At Microsoft, we recognize the evolving needs of educators and institutions—and we see them as opportunities to provide meaningful support through a secure, high-performing platform. Windows 11 helps you simplify IT, support equity, and unlock future-ready learning.

Let’s explore how Windows 11 is built to securely support today’s educational needs and deliver AI-powered experiences. We’ll also highlight your upgrade paths to Windows 11 as Windows 10 approaches end of support (EOS) on October 14, 2025.

Secure by design, ready for the modern classroom

As learning continues to become more connected and digital-first, having a secure technology foundation is more important than ever. Windows 11 was built with this in mind—combining modern protections with performance and usability.

Microsoft Defender provides real-time protection that updates automatically, helping you stay ahead of evolving digital risks with less manual work. Hardware-level security features like Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 are built in, helping safeguard student and school data at every level—from classroom to district.

These capabilities don’t just protect—they help you simplify. With centralized management through Microsoft Intune, your IT teams can more easily promote consistency across devices and reduce time spent on maintenance and troubleshooting.

Performance matters too. Windows 11 provides practical enhancements to the classroom experience, including faster boot times, improved multitasking capabilities, extended battery life, and accessibility tools such as voice typing and live captions—all designed to empower every student to participate and succeed.

Explore how Windows 11 can help you save time, track progress, and support diverse learning needs in the classroom.

Scale digital learning

Ceibal, a government agency in Uruguay, was founded to universalize access to digital technology in the Uruguayan public education system and is the largest education Microsoft tenant in Latin America. In 2023 they adopted Windows 11 as the main operating system and more than 240,000 students and teachers across Uruguay were using Windows 11 PCs. Their learning management system (LMS) CREA saw usage rates increase from 55% in 2019 to 86% in 2024.¹ The migration also delivered practical benefits: maintenance and update costs decreased, and compatibility between software and hardware improved significantly.

Prior to moving to Windows 11, maintenance and update costs were higher because each device model had its own OS version. Additionally, compatibility between software and hardware made things even more difficult. By integrating Windows 11, everything became much quicker and simpler with added security.

Mateo Pérez, Product Coordinator at Ceibal

Forward-looking platform for personalized learning

Windows 11 is built to support not just today’s educational needs, but tomorrow’s innovations. As AI continues to become an integral part of teaching and learning, schools need tools that are both powerful and practical—helping educators adapt without requiring them to overhaul their workflows.

One example is Microsoft Learning Zone, a Windows app designed to save educators time while enhancing student engagement. Built for Copilot+ PCs, Learning Zone uses on-device AI to help educators create personalized, interactive lessons from the materials they already use—turning a worksheet or slide deck into student-ready activities in minutes.

Whether introducing new concepts, reinforcing key ideas, or tailoring practice to individual learners, Learning Zone puts AI directly into the teaching workflow—responsibly and privately. Because it runs on the device, educators stay in control of both content and student data.

Available in public preview, Learning Zone shows how Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs can support modern instruction while preserving privacy and empowering educator creativity. Educators can also use built-in trusted content from world-class partners—from NASA’s hands-on exploration and OpenStax’s Rice University-backed curriculum to Minecraft Education’s immersive game-based learning and Kahoot!’s AI-powered instant quiz generation—all seamlessly integrated and ready to inspire student curiosity from day one.

Planning your upgrade to Windows 11 Education

With Windows 10 support ending on October 14, 2025, you have several options to keep your learning environments secure and AI-ready. Every institution is in a different place with budgets and timelines, so the transition doesn’t have to happen all at once. Microsoft offers three flexible paths to help institutions transition based on their budget and readiness.

Option 1: Upgrading eligible devices

Many existing devices are compatible with Windows 11. Microsoft offers a free tool called PC Health Check that tells you if your device meets the requirements for Windows 11. Schools can use Microsoft Intune to upgrade at no additional cost—unlocking immediate security, performance, and accessibility improvements without investing in new hardware.

Option 2: Making the most of device transitions

When it’s time to purchase new Windows 11 PCs, to help ensure older devices are responsibly recycled or repurposed whenever possible, we encourage the use of trade-in and recycling programs available through our retail and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners. To help schools stretch their budgets, eligible devices can be securely recycled with cashback to offset new purchases through select programs. For devices that don’t qualify for trade-in, Microsoft’s end-of-life management programs support sustainability goals through responsible recycling.

You can also explore Shape the Future, a Microsoft discount program that helps K–12 education institutions access affordable Windows 11 PCs and promote digital equity.

Free planning tools to support your Windows 11 upgrade

Microsoft offers resources to help assess and plan your upgrade to Windows 11. These tools are designed to give you clear insights and support confident decision-making.

• Windows EOS Devices Calculator: Estimate the benefits and costs of upgrading or understand what it takes to maintain Windows 10 devices securely after support ends.
• Windows 11 Migration Assessment: Evaluate your institution’s readiness for Windows 11 and get practical recommendations for your transition.

Option 3: Phase your rollout

If replacing all devices at once isn’t possible, consider a hybrid plan. For eligible devices, upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and enroll in the Extended Security Update (ESU) program for licenses on a per device basis until you’re ready to fully transition. The ESU program allows covered devices to continue to receive security updates for up to three years. ESU pricing for Microsoft Education customers will be $1 per device for the first year, $2 the following year, and $4 the third year to help institutions receive the support they need.² This offer is extended to all education customers, including K-12 and higher education.

Invest in AI-powered learning

Schools ready to enhance productivity through AI can consider Copilot+ PCs. These Windows 11 PCs, in comparison to traditional devices, deliver faster performance, longer battery life, and on-device AI experiences that support a long-term investment in educational innovation. Copilot+ PCs are the fastest, most intelligent, and secure Windows 11 PCs ever, optimized for AI-powered experiences like Learning Zone.

No matter your timeline, Microsoft is committed to helping your school move forward confidently—keeping learning secure today while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities.

The transition to Windows 11 doesn’t have to happen overnight—but planning should start now. A well-managed move can lead to stronger security, reduced maintenance, improved compatibility, and higher engagement.

Windows 11 offers every school a high-performance foundation for learning today—and innovation tomorrow. Whether your district is ready to upgrade or just starting to plan, Microsoft is here to help every step of the way.

Explore Windows 11 today and see how your school can reimagine teaching and learning.

¹ Ceibal LMS usage statistics, 2024

² All prices are in US dollars and accurate as of October 2025. Regional prices will vary based on foreign exchange rates at the moment of ordering SKUs.

The post Build secure, future-ready learning experiences with Windows 11 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

From creating personalized practice problems to identifying learning gaps, Math Progress offers insights designed to complement your instruction while keeping students engaged. Whether you’re reinforcing key concepts or identifying areas for growth, Math Progress helps make it easier to support the needs of every student.

Educator benefits:

• Saves time by streamlining assignment creation while providing powerful performance insights to help accelerate learning.
• Tracks student progress and performance at both the student and class level to make informed instructional decisions.

Student benefits:

• Improve math skills with targeted, personalized practice.
• Share feedback on question difficulty so that educators know how to adapt instruction.

How to use Math Progress and generate math problems

Math Progress helps build math skills through educator-led assignments, activities, and insights. You can use the problem generator to create sets of math problems based on a specific topic or design your own. Available in a number of languages, Math Progress is a flexible and inclusive Learning Accelerator for developing math proficiency.

Get started with Math Progress:

1. Launch Microsoft Teams for Education and sign in with your school-issued credentials.
2. Choose a class and select Assignments.
3. Create a new assignment.
4. Select Learning Accelerators and choose Math Progress.
5. Select the Generate tab.
6. Choose a category and topic from the dropdown menus.
7. Select the Generate button.

Use Math Progress to create problems in four categories: numbers and operations, fractions, expressions and equations, and algebra. Each category includes specific topics so that you can target concepts that need more focus.

Tip: Want a different set of questions? Simply select the Generate button again for a new set of questions.

Selecting questions to include

Math Progress can help you save time by making it easier to build assignments tailored to your students’ needs.

After generating questions, select the types of questions and number of problems that best suit your students—challenging them without overwhelming them. The questions you pick appear in the sidebar beneath Selected questions. To remove one, select the “X” next to the problem to remove it from the list.

Tip: Choose a few questions, then select the Generate button again. Math Progress keeps your selected items and provides a fresh set, making it easy to build the ideal assessment.

