Crawfordia

Category: PIT

  • The PIT Stop – February 2, 2026

    The PIT Stop – February 2, 2026

    Psychology • Instruction • Technology

    By Aaron Crawford PIT About The PIT Stop

    Each stop is quick, practical, and ready to use in your classroom right away.

    Adolescent Psychology

    Early February is the “long middle” – not new, not finished. Motivation drops when progress feels invisible, so students need clear milestones (even small ones) to keep effort from feeling pointless.

    Instruction

    Reframe “practice” as visible skill accumulation. Keep practice focused on one micro-skill, then point out what improved compared to last time – “This is clearer because…”

    Technology

    Snorkl captures student thinking and gives near-instant AI feedback, making higher-DOK practice more manageable. Used consistently, it helps students see growth over time – and our district has the full version. snorkl.app

    Tip: tap the ⋯ menu in the deck to view fullscreen.

  • The PIT Stop – December 8, 2025

    The PIT Stop – December 8, 2025

    Psychology • Instruction • Technology

    By Aaron Crawford PIT About The PIT Stop

    A quick refuel for tired teachers: one idea from psychology, one instructional move, and one tech thought worth your time.

    Psychology

    Overstimulated brains struggle to filter what matters. Fidgeting, zoning out, and quick tempers are often signs of a system that has hit capacity.

    Instruction

    Reduce cognitive noise where you can. Fewer directions, cleaner slides, and predictable routines free up mental space for learning.

    Technology

    Classroom music can help some students focus and push others over the edge. Use it intentionally and be ready to turn it off.

  • The PIT Stop – November 24, 2025

    The PIT Stop – November 24, 2025

    Psychology • Instruction • Technology

    By Aaron Crawford PIT About The PIT Stop

    Each stop is quick, practical, and ready to use in your classroom right away.

    Adolescent Psychology

    Working memory is tiny. Give students too many steps at once and they can’t process them.

    Instruction

    Pick the one move that drives the whole task and have students practice ONLY that first.

    Technology

    Use Gemini as a thought partner to help identify the single step that matters most.

    Tip: tap the ⋯ menu in the deck to view fullscreen.

  • The PIT Stop – November 10, 2025

    The PIT Stop – November 10, 2025

    Psychology • Instruction • Technology

    By Aaron Crawford PIT About The PIT Stop

    Each stop is quick, practical, and ready to use in your classroom right away.

    Adolescent Psychology

    Students are constantly asking if their teachers care about them. See the core questions they ask – and a link to how to answer.

    Instruction

    The best teachers don’t simply state their expectations – they actively teach them.

    Technology

    How do you end a term in Canvas and start a fresh one?

    Tip: tap the ⋯ menu in the deck to view fullscreen.

  • The PIT Stop – October 20, 2025

    The PIT Stop – October 20, 2025

    Psychology • Instruction • Technology

    By Aaron Crawford PIT About The PIT Stop

    Each stop is quick, practical, and ready to use in your classroom right away.

    Adolescent Psychology

    Help students recognize imposter syndrome — and remind them that self-doubt often means they’re growing.

    Instruction

    Normalize mistakes — treat them as data, not disasters. Modeling this helps students see learning as iterative.

    Technology

    Create a SchoolAI space for “should-I-already-know-this?” questions to uncover missing prerequisite knowledge.

    Tip: tap the ⋯ menu in the deck to view fullscreen.

  • The PIT Stop – October 6, 2025

    The PIT Stop – October 6, 2025

    Psychology • Instruction • Technology

    By Aaron Crawford PIT About The PIT Stop

    Each stop is quick, practical, and ready to use in your classroom right away.

    Adolescent Psychology

    Allow students to make small choices.

    Instruction

    The importance of clear learning targets.

    Technology

    Manually add students to Canvas.

    Tip: tap the ⋯ menu in the deck to view fullscreen.

  • The PIT Stop – September 22, 2025

    The PIT Stop – September 22, 2025

    Psychology • Instruction • Technology

    By Aaron Crawford PIT About The PIT Stop

    Each stop is quick, practical, and ready to use in your classroom right away.

    Adolescent Psychology

    Adolescents are more likely to do dumb things when their friends are watching.

    Instruction

    Stop the students from talking while you’re talking – teach expectations.

    Technology

    “Snooze” your Gmail so that it returns to your inbox at a later time.

    Tip: tap the ⋯ menu in the deck to view fullscreen.

  • The PIT Stop – September 15, 2025

    The PIT Stop – September 15, 2025

    Psychology • Instruction • Technology

    By Aaron Crawford PIT About The PIT Stop

    Each stop is quick, practical, and ready to use in your classroom right away.

    Adolescent Psychology

    Why putting phones away supports healthier attention and mood.

    Instruction

    Silent signals that boost clarity and reduce interruptions.

    Technology

    Use your phone as a Canva presentation remote.

    Tip: tap the ⋯ menu in the deck to view fullscreen.