Didactics — How You Teach
Master the craft of teaching: instructional models, lesson structure, content delivery and evidence-based techniques to make any lesson land.
The world's most popular learning-science MOOC (4M+ students) — chunking, memory, diffuse thinking. Free to audit.
coursera.orgJennifer Gonzalez's podcast and blog — hundreds of free deep-dives on instructional strategies, engagement and classroom technique.
cultofpedagogy.comSix evidence-based study strategies (spaced practice, retrieval, elaboration etc.) explained clearly for teachers and students.
learningscientists.orgVanderbilt's definitive free guide to Bloom's revised taxonomy — verb lists, question stems and lesson-planning templates.
cft.vanderbilt.eduFree Universal Design for Learning guidelines — plan lessons that work for every learner from the start, not as an afterthought.
cast.orgDoug Lemov's 63 classroom techniques — free video clips, read-alongs and field guides on cold calling, pacing and more.
teachlikeachampion.comResearch-to-practice articles on differentiation, project-based learning, social-emotional integration and assessment design.
edutopia.orgFree articles on modern pedagogical models — learning taxonomies, innovative frameworks and classroom-ready thinking tools.
teachthought.comJim Knight's free resources on the impact cycle — a practical framework any teacher can use for self-directed improvement.
instructionalcoaching.comFree MIT research and tools on teacher learning — simulations, case studies and courses on instructional design.
tsl.mit.eduHundreds of free peer-reviewed articles on curriculum, instruction and assessment from the world's leading educator association.
ascd.orgFree reports translating cognitive science into teacher-prep principles — The Science of Learning made accessible.
deansforimpact.orgPedagogy — Why You Teach the Way You Do
Explore the theory and philosophy behind great teaching: learning psychology, motivation, constructivism and the learner's experience.
Cognitive scientist's free articles on memory, attention and motivation — translated from research lab to classroom practice.
danielwillingham.comCarol Dweck's Mindset Works — free research summaries and classroom-ready strategies for building a growth mindset culture.
mindsetworks.comDeci & Ryan's SDT explained — why autonomy, competence and relatedness are the three keys to student motivation.
selfdeterminationtheory.orgProject Zero's free thinking-routine toolkit — See-Think-Wonder, Claim-Support-Question and 20+ classroom-ready protocols.
pz.harvard.eduAngela Duckworth's free teacher playbooks on grit, curiosity, gratitude and self-control — research-backed, ready to use.
characterlab.orgBerkeley Science Center's free SEL practices grounded in positive psychology — kindness, mindfulness and resilience.
greatergood.berkeley.eduFree podcast and articles on how learning works — neuroscience, motivation, equity and the future of education.
kqed.orgFree Harvard Graduate School of Education research articles — equity, learning science, school leadership and policy.
gse.harvard.eduEEF's free plain-English summary of cognitive load theory — what it means for lesson design, worked examples and practice.
educationendowmentfoundation.org.ukClear free guide to Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development — how scaffolding and social learning shape the classroom.
simplypsychology.orgEdutopia's evidence-based synthesis of what the research says makes teaching effective — accessible and practical.
edutopia.orgHarvard PZ's free Visible Thinking project — routines that make student thinking visible, discussable and transferable.
pz.harvard.eduBoth Together — Theory Meets Practice
Resources that bridge research and classroom reality — frameworks, videos of real teaching and toolkits that work because they're grounded in both.
Video library of real classroom teaching — watch expert teachers in action across subjects and age groups, with reflection guides.
teachingchannel.comThe gold-standard Project-Based Learning resource — free starter kits, rubrics and project ideas grounded in research.
pblworks.orgIDEO's free design-thinking toolkit for educators — a human-centred process for solving classroom and school challenges.
designthinkingforeducators.comFree Expeditionary Learning resources — character, crew and mastery-based assessment grounded in decades of school evidence.
eleducation.orgFree research-to-practice articles with classroom video — each strategy explained, evidenced and shown in action.
edutopia.orgHattie's 250+ effect sizes with free downloads — understand which teaching practices have the highest impact and why.
visiblelearningplus.comHarvard PZ's free protocols for making student understanding visible — thinking routines with classroom application guides.
pz.harvard.eduFree framework for adapting instruction in real time — bridging formative assessment theory with moment-to-moment practice.
responsiveteaching.orgFree-audit courses on designing for learning — environment design, engagement theory and instructional systems thinking.
edx.orgResearch-backed lesson plans, strategies and classroom management tools — all connected to learning standards.
teachervision.comResearch-informed teaching articles, webinars and guides from the US's leading education journalism outlet.
edweek.orgFree practical resources from NSF-funded learning-science research — translating neuroscience into classroom action.
scienceoflearningcenter.orgWhere to Start
New to exploring your practice? Start here — a curated path through the most important free resources for developing teachers.
