The website WE.org has a lot of good tools for teachers who may need help thinking of ideas for lesson plans and keeping students engaged. In the “Sail of the Seven C’s” by Becky Keene and Kathi Kersznowski, they mention collaboration, critical thinking, and active citizenship in students which are skills often shown on WE.org.

The WE Virtual Learning Center has tools for teachers such as:

• Lesson Plans
• The Volunteer Now Campaign
• Virtual Workshops

These are helpful because then when trying to make a change in their communities teachers in school districts can use a grade-appropriate lesson plan or volunteer campaign to teach all their students the same lesson to make their change.

Above is an example of a tool I would use in my classroom in the future. This page is all about how to better the community by reducing waste and decreasing carbon emissions to limit global warming. The Link for the resource is https://weschools.we.org/we-go-green-campaign-page .

Service-Learning Resources

The center’s issues-based lesson plans enable students to interact with 21st-century problems that are both local and global. These lessons are designed to develop essential life skills, including but not limited to resilience, empathy, and problem-solving. By incorporating these lessons, students can engage in meaningful projects that foster active citizenship and social responsibility.

Professional Development

Another standout feature is the range of professional learning resources on trauma-informed practices. These resources are extremely helpful in creating a safe and supportive classroom environment, particularly for students who have faced adversity. The center provides modules and training sessions that equip educators with strategies to address and mitigate the impacts of traumatic experiences on learning.

Video-On-Demand Library

The Video-On-Demand library is another invaluable asset, featuring recordings of events and workshops led by acknowledged experts in education and related fields. This resource fosters continuous learning and provides opportunities to stay informed about the latest trends and methodologies in education.

Grants and Awards

Additionally, the center offers information on grants and awards that support the development of service-learning projects. This type of assistance can be instrumental in bringing certain initiatives to fruition, especially those that require additional resources to provide enriched learning experiences for students.

The WE Virtual Learning Center website has many resources for you and your students to use in the classroom. Ranging from Service-Learning ideas/lesson plans to lessons about incorporating self-care in your daily life. All of these lessons contribute to SEL (social-emotional learning). As teachers, it’s essential to care about our students as people first and students second; if basic needs aren’t met (social/emotional), students are incapable of being the best learners they can be. So, by using lessons like these, you are strengthening the person and, in return, enhancing the learner.

Take a look at this SEL lesson plan about gratitude:

After clicking “view resource,” the website opens a PDF. The PDF holds 3 lesson plans engaging students in gratitude.

The lesson plans include ways of differentiation, making it more challenging, and even a list of books that can be used for a read-aloud. Overall, this website contains many resources to help students achieve the best versions of themselves.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE WEBSITE!

By: Ava R.

I had the chance to explore “We Virtual Learning Center” recently and found that its tools could be super beneficial in my future classroom setting. While checking out the website I found some awesome sources to share that can teach kids valuable life lessons.

Social Emotional Learning Tools

This immediately stood out to me because it dives into teaching kids how to understand their feelings and deal with stress. It also speaks on feeling empathy for others, which I found relevant because I’m writing a paper in my other class that looks at how social media has affected us and how feel for others during tragedies. These are skills that students will take with them into adulthood and can benefit them in ways they may never know. This website had lesson plans at the click of a button that any teacher could use. I think it could be beneficial to do a lesson revolving around feelings and stress once a week or a month so students could feel safe in the classroom to handle these thoughts.

Take Action Resources

This was the second feature that caught my eye. It focuses more on hands-on learning which I find easier. Students look at problems in their community or the world that they can tackle to try and solve. Similar to the Global Goals Project in this Web Tools class, it gives students and opportunity to be changemakers and feel like what they do matters. An example would be learning how to organize a food drive or a beach cleanup. These are projects that can spark career interest for students and I think it’s a really awesome part of this website.

The WE Virtual Learning Center offers a dynamic, interactive platform designed to support both educators and students in achieving their full potential. With a wide range of resources such as, online courses, lesson plans, interactive tools, and professional development opportunities this website is a hub for collaborative and personalized learning experiences.

One standout feature of the WE Virtual Learning Center is its interactive lesson plans in the, say it now tab. These lesson plans are designed to be adaptable, allowing teachers to tailor content to their students’ needs. This makes it easier for educators to create lessons that are not only educational but also engaging, fostering a more interactive and impactful classroom experience.