Creating your own math questions

Need a custom word problem or exit ticket? Write your own questions with Math Progress and mix and match them with the generated items for more personalized, flexible assignments. This option can be used in a variety of ways—whether you’re reinforcing key concepts, differentiating for student needs, or aligning with classroom events. For example, you might tie assignments to themes like Pi Day.

To write your own items for a Math Progress assignment:

1. Select the Create your own tab.
2. Select the Add question button.
3. Choose an option from the Category and Topic dropdown menus.
4. Choose Multiple Choice or Short Answer.
5. Type a question.
6. Add a point value.
7. Type the equation or select the blue icon to open a Basic calculator or Formulas.
8. Select Save to add the problem to the Selected questions list.

Tip: For multiple choice questions, Math Progress automatically creates answer options from your equation—saving you time and letting you focus on supporting your students.

Customizing math assignments and sharing with students

Math Progress gives you control over how assignments are presented and the types of student feedback you collect. After you’ve generated or written questions and selected Next, you’ll see three customization options in the sidebar:

• Show your work – Ask students to upload a photo showing how they solved a problem. Images can be uploaded from Microsoft OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, or their own device by taking screenshots or using their device’s camera.
• Student rating – Encourage students to rate each question from easy to hard, giving you insights about the challenge level.
• Shuffle question order – Randomize questions for students while keeping the original order in place for your review.

When you’re finished customizing your questions, select Done to open the Microsoft Teams assignment screen. There, you can add a title, description, due date, and additional options before sharing it with students.

Tip: From the Customize settings window, you can also edit questions and response options. This is helpful for spotting and refining assignment details before publishing.

Tracking student progress and performance

Math Progress gives you rich insights to support each student’s growth in math. After students submit their assignments, you’ll see automatically reviewed results to help you address student misconceptions and adjust your instruction. Pinpoint areas of opportunity by analyzing trends at both the individual student and class level.

To review assignment submissions:

1. Go to Assignments and select Ready to grade.
2. Choose the Math Progress assignment.
3. Select a student in your class to review their work.

Each submission includes the student’s assignment grade, point total, and question rating for at-a-glance review. Compare to class provides a convenient way to link examining an individual’s performance in relation to the class and over time. Student misconceptions are also listed, helping you identify areas for growth and target your instruction more efficiently.

When you review student math assignment submissions, you’ll find color-coded correct and incorrect answers along with a drop-down menu where you can change the grade to correct, incorrect, or incomplete. You can even select a thumbnail of each student’s work to better understand their problem-solving process.

When you’re ready, add written feedback and choose how you want to return the assignment. Returned work includes a breakdown of the student’s grade, point total, question ratings, misconceptions, and feedback along with automatically generated steps for solving incorrect problems. This means students can learn from their mistakes and keep improving—while helping you save time on providing individualized feedback.

Tip: Select the paperclip icon in the feedback box to attach a tutorial video, help guide, or a Word file with extra problems, making it easy for students to revise and reinforce skills.

Get started with Math Progress

Engage your students in deliberate practice with real-time coaching on math concepts. Use Math Progress to free up your time with tools that streamline assignment creation, review, and analysis. Gain insights to personalize math instruction, strengthen foundational skills, and boost student confidence—one problem at a time. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to deepen your impact, this guide to Math Progress is designed to help you make the most of every learning moment.

The post An educator’s guide to Math Progress appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Wichita Public Schools (WPS), an early adopter of Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, has thoughtfully integrated AI into their district. Through this ongoing journey, they’ve uncovered practical ways that AI can support accessibility, personalize instruction, and help reduce administrative workload. Their experiences highlight both the potential, and the planning required—from aligning tools with instructional goals to helping ensure educators feel supported and prepared. In May 2025, WPS was honored with the ISTE+ASCD Distinguished District Award—a testament to the district’s ongoing leadership and innovation in education.

As you explore your own AI journey, WPS offers a valuable example of how sustained, intentional AI adoption can create meaningful impact. Try Copilot Chat today and discover the impact AI can have on your school.

Driving innovation through AI

Educators at WPS began their journey with Copilot Chat in 2023, using it in a variety of ways to support teaching and learning. This included creating instructional materials tailored to their students’ needs and translating content to support inclusive learning across the over 100 languages spoken by their diverse student body. This foundational work paved the way for a broader integration of AI throughout the district. 

Building on their early efforts, WPS has started using more advanced AI tools. That includes Microsoft 365 Copilot, which brings AI into apps like Word, Excel, and Microsoft Teams to help amplify creativity and boost productivity for educators, staff, and leaders alike. In addition, the district has developed custom agents tailored to meet specific needs across departments. 

The district also welcomed its first AI specialist, Katelyn Schoenhofer, whose role includes training staff, supporting AI policy development and responsible use, maintaining data integrity. She also helps district leaders, educators, and students understand the role of AI in the future of education. Her work helps ensure that AI is introduced with clarity, consistency, and accountability—and that it’s aligned with the district’s goals. 

Discover the potential of AI to help enhance learning, equip students for the future, boost efficiency and cybersecurity, and free up time for what matters most. 

Intentional AI integration

At WPS, AI adoption is not about chasing trends. It’s a deliberate strategy grounded in human-centered design and professional learning. For WPS, human-centered means prioritizing the needs, values, and well-being of students and educators throughout the process of AI integration, helping to ensure technology enhances—not replaces—human connection and judgment. Staff receive role-specific training before gaining access to Copilot Chat, supporting safe, responsible, and effective use. 

We just wanted to have that human approach. We want to make sure that it’s human centered, with human oversight.

Katelyn Schoenhofer, AI specialist, Wichita Public Schools, United States

When a school adopts Copilot Chat, educators and staff begin with practical training before gradually progressing to more advanced uses—a phased approach shaped by early experiences. This structured rollout helps to build confidence and encourages experimentation, especially in areas like special education and academic resource development. 

WPS’s intentional approach to AI literacy and professional development strategy helps empower educators and administrators to use tools like Copilot Chat confidently to improve instruction, streamline operational processes, and enhance student outcomes.

AI is going to enhance our lives. It’s going to change our lives. And so how do we make sure that we understand that and be methodical, and you know, just intentional about it?

Katelyn Schoenhofer, AI specialist, Wichita Public Schools, United States

To help your team build competency with Copilot, explore the AI for educators learning path. It provides guidance on how to use AI tools responsibly and effectively in educational settings.

Practical AI use cases in education

Lesson planning and instructional support

Educators in WPS have embraced Copilot Chat for the assistance it provides in efficient lesson planning and increasing student engagement. Copilot Chat supports differentiated instruction, facilitates creative brainstorming, and helps adapt content to student interests, supporting accessible learning. WPS educators are using Copilot Chat to customize lessons based on student interests—for example, using pop culture themes to make math concepts like ratios more relatable.

The WPS AI team has extended this even further by developing a collection of custom agents—AI assistants designed to help with specific tasks. These agents assist educators in innovating further by enhancing brainstorming and fostering dialogue to generate meaningful instructional ideas. They identified special education as an area of opportunity for innovation. Special education teams now use a custom agent to help Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) meet both legal requirements and each student’s unique needs.

In practice: Special education teams also use the custom agent to translate IEP accommodation justifications into plain language that educators can use to help parents and caregivers understand complex concepts—a game changer for supporting student success.

Explore more possibilities with the Copilot Scenario Library for education, a collection of real-world examples that demonstrate how educators and leaders can easily use AI to assist with everyday tasks.

Operational and administrative benefits

Outside of the classroom, administrators have also integrated Microsoft 365 Copilot into their workflow to help improve everything from daily tasks to communication to marketing. Leaders and staff throughout the district use Copilot for a range of tasks to help increase their creativity and efficiency—a more recent and evolving use case that extends AI’s impact beyond instruction. Here are some common ways that WPS administrators use Copilot: 

• Marketing material – Improve branding and storytelling for district marketing materials like press releases and flyers, while honing communication and marketing skills.
• Communication efficiency – Analyze emails and provide a list of prioritized action items.
• Data insights – Streamline online enrollment by merging different enrollments into one system, with finance and student information collaboration.
• IT efficiency – Accelerate development timelines for WPS app developers.

I’m seeing that principals love the fact that Microsoft 365 Copilot will read their email and give them action items. That alone, they are saying, wait, this is going to be so much easier.

Dyane Smokorowski, Coordinator of Digital Literacy, Wichita Public Schools, United States

In practice: Dickson, CIO, created a custom agent that drafts detailed Board of Education agendas by uploading simple notes or outlines, streamlining the process and ensuring that all important topics are covered efficiently. What seemed like a small innovation has led to enhanced time savings and eased the burden of this required, repetitive task for Dickson.