Free Teacher Center with training, certification paths and classroom integration guides — the most-used free teacher platform.
edu.google.comFree badge-earning learning paths on Teams, OneNote, Minecraft Edu and AI tools for classrooms.
learn.microsoft.comCurated free PD articles, videos and guides on every aspect of teaching — the best single free starting point for teachers.
edutopia.orgFree structured paths into modern pedagogy — where to go first, what to read and how to grow your teaching practice.
teachthought.comThe New Teacher Project's free guides — what great teaching looks like and how to build toward it systematically.
tntp.orgNational Education Association's free PD portal — courses, webinars and resources for every career stage.
nea.orgFree curated ASCD resources specifically for early-career teachers — classroom setup, mindset, and first-year survival.
ascd.orgFree lesson resources, advice articles and community forums tailored to teachers in their first years of teaching.
tes.comFree practical starters for new teachers — workload management, marking strategies and dealing with your first class.
teachertoolkit.co.ukFree Khan Academy teacher onboarding — set up your classroom, assign work and track student progress from day one.
khanacademy.orgFree self-paced Apple Teacher recognition program — earn badges for iPad, Mac and creative learning skills.
education.apple.comFree associate membership gives access to the Impact journal, research digests and community forum for UK teachers.
chartered.collegeLesson Planning & Curriculum
Build standards-aligned units, weekly plans and ready-to-teach lessons in minutes — free templates and full open curricula.
Free standards-aligned reading lessons grades 3-12 — texts, questions, assessments and full ELA units, all in one place.
commonlit.orgFree PK-12 ELA and math curriculum from New York State — full year-long modules, teacher guides and student workbooks.
engageny.orgFree top-rated open math and ELA curricula (Illustrative Math, EL Education ELA) — full year-long courses written by leading teams.
openupresources.orgOver 420,000 free lesson plans, activities and units shared by AFT teachers — searchable by subject, grade and standard.
share-my-lesson.comThe free section of Teachers Pay Teachers — millions of teacher-made worksheets, units and printables filtered to the no-cost track.
teacherspayteachers.comFree UK-curriculum-aligned resources from the world's largest teaching community — full schemes of work and lesson packs.
tes.comFree curriculum-mapped video clips and ready-made lessons from the BBC — strong on history, science and English literature.
bbc.co.ukFree digital lesson planner with weekly grid view, standards alignment and unit views — solid free tier for individual teachers.
commoncurriculum.comLightweight digital lesson planner — free 30-day trial then a low-cost paid tier; weekly grid view loved by classroom teachers.
planbook.comFree library of master-teacher lesson plans across K-12 subjects — vetted, classroom-tested and aligned to Common Core.
betterlesson.comFree PBS K-12 digital media library — 100,000+ standards-aligned videos, lessons and interactives across every subject.
pbslearningmedia.orgFree customisable digital textbooks (FlexBooks) for every K-12 subject — adapt content, add notes, share with students.
ck12.orgInteractive whiteboard lessons and ready-made activities for primary teachers — large free library of drag-and-drop lesson tools.
gynzy.comBuild interactive lessons combining slides, quizzes, video and polls — free tier with thousands of teacher-shared lessons.
lessonup.comCreating Materials — Slides, Worksheets, Video & Visuals
Make polished worksheets, slides, infographics and videos in minutes — no design skills required, all free for teachers.
Full Canva Pro free for verified K-12 teachers — worksheets, posters, videos, slides, animations and infographics in one studio.
canva.comFree Adobe Express for K-12 teachers and students — flyers, social posts, videos and AI image generation for any lesson.
adobe.comMillions of free icons for worksheets and slides — full attribution required, but excellent quality and variety.
flaticon.comFree high-quality photos for any classroom material — no attribution required, fully usable in lesson resources.
unsplash.comFree photos, videos, illustrations and music — fully usable in classroom materials with no attribution required.
pixabay.comFree stock photos and videos curated by a community of photographers — high quality, fully free for educational use.
pexels.comFree word-cloud generator — turn vocabulary lists into engaging visuals for displays, starters and quick formative checks.
wordart.comFree configurable maths and reading worksheets — generate, print, regenerate. No login required, decades-old teacher classic.
worksheetworks.comGenerate up to 7 different game styles from one wordlist — free for teachers, perfect for vocab and revision activities.
educandy.comAnimated video creator for explainer videos — free tier supports 5-minute videos with extensive character library.
animaker.comFree open-source audio editor — record podcasts, edit audio for lessons, work with any sound file format.
audacityteam.orgFree open-source desktop video editor — straightforward enough for student projects, powerful for teacher tutorials.
openshot.orgFree open-source authoring tool — 50+ interactive content types (quizzes, branching scenarios, drag-the-words) embeddable anywhere.
h5p.orgSelecting & Adapting Resources
Pick existing resources and adapt them for every learner — text levellers, leveled libraries, accessibility readers and dyslexia-friendly tools.
Adapt any text to any reading level instantly — leveled passages, vocabulary and questions; the gold-standard differentiation AI.
diffit.meFree leveled news articles — every article available at 5 reading levels for differentiated content access across subjects.
newsela.comFree comprehensive K-12 reading library — thousands of leveled passages and paired texts with comprehension questions.
readworks.orgPaste any difficult text — Rewordify replaces hard words with simpler ones inline, with definitions on hover.
rewordify.comFree curriculum-aligned printables across age ranges and abilities — adapt any worksheet up or down a level in seconds.
twinkl.comFree Microsoft tool — read any text aloud with line focus, syllable splitting, picture dictionary and 60+ languages.
education.microsoft.comFree text-to-speech with natural voices — read PDFs, web pages and Word docs aloud to support reading access.
naturalreaders.comFree open-source dyslexia-friendly typeface — designed to reduce letter rotation, includes browser extensions.
opendyslexic.orgFree 30-day trial of the leading literacy support tool — text-to-speech, predictive typing, picture dictionary.
texthelp.comFree for US students with reading disabilities — over 1.4M accessible audiobooks and ebooks with text-to-speech.
bookshare.orgThe definitive Universal Design for Learning framework — free guidelines, examples and implementation tools for every classroom.
cast.orgComprehensive free resources for teachers and parents on dyslexia, ADHD and learning differences — research-backed and practical.
understood.orgSetting Objectives & Standards Alignment
Anchor every lesson to clear standards and learning goals — official frameworks, taxonomies and OER alignment libraries.
