Raana Hibbs (@raanahibbs)

Making Space for the Magic: International Day and AI I didn’t expect to spend the day after International Day back in the kitchen, but there I was, making scones for the second time in one weekend. Not because we ran out on International.Not because guests were coming.But because not a single person in our family actually ate one on International Day itself. They were baked, displayed, admired, and then completely ignored by the people who made them.

International Day reflections 💛

Using AI for planning gave me back time for people, creativity, and even baking scones the next day. I’ve shared what worked, what I’d do differently, and a few recipes too!

08.02.2026 12:37 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

From Frustration to Flow: How SRSD Transformed My Writers As an educator, I’m always learning and trying to be better for the learners I work with. Last year, I became frustrated with how I was teaching writing. There were so many different ways to plan for personal narratives, informational texts, and opinion pieces—and I often felt I was guiding my students through every step instead of helping them develop true independence as writers.

Seeing real growth in my writers through #ThinkSRSD (@thinksrsd) — more confidence, more independence, and lots of “I can do this!” moments. 🌟
Inspired by @ditchthattextbook’s Matt Miller on habit-stacking + self-talk.
#WritingInstruction #StudentAgency #EduSky
honorlearners.com

20.10.2025 09:24 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Simplicity in Classroom Management Moving Toward Simplicity Over the years, I’ve tried many different classroom management strategies. I’ve used “Mystery Person,” class vs. teacher games, and a handful of other tricks to keep motivation high. Some of them worked for a season, others fizzled out. But as the years have passed, I’ve found myself leaning toward simplicity. Instead of layering on more systems and competitions, I want my learners to grow from a foundation that is clear, consistent, and meaningful.

Classroom management doesn’t need to be complicated. 🌱 Our promise, mindful minutes, morning questions & end-of-day reflections keep us grounded—routines I’ve learned from brave educators who share. ✨ #edusky #2ndgradeteacher #internationaleducator

13.09.2025 07:59 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Creating Community Through Class Names and Promises From Endings to Beginnings At the end of last school year, I wrote about some of the traditions I use to close our year together. Afterwards, several people asked me to share some ideas for the beginning of the year. So here it is—a practice that has become a cornerstone of how I build community with my learners: creating a…

This year our class proudly became The Kind Foxes 🦊! Along with our class promise, it’s how we build identity, joy, and community from day one. ✨
#edusky #internationaleducator #2ndgradeteacher #classroomcommunity #backtoschool

27.08.2025 15:12 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Catching the Gingerbread Kid: Building Community in Week One The first week of school is always full of excitement, energy, and (let’s be honest) a little nervousness too. This year, to help my second graders get to know their new school spaces and begin building a sense of community, we went on a very special adventure: a Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt. The Gingerbread Kid Runs Away! On Day 1, we discovered that our Gingerbread Kid had “escaped” from the classroom.

🍪✨ Our Gingerbread Kid ran through the school on Day 1, leaving clues for us to follow! From the library to the gym, we met people and places that make our community special. On Day 2, it returned with cookies —a sweet start to our year together. 💛 #backtoschoolfun #communitybuilding #2ndgradefun

24.08.2025 13:08 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

From Sunday Scaries to Canva Calm: How My Planning Has Evolved Over 20+ Years When I first started teaching (over 20 years ago!), planning felt like a weekly mountain to climb. I remember dreading that Sunday afternoon feeling—the looming pressure of submitting weekly plans to the headmaster using a rigid template. It was time-consuming and exhausting, especially as I started my family. I often felt like I was on a hamster wheel, trying to stay ahead but never really feeling caught up.

After 20+ years of teaching, my planning has gone from rigid templates to creative freedom. From bullet journals to Canva's Visual Suite—here’s how I reclaimed my Sundays and found joy in planning again. 🌿📚

23.06.2025 07:58 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Between Borders and Bites: Embracing Identity Through Food International Day is one of my favorite events at school. It’s a vibrant celebration of diversity, where the hallways come alive with national dress, languages, and—of course—unforgettable food from around the world. But for those of us who identify as “third culture kids” or global nomads, it can stir up deeper questions. Where do I belong? Do I represent my Pakistani heritage, though I’ve never lived there?

How do you celebrate International Day when your identity spans continents? I’m sharing stories, recipes, and classroom resources that reflect life between cultures.
#edusky #InternationalDay #ThirdCultureKid #GlobalEducation #TeacherVoices

21.05.2025 10:28 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Canva in the Classroom: Learning to Create, Creating to Learn I want to begin by sincerely thanking everyone who supported me as I took the first step in sharing this blog more publicly. I’ve been incredibly moved by the kind messages and encouragement I’ve received—especially from friends and colleagues around the world. Your responses have truly humbled me and reminded me how powerful it is to share and connect through our work.

I’ve used @Canva for years to create content—but this week, my 7-year-old students became Canva designers themselves!

We followed a Canva Design School lesson together, and the results were full of creativity, confidence, and connection.
#CanvaForEducation #EdTech #2ndGrade

16.05.2025 12:36 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

From Idea to Interactive: Bringing Learning to Life with Canva Code (and saving precious teacher time too!) If you had told me a year ago that I’d be coding my own games for class, I probably would have laughed. My experience with coding has been fairly limited: introducing my young students to Scratch Jr., and during lockdown, diving into creating Pixel Art Reveals using Google Sheets – a skill I picked up through many helpful YouTube tutorials and online workshops offered by generous educators.

From Idea to Interactive: Bringing Learning to Life with Canva Code (and saving precious teacher time too!)

Check out my latest blog post, all about creating interactive classroom games with @Canva Code. #edtech #CanvaForEducation

14.05.2025 12:40 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Unlocking Deeper Learning: The Power of App Smashing and AI in an elementary classroom Technology is constantly evolving, and AI is undoubtedly here to stay. As educators, it’s our responsibility to remain perpetual learners, not just to keep pace but to empower our students to…

Always learning, always growing! My AI in the classroom journey continues. This time: poetry comes to life with @Canva & Magic Student, resulting in video podcasts with my amazing 2nd graders. Check it out! #AIinEducation #AppSmashing @magicschoolai.bsky.social honorlearners.com/2025/04/20/u...

20.04.2025 14:17 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Why Students Hate Group Work (And How to Fix It) Group work frustrates students when roles are unclear and workloads are uneven. Grouper can help make it more effective.

Why Students Hate Group Work (And How to Fix It)

Many students dislike group work due to uneven workload, social conflicts, and unclear roles.

Read More: buff.ly/oR1pUDb

#EduSky

11.03.2025 19:00 👍 17 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0

Empowering Young Writers: AI and App Smashing in the Elementary Classroom A year ago, I shared my initial foray into incorporating AI in education, moving from skepticism to a sense of pioneering spirit (you can read about it here: Today, I’m thrilled to share how …

Excited to share how I used AI & app smashing to turn my 2nd graders into published authors! Check out my latest blog post for the details: honorlearners.com/2025/03/11/e.... #EduSky #edtech #aiineducation #Seesaw @magicschoolai.bsky.social @bookcreator.com

11.03.2025 15:28 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

From Unraveled Yarn to Classroom Comfort: My Crochet Journey Across Continents Imagine learning to knit, but never how to start. My life has been a series of stitches, some held tight, others unraveled. Little did I know, those stitches would become a way to connect with and …

Hello #EduSky! Excited to join this community and connect with educators. Looking forward to sharing and learning. Check out my latest blog post: From Unraveled Yarn to Classroom Comfort: My Crochet Journey Across Continents – Honor Learners #EduSky

09.03.2025 14:59 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Raana Hibbs

Latest posts by Raana Hibbs @raanahibbs