound effects, and narration, as well as a protagonist, the creator himself, Thomas Hatch and his dog, Shadrach.

The transformation of the format will surely please the readers and further motivate, engage and educate them. 

Moreover, BOOKR Class has edited the texts so they are not only easy to read and understand for English-speaking students at three different difficulty levels but also accessible, available, and enjoyable for language learners all around the world!

Survivors! Imagine that you are going to live in the Arctic. Would you survive there? What changes would you have to make? How can polar bears live well there? These animals survive because plants and animals adapt to where they live.

To live and grow, plants need sunlight and animals need food.

All living things, all organisms, also need water, gases from the air and enough space to live. In this book, you will learn how organisms adapt to meet these needs in their ecosystems.

Has your environment changed lately? Have people built more houses near your home? Do new roads lead to those houses? Has a flood destroyed homes?

Habitats can change in helpful or harmful ways. Natural forces, such as the weather, cause some changes and people cause many other changes.

In this book, you’ll read about ways that habitats and ecosystems change. You’ll find out how living things respond to those changes.

The same well-structured and carefully written educational content, the same authentic reading experience but more language-learner friendly texts with digitized scaffolding features – this is what Focus Curriculum has become in BOOKR Class. 

So to sum it up, with the new series, you will be able to

• improve your students’ various skills 

• spice up your lessons with interactive books

• engage your learners in meaningful CLIL activities. 

All you need to do is get started with the Focus Curriculum series in the BOOKR Class library! 

Let’s get this one out of the way; what are we talking about exactly? 

ChatGPT is a conversational AI language model developed by OpenAI that can answer follow-up questions, admit mistakes, and engage in meaningful dialogue. ChatGPT is a powerful tool for generating human-like text and can be used in various applications such as chatbots, customer service, and content creation – any written content. In practice, it looks like this: 

To sum it up, let’s go directly to the source. When asking about its capabilities, this is what the platform says:

The question: ‘What can ChatGPT do?

Response: ChatGPT is a language model that can:

Despite its promising capabilities, ChatGPT’s impact on education has sparked mixed opinions and ethical concerns. School administrators, teachers, parents, and students are divided on its use, with some questioning its place in the classroom. In addition, the potential for cheating and plagiarism has led some schools, including New York City Public Schools, to ban the app across their district devices and networks.

Other central city school districts such as Seattle, Baltimore, and Los Angeles have also blocked access to ChatGPT, and that’s only in the United States. 

Content creation and grammar correction are nothing new. We’ve seen what Artificial Intelligence is capable of, so why is ChatGPT different? Why all this attention and buzz? 

Experts say that ChatGPT’s main difference is its remarkable example of advanced natural language processing. It sounds just like what a human might respond, and it’s very easy to use for anyone. 

After creating a profile and logging in for free, you can use it for different projects with no limitations or complicated options. One chatbox, one bar, go! 

I quickly realized it would take little time to hand in an assignment about teaching English as a second language. The exciting part is that once you get a response to your question, you can continue digging deeper, asking it to give you more details if anything needs to be clarified.

Now, this is an area where ChatGPT and education go hand in hand! This tool can create lesson plans for various subjects and educational levels, from one task to an entire lesson plan specifically designed for your classroom – if given the proper instructions.

Don’t forget to provide details such as the subject, target grade level, learning objectives, and any other specific requirements you have.

Yes, English is not the only language ChatGPT is trained in. As an AI language model, it has been trained to understand and generate text in many languages, including but not limited to English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, and Korean, among others. Although its proficiency in each language may vary, it tends to make errors or produce unnatural text, so be aware of that. 

In general, if we’re unhappy with the content generated or it’s not exactly what one was looking for, with a click, you can ask it to generate different answers, and the system will look for other ways to assist our needs. No need to tell it; just click on ‘Regenerate response’. 

As dedicated English teachers, it’s essential to embrace innovative tools that can enhance the learning experience for our students. In today’s rapidly changing educational landscape, the question of ‘how ChatGPT can improve education, not threaten it‘ is a pertinent one. ChatGPT holds the potential to be a valuable aid in the English classroom.