Community and family engagement

WPS is using Microsoft Education’s AI tools, including Copilot, to help deepen family and community connections by enhancing communication and collaboration. At one school, a principal used Copilot to brainstorm creative ways for educators to participate in a school talent show. Copilot worked across her institution’s Microsoft 365 environment and pulled together information from OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, and more to provide contextually relevant assistance.

A group of educators at another school used Copilot Chat to help brainstorm and plan engaging activities for an upcoming family engagement event. These are some of the newest ways WPS educators and leaders are exploring AI’s potential—using Copilot as a thought partner to generate ideas tailored to their needs and circumstances, while saving precious time and energy.

Additionally, the district AI leadership team is developing an agent that will help answer parent and caregiver questions around AI and its role in learning. They’re also exploring the use of custom agents to support enrollment, event planning, and policy questions—making it easier for families to stay informed and engaged.

In practice: Copilot Chat can help your team plan events, too. Use Copilot Chat to help brainstorm concepts, draft agendas, develop communication strategies, and design social media flyers for your event. 

Embracing the use of AI in education

At WPS, AI is more than a tool—it’s a catalyst to help improve educational, administrative, and operational processes. With a strong foundation in AI literacy and professional learning, WPS is enhancing staff communication and creating more personalized learning experiences. Their roadmap includes building custom AI tools to deepen insights into student learning, boost digital literacy, and improve accessibility for all students.

The district’s AI leadership team shares their practical tips to guide your own AI journey:

Start with the sticking points. Every school or district has unique challenges—identifying where breakdowns occur helps clarify where AI can make the greatest impact. “Look at the sticking points that you struggle with the most,” says Smokorowski, “Where’s the breakdown?” She encourages teams to focus on real, everyday challenges. “Addressing those sticking points gives the why on what we’re doing.”  

Build collective expertise. AI can play a pivotal role in helping teams build the skills and perspectives needed to tackle complex projects. Solving challenges around data, privacy, and analytics requires shared knowledge across your team. “When you can have a higher level of expertise for every person who works around you,” says Dickson, “[imagine] how much better we can make any organization.” Upskilling your team with AI can lead to meaningful improvements across your school or district.

I think what AI gives you is a perspective that you didn’t know before… and so you can constantly fail. I can ask questions that I might think are stupid, but AI is never going to tell me I’m stupid.

Rob Dickson, Chief Information Officer, Wichita Public Schools, United States

Recognize both the simplicity and significance. For any district exploring AI, it’s important to balance the ease of use with a thoughtful understanding of its deeper, long-term impact. “There’s a simplicity to the use of AI,” suggests Schoenhofer, “but that doesn’t mean the impacts are simple—they’re astounding, and we’re only beginning to understand them.” She recommends educators not to view AI as an “easy button,” but as a powerful tool with far-reaching potential in education and beyond.

Find joy in the journey. No matter the technology, education is ultimately about people—finding joy in helping students succeed makes every challenge worth it. “Find joy in the work,” says Smokorowski “Education is hard, but it’s rewarding. We get into this job so we can see young people exceed their own expectations. This tool helps me design [for] that.” 

AI is already making a difference in educational settings like Wichita Public Schools—enhancing learning, boosting efficiency, and supporting inclusive education. Start your journey with Copilot Chat today to uncover how AI can transform teaching and learning in your school.

The post Wichita Public Schools’ AI adoption: How it started, how it’s going appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

AI in education professional learning resources

Integrating AI in education is a journey that takes time, practice, and professional learning. With the right support you can explore new tools, build confidence, and use AI in ways that make a real difference to you and your students. These free resources are here to help you grow, and help your students thrive:

• AI for educators learning path – Discover how to enhance teaching and learning with Microsoft 365 Copilot, along with AI-powered tools in Microsoft Edge browser, Word, PowerPoint, Minecraft Education, and more. You have the option to complete the entire learning path or focus on individual modules based on your goals.
• AI for education – Learn how to use AI for educational purposes with a collection of training and professional learning resources for educators on Microsoft Learn.
• AI skills for educators – Prepare yourself and your students with AI skills for the future with free, ready-to-use AI training, resources, and programs from Microsoft.
• Microsoft Education AI Toolkit – Navigate AI frameworks, guidelines, and examples quickly with a toolkit tailored for education leaders and educators.

Integrating AI into your teaching can support student learning, streamline routine tasks, and help build digital fluency. Continue developing your knowledge, collaborating with colleagues, and lead the way in responsible AI use in your school.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat professional learning resources

Copilot Chat is the AI chat experience you can use every day. It’s powered by broad knowledge from the web, built on the latest AI models, and designed to be safe and secure. Enhance teaching and learning with Copilot Chat by personalizing learning, boosting creativity, and simplifying administrative tasks.

Learn how you can maximize the potential of AI in education with these Copilot Chat resources:

• Enhance teaching and learning with Copilot Chat – Learn how to use Copilot Chat, along with basic concepts, modes, features, and strategies to create effective prompts.
• Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat resources for education – Access resources to help you, your colleagues, and your school community get started with Copilot Chat.
• Copilot Scenario Library – Discover how to integrate AI into your daily workflow with day-in-the-life examples tailored to your role in education.

Try a few AI ideas out now and bring fresh collaboration, creativity, and engagement strategies to your classroom later.

Minecraft Education professional learning resources

Use Minecraft Education to engage students in immersive lessons, group projects, build challenges, and e-sports programs. Students can build digital skills while practicing critical thinking and collaboration in creative worlds. Check out these trainings and resources to help bring Minecraft Education to life in your classroom:

• Minecraft Education Teacher Academy – Learn how to incorporate Minecraft Education into your teaching practice no matter your level of experience in game-based learning. Explore free, on-demand content where you can learn alongside others.
• AI Foundations: Teaching AI Literacy – Discover how to integrate Minecraft Education’s AI Foundations lessons and tools into your classroom, equipping students with the skills to understand and use AI responsibly.
• Minecraft Teachers’ Lounge – Connect with more than 10,000 fellow educators in the Minecraft Teachers’ Lounge on Facebook—a vibrant, moderated space to find inspiration, share your wins, and discover creative ways to use Minecraft across subjects.
• Minecraft Lesson Crafter – Try your hand at creating a custom lesson plan for Minecraft Education with this AI-powered lesson generator tool. The tool offers a straightforward way for educators to use generative AI to create practical teaching resources, build confidence with using AI, and introduce Minecraft Education in their classrooms. Get started by signing in with your school-issued Microsoft credentials.

Minecraft Education helps you spark creativity, encourage collaboration, and build essential digital skills—preparing students for success in an evolving world.

Additional professional learning resources for educators

Your passion for teaching shows in everything you do—and Microsoft Education has the tools to help you go even further. Whether you want to learn more about literacy skill building, accessibility in educational environments, or cybersecurity best practices, you’ll find free, ready-to-use resources to support your goals and your students.

Explore resources to strengthen key skills:

• Build reading fluency with Reading Coach – Learn how to use Reading Coach, a free, standalone Learning Accelerator that uses AI to personalize reading content and practice for students. This learning module includes a new unit on the educator features in Reading Coach.
• Accessibility: Build the foundation for inclusive learning – Discover how to create an inclusive learning environment with accessibility principles and the Microsoft tools to support it.
• Build cybersecurity resilience in K-12 classrooms – Understand cyberthreats, implement security best practices, and foster a culture of cybersecurity to protect students and educators.
• Microsoft Learn Educator Center – Explore additional professional learning resources for educators and find programs that help meet your goals.

Take this opportunity to cultivate your passions and expand your professional skills. No matter your focus, Microsoft solutions and resources are designed to help you drive innovation, foster inclusion, and prioritize security.

Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert program

Take your professional growth to the next level by joining the Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert program. MIE Experts share a common vision: They inspire students with creative thinking and collaboration, using Microsoft technology across their curriculum and in their classrooms. If this describes your experience, we’re looking for visionaries like you! As a member of the MIE Expert global community of 30,000 educators, you’ll connect with colleagues around the world to share insights, learn from each other, and shape the future of education.

By exploring these professional learning resources now, you can gain new strategies and deeper skills to support your students’ success. As you learn, know that Microsoft is here to support you—helping you navigate change, implement new tools, and stay focused on what matters most: your students. Bookmark this post, share it with your peers, and revisit it anytime as you plan for a fresh start, whether it’s a new term, semester, or school year.

