12 Days of Techy Tidings

The holidays are in full swing, and one of my favorite traditions during this festive time is diving into a holiday calendar filled with educational treasures. Whether it’s uncovering new tools, revisiting classic favorites, or crafting ideas to share with fellow educators, this calendar is a daily dose of inspiration. Check out the calendar here.

When I started this journey on Monday, I couldn’t have anticipated just how much joy and creativity it would bring. Now, it’s already Day 4, and the excitement is building. Every day offers something fresh, from interactive tools to unique strategies for engaging students and colleagues. Here’s a quick recap of the first few days and a sneak peek into today’s feature:

Day 1: 8 Googly Winter Activities by Eric Curts

Eric Curts kicked off the holiday fun with his 8 Googly Winter Activities. These interactive projects—like building snowmen in Google Slides or creating pixel art ornaments in Google Sheets—are the perfect blend of creativity and technology.

Day 2: Spotify-Inspired Recap Template from Ditch That Textbook

Day 2’s highlight was the Spotify-Inspired Recap Template from Ditch That Textbook. Inspired by Spotify Wrapped, this tool taps into a cultural phenomenon your students already love and understand. Wrapped is all about summarizing the year—top artists, songs, genres, and more—so why not bring that same excitement into the classroom?

Why It Works

• Students are already excited: Wrapped dominates December conversations, making it instantly engaging.
• Familiar format: Summarizing personal favorites is intuitive and fun.

Classroom Ideas

• 📚 Literary Recap: Top books, authors, or characters.
• 📖 Unit Reflection: Favorite lessons, key concepts, and achievements.
• 🏫 Student Growth: Highlight personal milestones for student-led conferences.
• 🎨 Creative Customization: Students design their Recap to showcase their unique perspectives.

It’s a fantastic way to spark reflection, creativity, and excitement while celebrating the year. Pro Tip Create a “Classroom Wrapped” to summarize group highlights or trends, and consider adding music or visuals for extra fun.

Day 3: Canva Creations to Engage Students

Day 3 featured Canva creations by Melissa Corey and other librarians, who shared an incredible collection of resources, including:

• 🌟 Animated Snow Globes
• 🎨 Inclusive Holiday Coloring Sheets
• 📚 12 Days of Reading Challenge
• 🎵 Taylor Swift and Cardinal Scavenger Hunt
  These templates are a gift to any educator looking to inspire creativity and engagement.

Day 4: Live Animal Cams and Holiday ASMR

Today’s feature is a little unconventional but wildly popular with students: Live Animal Cams and Animal ASMR.

• 🐾 Live Animal Cams: Stream penguins, pandas, and more from zoos around the world to bring a little nature into your classroom. These calming visuals are great for study breaks or mindfulness activities.
• 🔥 Holiday Fireplaces: A cozy virtual fireplace can transform your classroom atmosphere, providing a festive and soothing backdrop.
• 🐹 Animal ASMR: This quirky activity features guinea pigs, hamsters, and even turtles munching away on crunchy treats. It’s strangely mesmerizing—and surprisingly useful for classroom management.

Here’s how I’ve used Animal ASMR for a volume check:
The rule is simple: if students can’t hear the guinea pig crunching its carrot, they’re too loud. It’s a fun, non-intrusive way to encourage quieter behavior while keeping the mood light. And trust me, the students love it!

Check Back for More!

I’ll continue to update this post as each day drops, so be sure to check back to see all the activities revealed. Whether it’s calming animal cams, engaging digital projects, or festive challenges, there’s plenty more to come. Do you have any favorite tools? Add a comment and share with the community. Check out the whole calendar here.