It can provide instant feedback on grammar and writing, generate thought-provoking writing prompts, and serve as a resource for language enrichment. Rather than perceiving it as a threat to traditional teaching methods, let’s explore how ChatGPT can be integrated thoughtfully into our curriculum to elevate our English instruction and provide our students with even more valuable learning opportunities

Teachers are advised to adapt their practices to ChatGPT rather than merely focus on catching students cheating. For example, experts say they’ve heard of some teachers giving ChatGPT a prompt and analyzing its response with students as a practice in editing and critical thinking.

Technology surrounds us – and students – whether we like it or not, so why not guide children through the process, showing them the pros and cons of letting technology into their lives? It’s better to dictate the narrative rather than banning it and letting students use it for all the wrong reasons.

Enemy or best friend? There’s a fine line!

Teachers can also explore the capabilities of ChatGPT to generate ideas for lesson plans and class activities, answering the question of ‘can ChatGPT write lesson plans?’ This versatile tool can provide valuable insights, suggest engaging topics, and offer creative approaches to curriculum development.

Additionally, educators can rely on ChatGPT to receive recommendations and edits for their students’ writing, ensuring that assignments meet high standards. This not only enhances the quality of student work but also helps save precious time for teachers who are often absolutely strapped for time.”

As a school English teachers, you’ll be delighted to discover the myriad of things you can do with ChatGPT to enrich your classroom experience. ChatGPT is not just a tool; it’s a versatile resource that can engage young learners in creative ways. You can use it to generate captivating writing prompts, develop interactive storytelling exercises, and even create personalized spelling and vocabulary quizzes.

Furthermore, ChatGPT can assist students in proofreading and refining their writing, instilling good language habits from a young age. It’s a valuable ally in fostering a love for language and literacy, making English lessons not only educational but also enjoyable for your students. Explore the endless possibilities of things you can do with ChatGPT to enhance your elementary school English curriculum.

In the realm of education, the choice of prompts when using ChatGPT is of paramount importance, especially for English language teachers. The “best chatGPT prompts for education” in this context are those that facilitate language learning and proficiency.

For instance, an English teacher might use prompts like, “Compose a short paragraph describing a picturesque countryside scene,” or “Generate a conversation between two characters discussing their favorite books.” These prompts not only encourage creativity and language fluency but also provide opportunities for grammar and vocabulary practice.

Well-crafted prompts are the key to harnessing the power of ChatGPT, making it an invaluable tool for English educators to enhance language instruction and engage their students effectively.

In addition, using ChatGPT for specific functions can improve your efficiency in your job, leaving them more time to focus on giving their best when in front of the class. 

For students, the most important aspect is learning how to use it correctly and for what reason. Logical and critical thinking are key skills that educators and institutions need to teach them: “AI tools are here to stay, so we must make the most of them, but don’t lose sight of the task and learn to work with it, not make it do your homework for you!” 

In the ever-evolving landscape of educational technology, the accessibility of AI resources becomes paramount. One platform leading the charge in consolidating these resources is There’s an AI for That, a website dedicated to curating a comprehensive list of sites and programs that engage with AI.

From language models like ChatGPT to specialized educational tools, this website serves as a gateway to the diverse applications of AI in education. By providing a centralized hub for educators and students to discover and explore AI-driven solutions, There’s an AI for That empowers stakeholders to harness the full potential of AI in learning environments.

Whether you’re seeking assistance with homework, exploring innovative teaching methods, or delving into the latest AI research, this platform offers a wealth of resources to support your journey.

Embrace the future of education with There’s an AI for That and unlock a world of possibilities at your fingertips.

Over the past decade, there’s been a significantly growing interest in using AI and machine learning techniques to enhance and augment traditional teaching methods. Personalized learning experiences, generating new educational content, and allowing for real-time feedback and assessment are all benefits these tools can provide –  find more information about how important technology is in education and how to exploit all it can offer.

The e-learning market has experienced significant gains over the past 20 years. But nothing compares to the online explosion that occurred in 2020 after the coronavirus outbreak. According to one survey, over 1 billion children across the world moved towards online learning from the traditional classroom setup. This only goes to show the huge and growing market of online schools. 

We’ve put together the following article to shed light on five of the main factors worth considering before starting an online school.