Free Common Core-aligned tasks, lessons and unit planning tools from the team that wrote the standards — ELA and math.
achievethecore.orgThe official Common Core State Standards portal — full English Language Arts and Math standards, free and searchable.
thecorestandards.orgFree Next Generation Science Standards portal — performance expectations, evidence statements and exemplar lessons.
nextgenscience.orgFree ISTE Standards portal — framework for innovative teaching with technology, with descriptors and rubrics.
iste.orgFree WIDA English Language Development Standards — used in 40+ US states for ELL/EAL planning and assessment.
wida.wisc.eduWiggins & McTighe's Understanding by Design templates and articles — backward design from learning goals to evidence to instruction.
authenticeducation.orgFree reference and verb wheels for Bloom's revised taxonomy — write higher-order objectives in seconds with action verbs.
bloomstaxonomy.netPam Hook's free SOLO Taxonomy resources — the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes for clear progression in objectives.
pamhook.comFree reusable lesson frames tied to learning targets — Cyber Sandwich, Iron Chef, Worst Preso Ever and more.
eduprotocols.comFree open educational resources library — 50,000+ free lessons, units and full courses tagged by standard.
curriki.orgLargest free OER repository — 70,000+ resources tagged by Common Core, NGSS and state standards, plus quality reviews.
oercommons.orgJohn Hattie's free database of 320+ influences on student achievement, ranked by effect size — pick high-impact strategies.
visiblelearningmetax.comExplaining Content — Slides, Video & Screencast
Deliver lessons that stick — interactive slides, embedded video questions, screencasts and curated mini-lectures.
Interactive slide lessons with built-in polls, quizzes, drawings and VR — free Silver tier covers most classroom needs.
nearpod.comEmbed questions and notes directly in any video — free for teachers (up to 20 stored videos) with full analytics.
edpuzzle.comFree unlimited screen-recording for verified teachers — record flipped-classroom videos with built-in viewer engagement.
loom.comFree screencasting tool with classroom-friendly captions and easy hosting — used by millions of educators.
screenpal.comFree all-in-one classroom display — timer, random name picker, traffic light, work-symbols and noise meter on one screen.
classroomscreen.comFree curation tool — organise videos, articles, tweets and student work into shareable collections for any lesson.
wakelet.comCreate interactive presentations, escape rooms and infographics — free tier with hundreds of educator templates.
genial.lyAdd hotspots to images and videos with text, audio and links — free Basic tier covers small-class use.
thinglink.comFree K-12 video lessons with mastery practice — calculus, biology, history, finance and SAT prep, all free forever.
khanacademy.orgFree animated educational videos with built-in lesson tools — Think, Dig Deeper and Discuss prompts attached to every clip.
ed.ted.comFree YouTube lecture series across history, science, literature and economics — exceptional production, hosted by experts.
thecrashcourse.comAnimated curriculum-aligned videos with quizzes and concept maps across every K-12 subject — free trial plus free topics.
brainpop.comFree interactive lesson software for any touchscreen — slides, tools and templates for whole-class teaching, English UI.
prowise.comInteractive Activities — STEM Labs, Art & Music Studios
Hands-on simulations, virtual labs and creative studios — let students DO physics, biology, music and art in your lesson.
University of Colorado's 160+ free interactive physics, chem, biology and maths simulations — translated into 90+ languages.
phet.colorado.eduFree dynamic mathematics — geometry, algebra, calculus, 3D and statistics in one tool. Used by 100M+ students worldwide.
geogebra.orgFree 3D design, electronics simulation and code-blocks platform from Autodesk — built specifically for classrooms.
tinkercad.comMIT's free block-based coding platform — 100M+ projects worldwide, the entry point to programming for kids 8+.
scratch.mit.eduFree playful music experiments from Google — Song Maker, Rhythm, Spectrogram, Kandinsky. Zero login, runs in any browser.
musiclab.chromeexperiments.comFree open-source music notation software — write, play and print sheet music for any instrument or ensemble.
musescore.orgBrowser-based collaborative DAW — record podcasts and music with students in real time. Generous free tier.
soundtrap.comFree open-source professional digital painting and animation software — comprehensive brush engine, used in art schools.
krita.orgFree planetarium in your browser — show students the night sky from anywhere, any time, perfect for astronomy lessons.
stellarium-web.orgFree graphing calculator and classroom activities — the gold standard for visualising functions in maths classes.
desmos.comFree K-12 computer science curriculum — Hour of Code, full year courses, AI Lab and Dance Party. Used by 60M+ students.
code.orgFree 3D globe in the browser — Voyager tours of culture, history and science; build your own placemarks for any geography lesson.
earth.google.comCollaboration — Visual Thinking & Brainstorming
Make student thinking visible — collaborative whiteboards, mind maps, sticky-note boards and concept-mapping tools.