The post Boost your skills with flexible learning for educators appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Every student—whether they have a permanent disability, a temporary challenge like a broken hand, a situational disability such as difficulty reading in bright sunlight, or simply needs extra support with reading or writing—can benefit from greater accessibility to digital tools to support their learning experience. At Microsoft, we believe accessibility isn’t just a feature—it’s a foundation for empowering all students and educators to reach their full potential. Built-in accessibility features across Microsoft software and hardware can amplify everyone’s success, regardless of learning differences or physical abilities. Explore Microsoft accessibility tools and see how you can make learning more inclusive, engaging, and equitable for your school community.

Building an inclusive learning environment

Every student’s learning needs are unique. Some may have a disability, while others might be learning English, recovering from an injury, or trying to focus in a noisy home environment. Microsoft accessibility tools are designed to empower every student to engage independently and confidently in their learning. These tools come with built-in accessibility features, eliminating the need for extra downloads or stigmatizing third-party applications. Students get the help they need, right when they need it.

Get started with Microsoft accessibility tools today and learn how to create a more inclusive classroom experience with professional learning from Microsoft Learn.

Immersive Reader

Available in Microsoft products like Reading Coach and Microsoft Edge, Immersive Reader can help students improve reading comprehension, while also supporting learning differences. Students can use line focus to concentrate on one part of the text at a time. They can break words into syllables, adjust font size, and increase line, word, and letter spacing to reduce visual crowding to improve readability. For educators in Kent School District in Washington, US, using Immersive Reader helps make sure that all students are empowered to share their voices and participate.

I think when we’ve got kids that need different support mechanisms to learn, the Microsoft assisted learning tools become really, really vital. Last year, I had a student that had dysgraphia and dyslexia and so being able to listen to the audio was necessary and the Immersive Reader was essential for the success of this student.

Amber Raftery, sixth-grade teacher, Kent School District, US

As teacher-librarian and technology integration specialist Amber Gonzalez shares, the power of Microsoft 365 is that accessibility and assistive learning features like Immersive Reader are just one click away—helping to make it easy for every student to get the support they need, when they need it.

Reading Coach

Reading Coach is a free, standalone Learning Accelerator that uses AI-powered stories and personalized practice to help students improve their reading fluency. Used by half a million learners in over 190 countries worldwide, Reading Coach can help make reading more engaging and accessible with built-in tools like Immersive Reader, providing an opportunity for students to boost their potential and confidence. Educators can also suggest reading practices and track student progress with new educator features in Reading Coach.

After three weeks of Reading Coach, we saw students gain one reading level—sometimes even one and a half. Some jumped two levels in just six weeks. And nearly half the class reached their expected reading level.

Kris Vande Moortel, former teacher and Microsoft education advisor, Belgium

Reading Coach with AI-powered stories helps students take charge of their learning and push themselves further by providing individualized support. Some teachers are seeing remarkable progress in a fraction of the time—giving them more opportunities for one-on-one attention where it’s needed.

Microsoft Translator

Translator offers real-time translation of text and speech in over 60 languages, helping to make communication easier for students, parents, and caregivers who speak different languages. For educators in Texas City Independent School District, the embedded support of Translator in Word and mobile devices helps ensure that multilingual students have assistance when they encounter an unfamiliar word.

We found that Microsoft Translator is key to enabling English as a second language (ESL) students to keep up and to learn along with the rest of the class. When they are hung up on a word or a phrase or want to learn how to say something in English, they can transition back to their native language and use Translator to quickly contextualize in English.

Hope Smalley-Jackson, business teacher, Texas City Independent School District, US

Students can use Translator at school, home, or whenever they need language support. It can help bridge communication gaps, supporting accessible classroom learning with cross-language understanding and even multilingual casual conversations to help students and families.

Additional tools

If typing is tough—whether due to learning challenges, a temporary issue like a broken arm, or even fatigue—students can use dictation to turn speech into text effortlessly. Tools like live captions also help by converting speech to text or translating languages in PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams meetings, providing support for people with hearing disabilities, auditory processing disorders, or language needs. Plus, live captions fully supports multiple languages, making content accessible for multilingual speakers, too.

Support accessibility with AI

Additionally, AI-powered tools can help you address specific student needs. For instance, a 2024 study commissioned by Microsoft from professional services firm EY highlights how AI can help address the specific challenges faced by employees who are neurodivergent or living with a disability. The study found that Microsoft 365 Copilot helped:

• Remove barriers that arise like drafting communication and organizing thoughts.
• Reclaim time and energy by simplifying tasks like summarizing and proofreading.
• Boost confidence and sense of inclusion by enhancing performance and work quality.

While the study focused on workplace settings, the insights can be applied to educational environments. Just as AI tools can support diverse employee needs, they can also be instrumental in addressing diverse learning needs. Copilot helps educators personalize instruction, making it easier to tailor lessons to individual student requirements. Educators in Northern Ireland saw this firsthand when the Education Authority of Northern Ireland (EANI) adopted Copilot.

EANI initially rolled out AI-powered learning tools on a small scale, selecting key innovative educators to pilot the free version of Copilot Chat in their classrooms. They also introduced training sessions focused on effective prompt writing, showcasing Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities. Educators quickly discovered the practical benefits of upgrading to Microsoft 365 Copilot for tasks like creating PowerPoint presentations, generating questions in Microsoft Forms, and developing differentiated classroom resources. The substantial time savings and enhanced ability to meet diverse student needs drove widespread staff adoption and growing enthusiasm.

Make your classroom more inclusive by using AI to differentiate materials for students. Try using the dedicated IEP assistant tool in Khanmigo for Teachers or use Copilot Chat and your own prompts and files to help you draft parts of an individualized education program (IEP).

For Copilot Chat, be sure to sign in with your school’s Microsoft account to ensure your data is protected, then copy and paste this prompt:

You are a special education teacher drafting an IEP for a [grade level] student who [describe student’s needs]. Write a goal for [area/topic] that is specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time bound.

Whether you’re exploring AI, excited to try Reading Coach, or looking to make your classroom more inclusive with tools like Immersive Reader and Translator, GAAD 2025 is the perfect time to dive in. Get started and explore Microsoft accessibility tools to help every student thrive.

The post Making learning more accessible with Microsoft Education appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Join us in celebrating these everyday heroes who inspire, guide, and uplift learners everywhere. We invite you to watch this special video as our way of saying thank you and to shine a light on educators who make a difference each day. Let’s take a moment to honor and share our gratitude to all educators during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Recognizing everyday moments

Education is more than just instruction—it’s the thousands of small, meaningful interactions that shape a student’s journey. From a reassuring word to a well-timed nudge of encouragement, these everyday moments, often overlooked, are where learning truly takes root.

Teaching is also about fostering curiosity, nurturing confidence, and creating an environment where students can thrive. Every role within a school community—from educators and librarians to school counselors and special education paraprofessionals—plays an essential part in shaping the educational experience. For Teacher Appreciation Week 2025, we celebrate and thank all of you by enshrining the everyday moments that make a difference.

Academic moments that inspire growth and discovery

As educators, you bring knowledge to life in ways that engage and inspire students. Whether it’s through hands-on science experiments, interactive storytelling, or creative arts, moments like these foster a lifelong love of learning.

• Encouraging exploration: Classroom educators, you ignite curiosity through creative and engaging activities, making abstract concepts come to life for students.
• Igniting a love for reading: Literacy champions and multilingual educators, you help students discover the power of words and language, opening doors to new worlds and perspectives.
• Overcoming challenges: Special education professionals and interventionists, you empower students to harness their unique strengths and succeed in learning.
• Fostering creativity: Music, art, and theater educators, you encourage self-expression and confidence, helping students develop their creative voices.
• Inspiring innovation: Technology and STEM educators, you spark problem-solving skills and creativity, preparing students to think critically and innovate in a digital world.

As you continue to foster growth and discovery, we’re here to support your mission. Discover how technology can amplify your classroom experience with training, tools, and resources from Microsoft Education.

Lessons that last a lifetime

The impact you have extends far beyond academics. Educators, school leaders, and staff create environments like these where students feel safe, valued, and prepared for life’s challenges, often in moments that are unexpected but lasting.

