2020-21 eMINTS Tip Cards

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Individual #eMINTSTips in this collection were published on
Tuesdays from August 2020 to July 2021 on eMINTS social
media pages. Follow @emintsnc on Twitter and FB.
Tip cards are color-coded by the eMINTS Instructional Model
(eIM) and/or eMINTS Facilitator Model (eFM).
2020-21 emints.org

What is Mindset?
It’s a set of attitudes held by someone.
Carol Dweck coined the terms, “Fixed”
and “Growth” mindset. What’s yours?
FIXED MINDSET says...
1. This is too hard.
2. I can’t make this any
better.
3. Feedback is personal.
4. When I’m frustrated, I
give up.
5. When others succeed,
I feel threatened.
6. I was born with the skill
and intelligence I have.
GROWTH MINDSET says...
1. Challenges help me grow.
2. I can always improve; how
can I make this better?.
3. I learn from feedback.
4. I work through my
frustrations.
5. When others succeed, it
inspires me.
6. My skills and intelligence
can be developed.
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Mindset Matters
Your mindset plays a crucial role in how you
meet the challenges in learning and in life.
Those with a GROWTH MINDSET…
Tackle challenges.
Show greater resilience.
Persevere through setbacks.
Embrace new experiences.
Desire to learn and discover new things.
Results? Improved effort and greater achievement!
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Grow Your Mindset
Apply these strategies to DEVELOP a growth mindset:
Try new approaches;
be willing to make
mistakes.
Replace “failing” with
“learning.” Making
mistakes=learning!
Embrace your
uniqueness; let go of
pretense.
Stop seeking approval.
Use feedback
constructively.
View challenges as
opportunities for
self-improvement.
Appreciate your
strengths; work on
your weaknesses.
Take time for personal reflection: focus less on
success or failure & more on the learning process.
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Promote a Growth Mindset
Get started with these strategies to encourage
development of a growth mindset in others.
To PROMOTE a GROWTH MINDSET…
Acknowledge actions not traits.
Praise the process, effort, strategies, &
individual development over the results.
Use the word “yet” as in ”I can’t do it YET.”
Emphasize the relationship between learning
and “brain training.” Exercise that muscle!
Provide daily opportunities for reflection.
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Growth Mindset - Stems
Use these sentence stems to encourage
development of a growth mindset.
You never gave up
on___ even when
it was hard.
You showed tenacity
when ___. Well done!
I saw your growth
mindset when...
How might you learn
from...
I saw that you used
___ (strategy/tool).
Good thinking!
I can tell you
persevered because...
When it’s hard, you’re
exercising your brain!
You took time on ___
and it paid off!
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Building a Community Online
A healthy community is a “place” where all
members feel safe, connected, & accepted.
BEFORE jumping into content…
• Greet each individual.
• Establish inclusive roles.
• Make personal connections.
• Include group grounding activity.
• Request members minimize distractions.
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Group Hand Signals
Learners determine set hand signals to aid
communication in the learning community.
Here are some potential examples:
I have a question.
Yes. I agree.
I’m thinking and
need more time.
I am ready to
share an idea.
Have fun creating your own with learners!
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Greeting Circle
In authentic communities, all members take
responsibility to welcome each other. This
opener provides an opportunity to practice.
• Display all participant names.
• One person volunteers to
greet another member.
• That person then greets someone
who has not yet been greeted.
• Repeat until all have been greeted.
• When finished, greet in reverse order.
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Relic in My Room
Begin online meetings by getting voices in
the air with this quick community builder.
• Inform learners ahead of time to select a “relic”
from their room (something they’ve had for a long
time that is important to them).
• Participants take turns showing /
sharing their selected object
and explaining the significance.
Tips
• Display a timer, and limit
share time to 30-45 seconds.
• Start with volunteers or generate
random line-up for share order.
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Truth or Bluff?
Use this community builder online or f2f to
grow relationships & communication skills.
● Each learner privately records the following:
○ An appropriate but crazy thing he/she has done.
○ Something that he/she would NEVER do.
● Take turns sharing the two items in random order
following this pattern:
○ “Would you rather ______ or ______?”
● After each question is posed, peers respond.
● Next, they predict which option is that individual’s
TRUTH and which is the BLUFF.
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Nonverbal Cues Cards
Enhance remote instruction with specific
nonverbal cues for students/participants.
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Personalized Remote
Learning Cue Cards
Create your own custom remote learning
cue cards in four simple steps.
1. Create a Google Slide (page setup >
custom dimension 8.5x11in.)
2. Insert icons using a free provider
like Nounproject.com with
their Slides Add-on.