Free Education plan with unlimited boards and templates for verified teachers — the most-loved visual collaboration tool.
miro.comFree FigJam for educators and students — collaborative whiteboarding with delightful templates and engagement features.
figma.comFree 'sticky note wall' for posting ideas, photos, links and audio — three free padlets and beloved by teachers.
padlet.comFree open-source virtual whiteboard with hand-drawn aesthetic — instant collaboration, no login required, end-to-end encrypted.
excalidraw.comFree instant teacher dashboard — every student gets their own whiteboard, the teacher sees them all live.
whiteboard.fiFree 3 mind maps with collaboration — ideal for class concept mapping and student group projects.
mindmeister.comFree unlimited public mind maps — clean visual hierarchy, real-time collaboration and image embedding.
coggle.itFree education tier of Lucid's whiteboard — sticky notes, voting and infinite canvas for class brainstorming.
lucidspark.comFree for verified higher-ed students and instructors — collaborative visual workspace for design thinking and group work.
mural.coFree open-source diagramming — flowcharts, ER diagrams, UML, mind maps. Saves directly to Drive or OneDrive.
app.diagrams.netFree open-source interactive whiteboard for schools — works with any beamer or interactive screen, no subscription.
openboard.chFree collaborative whiteboard inside Teams and Office — sticky notes, ink, images and templates with auto-save.
whiteboard.microsoft.comSimple visual mind-mapping for classrooms — students brainstorm, organise ideas and share boards in real time.
popplet.comClassroom Instruction — Live Response & Polls
Run engaging live activities — game-show quizzes, polls, exit tickets and response systems that keep every student active.
The classic game-show quiz format — free Basic tier supports up to 40 players for live formative assessment.
kahoot.comSelf-paced AI-powered quizzes and lessons — free for teachers with extensive question banks and live mode.
quizizz.comLive polls, word clouds and Q&A from the audience — free tier covers small-class formative assessment perfectly.
mentimeter.comAdd interactive questions to Google Slides or PowerPoint — free tier supports the most-loved formative-assessment formats.
peardeck.comLive polls, surveys and Q&A overlay for any meeting or class — free tier supports up to 100 participants.
slido.comQuick quizzes, exit tickets and Space Race game — free for up to 50 students per room.
socrative.comPaper QR cards plus phone scan — formative assessment with zero student devices, free for up to 60 cards.
plickers.comTemplated quiz games — match-up, anagram, gameshow — generate any activity from one wordlist; free up to 5 saved.
wordwall.netSee student responses live as they type — drawings, equations, paragraphs. Free Bronze tier covers core formative use.
formative.comFree instant word-cloud feedback tool — pose a question, students answer in 20 chars or less, watch responses grow live.
answergarden.chLive audience-response polls embedded in PowerPoint or Google Slides — free tier supports up to 25 responses per poll.
pollev.comGame-based quiz platform massively popular with teens — host live games or assign self-paced sets. Free tier covers full classroom use.
blooket.com40+ ready-made interactive widget templates — quizzes, crosswords, exit tickets, randomness wheels — auto-graded, embeddable.
bookwidgets.comGrading — LMS, Gradebooks & Auto-marking
Cut grading time in half — free LMS gradebooks, auto-marked quizzes, rubric tools and standards-based reporting.
The default free LMS for millions of teachers — assignments, grading, communication and file sharing in one place.
classroom.google.comFree education plan with classes, assignments, OneNote class notebooks and 1TB OneDrive storage per student.
microsoft.comFree version of the leading higher-ed LMS — full assignments, grading and rubrics for individual teachers.
canvas.netFree open-source LMS used by universities worldwide — self-host or use MoodleCloud free tier for small classes.
moodle.comFree LMS for individual teachers — assignments, gradebook, quizzes and parent communication in one platform.
schoology.comStandards-based gradebook trusted by 5M+ students — free for solo teachers; paid plans for schools and districts.
jupitered.comWeb-based gradebook and reporting tool — free tier covers classroom needs; integrates with major LMS systems.
engradepro.comFree auto-graded quizzes with instant feedback and analytics — the workhorse for grading in Google Classroom.
forms.google.comFree quizzes and surveys with auto-grading and branching logic — included with any Microsoft account.
forms.office.comFree rubric maker — pick a template, customise the criteria, print or save. Used by teachers for over 20 years.
rubistar.4teachers.orgFree rubric builder and gallery with thousands of teacher-shared templates — adapt and reuse with attribution.
rcampus.comK-12 student information system with gradebook and standards-based reporting — free trial; many districts offer access.
progressbook.comFeedback — Writing Help, Grammar & Comments
Give meaningful, fast feedback on student writing — grammar checkers, voice notes, rubric tools and writing-help platforms.
Free Grammarly tier — grammar, clarity and tone suggestions for student writing in browser, Word and Docs.
grammarly.comFree web app that highlights complex sentences, passive voice and adverbs — clearer student writing in seconds.
hemingwayapp.comFree PDF and document annotation — drop comments, voice notes, drawings and stickers right on student work in seconds.
kamiapp.comFree Google Sheets add-on for self-, peer- and teacher-rubric assessment — generates personalised feedback per student.
corubrics-en.tecnocentres.orgFree Chrome extension that adds an AI sidebar to Google Docs and Slides — instant feedback, leveling and rubrics.
brisk.aiFree voice-comment Chrome extension for Google Docs, Slides and Classroom — leave 30-sec audio feedback in seconds.
justmote.meFree voice-feedback tool for student writing — link rubric tags to comments and reuse common feedback across students.
kaizena.comLightning-fast feedback for math and science — students upload work, teachers comment with reusable feedback bank.
floop.appFree Google Docs add-on for batch writing feedback — drop in standard comments from a teacher feedback library.
joezoo.comAdaptive grammar and writing practice — free for teachers with auto-graded feedback on every student response.
noredink.comFree interactive writing and grammar tools — adaptive sentence-level practice for grades 3-12 with instant feedback.
quill.orgFree style editor with 25+ writing reports — grammar, readability, transitions and overused words for student writing.
prowritingaid.comReflection — Exit Tickets, Journals & Portfolios
Help students think about their learning — video reflections, journals, exit tickets, e-books and portfolios.