• Teaching altruism: School counselors and social workers, you guide students through moments of compassion, helping them understand that caring for others, especially in times of need, creates lifelong bonds and empathy.
• Instilling perseverance: Career and technical education (CTE) instructors, you help students face setbacks and turn failures into valuable life lessons, teaching them that success is built from resilience, preparation, and gaining skills for the future.
• Encouraging curiosity: Librarians and media specialists, you help students navigate unexpected journeys of discovery. Whether it’s a book they stumble upon or a question they didn’t know they had, you show them that learning can be spontaneous, joyful, and lifelong.
• Supporting health and well-being: School nurses and nutrition staff, you offer comfort and care, from easing a scraped knee to providing nourishment, teaching students that well-being is integral to their growth. You remind students that being cared for is just as important as learning.
• Building teamwork and resilience: Physical education educators, you teach far more than sports. Through teamwork, effort, and fair play, students learn how to bounce back from loss, celebrate others, and show up for themselves and their peers.
• Empowering digital learning: IT and tech professionals, you ensure that technology runs efficiently and securely, enabling students and educators to use digital tools for learning and growth. Your expertise fosters innovation and helps prepare students for the future.
• Leading with vision and heart: Principals, department heads, and superintendents, you shape the culture and direction of the entire school community. Your leadership helps create environments where academic excellence and personal growth thrive.
• Ensuring a clean and welcoming environment: Custodians and maintenance technicians, your dedication to maintaining the physical space allows students and educators to focus on learning. You teach us the importance of care, attention to detail, and pride in our surroundings.

A big thank you to all the educators and school staff who go above and beyond, creating moments that last a lifetime. You’re shaping futures in ways big and small, and we’re honored to support you in your mission. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week—you’re making the world a better place, one moment at a time!

Every day, you lay the foundation for lifelong learning. We’re committed to providing ongoing support to help you nurture students in all aspects of their development. Explore our curated collection of resources—quick start guides, infographics, and research studies—designed to empower the education community.

To every educator, regardless of role: Your passion, patience, and unwavering dedication enshrine the everyday moments that make a lasting difference in the lives of your students and the future of our communities. Your efforts may not always be seen, but they’re often felt. During Teacher Appreciation Week 2025, and throughout the year, we celebrate and honor you.

From all of us at Microsoft Education—thank you for all that you do.

The post Enshrine the everyday: Appreciating the lasting impact of educators appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Healthy classrooms—where students understand their emotions, educators feel empowered, and empathy is a shared value—often create the best conditions for success. There are many ways to support wellness across your school community, including tools and resources from Microsoft Education. We’re here to help make it easier to prioritize mental health for both you and your students—for Mental Health Awareness Month 2025 and throughout the school year.

The global well-being crisis demands a bold shift in education—one that recognizes emotions as central to learning, decision-making, and achieving goals. Emotional intelligence is the foundation for life’s most essential skills: clear communication, good judgment, resilience, and strong relationships—key drivers of personal well-being and success in any career.

Marc Brackett, Ph.D., Author of Permission to Feel and Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

Cultivate collaboration and connection with Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education is a game-based learning platform that promotes skill building, teamwork, and problem-solving. It provides students with a safe space to express themselves, collaborate and practice empathy, and navigate their emotions in a low-stress environment. With Minecraft Education, you can help your students develop essential skills with immersive and engaging educational experiences.

Spin the Wheel of Steve and discover the magic of teamwork in this fun, skills-based adventure inspired by A Minecraft Movie! Students will venture through the Overworld competing in five team-based challenges designed to strengthen creativity, communication, connection, and critical thinking. Witness the wonder of collaboration when precious gems are at stake!

Use these additional Minecraft Education activities and worlds as they are, or as a starting point to adapt to your students’ needs:

• Reflect World – Students practice emotional processing strategies, encourage teamwork, and visualize emotions to develop empathy and self-awareness.
• Building Community – Students work together to discuss what resources and services help people thrive and then build a community together within Minecraft.
• Empathy Train – Explore what it means to think about other people’s feelings by constructing a diorama that captures a peer’s thoughts and feelings.

Build social, emotional, and academic skills with Reflect

Reflect, a Learning Accelerator, can make it easy to bring emotional check-ins and SEL into your daily practice. With Reflect, everyone has the opportunity to feel heard while learning to identify, understand, and manage emotions. Reflect offers:

• Intentional emotional check-ins – Quickly survey students about their feelings and help them develop their emotional vocabulary with age-appropriate reflection.
• Ready-to-use activities – Explore a variety of fun activities for you and your students to practice well-being skills.
• Data-driven insights – Understand the emotional patterns and needs for each student and the whole class so you can better support their well-being and academic success.
• Easy access and seamless integration – Access Reflect through your web browser (sign in required), via the Windows app, Microsoft Teams for Education, and through integrations into learning management systems (LMS).

Additionally, Reflect Compass is a tool within Reflect that helps you navigate student check-in results with evidence-based strategies to enhance well-being, engagement, and a sense of belonging. It’s built on the expertise of Challenge Success and grounded in over 20 years of research at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education.

Enhance educator well-being and connection

Reflect isn’t just for students, it supports your wellness, too. You can access breathing exercises, meditation, and mindfulness activities from Reflect—great for moments when you need a mental reset or want to model self-regulation for your students.

Reflect also helps school leaders foster a healthier, more connected work environment. Staff check-ins in Reflect give colleagues a safe space to share how they’re feeling—creating opportunities to be heard, supported, and seen.

Create a staff check-in with Reflect

If you’re a team owner, follow these steps to get started:

1. Open your staff team in Microsoft Teams for Education.
2. Navigate to the General channel.
3. Select the Reflect tab.
4. Choose a question from the gallery.
5. Publish your check-in to give staff space for personal and community reflection.

Focusing on your own wellness not only contributes to a positive learning environment, but it’s also a meaningful investment in yourself. Nurture yourself by taking a moment to recharge. Calm, the leading mental health brand, integrates mindfulness and movement activities into Reflect. Use a variety of engaging activities from Calm to foster a happier, healthier, and more balanced school community. As a bonus, educators and students can enjoy an exclusive 40% discount on a subscription to Calm, providing a wealth of activities designed specifically for personal rejuvenation.

Balance your workload with AI

We understand that your time and energy are precious. AI can assist you by streamlining everyday tasks and freeing up your time so you can stay focused on what matters most—whether spending time on individualized instruction or taking time to support your own well-being. By reducing the administrative burden, AI can help you to dedicate more attention to your students, their learning experiences, and your needs.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is your AI assistant for everyday tasks, helping you support student learning outcomes, boost productivity, and save time. No matter your role, Copilot can help securely empower everyone at your institution, making it easier to work smarter and stay organized. Schools using Copilot have seen tangible benefits, with educators in Brisbane, Australia, reporting an average savings of 9.3 hours per week on routine tasks.

This time savings is especially crucial—and hopeful—in a profession where burnout is common. As St Francis College Principal John Marinucci highlights, Copilot can transform education by streamlining administrative tasks that often overwhelm educators. This means teachers can now devote more energy and time to their core mission of helping students be successful and grow.

To help you and your team build competency with AI and Copilot, check out the AI for educators learning path which walks you through AI uses and tools in education.

Prioritizing mental health and wellness isn’t just a moment, it’s a movement. This Mental Health Awareness Month, and throughout the year, you have the opportunity to lead a classroom where emotional intelligence, empathy and well-being are foundational to learning. Make mental health awareness and SEL a natural part of your day—supporting your students and yourself in meaningful, lasting ways.

The post Prioritizing mental health for successful school communities appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

SEL helps create an inclusive environment where every student can feel valued and respected, playing a crucial role in promoting equity in education. Microsoft Education is committed to helping educators build experiences that support SEL. Discover SEL activities, curriculum, and professional learning opportunities that offer innovative ways to help students develop a growth mindset, understand their emotions, and build a foundation for success.

Essential academic and career skills

SEL is proven to favorably impact academic outcomes and provide several life-long benefits to individuals, communities, and economies. When students engage in SEL, they not only improve academically but also build essential life skills like resilience, empathy, and collaboration. This helps create learning environments where all students feel seen, heard, and supported—laying the groundwork for equitable access for educational success.

Social-emotional skills are crucial to ensuring students are set up for success—both in the classroom and in their future careers. Our emotions act as gatekeepers to cognition, motivation, and attention, and [they] impact how we navigate our own thoughts and actions and interact with the world around us.

Paige Johnson, Vice President Public Sector, Financial Services and Media, Microsoft

School leaders and educators recognize SEL’s transformative power in enhancing communication, managing emotions, and navigating complex thoughts. These concepts extend beyond the classroom into the workplace. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Survey on Social and Emotional Skills (SSES) identifies self-control, stress resistance, cooperation, sociability, and curiosity as skills that support academic achievement, well-being, and job performance. It’s clear that from the classroom to the workplace, SEL serves as a foundation for equitable opportunities and lifelong achievement.

