Brisk Teaching Blog

Grading can often feel like a guessing game—and not particularly fun. Also, no teacher wants to field endless questions, such as “Why did I get this grade?” But here’s the tea: A solid rubric can be your ticket to grading sanity. Think of it as a cool teacher hack to clarify student expectations, ensure fairness, and save you hours of grading confusion. So, ready to make your life 10 times easier? Let’s break down the basics of rubric creation in five easy steps.

Recommendation letters are the one thing you love writing for your students but dread starting. Sure, it's an honor to help shape a student's future, but when you're juggling 27 other tasks and your coffee's getting cold, cranking out multiple letters can feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. Don't worry—we've got your back with this guide on how to type a letter of recommendation without losing your sanity.

Standardized tests like the SAT bring stress for everyone—students, parents, and, of course, teachers. And let’s be real: prepping for it can feel like trying to teach a cat to swim. But with the right strategies, you can set your students up for success without losing your sanity. Here’s how.

Graphic organizers for math word problems are powerful tools that help students break down complex math problems into manageable steps. By visually organizing key information and operations, these organizers enhance problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and understanding of mathematical concepts. Need something for simple addition or multi-step word problems? They make math more accessible and engaging for students at every grade level. Teaching math word problems can be a challenging task, especially when you're working with students of all ages and grade levels. Teaching basic addition in 1st grade, tackling multi-step word problems in 5th grade, or helping middle school students prepare for high school math all come with their own challenges! The use of graphic organizers for math word problems is one of the best ways to help students process information and improve their problem-solving skills. By creating a visual representation of the problem, students can better understand the problem-solving process, which is essential for developing strong math skills. Here’s how graphic organizers for math word problems can help students at all levels—from 2nd grade to high school—solve problems more effectively. Plus, how Brisk Teaching AI tools can help create these great tools for the classroom.

A syllabus is like a survival guide for your class. It keeps students (and you) on track, answers questions before they even get asked, and helps avoid the classic “Wait, when is that due?” panic. But let’s be real—writing one from scratch is about as fun as grading a stack of essays on a Friday night. That’s where Brisk Teaching comes in. Forget the clunky, rigid templates that make you fill in every tiny detail manually. Brisk is a free Chrome extension that helps teachers generate a syllabus from the materials they already use—or start one from scratch in just a few clicks. It’s quick, it’s free, and it actually makes syllabus creation brisk (see what we did there?). Let’s break down why a syllabus matters, what makes a good one, and how Brisk can save you time without sacrificing quality.

As a 4th-grade teacher, you know how important it is to keep young minds engaged. Science is one subject where curiosity can really take off, and the best way to spark that curiosity is through fun, hands-on experiments. There are so many options from Earth sciences, life science, and the solar system. We guarantee there’s no shortage of opportunities for 4th graders to experiment and explore. Let’s explore 10 exciting 4th grade science experiments that are simple to set up but packed with opportunities for critical thinking, problem-solving, and most importantly, fun. Plus, we'll highlight how Brisk Teaching AI can support you in bringing these experiments to life in your classroom.

We joined Dan Fitzpatrick, The AI Educator, to discuss impactful ways you can Brisk today… like right now! Dan’s conversation with Arman, our founder, included sharing the birth of Brisk, how you - our incredible community of teachers around the world - continue to drive the updates that make Brisk even better, and a collection of ways you can use Brisk to transform your time immediately!

In our recent Real Talk About AI webinar, I explored groundbreaking strategies for enhancing student engagement using Brisk and Boost with educators from Northville Public Schools. They shared amazing interactive learning experiences from leveraging AI-powered feedback to creating character chats with Chrysanthemum and personalized career exploration.This session took student engagement to the next level.

We are thrilled to announce that Brisk Teaching and Brisk Boost for Students have earned the ESSA Tier IV - Building Evidence Badge from Leanlab Education! This certification demonstrates that Brisk and Boost are built on a foundation of evidence-based learning science that drives student success.

Equip students with civil discourse skills using Brisk and Boost tools for respectful dialogue. Foster critical thinking with structured discussions, ground rules, and engaging activities.

This lesson on the plant life cycle is designed for second grade students and blends interactive learning with clear, structured instruction. Grounded in the principles of inquiry-based learning, it enables students to explore how plants grow and change while meeting Common Core Standards. Through video observation, group discussions, and creative activities, students will build a foundational understanding of biological processes in a way that fosters both curiosity and academic achievement.

Teaching about elections and the voting process provides students with an opportunity to engage with one of the most essential aspects of civic life. This lesson promotes inquiry-based learning, allowing students to ask questions, research, and develop a deeper understanding of how elections work and why they matter. As educators, we can empower our students to explore these processes critically and collaboratively. Through group discussions and research activities, students will learn how elections ensure a representative democracy and the importance of participating in this process.