Free Microsoft video discussion platform — students post short video reflections; teachers create safe topics in seconds.
flip.comStudent-created digital portfolios with parent visibility — free Seesaw for Schools tier covers single classrooms.
web.seesaw.meStudents design e-books for reflection or projects — free for one library of 40 books per teacher.
bookcreator.comFree Microsoft tool — every student gets a private notebook for journals and reflections, plus a shared content library and collaboration space.
onenote.comFree emotional check-in tool inside Teams for Education — students choose feelings; teachers see class wellbeing trends.
reflect.microsoft.comFree creation platform for student stories and digital reflections — combine text, voice, video and animation in one canvas.
app.edu.buncee.comFree Plus plan for verified educators — student reflection journals, learning logs and project portfolios in one workspace.
notion.soFree WordPress-powered class and student blogs — great for reflection journals, with teacher moderation built in.
edublogs.orgFree interactive timelines and stories for student-built reflections and project narratives — collaborative and printable.
sutori.comFree anonymous backchannel for class discussion — collect quick text and image reflections from any device.
yoteachapp.comFree map-based stories from ArcGIS — students reflect on a topic by combining text, photos, video and geographic data.
storymaps.arcgis.comFree video Q&A reflection tool — pose a question, students record short responses, the class reviews together.
swivl.comTracking Progress — Homework & Family Learning
Recommend safe, effective resources to families — homework support, revision tools and at-home learning for parents.
Free parent dashboards across all subjects K-12 — track progress, see strengths and weak spots, share with teachers.
khanacademy.orgFree UK-curriculum revision aligned to year groups — guides for parents on supporting homework and exam prep.
bbc.co.ukFree 10 questions/day across 8,500 skills — comprehensive K-12 practice with parent-friendly progress reports.
ixl.comFree reviews of every kids' app, game and movie — help families make smart media choices supported by research.
commonsense.orgFree 30-day trial of the comprehensive early-learning curriculum — phonics, maths, art and music for ages 2-8.
abcmouse.comFree trial of the leading early-reading program — phonics, sight words and decodable books for ages 3-13.
readingeggs.comAdaptive maths practice for K-12 with worldwide tournaments — free home trials and parent progress tracking.
mathletics.comFree game-based maths for grades 1-8 — kids battle monsters by answering questions, parents see weekly reports.
prodigygame.comFree GCSE/A-level revision platform for UK families — interactive courses based on cognitive-science research.
senecalearning.comFree flashcards and study modes — over half a billion study sets covering every subject and exam syllabus.
quizlet.comFree curriculum-aligned printables, worksheets and activity packs — UK-based but used in 200+ countries.
twinkl.com40,000+ children's ebooks, audiobooks and videos — free for verified educators, low-cost for families.
getepic.comClassroom Management & Engagement
Build positive routines, recognise good behaviour, and run smooth daily classroom systems — free tools that respect students.
Build a positive classroom culture — points, parent messages and student portfolios. Free for all teachers and parents.
classdojo.comGamified classroom-management platform — students earn XP and powers for good behaviour. Generous free tier.
classcraft.comVisual classroom noise meter that animates with sound levels — free Lite version is loved by primary teachers.
too-noisy.comFree fun visual noise meter — bouncing balls react to classroom volume. Perfect background tool during group work.
bouncyballs.orgFree random name picker — spin the wheel to choose students fairly. Saved lists, custom colours and ad-free.
wheelofnames.comFree fun classroom timers — bombs, candles, race cars — keep activities on schedule with engaging visuals.
online-stopwatch.comFree seating-plan generator with behaviour-points tracking — used in thousands of UK schools, free for individual teachers.
classcharts.comSchoolwide positive-behaviour reinforcement platform — free trial; many free PBIS resources available on the site.
pbisrewards.comFree movement and mindfulness videos — short brain breaks proven to refocus K-5 students mid-lesson.
gonoodle.comFree morning meeting greetings, activities and message ideas — research-based social-emotional classroom community.
responsiveclassroom.orgFree SEL resources and weekly webinars from the gold-standard org for social-emotional learning research.
casel.orgThe UK's most-followed teaching blog — free practical strategies for behaviour, engagement and routines.
teachertoolkit.co.ukFree random student picker — fair, animated name selection that keeps cold-calling unpredictable and engaging for the whole class.
teacherspick.comCommunication — Parents, Students & Translation
Reach every family in their language and on their terms — secure messaging, newsletters and translation tools.