To learn more about integrating SEL into your classroom, take the learning path in the Microsoft Learn Educator Center.

Explore SEL in your classroom with Reflect

Support your students in developing essential social, emotional, and academic skills using Reflect. This Learning Accelerator offers opportunities for every student to feel heard while developing skills to identify, understand, and manage emotions. Reflect provides access to:

• Intentional emotional check-ins: Quickly survey students about their feelings and help them develop their emotional vocabulary with age-appropriate reflection.
• Ready-to-use activities: Explore a variety of fun activities for you and your students to practice well-being skills.
• Data-driven insights: Understand the emotional patterns and needs for each student and the whole class so you can better support their well-being and academic success.
• Easy access and seamless integration: Access Reflect through your web browser (sign in required), via the Windows app, Microsoft Teams for Education, and through integrations into learning management systems (LMS) like Canvas, Schoology, Moodle, Blackboard Learn, and more.

Easily set up regular check-ins and access a wide range of activities to support SEL with Reflect. Engage students in a series of mindful movements that help them unwind, uplift, and reconnect during stressful times. Explore SEL themes and skills through engaging stories with nature-themed art activities. Play curated classical music focus timers designed to support a calm learning environment. Get started with Reflect today!

Supporting SEL with innovative solutions

Reflect regularly introduces features and tools to help support SEL skills development, promote equity, and enhance academic success. Reflect Compass is one of the latest tools to help you navigate student check-in results by targeting evidence-based strategies to enhance well-being, engagement, and a sense of belonging. It’s built on the expertise of Challenge Success and grounded in over 20 years of research at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education.

Reflect Compass provides a framework to help you understand recurring themes and patterns in student responses to Reflect check-in questions. You can use it to identify areas of focus for SEL based on student feedback data. Reflect Compasses are designed to work across different types of schools and age groups. They help build SEL into the school community whether you have a formal program you’re using or just beginning your SEL journey.  

To further enhance the understanding and application of SEL data, use the Microsoft Graph API for Reflect. You can create a centralized system for both analyzing and taking action on SEL assessment data from students across your educational organization. Use these data-driven insights to analyze trends and identify gaps, inform district-wide strategies, and design impactful professional development that fosters inclusive, emotionally supportive classrooms.

Explore more ways to use Reflect in your classroom in the learning module in the Microsoft Learn Educator Center.

Foster SEL skills with Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education is a game-based learning platform that promotes skill building, teamwork, and problem-solving. It provides students with a safe space to express themselves, collaborate and practice empathy, and navigate their emotions in a low-stress environment.

The Minecraft Education Social and Emotional learning pathway brings together experiences and challenges designed to help your students develop their SEL skills. Use these activities and worlds as they are, or as a starting point to adapt to your students’ needs.

Get started with Reflect World where your students can practice emotional processing strategies, encourage teamwork, and visualize the representation of emotions to develop empathy and self-awareness.

Explore more SEL experiences in these Minecraft Education lessons:

• Welcome to the community: Build valuable social and emotional skills by processing emotions, sharing, and supporting others through a shared experience. 
• The Mindful Knight: Understand the benefits and basic concepts of mindfulness and encourage students to set aside a few minutes each day to practice. 
• The mystery of the Budokan: Embark on quests to build a better future based on judo’s core values: courage, friendship, self-control, modesty, sincerity, respect, politeness, and honor.

SEL is more than a classroom strategy, it’s a foundation for equitable student opportunities. International SEL Day 2025 is the perfect moment to consider the role of SEL in your classroom and explore activities and curriculum from Microsoft Education. Together, we can foster equitable learning environments that prioritize student well-being and academic success.

The post Social-emotional learning for student success appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Reading aloud nurtures literacy, cognitive growth, and emotional well-being in children. In addition to helping to boost academic learning, reading aloud can reduce stress and strengthen bonds between children and caregivers. Explore how Reading Coach and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat help you transform classroom reading activities and inspire lifelong learners.

Bring reading to life for every student

Reading Coach, a Learning Accelerator, helps students discover the joy of reading while improving literacy skills—whether practicing challenging words or co-creating stories with responsible AI. Reading Coach makes reading fun for everyone. 

By providing real-time feedback and personalized tips, it helps students improve reading skills at their own pace by tracking their progress over various time periods, ensuring they remain engaged and continue to build their reading fluency.

Reading Coach is designed to support independent reading practice, making it an ideal tool to use throughout the school year—and to celebrate occasions like WRAD. To keep learners motivated, it offers encouragement through digital badges and rewards. Readers can earn streak badges for completing reading practice and they can also unlock new characters and story settings for every 20 minutes they spend reading. Rewards can even be traded with friends, gamifying the reading experience and inspiring curiosity for what comes next!

Reading Coach empowers students to build fluency at their own pace to:

• Improve literacy with engaging AI-generated stories featuring customizable characters and settings.
• Focus on specific words to overcome fluency challenges.
• Practice passages in 81 languages with multilingual support.

Whether at school or home, students can engage in personalized, AI-powered reading practice that keeps them motivated and on track. Visit and bookmark our “Educator’s guide to Reading Coach” blog post to learn how to use the tool.

From practice to progress, keep students engaged

Reading Coach offers three easy ways for students to get more involved in their reading. By providing helpful and interactive formats, it helps students build confidence, improve comprehension, and strengthen fluency. Explore these three engaging modes to make reading experiences personalized and unique:

• Create a story: Generate interactive, AI-powered stories by choosing characters, settings, and reading levels in 14 languages. Students decide what happens in each chapter, exploring practice words tailored to their needs.
• Read a passage: Access a digital library from ReadWorks, featuring over 110-leveled texts organized by Lexile level, genre, and word count. A variety of topics provide engaging, educational content that aligns with students’ interests.
• Add a passage: Upload custom passages, like assigned articles, textbook excerpts, or the student’s own writing. This mode supports individual learning needs and specific objectives, making practice more targeted and meaningful.

With Reading Coach, every practice session becomes an opportunity for students to progress their reading level and build their creativity. Take the Reading Coach training module on Microsoft Learn to learn how to integrate this tool into your classroom and lessons.

Create immersive read-aloud sessions

WRAD is the perfect opportunity to introduce inclusive and engaging reading activities using Reading Coach. Try these ideas to celebrate literacy in your classroom:

• Build confidence with reading practice: Use Reading Coach to help students prepare for group read-alouds. Real-time feedback on pronunciation and fluency can help them feel more confident.
• Create read-aloud challenges: Motivate students by tracking progress and rewarding reading streaks. Celebrate achievements with class-wide recognition or small prizes.
• Collaborative storytelling: Use the story-generating capabilities in Reading Coach to inspire students to co-write stories using AI. Encourage group sharing to make storytelling an interactive and fun experience.
• Host multilingual reading sessions: Incorporate stories in various languages, encouraging students to explore diverse perspectives and cultures.

In addition to WRAD, classrooms and families across the US will celebrate the joy of reading during Read Across America Day on March 3, 2025. Mark these events and join each movement by transforming your classroom into a hub of literary exploration and skill building. Use Reading Coach to create immersive read-aloud sessions that highlight stories from your classroom, your community, and around the world.

Design engaging activities with Copilot Chat

Celebrate the power of stories and literacy by using Copilot Chat to plan your WRAD and Read Across America Day activities. Copy and paste these prompts into Copilot Chat to generate book recommendations, fluency strategies, engagement ideas, and event plans tailored to your grade level or audience.

Adjust the prompts as needed to make them uniquely yours and inspire a love of reading in your students:

• Generate a list of culturally appropriate books suitable to read aloud to [grade level] students on World Read Aloud Day. For each, include 3-5 comprehension questions designed to spark age-appropriate discussions.
• Create a detailed set of read-aloud strategies specific to [book title] to help [grade level] students improve their reading fluency, such as modeling expressive reading, echo reading, or choral reading. Include tips on how to scaffold for varying reading and language abilities.
• Suggest creative strategies to keep [grade level] students engaged during the read-aloud of [book title]. Ensure strategies are culturally appropriate, promote active participation and comprehension, and include options for differentiation to support diverse learners.
• Design an engaging event for Read Across America Day aimed at [specific audience, e.g., K-12 students or families] that takes place in [location, e.g. the school library or classroom]. Incorporate creative ways to build a love of reading and suggest culturally inclusive books for different grade levels. Include promotional ideas and a timeline for planning.