3. Add text if desired.
4. Print on cardstock.
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Talking Chips
This strategy ensures all have an
equal opportunity to contribute.
Try it face-to-face OR virtually!
● Provide each team member an equal number
of chips (or buttons, tokens, gems, etc.)
● When a team member wishes to talk during
the group discussion, he/she “spends” a chip.
● Once an individual has used all of his/her
chips, he/she can no longer speak.
● The discussion continues until all members of
the group have used all of their chips.
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Captivating Curation
Curate content to convey purpose and inspire action.
Create a short TITLE
representing the topic.
Include a relevant IMAGE
complementing each link.
Compose a DESCRIPTION
providing insight into content.
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Make the M st of Virtual Chats
Encourage engagement & build community before, during, &
after learning. Use chats face to face OR in remote learning to:
Offer platform for
sharing insights &
ideas with peers.
Provide low-risk
opportunities to
get assistance.
Allow multiple “speakers”
to share simultaneously.
Present varied
opportunities for
collective learning.
Motivate learners to
react & respond to
others’ in real time.
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Class Chat Checklist
Ensure your chats have the most bang for their
buck while setting your learners up for success.
Co-create guidelines for when/how chat should be
used. Share a sample chat to model expectations,
e.g., length, depth, content, tone, inclusion, etc.
Initiate a “pre-discussion” chat to activate prior
knowledge and establish basic understandings.
Use small group chats to meet individual needs &
encourage active participation during teamwork.
Offer “after-hours” chat or “virtual office hours” to
provide real-time support by the facilitator or peers.
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“Yes, And…”
Pose a question/prompt/topic or provide
snippet of text to read for discussion.
One learner makes an initial response.
The next person adds his/her thoughts
beginning with “Yes, and…” to connect to
at least 1 statement by previous speaker.
Continue sharing, adding one sentence
at a time until all ideas are exhausted.
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Giving Thanks
“We often take for granted
the very things that most
deserve our gratitude.”
~Cynthia Ozick
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eMINTS Reflection Cards
Use the cards to invite participants to make
connections, reflections, contemplations, etc.
1. Select desired number of cards.
2. Invite participants to pick a card, distribute
cards randomly, or display selected cards.
3. Provide participants with a prompt about a
topic, learning activity, project, or task.
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It Takes 3 Team Builder
➔ The artist faces the drawing space with
writing tools. He/she MAY NOT LOOK at the
interpreter or the performer. The artist MAY
ASK yes/no questions.
➔ The interpreter is between the artist and the
performer. He/she MAY LOOK AT BOTH the
artist’s drawing and the performer in order to
ORALLY COMMUNICATE directions to the
artist gleaned from the performer’s actions.
➔ The performer selects a picture from those
provided. He/she may NOT SPEAK, but must
communicate to the interpreter through
ACTIONS ONLY what is on the picture.
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Thinking Link-Up
It’s as easy as 1 2 3
Provide prompt, text, or topic for
whole group consideration.
Initial responders enter name
and response in one of the six
center text boxes.
Each subsequent contributor adds
ideas by linking thinking to previous
comment(s) in a connecting cell.
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What’s Sticking With You?
Encourage learners to share reflections
using real or virtual sticky notes.
Pose a reflection
prompt or question.
Individuals add
reflective ideas on a
sticky note.
Invite individuals to
expand on their
contribution.

Class Meeting Tips
Create a practice arena for growing skilled,
respectful citizens who understand their role in
developing and maintaining a positive environment.
Abide by collaboratively established norms.
Address both teacher & learner topics.
Develop a respectful environment.
Practice communication skills.
Respect others’ viewpoints.
Empower student voices.

New Year = Opportunities
“We will open the book. Its pages
are blank. We are going to put
words on them ourselves. The
book is called opportunity and its
first chapter is New Year's Day."
~Edith Lovejoy Pierce
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Take Back Your Inbox
Apply these 5 simple tips to declutter your Gmail.
Add action steps to a TASK LIST & out of Inbox.
Set Inbox type with Gmail QUICK SETTINGS.
Process email , then MOVE TO or ARCHIVE.
Use MARKER to indicate IMPORTANCE.
UNSUBSCRIBE from unwanted mailing lists.
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Stay Organized
with Google Tasks
Access Google Tasks from the right pane of any
Google tool on a computer or the phone app.
Click to open and Edit to add task details,
due dates, and subtasks.
Create new lists for
new projects.
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Google Calendar
Appointment Slots
Using your work / school account, open calendar.google.com.
Click on desired date. In the resulting pop-up event box, select
APPOINTMENT SLOTS.