Send safe one-way messages to students and parents — free tier covers daily classroom announcements with auto-translate.
remind.comFree family-engagement messenger that auto-translates between teachers and parents in 100+ languages.
talkingpts.orgFree secure parent messaging with photo and video sharing — translates messages automatically into 35+ languages.
classdojo.comFree parent communication and conference scheduler — early-childhood and elementary favourite with photo sharing.
bloomz.comBeautiful drag-and-drop classroom newsletters — free tier supports 5 newsletters with full design tools.
smore.comWhole-school communication platform with auto-translation — many districts offer free teacher accounts via school plans.
parentsquare.comFree instant translation in 130+ languages — text, photos, conversations and documents for parent communication.
translate.google.comHigher-quality translations than Google for European languages — free tier covers most teacher communication needs.
deepl.comFree real-time conversation translation for parent meetings — phones speak each language and the app subtitles live.
microsoft.comFree conference scheduling, class-party signups and volunteer rosters — the parent-coordination workhorse.
signupgenius.comFree email tier (up to 500 contacts) — great for class newsletters, parent updates and PTA communication.
mailchimp.comFree Microsoft tool for interactive newsletters and reports — beautiful templates, autoflow design, no formatting needed.
sway.cloud.microsoftAdministration & File Storage
Cut down on paperwork — free cloud storage, kanban task boards, scheduling tools and team workspaces.
Free 15GB cloud storage with Docs, Sheets and Slides — share lesson materials and collect assignments seamlessly.
drive.google.comFree 5GB cloud storage with Office Online — Word, Excel, PowerPoint with full classroom-friendly sharing controls.
microsoft.comFree 2GB tier with classroom sharing and collaborative folders — discounted education plans available.
dropbox.comFree 10GB storage tier — strong on permissions and audit trails, popular with district admin and higher-ed.
box.comFree Plus plan for verified educators — wikis, lesson notes, student trackers and collaborative classroom hubs.
notion.soFree flexible database — great for tracking student data, IEP goals, project portfolios and curriculum maps.
airtable.comFree kanban boards — track lesson planning, student projects, school committees and personal teacher to-dos.
trello.comFree for teams up to 15 people — manage school improvement projects, department workflows and admin tasks.
asana.comFree booking tool — share a link, parents pick a slot for parent-teacher conferences. No more email back-and-forth.
calendly.comFree meeting-time poll for staff and parents — find when everyone can meet without endless email threads.
doodle.comFree workspace for staff teams — channels for departments, DMs and integrations with Drive, Calendar and more.
slack.comFree 5GB Apple cloud storage with Pages, Numbers and Keynote in browser — great for Apple-using classrooms.
icloud.comStress Management & Wellbeing
Look after yourself first — free mental-health, mindfulness and burnout-prevention resources made for educators.
Calm app's free initiative for K-12 teachers — full app access including sleep stories, meditations and music.
calm.comFree Headspace Plus for verified K-12 teachers in the US, UK, Canada and Australia — mindfulness and meditation.
headspace.comFree meditation app with the largest free library — over 200,000 guided meditations and teacher-specific tracks.
insighttimer.comFree articles, guided practices and research on mindfulness — accessible introduction for stressed teachers.
mindful.orgBerkeley's free science-based SEL resources for teachers — practices for gratitude, kindness and resilience in classrooms.
greatergood.berkeley.eduFree podcast and articles by Daniela Falecki — practical wellbeing strategies and burnout prevention for teachers.
teacherwellbeing.com.auUK charity — free 24/7 helpline, counselling and mental-health resources for any teacher, regardless of country.
educationsupport.org.ukFree global movement of teacher mental-health support meetings — 100+ chapters worldwide, online and in-person.
happyteachersrevolution.orgJennifer Gonzalez's free articles and podcast episodes on teacher self-care — practical, honest, no toxic positivity.
cult-of-pedagogy.comFree blog with realistic strategies for managing stress, parents and admin — written by classroom teachers.
dontstresstheteacher.comFree MHA toolkits — burnout self-screening, evidence-based coping strategies, and crisis support directories.
mhanational.orgFree interactive cognitive-behavioural therapy program — proven self-help for stress and low mood, used worldwide.
moodgym.com.auAI Co-pilots — Cross-Phase Helpers
Generate lesson plans, rubrics, differentiated worksheets and feedback in seconds — free AI tools that span the whole workflow.
60+ teacher-built AI tools — lesson plans, IEP goals, rubrics, differentiation and feedback. Generous free tier for educators.
magicschool.aiAI-generated interactive lessons in 30 seconds — slides, polls, drawings and exit tickets, with a strong free plan for teachers.
curipod.com100+ generators for lesson plans, assessments and accommodations — free tier covers most everyday classroom needs.
eduaide.aiSafe, monitored AI chat 'spaces' for students plus an AI assistant for teachers — generous free tier for K-12.
schoolai.comAnthropic's flagship AI assistant — exceptional for lesson planning, rubric writing, parent emails and feedback drafting.
claude.aiOpenAI's free tier covers GPT-4o mini — strong for question generation, summaries and worksheet creation.
chatgpt.comGoogle's AI deeply integrated with Docs, Slides and Drive — ideal for teachers already living in Google Workspace.
gemini.google.comFree AI inside Word, OneNote, PowerPoint — generate lesson outlines, slide decks and student handouts in place.
copilot.microsoft.comUpload your textbook chapters and notes — Google's AI answers strictly from your sources, with audio summaries for revision.
notebooklm.google.comAnthropic's free course on the four core AI competencies — delegation, description, discernment, diligence. Built for educators.
anthropic.comKhan Academy's free AI tutor for teachers — lesson planning, parent emails and student-Socratic tutoring across K-12 subjects.
khanmigo.aiAI search engine that cites every claim — perfect when teachers need verifiable sources rather than hallucinated answers.
perplexity.aiPaste any text, get aligned essential questions and learning objectives plus auto-generated quizzes — free unlimited tier.
questionwell.orgWhere to Start with Further Development
Not sure where to begin your professional development journey? These trusted starting points will help you plan a path that works for you.