Accreditation is the process an educational institution is evaluated using a set of standards to ensure that it provides quality education. There are many reasons why accreditation matters. 

Accreditation also serves as a way to protect students as the main consumers. Accrediting agencies provide oversight and hold institutions accountable for maintaining high-quality standards. All these measures ensure that a school offers valuable education with the resources to do so. 

So, if you’re thinking about starting an online school, it’s essential to go through a reputable agency that will accredit your school. 

Operating an online school brings with it several legal and regulatory compliance obligations. Failure to comply with them can lead to severe consequences, including fines and legal action. For this reason, it would be best to have a solid understanding of compliance laws before starting your school.

This information must be protected in accordance with laws based in your region. Your online school must have appropriate security measures to ensure data protection and privacy. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there; there are many other laws and regulations that your online school must comply with. 

Technology will play a massive role in the success of your online school. Without the right tools and solutions, it can be challenging for students and teachers to communicate. It also makes acquiring and distributing learning materials incredibly difficult. 

Online security also comes into the picture when starting an online school. It’s wise to consider the security of your students’ and teachers’ online activities. This means that you should seek technological solutions that deliver safety and security. Remember, online schools also face a multitude of threats from cyber criminals.

One way to improve the security of your online school is by investing in a good VPN. Investing in a VPN for your online school safeguards your school’s confidential information and your students’ and teachers’ personal data. 

It’s important to be on high alert when working with sensitive information like personal identification numbers and financial data. Fortunately, you can find affordable VPNs that help safeguard such sensitive data, especially when your teachers and students are browsing online. This effectively enhances your school’s online security. 

What is your educational philosophy? What kind of students are you targeting, and how many do you expect to enroll? You must ask yourself such questions as they are vitally important, especially from a technical standpoint. 

Not only that, but you’ll need to determine how you will measure success for your online school. Student success is a key factor for the school’s future sustainability. This can include graduation rates, test scores, and student satisfaction.

This process can be incredibly time-consuming. For this reason, we recommend seeking the help of experienced educators or curriculum developers.

Recruiting and retaining students can be more challenging for online schools than for traditional “in-person” schools. This means that you’ll need to market the school to potential students. Also, you will need to provide support services to help students succeed in an online learning environment.

One strategy that you could use when starting an online school is to focus on building a strong brand. This can include developing a clear value proposition for your school, creating a visually compelling logo and website, and establishing a consistent tone and message across all of your marketing channels.

You should also consider utilizing influencer marketing by reaching out to individuals who have a significant following in your niche and have them share their experiences and promote your school.

The points in the article above give you a rough idea of some of the most important factors to think about before starting an online school.

All in all, remember to take your time and research to become fully prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Students like rules. They like routines and structure, as it’s easier to function in them. The trick is to strike a happy medium – give them enough freedom to express their creativity during activities but in an organized framework with boundaries. It’s quite a fun topic, actually. Let me show you why in this next blog post.

Routine is important because: 

Class routines are going to be different in preschool, elementary school, and in high school. Depending on culture and age, students will react differently to certain routines; that’s why we gathered as many examples as we could. Find your favorite one! 

But remember, no matter which ones you implement, rules and routines need to be consistent, predictable and clearly articulated to work. 

Let’s take a look at the different types of routines. We collected some of the best examples, tips, and printable activities for you to try.

Effective classroom management tips are the backbone, so we start at the basics.

Transitions can be challenging for many young learners. It’s important to give students a clear idea of when you all will move on to the next activity and what that requires them to do. Setting a timer for transitions is a very tangible way to let them know we’re moving on to a new topic or activity. Songs work just as well: “By the time the music stops, everyone back in their seats with the book open at page 15”.

It will add variety and predictability to schooldays and something to look forward to every day. Be creative here and include chores or tasks that need to be done – make it playful and see that even collecting trash in the classroom becomes fun.

Some examples to spark your creativity:

Assign one or two students each week to look for acts of kindness during the week. Have them report their observations to the class at the end of the day – it’s a wonderful way of practicing not only kindness put public speaking and presentation skills. If your students are of a more advanced level, this game can be in English. 

An active body activates the mind, too – of course, we’re not saying you need to become a gym teacher all of a sudden. Check out a couple of easy movements you can easily complete in the classroom and have the little ones release some stress and fatigue. 