By: Mia Lopez

To be honest, I don’t personally want to work as a teacher. However, because its primary goal is to influence education and change I believe that this organization will be highly helpful to any aspiring teachers. While exploring the website, I discovered the Virtual Learning Center, which serves as a basic overview of everything WE has to offer to educators and students.

https://weschools.we.org

It provides teachers and students with plenty of resources. I would personally use virtual workshops in a future classroom. You and your class or service group can work through these courses at your own speed. Each workshop lasts roughly 60 minutes and is packed with engaging exercises that help students become more aware of issues and build their leadership abilities. It also helps you create an action plan. Although workshops are created with the idea that students are present in the same space, you are welcome to adapt the activities to your classroom’s needs and the materials you have on hand.This tool may be used for any grade level and, in my opinion, would benefit both the teacher and the students in the classroom while also providing an effective lecture.

The WE Virtual Learning Center aims to help educators by giving them lessons based on positive youth development, helping teachers turn their students into the best versions of themselves that they possibly can be. Their website is quite easy to navigate and easy enough to figure out. They have different lesson plan packages along with different action plans, modules, and courses. One part of the website that I wanted to focus on was the portion that focused 0on their action plans. These action plans can be reminiscent of the Global goals that the UN focuses on, in their own way, however. These action plans focus on the environment and conservation practices that anyone could implement, making it easier for teacher to educate their students on helping our world. I love how the website finds ways to bring conservation to the classroom, helping students promote change and become better people overall.

By: Lorraine Montero

As an aspiring future educator, I am delighted to have come across this organization that is making a significant impact on education and change. Upon inspecting the site, I came across the Virtual Learning Center which is essentially guide to what WE have to offer to both teachers and students.

The Virtual Learning Center has an array of resources for educators including, on-demand library, grants and awards, service-learning resources and activities to name a few. For my future classroom I would love to use the on-demand video library in a lesson plan because of the visual engagement that students lean more towards. This video is an example of one of the many resources also offered for training educators in their professional development.

I also was very excited about the lesson packages feature you can browse by grade, skill, or theme making lesson planning easier. One other exciting feature is the virtual workshops packed with numerous topics you can choose from like, self-care and wellbeing workshop to taking action for education workshop. All workshops have a recommended grade level and an opportunity for teachers to rate the workshops. Accordingly, I feel that this tool is a tremendous resource for educators who are seeking to be a part of a global classroom dynamic to partner with different schools in different countries and affect change.

What Are HyperDocs?

Have you ever used a lesson plan that actually felt fun and interactive? If not, you need to check out HyperDocs, which are digital lesson plans that make learning way more engaging. They combine text, videos, images, and interactive links all in one place to guide you through a topic step by step.

Here’s how HyperDocs work:

HyperDocs will grab your attention with something cool, like a video, a question, or a fun image related to the topic. You get to dive into the topic by reading articles, watching videos, or completing interactive tasks. HyperDocs help you understand what you’re learning through activities, for example: journaling/writing down your thoughts.

Once you feel comfortable navigating the tool, you are able to show what you’ve learned by creating a project or presentation. Once you are confident in your work, you get to share your work with others, which makes the learning experience even more rewarding.

The best part about HyperDocs, it that it lets you learn at your own pace and in your own way. It’s perfect for students who like to explore topics creatively or for those who prefer to work independently.

If you’ve never tried a HyperDoc, ask your teacher about them. They’re a game changer for anyone who loves learning in a fun and interactive way!

In Chapter 2 of the Sail the & C’s textbook, we are introduced to some really important features about being a good communicator. The chapter explains that communication isn’t just about sharing information, instead it’s about connecting with your audience and understanding their needs.

One thing that stood out to me was the importance of active listening. When we listen carefully, we build trust and make it easier for others to share their thoughts. It’s a simple way to show respect and keep the conversation open.

This chapter also made me realize that communication is a skill you have to keep working on. It’s not just about saying what you think but also about paying attention to other perspectives and considering all options about the topic. Good communication helps create stronger relationships by making sure everyone feels heard and understood.

If you want to get better at talking and listening, Chapter 2 has some great advice!