Enter Title, timeframe,
slot duration, & calendar.
Select MORE OPTIONS
to add location,
meeting link, Guest
(co-facilitator), & to get
link to shareable
Appointment Page.
Click on SAVE.
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Hidden Google Tricks
Go to google.com and type any of the
following terms into the Search Bar.
Breathing Exercise
Roll a Die
Set a Timer
Tip Calculator
Do a Barrel Roll
Flip a Coin
Anagram
Google Sky
Google Gravity
(Click on I’m Feeling Lucky)
Atari Breakout
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Keyboard Shortcuts
for Zoom Meetings
⌘+Shift+R
⌘+Shift+P
⌘+Shift+A
⌘+Shift+V
⌘+Shift+H
⌘+Shift+S
Option+Y
⌘+U
Start/Stop Local Recording
Pause/Resume Recording
Mute/Unmute Audio
Start/Stop Video
Display/Hide Chat Panel
Start/Stop Screen Share
Raise/Lower Hand
Display participants panel
Alt+R
Alt+P
Alt+A
Alt+V
Alt+H
Alt+S
Alt+Y
Alt+U
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Keyboard Shortcuts
to Use in Google Meet
⌘+D
⌘+E
Ctrl+⌘+C
Ctrl+⌘+P
Mute/Unmute Audio
Start/Stop Video
Display/Hide Chat Panel
Show or Hide People
Ctrl+D
Ctrl+E
Ctrl+Alt+C
Ctrl+Alt+P
Shift+? or Ctrl+/ to see more hotkeys
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Dynamic Virtual
Conference Presentations
Create memorable online learning opportunities.
Establish Purpose: Frame your story to take
participants on a journey.
Develop Your Style: Balance presenting
content with actively engaging participants.
Plan Your Delivery: Help participants put ideas
together & also connect with you & others.
Engage with Multimedia: Use a variety of
media and share your resources.
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TagIt
Stretch thinking by generating connections
between concepts & unrelated items or images.
Provide (or have
learners gather)
items of interest,
quotes, a collection
of images, etc. for
consideration.
1 2
Invite individuals or
teams to add
hashtag/label to
identify how each item
might represent the
targeted topic or
concept, e.g., #inquiry,
#thinking, #PBL, etc.
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What’s In Your Bag
Form teams of 4-5.
Distribute/Display a list of items to find as a
team within 5 minutes.
Tag It: Ask team members to use the items
they located and identify how items might
represent the targeted topic or concept,
e.g., #inquiry, #thinking, #PBL, etc.
Have teams share items and connections
they made to the topic/concept.
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A Recipe for…
Pairs or trios create a “recipe”
for a non-food related concept.
Communicate important
aspects of the concept in a fun
and creative way by applying
to recipe elements.
● Name of Dish
● Ingredients & Amounts
● Number Served
● Directions
Present recipe when complete.
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Tell Me Something Good
Promote a positive, supportive learning environment.
● Learners mingle around the room.
● Partner and say: "Tell me something good!"
● Each partner shares something about the
provided topic or prompt.
● When both have shared, clap 2 times to
celebrate the positives; then mingle again to
meet with a new partner.
● Continue mixing/sharing until time is called.
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Affirmation Circle
Build community, discover commonalities, & bond.
● Have learners stand in a circle.
● Pose a question or name a category.
● If the question or category applies to learners,
they go to the middle of the circle &
“high five” anyone else there.
● Those standing in the outer
circle clap.
● Everyone returns to the
outer circle for next prompt.
● Repeat as long as group is engaged.
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Categories
Promote quick thinking & analysis.
● Direct learners to stand up and mingle
around the room.
● Announce a category.
● Learners should quickly organize themselves
into the category judging where they belong.
● Repeat by remingling and announcing a new
category.
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Keep Your PLN Connected
Lifelong learning requires effort & dedication.
Committing to your PLN is the first step.
● Discuss & identify
team goals for
staying
connected.
● Establish team
experts to ask
for help.
● As a team, learn
to connect in a
way you all
enjoy.
● Investigate how
PLNs like yours
network.
● Explore tips for finding times & strategies to connect
with those in your PLN in asynchronous ways.
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Differentiation for Your PLN
The purpose of a PLN is to connect with others to personalize
learning. As a PLN leader, make sure to customize a plan to
meet your cohort’s needs and preferences.
1. Determine PLN
needs & goals
2. Identify pressure
points & challenges.
3. Inquire about
personal styles
& preferences.
4. Outline strategies
for sharing &
communicating.