It’s a great idea to try out when they feel tired or in between activities to free their minds and start fresh for the next challenge.

Daily routines start at the very first moment students enter your classroom – so why not start with the simple habit of paying a little bit of attention to all your students every day? 

Decide with your learners if it’s a wave, a hug, or a high-five that suits them best.

Classroom routines examples help to set the tone for the entire learning environment.

Teach the little ones about praising each other and give them a framework of a healthy feedback culture. Make it a habit to congratulate each other when something goes right, and not judge if a classmate makes a mistake. 

A funny way to praise and learn English at the same time is by using Praising Cards.

If you’d like to read more about the importance of social-emotional learning at an early age and find out what it really means, check out our article about it written by psychologists and educational experts. 

There are no two teachers and two classes that are the same – and that’s one of the reasons we love this profession so much. Depending on age group, nationality, number of students, and the group dynamic in general, you’ll find that something that works like a charm on one student or class does nothing for the other. 

Try to enjoy the process of finding why routine is important in your classroom, in your particular case, and take the time to figure out what works best. And remember, you’re planting seeds today that could become part of a beautiful forest in the future, giving them techniques that might become part of their daily routines and even personality as an adult. That is pretty exciting on its own. 

McKinsey data found that students in schools with sufficient technology devices performed better than those without access to technology and high-speed internet. EdTech enables teachers to support hybrid learning, creating an inclusive classroom environment that provides access to learners, regardless of their location or ability to physically be present in class. 

Studies have given us exciting insights into how edtech impacts traditional education.

Educational technology in education is crucial because it supports today’s teachers to integrate new and innovative tools into their classrooms. 

Teachers are able to upgrade and improve the learner-centeredness of their classroom and customize learning. It provides plenty of resources so teachers can dedicate more of their time and energy on what they do best: educating. 

It enables teachers to engage students in unique, innovative, and, very importantly, equitable ways. Immersive learning is an effective way to reach today’s generation of learners. 

Using some of the tools, teachers can also expand their network and connect with other teachers and educators nationally and globally. Best practices are spread more easily and effortlessly, benefitting the quality of education. It increases collaboration amongst experts as well. 

And last but not least, it’s just a lot of fun to learn with edtech tools. Fun classes create engaged students, and engaged students create better learners.

Depending what your main goal is, or what the problem is that you’re aiming to address with technology, you have different options.

If you teach English as a second language, BOOKR Class is your tool! Learning a new language in an authentic context is very effective – over a thousand stories are waiting for you to teach grammar and lexis. And that is not all: after each book, there are plenty of games to practice reading comprehension and vocabulary you just learned from the story. 

Kahoot! tackles the competitive side of the little ones in your class. Kahoot! is an online quiz game. Quite simple really: write your questions, create answers, share the code with your students and there you have it! A very simple quiz exercise made interesting and engaging. Students answer questions together or individually on their own devices. It’s an effective way to get students learning in a format they’re excited about.

The Meeting Owl is a classroom video conferencing camera that enables hybrid collaboration for students and teachers, so you can be teaching real-time in the classroom, while still catering to online students as well. This tool creates hybrid classrooms with its unique 360-degree camera that can capture audio and visual from everyone in the room. 

Google Classroom and Google Workplace also gives you the ability to create online classes with many other administrative tools as well, to keep you connected to your students and colleagues. Teachers can use Google Classroom to organize assignments and create a collaborative online learning environment for students. You can create classes, distribute and grade assignments, provide feedback, and connect with students.

We must recognize the importance of technical details that need to be available in a facility to integrate technology into our everyday teaching. Let’s see what the options are. 

An ideal scenario is if the school is able to provide tablets to each pupil, allowing them to be as participative as possible. For older students in high school, using their smartphones for just these exercises is also an option – as long as it’s not against school policy. 

Smartboards are a great way to work through a whole class activity. It’s interactive and interesting for the children to use them and contribute to the class in front of their peers. A potential pitfall here is an overly competitive environment, make sure that using technology in class for an all class activity encourages kids to support and encourage each other in learning. Create a friendly environment, teach them funny ways to say ‘well done’ to make it a habit. 