Keep refining responses by exploring questions suggested by Copilot Chat or by following up with more specific prompts to further personalize the activities.

Events like World Read Aloud Day and Read Across America Day are more than just celebrations of stories—they’re movements that highlight the vital role of literacy in building inclusive communities. By using Copilot Chat to design creative and engaging activities and empowering your students with innovative tools like Reading Coach, you can inspire a lifelong love of reading, amplify voices, and create a brighter, more equitable future.

As we approach these celebrations, make them occasions to remember and carry the spirit of each into every day of the year.

The post Inspire lifelong readers with the power of reading aloud appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Reading Coach, a standalone Learning Accelerator, helps students improve reading skills through personalized learning practice. Designed to support both independent and guided learning, Reading Coach uses AI-generated stories with customizable characters to engage students and focus them on reading practice to strengthen reading fluency. Follow this guide to learn how to use Reading Coach to help build literacy skills.

With tools for tailoring reading instruction and extending learning beyond the classroom, Reading Coach empowers students to practice reading at their own pace. Explore how you can integrate Reading Coach into your classroom or have students use it at home. 

Educator benefits:

• Personalize reading practice to meet individual student needs.
• Create an inclusive learning experience with Immersive Reader—a feature that helps to improve reading skills for people of nearly all ages and abilities—with practice passages in 81 languages.

Student benefits:

• Improve literacy with engaging AI-generated stories featuring customizable characters and settings.
• Focus on specific words to overcome fluency challenges.
• Celebrate progress with badges and motivational rewards.
• Independent practice and learn at their own pace.
• Easy access for students at school or home.

How to access Reading Coach

Reading Coach is available for free and can be accessed with school-issued credentials (Microsoft Entra ID) or any personal Microsoft account. To use the web app, follow these steps:

1. Go to coach.microsoft.com
2. Select Get started.
3. Sign in with your Microsoft school account or with your personal Microsoft account.
4. Choose a reading passage mode, then explore, practice, and enjoy!

You can also find the Reading Coach app in Microsoft 365 or download the Windows app.

If this is the first time using Reading Coach on a device, a pop-up will appear asking for microphone access so you may need to enable your web pop-up blocker. Select Allow to continue. After reading, students can easily review results, including pronunciation accuracy, reading time, and words to practice.

Tip: When students finish a reading passage, they’ll see the option to Keep reading or Read something else on their results page. If they don’t finish the passage, they’ll see the option to Read again.

Explore reading modes

Reading Coach offers three flexible ways for students to engage more deeply with their reading. By providing supportive, interactive formats, it helps students build confidence, improve comprehension, and strengthen fluency. Explore these three engaging modes to personalize their reading experience.

“Create a story” mode

With “Create a Story” mode, students can generate interactive, AI-powered stories by choosing characters, settings, and reading levels in 14 languages. Students decide what happens in each chapter, exploring practice words tailored to their needs to keep learning focused on each student’s interests and abilities. This mode fosters creativity and personalized learning, making reading engaging and fun. It also ensures AI-generated story content is moderated for age appropriateness and aligns with the Microsoft Responsible AI Standard.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Select Create a story using AI.
2. Choose a main character and a setting for the story.
3. Select a reading level.
4. Select Create my story!
5. Select Start reading to begin and select the red Stop reading button to end the recording.

When students finish reading, a pop-up will appear with choices for the next chapter of the story. They can select a choice to continue or See results to finish reading.

“Read a passage” mode

“Read a passage” mode provides students with a digital library from ReadWorks, featuring over 110-leveled texts organized by Lexile level, genre, and word count. This digital library supports students’ diverse reading abilities with topics including science, famous figures, nature, and more to provide engaging, educational content that aligns with students’ interests.

To get started in this mode:

1. Select Read a passage.
2. Choose a reading level and select a passage.
3. Select Start reading to begin and select the red Stop reading button to end the recording.

When students finish reading, a results page will appear and they can choose to read the passage again, read something else, or practice more challenging words.

“Add a passage” mode

“Add a passage” mode allows students to personalize their reading by uploading custom passages, like assigned articles, textbook excerpts, or their own writing. This mode supports individual learning needs and specific objectives, making practice more targeted and meaningful.

To upload your own passage:

1. Select Add a passage.
2. Enter a title in the text field.
3. Paste or type the passage into the text field.
4. Select Start reading to begin and select the red Stop reading button to end the recording.

When students finish reading, the results page will appear and they can choose to read the passage again, read something else, or practice more challenging words.

Tip: Encourage students to keep a reading log with their reading materials or device to track their reading level and progress, helping them stay motivated and see their improvement over time.

Support accessibility

Immersive Reader is embedded in Reading Coach to support inclusive learning for all students. When students select “Start reading,” they unlock a set of powerful accessibility tools that can help boost comprehension and keep them engaged.

• Text preferences: Adjust text size, spacing, font, and colors for easier reading.
• Grammar support: Break down syllables and highlight parts of speech to improve understanding.
• Reading scaffolds: Focus on one line at a time or use the Picture Dictionary in Immersive Reader for extra support.
• Word pronunciation: Select a word to hear its pronunciation and practice saying it correctly.

Tip: Before students dive in, take a moment to show them how Immersive Reader works. Let them explore the tools to figure out what works best for them to give them time to help them feel confident and maintain their focus.

Student progress and practicing challenging words

Each time students read a passage, they can see insights on their progress like accuracy, time spent reading, and words they should practice. They can also track progress toward unlocking new story elements or earning badges. Over time, the Achievements page gives a summary of their total reading time, number of reading sessions, average pronunciation accuracy, and average words per minute as well as any badges earned and characters or story settings they’ve unlocked.

After reading, students can focus on the words they found most challenging with the Word Practice feature. It’s personalized based on their progress, so they’re working on exactly what they need to improve their reading skills.

Here’s how it works:

1. After reading a passage, select Practice words in the results box.
2. Reading Coach will highlight five challenging words. Choose one to practice.
3. Break the word in syllables or listen to it being read aloud to hear the pronunciation.
4. Select the microphone to practice reading the word aloud.
5. The word and star fill level will change based on improvement. Keep practicing until both turn green.
6. Select Next word to practice the others.

When all the words are correct, a pop-up will appear. Select Close to continue or select I’m done to finish practicing.

Tip: Encourage students to take ownership of their learning by celebrating small wins. After practicing challenging words, have them reflect on their progress—what words were tricky, what strategies helped, and how their accuracy improved. This builds confidence and reinforces a growth mindset.

Earn badges and unlock story elements

Reading Coach motivates and rewards students throughout their reading journey. They can celebrate their progress by earning badges and unlocking characters or settings, providing a tangible representation of their hard work and accomplishments.

• Badges: As students progress, they earn badges for reaching milestones and accomplishments. These badges are visual symbols of success, such as reading with high accuracy or maintaining a consistent reading habit.
• Story elements: Each time a student spends 20 minutes reading with Reading Coach, they unlock a new character or story setting to use in AI-powered stories. They can choose to keep the unlocked element or swap it for another. And they can see all their story elements in “Create a story” mode or on their Achievements page.

Reading Coach is a free, powerful Learning Accelerator that supports personalized, engaging, and inclusive reading practice for students. Integrate it into your classroom or encourage families to use it at home to help students improve fluency, build confidence, and celebrate progress.

The post An educator’s guide to Reading Coach appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Discover how our accessibility tools, along with Microsoft Copilot, can help you create a learning environment where everyone feels included and has the tools and resources they need to succeed.

Boost equitable education

Educators play an important role in cultivating learning environments where all students can participate. Microsoft provides built-in accessibility tools to foster independence, boost confidence, and promote participation in an encouraging way. Dive into the accessibility tools in Microsoft 365 Education to create inclusive and empowering learning environments for both students and educators. Explore accessibility and inclusivity courses in the Microsoft Learn Educator Center.

Empower student autonomy

Learn how built-in, inclusive technology in Microsoft 365 empowers students to personalize their learning experience, removing barriers and reducing stigma.

Immersive Reader

Available in Microsoft products like Reading Coach and Microsoft Edge, Immersive Reader helps students improve reading comprehension, stay engaged, and build confidence, while also supporting learning differences. Students can use line focus to concentrate on one part of the text at a time. They can break words into syllables, adjust font size, and increase line, word, and letter spacing to reduce visual crowding to improve readability. Immersive Reader can also be used to increase text size, adjust colors for better contrast, and read text aloud to support comprehension.