5. Collect resources & tools needed to achieve PLN goals.
6. Plan. Practice. Refine. Repeat. 7. Commit & act!
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Challenge Your PLN
Try these strategies to encourage all PLN
participants to stay active & extend thinking.
Create a plan to
curate content as
a team. Select a
topic. Identify the
curation tool.
Curate & share
with the world.
Participate in a
Twitter Chat as a
team. Find a chat,
set the date, send
reminders, & hold
team members
accountable.
Using your PLN’s platform of choice, consistently
share hashtags & recommend people to follow.
Encourage all PLN members to do the same.
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Connect & Learn with Your PLN
Possibilities for learning with a PLN are endless.
CONTENT
Webinars
Podcasts
Blogs
Video
Curated Content
Email Newsletters
Online Communities
TOOLS
LinkedIn
Wakelet
Twitter
Pinterest
Facebook
Instagram
Zoom / Meet
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Celebration Ideas
End the school year on a high note!
Memory Book
Letter to Future You
Digital Yearbook Video
Implement Theme Days
School Year Top 10 List
Summer Top 10 List
End of Year Photo Booth (Kid Created)
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Tidy Up Your Digital Life
Yes. It does take commitment
and intention. You can do it!
1. Commit to fewer digital distractions.
2. Imagine your ideal digital life.
3. First identify what’s unnecessary.
4. Remove distractions one at a time.
5. Stay focused on the essentials.
6. Ask if it’s a must-have & “brings joy”.
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Declutter Your Digital Files
Declutter your Google Drive in 5 steps.
Tidy by location or category, quickly,
completely, all in one go.
Focus on what you want to keep, not what
you want to discard.
Put your things where they belong (folders).
Start with My Drive!
Use Drive Advanced Search to “find”
individual & batches of files.
Archive ‘Copy of’ files & delete ‘Untitled’ files.
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Organize Your Phone
Apply these tips to streamline and
structure your smartphone content.
1. Start with a clean slate.
2. Delete apps that you do not use.
3. Organize your apps by daily use & type.
Drag app icon onto another related
app to create a collection.
4. Clean out the contents of your apps, e.g.,
delete duplicate photos and files.
5. Adjust Notifications to limit distractions.
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Time for Summer Reset
Choosing to “RECHARGE”
isn’t a selfish act.
Self-care inevitably
benefits all of your
students. ~John Spencer
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Don’t Lose Your Marbles
Improve collaboration with this fun team builder.
All team members hold onto the
edges of a BANDANA with both
hands and pull it taut.
Place a PLASTIC CUP upside
down on the bandana.
Put one or more MARBLEs on the cup.
Move from Point A to Point B balancing
the marble(s) on the inverted cup.
If a marble falls off of the cup, you must start over.
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What’s Your Slogan?
What catch phrase might best represent you?
Create your own slogan that will guide
your work on the current task.
OR
Identify a popular slogan that aligns to
your current situation or focus.
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Words of Wisdom
We all have something to learn from each other.
Develop a “Words of Wisdom” statement
that you wish you could have told
yourself at the beginning of...
of an activity, unit of study,
event, or school year.
Consider what’s important,
what’s lasting, and what
could make a difference.
Have others infer the significance of your
Words of Wisdom. Confirm or clarify.
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Synectics
Stimulate thought processes & deepen understanding.
1. As a whole group, brainstorm the following:
- 3 machines
- 2 things that occur in nature
- 1 thing that people like to do
2. Next, partners or small groups generate
analogies between each item listed and a
provided concept or topic, e.g., Topic named
is like machine #1 because ...
3. Share out analogies and reasoning.
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Your True North
Use as an energizer and conversation starter.
1. Participants stand & spread out in a large area.
2. Indicate cardinal directions, specifically north.
3. Learners close their eyes & slowly spin until you
say “Stop” (4-5 spins).
4. Keeping eyes closed, extend
arm to point north & “freeze”.
5. Participants open their eyes to
see how their True North compares with others.
(Typically you’ll see multiple directions.)
6. Discuss insights from the activity & alignment in
purpose/understanding.
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Elevator Pitch
Solidify thinking with a 20-30 second synopsis.
Create a quick overview of a topic,
project, or idea to “sell” it to others.
Make it compelling to spark interest.
Include key aspects such as:
• Benefits/Challenges
• Characteristics
• Uniqueness
• Influences
Present the pitch “Shark
Tank” style f2f or use tool
of your choice to record.
...
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Find more resources at portal.emints.org.
Watch for a new eMINTS Tip Card on
Facebook and Twitter every Tuesday .
Follow @emintsnc
@higginsb
@perkinsd
2020-21 emints.org