Another issue that might come up is the strength of the internet connection in the classroom. To make sure loading pages and games goes smoothly, look for edtech tools with an Offline feature. With BOOKR Class for instance, you can download ESL books and games and use them offline anytime, anywhere.  

High-speed Internet can connect lecture halls in different parts of the world and allow students in different locations to participate in the same lessons. This also can be an effective way for learners to collaborate across large distances.

In fact, video conferencing offers a wide range of opportunities, from teaching a class while being out of town to organizing meetings with parents who cannot participate in face-to-face meetings.

AR devices allow students to experience their lessons as if they were right before them. For example, medical students can see a 3D model of anatomy and interact with it in a virtual environment. 

However, AR will surely become a staple in classrooms in the future, as students of all ages can benefit from an interactive learning experience. Of course, AR is one of the most high tech solutions on the market and not yet available as easily as some of the other tools but it’s worth looking out for any opportunities coming up. 

Learning is not just for your students. 

It is a lifelong journey for everyone. Landing the dream job is a huge deal, but the challenges won’t stop coming at us, will they? It’s great to put into good use what you’ve learned so far – but never forget to improve yourself and have a plan for the future.

I suggest creating a little study calendar for yourself. List the things you want to improve at first. For example, if you teach adults but plan to work with children in the future, think about the courses that can help you learn the most about educating that age group. This can even mean a psychology course—think outside the box. 

If you haven’t already finished an English teaching course, you have plenty of options. It’s not all about the paper. You improve your teaching skills by learning from experienced educators who have been in your shoes one day. 

CELTA is a certificate to teach English as a second language to adults, however, the course does include the topic of teaching younger learners, so if your goal is to teach children, it could be a great option.

CELTA from Cambridge is a widely recognized English teaching qualification in the world and the most often requested by employers. It focuses on developing practical techniques and includes face-to-face or online teaching practice. It’s a tough ride, but one definitely worth taking.

TEFL courses (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)  can be used anywhere in the world to teach English to non-English speakers. The great thing about TEFL is that all you need to get qualified is a native-level ability of English!

TESOL courses (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) are very similar to TEFL courses, and the acronyms are frequently used to mean the same thing. TEFL is the acronym used primarily in the UK but TESOL is more often used in Australia or the USA. 

Music, drawings, even dancing – learning styles differ a lot and all students answer to different techniques.

Lesson planning can be a long process – but you will see that it’s worth mastering the art of it. The perfect lesson plan ensures that you’re prepared for any challenge and unexpected issues that may arise when giving your classes. What you spend hours on at the beginning will soon become automatic, as the system that you use to build your lessons quite literally becomes a mindset.

Let me share with you my favorite lesson plan structure for teaching English as a second language: 

You will need the following:

Technology just cannot be overlooked – the world is changing and so is education. As conventional educational materials are still essential, new methods and tools are proving to be more effective with the new generation of readers and generation Z learners especially.

Digital tools can help you in different ways:

We tend to overlook the importance of effective time management. Administrating, evaluating, grading tasks and keeping up with homework for all your groups and students seems like a small part of your job, but it can consume more time and energy than we realize.

There are amazing tools on the market with the main feature as being admin platforms, or as part of another tool. 

Learners today need a lot more to engage all their senses than before. This digital generation is used to sound effects, animation and even interactivity when learning – so why not find a tool that was made especially for their need.

If you’re struggling with keeping their attention, it’s not you, it’s just that education and learning styles have changed due to technological developments.

Learning a language is most effective using authentic context. And while we cannot take our students to live in English speaking countries yet, we can bring the native context to the classroom. Native narration, stories, songs and rhymes, all of these are important and can be found in educational apps nowadays.

BOOKR Class is a great example that combines all these advantages in one application.

Once you start teaching, you will want to keep those students. Today’s learners tend to have a higher need for interactive activities, it’s more of a challenge to keep their attention and motivation skyrocketing.

It’s a great idea to create a little reward system for your students – based on their age – and be consistent with it. Celebrating that milestone or giving a small prize when that happens.

This can look very different for a group of primary school students and an adult that you teach one-to-one. Take the time to get to know your audience, it will be worth it.