Teacher Development Trust's free guide — research on what professional development actually improves teaching and student outcomes.
tdtrust.orgThe global standards for effective professional learning — a clear framework for evaluating and planning your own CPD.
learningforward.orgFree curated PD articles, videos and guides on every aspect of teaching — the best all-in-one starting point.
edutopia.orgFree structured paths into modern pedagogy — what to read, watch and try as you grow your teaching practice.
teachthought.comThe Education Endowment Foundation's free teacher toolkit — evidence-rated strategies with clear guidance on where to focus.
educationendowmentfoundation.org.ukThe New Teacher Project's free guides on what effective teaching looks like and how to build toward it step by step.
tntp.orgWeekly 3-question teacher survey + PD resources — see how thousands of colleagues think and benchmark your own practice.
teachertapp.co.ukStart with yourself — Barbara Oakley's free MOOC on memory, chunking and focus. Essential before designing learning for others.
coursera.orgFree introduction to Gibbs' Reflective Cycle and other models — turn your teaching experiences into structured growth.
reflectivepractice.netNational Education Association's free PD portal — courses, webinars and resources mapped to every career stage.
nea.orgFree associate membership — access the Impact journal, research digests and teaching community for evidence-led teachers.
chartered.collegeFree Open University taster courses in education — inclusive teaching, mentoring and school leadership. No entry requirements.
open.eduFree Courses & Certifications
Earn recognised certificates and badges for free — from Coursera, edX, Google, Microsoft, Apple and the Open University.
Audit Stanford, Penn and Johns Hopkins teaching courses for free — paid certificates available but all content is free.
coursera.orgHarvard, MIT and HarvardX education courses — free to audit, with optional paid MicroMasters for school leadership.
edx.orgFree short teaching courses from UK universities — practical pedagogy, EdTech and subject-specific CPD.
futurelearn.comFree training leading to Level 1 and Level 2 Google Certified Educator exams — globally recognised classroom tech credential.
edu.google.comFree Microsoft Innovative Educator badges — Teams, OneNote, Minecraft Edu, AI tools and global collaboration.
learn.microsoft.comFree self-paced Apple Teacher recognition program — earn Swift badges and classroom creativity credentials.
education.apple.comFree accredited teaching and education certificates — classroom management, special needs, early childhood and more.
alison.comFree OU courses with statements of participation — inclusive teaching, mentoring, school leadership and digital skills.
open.eduMIT's full course materials freely available — lecture videos, problem sets and teaching notes from real MIT classes.
ocw.mit.eduFree accredited university-level courses — complete full courses and receive transcripts at no cost.
learn.saylor.orgFree Common Sense Educator Certification in digital citizenship — practical and internationally recognised.
commonsense.orgFree ISTE webinars, articles and PD from the world's leading EdTech organisation — community membership included.
iste.orgTeaching Methods — How to Teach Better
Explore proven instructional approaches from project-based to flipped learning — free guides, courses and classroom-ready resources.
The gold-standard project-based learning resource — free starter kits, rubrics and project libraries from the global PBL authority.
pblworks.orgFree resources on flipped classroom design — how to record, flip and make better use of in-class time for active learning.
flippedlearning.orgNSTA's free guide to inquiry-based science — how to move from demonstration to student-led investigation.
nsta.orgFree introductory articles on Kagan Structures — Think-Pair-Share, Jigsaw and 200+ cooperative learning techniques.
kaganonline.comFree Universal Design for Learning guidelines — how to design every lesson to work for the full range of learners.
cast.orgIDEO's free educator toolkit — apply human-centred design thinking to both classroom challenges and lesson creation.
designthinkingforeducators.comHarvard PZ's 30+ thinking routines — structured protocols that deepen student thinking in any subject.
pz.harvard.eduFree ASCD resources on differentiated instruction — how to tier tasks, flex grouping and adjust pacing for every learner.
ascd.orgFree Expeditionary Learning instructional resources — character, habits of work and mastery-based assessment in action.
eleducation.org250+ effect sizes — discover which teaching methods have the highest impact on student achievement and why.
visiblelearningplus.comFree video library of classroom techniques — cold call, no opt out, check for understanding and 60+ more strategies.
teachlikeachampion.comPractical how-to articles on every major instructional approach — with classroom video examples and implementation tips.
edutopia.orgYour Subject — Deepen Your Knowledge
Go deeper in your subject area — free resources, enrichment tools and content-specific guidance for maths, literacy, science, humanities and more.