Speech-to-text with dictation

Dictation lets students use voice-to-text instead of typing. For learners with sensory processing difficulties, chronic pain, or fatigue, dictation offers an alternative to typing that reduces physical and cognitive strain. For students with dysgraphia or disabilities for which writing may be challenging, dictation allows them to express their thoughts and ideas verbally instead of relying on writing skills.

Microsoft Translator

Translator provides visual access to spoken content to help learners, like those who are deaf or have a hearing disability, follow conversations to enhance participation. Likewise, while multilingual differences are not a specific disability, they can often create a barrier to learning. For multilingual learners, Translator provides immediate access to translated text, supporting comprehension to help learners keep pace with classroom activities.

Live captions

Available in Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, Windows 11, and Copilot+ PCs, live captions convert speech to text in real-time. For students with hearing disabilities or auditory processing disorders, this tool provides visual reinforcement of spoken content, providing better access to lectures, discussions, and most auditory information. Plus, it fully supports multiple languages, making it accessible for multilingual speakers too.

Empowering all students to reach their potential

Additionally, Copilot can help educators meet the diverse needs of all students. From adapting teaching strategies to providing tailored resources, Copilot enables educators to create learning experiences that empower every student to succeed.

The Northern Ireland Education Authority provides a powerful example of how Copilot can promote equity in the classroom. Educators use Copilot prompts, based on student input, to help them express their creativity to create original art and design pieces that showcase their unique talents.

Watch the video to see the transformative power of Copilot in action and discover how it opens new possibilities for every student.

Personalize learning experiences using Copilot

Whether you’re a classroom educator, a paraeducator, or lead special education, getting started with Copilot can help you support the needs of all learners. Try using and customizing the following prompts in Copilot. Be sure to log in with your school account for enterprise data protection to ensure the safety of sensitive student information. And, remember to use the attachment feature to add lesson or unit plans, relevant documents, and images for more targeted responses.

• Based on this lesson plan, generate strategies for accommodations for specific areas of my lesson in my [grade level] classroom to support students with [specific need such as ADHD, dyslexia, or anxiety].
• Draft goals and action steps for a student with [specific need such as autism or executive functioning challenges]. The student [met or did not meet] their previous goal to [goal from last IEP such as improve time management skills by completing in-class assignments within the given time frame].
• Provide step-by-step guidance for teaching [skill needed such as social skills or communication skills] to a student with [specific need such as anxiety or a speech disorder] in a non-stigmatizing way.
• Using the information I provided, suggest one-on-one support strategies for assisting students with [specific need such as sensory processing disorders or autism] in a [scenario such as specific group activity or independent learning task].
• Generate differentiated assessment methods that allow students with [specific need such as a specific learning disability] to demonstrate their understanding of [subject or topic]. Include both formative and summative assessment options that minimize stress and optimize engagement.

Using these prompts in Copilot can help you easily adapt learning experiences to meet every student’s unique needs, creating a more inclusive, supportive, and equitable classroom.

Streamline IEPs with Khanmigo for Teachers

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are essential for documentation and planning to support all students. However, creating and tailoring these plans requires a significant amount of time and effort from educators. Khanmigo for Teachers, free for educators in over 40 countries thanks to our partnership, offers an IEP Assistant to help streamline the process.

Educators provide context on the learning environment, disability category, and current challenges and strengths to quickly generate an initial draft. The plan should then be refined based on professional judgment, evaluation, and analysis. Be sure that the final IEP is tailored to the student’s specific needs and complies with all applicable school policies and legal requirements.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how to support all students. Microsoft provides accessibility tools to empower every student to engage independently and confidently in their learning. Copilot enhances learning by helping educators plan inclusive lessons and develop individualized learning goals. Explore how Microsoft can help you create a classroom where learning is truly inclusive for every student.

The post Meeting the needs of all students with accessibility tools for the classroom appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Recognized in over 100 countries, World Mental Health Day is more than just a date. It’s a call to action that resonates with communities, schools, and individuals worldwide. In recent years, the spotlight on mental health—especially for young people—has grown brighter. As educators, parents, and community members, we’ve seen firsthand how important it is to address student mental health needs.

The good news? Our efforts are starting to make a difference. Kathleen Ethier, Director of Adolescent and School Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, positively notes, “There is still a great deal of work to be done to address the crisis in youth mental health, but the data can really give us some hope that when we come together, we put young people first, we do what is needed, we can see positive change.”

Let’s keep the momentum going. Together, we can make a lasting impact on students’ well-being.

Get started with SEL training

Help students develop a growth mindset, navigate their emotions, and build a foundation for their future success by starting with some of our SEL training paths and modules. Learn more about instructional strategies to support SEL and wellness tips for educators, so you can start making an impact right away.

Explore our SEL training for educators:

• SEL skills learning path: Learn how to create student-centered classrooms that foster emotional intelligence, equipping your students with skills they need to thrive in the future.
• Teach SEL with Reflect: Learn how to seamlessly integrate SEL into your teaching practice with Reflect, a Learning Accelerator that supports student engagement and well-being.
• Developing wellness skills: Take your knowledge to the next level. Enroll in a variety of Microsoft Learn modules and explore supporting resources, designed to help you cultivate wellness skills in your students.

Support student well-being with Reflect

Guide your students as they build important social, emotional, and academic skills with Reflect. Reflect is a Learning Accelerator that offers quick check-ins, age-appropriate reflections, intentional brain breaks, and actionable data in the Reflect web app or Microsoft 365 learning apps.

One-on-one attention has an enormous impact on students’ engagement, learning, and well-being. Make Reflect part of your routine to give each of your students a place to share their feelings and give yourself data to track their status, progress, and needs.

Explore engaging activities in Reflect

Reflect offers a variety of fun activities for you and your students to practice well-being skills.  Incorporate SEL into your classroom with ready-to-use activities and materials:

• Stories: A library of engaging stories that help students explore social-emotional skills and offer AI-powered reading fluency practice.
• Inside Out 2 collection: Reflect brain breaks celebrating Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2, including stories, coloring pages, and games.
• Memory game: Players can identify emotions while matching the Feeling Monster cards.

Check out the entire collection of short, inclusive activities in Reflect designed to promote SEL and help you gain well-being insights. Note that some activities may require authentication with your Microsoft school or institution account.

Navigate student emotions with Reflect Compass

Reflect Compass is a tool that helps you navigate student check-in results with evidence-based strategies to enhance well-being, engagement, and a sense of belonging. It’s built on the expertise of Challenge Success and grounded in over 20 years of research at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education.

 Explore these Reflect Compass features and resources:

• Ask follow-up questions to better understand students’ emotions during Reflect check-ins.
• Explore a variety of evidence-based strategies to help process emotions, all neatly categorized by type.
• Play the Compass podcast for episodes dedicated to specific feelings and strategies to help students navigate their emotions.

Use Reflect to foster a happier, healthier, and more balanced school community with age-appropriate reflections, intentional brain breaks, and actionable data. If you’d like more help getting started, check out Reflect Teacher’s Guide PDF.

Introduce mental health concepts with Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education is an excellent platform for introducing mental health concepts to students and building social-emotional skills like self-awareness and communication. Through immersive, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences, Minecraft provides a safe space where students can express themselves, collaborate with their peers, and navigate their emotions in a low-stress environment.

Ready to help your students practice essential mental health skills? Explore these exciting Minecraft Education challenges:

• Build Your Joy in Minecraft: Join Joy and Anxiety from Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 in this creative challenge. Students will solve a puzzle using Microsoft MakeCode then use Minecraft as a canvas to build a representation of something that brings joy to their lives.
• The Mindful Knight: Introduce students to the basics of mindfulness with this engaging quest. The interactive environment encourages students to make responsible choices during social interactions, guiding them towards becoming mindful social participants.
• Reflect World: Students will build SEL skills through a creative experience involving collaboration, problem-solving, and communication. After playing, discuss each emotion, the adventure it leads to, and ways to regulate emotions in real life.
• Minecraft Social and Emotional Kit: These specially designed worlds and activities support SEL. Your students will explore emotional well-being, empathy, and responsible decision-making through interactive gameplay.

Join us as we celebrate World Mental Health Day 2024 with resources designed to support student well-being and foster a positive learning environment. With tools like Reflect and Minecraft Education, you can prioritize mental health and help students practice empathy, strengthen emotional resilience, and create a more supportive classroom experience.

The post Support and celebrate student well-being on World Mental Health Day appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.