Cambridge's free maths enrichment tasks — rich problems that develop reasoning, not just calculation. Searchable by age and topic.
nrich.maths.orgFree literacy teaching resources — reading strategies, phonics guidance, fluency tools and family engagement resources.
readingrockets.orgUniversity of Colorado's free interactive science and maths simulations — teacher guides for every simulation included.
phet.colorado.eduFree Next Generation Science Standards implementation resources — storyline units, phenomena and three-dimensional teaching guides.
nextgenscience.orgFree geography, science and history lessons from National Geographic — maps, videos, articles and teacher guides.
education.nationalgeographic.orgFree ELA platform for teachers — standards-aligned texts, discussion questions and assessments for grades 3–12.
commonlit.orgThousands of free English teaching resources — poetry, drama, creative writing and exam prep for secondary English teachers.
teachit.co.ukFree history teaching resources from the UK's leading history magazine — articles, source documents and lesson ideas.
historytoday.comFree chemistry teaching resources from the Royal Society of Chemistry — lesson plans, CPD and practical guides.
rsc.orgFree challenging maths puzzles and unsolved problems for K-12 — designed to create beautiful struggle and deep thinking.
mathpickle.comCurated TED-Ed animated lessons across every subject — free lesson planning tools, discussion guides and quizzes.
ed.ted.comFree writing inspiration photos and stimulus — use real published pupil work as models to raise writing standards.
pobble.comLead & Mentor — Become a Lead Teacher
Move into leadership, coaching and mentoring — free resources for teachers who want to support colleagues and grow their school's practice.
Jim Knight's free resources on the impact cycle — a research-backed framework for teacher coaching and self-improvement.
instructionalcoaching.comFree mentoring resources from NTC — how to structure mentoring conversations, observe effectively and give useful feedback.
newteachercenter.orgFree ASCD resources on teacher leadership — how to lead from the classroom without a formal title.
ascd.orgFree articles and videos on instructional coaching — peer observation, feedback cycles and building a coaching culture.
edutopia.orgFree resources on building a professional learning community — how teacher leaders drive school-wide improvement.
leadingeducators.orgNational Board for Professional Teaching Standards — free preparation resources for the gold-standard teacher credential.
nbpts.orgFree standards for professional learning — how to design and lead CPD that actually improves teaching and outcomes.
learningforward.orgFree Teach Like a Champion resources for instructional leaders — observation frameworks, feedback tools and coaching videos.
teachlikeachampion.comFree resources for educators taking on leadership — curriculum mapping, collaborative planning and community building.
teacherfirst.comFree middle-leadership guides — managing upwards, leading a team, workload management and holding difficult conversations.
teachertoolkit.co.ukEducation Week's free leadership resources — research, case studies and policy analysis for teacher leaders and heads.
edweek.orgFree ISTE standards framework for EdTech leaders — a roadmap for leading digital learning in any school or district.
iste.orgEvidence & Insights — What the Research Shows
Access the best education research in plain English — evidence-rated strategies, key findings and research communities built for busy teachers.
The gold standard — free evidence ratings for 50+ teaching strategies, with effect size, cost and implementation guidance.
educationendowmentfoundation.org.ukHattie's 250+ effect sizes on student achievement — understand which strategies work and which are education myths.
visiblelearningplus.comFree conference talks, blog posts and a global community dedicated to improving research literacy in education.
researched.org.ukUS Dept of Education's free reviews of education interventions — rigorous, unbiased evidence ratings for programmes and practices.
ies.ed.govFree evidence-based study strategy summaries — spaced practice, retrieval, interleaving and more, explained for teachers.
learningscientists.orgCognitive scientist's free articles on why students think and learn the way they do — directly applicable to lesson design.
danielwillingham.comFree NFER research reports and summaries — independent, rigorous UK education research on teaching, wellbeing and leadership.
nfer.ac.ukFree Brookings Institution education research — evidence-based policy analysis and teacher-facing research digests.
brookings.eduFree RAND research on teacher effectiveness, curriculum and education systems — rigorous, peer-reviewed and free to access.
rand.orgResearch translated into classroom practice — each article clearly states the evidence base and implementation steps.
edutopia.orgFree Marzano resources on instructional strategies — nine high-yield strategies grounded in 35 years of classroom research.
marzanoresources.comUS government's free education research hub — ERIC database, practice guides and What Works Clearinghouse all in one place.
ies.ed.govTeacher Communities — Find Your People
Connect with teachers around the world — free forums, social communities, subject networks and live events where great teaching ideas spread.
Daily 3-question teacher survey + weekly PD content — see how 10,000+ colleagues respond and benchmark your own views.
teachertapp.co.ukFree forums for every subject and age range — resource sharing, advice threads and career discussions from a global teacher community.
tes.comThe world's largest informal teacher PLN — #EduTwitter, #EduChat and hundreds of subject hashtags connect educators globally.
x.comAnonymous, honest teacher discussion — real talk on workload, behaviour, admin and what actually works in classrooms.
reddit.comFree global community of evidence-minded teachers — annual conferences, regional events and online discussions.
researched.org.ukFree informal teacher unconferences — 7-minute and 2-minute teacher-to-teacher shares, held locally and online worldwide.
teachmeet.netLocal and online Google Educator Groups in 100+ countries — professional learning, events and peer support for Google-using teachers.
edu.google.comFree Microsoft educator community — share lessons, earn badges and connect with innovators using Microsoft tools in education.
educationblog.microsoft.comFree Edutopia blogging and discussion community — share your teaching story and read what's working in classrooms worldwide.
edutopia.orgNational Education Association's free member network — professional connections, advocacy tools and peer support for US teachers.
nea.orgFree LinkedIn educator groups — professional networking, career development and thought leadership in education.
linkedin.comISTE's educator network — free community spaces, special interest groups and discussions on EdTech and innovative learning.
iste.org