🗑 100+ teaching resources for class tomorrow

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Are you back in the swing of school yet?

For lots of folks (in the Northern Hemisphere at least), last week was the return to the class after winter break.

Are you back in the routine yet?

For me, it’s been anything but routine.

Last week started with presentations to teachers in Erie, Illinois, and Plano, Texas. While my students were coming back to class for the spring semester, I was hailing Ubers and navigating flight delays (including one 1:00 am arrival at my hotel.)

And yes, I wrote sub plans for those days I was gone.

This week is more of the same. I’m at the FETC Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Meeting up with friends is the best part of conferences like FETC.

Sure, you’re probably thinking: “Oh, a conference in Florida in January, huh? Must be a pretty tough life!”

It is nice to not have to wear a coat — and escape the 28*F temperatures at home in Indiana. But there’s a LOT going on here and I’m staying VERY busy with presentations. Below, I’ll share some of my presentation resources.

PLUS: Now that the Ditch Summit has closed, we have new faces to the Ditch That Textbook newsletter! As we do every year, we’ll share our best resources that you get as a benefit of being a subscriber.

Inside:

  • 🐝 A big 2026 starts now.

  • 👀 DTT Digest: 4 resources worth checking out

  • 💼 Conference Resources: Slides from my FETC sessions

  • 💡 The Big Idea: Our best Ditch That Textbook resources

  • 😄 Smile of the day: Listen, winter …

  • 👋 How we can help

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👀 DTT Digest

4 teaching resources worth checking out today

💼 CONFERENCE RESOURCES 💼

🎙️ Slides from my FETC sessions

My presentation schedule for the FETC Conference in Orlando, Florida.

If you’re at the FETC Conference in Orlando, Florida, then I’d love to see you! My presentation schedule above includes sessions in the expo hall as well as a couple of FETC sessions — and a book signing and giveaway!

If you’re NOT at the FETC Conference, then you’re in the majority … and I’ve got your back!

I always love to share my conference presentation resources at events you might not get to attend. It gives you a little taste of the conference and might make you feel a bit like you’re there!

I try to record as much of my presentation content on video as I can. Soon (Thursday or next Monday), I’ll share all of the video I was able to record so you can watch.

For now, here are a few slide decks you can check out from my two presentations coming up today and tomorrow:

How to Prompt AI Like a Boss: Practical Tips and Strategies (view slides) — AI tools like ChatGPT can save you hours, spark creativity, and help you design more personalized learning—but only if you know how to talk to them. This hands-on session, run by Matt Miller from Ditch That Textbook, will show you a simple but powerful prompting framework that helps you get better results faster. Whether you''re planning lessons, generating resources, or tackling your to-do list, you''ll learn how to converse with AI, not just type at it. Leave this session with practical examples, ready-to-use prompt templates, and the confidence to make AI your new sidekick at school.

AI and Cheating: Real Talk from the Classroom (view slides) — When AI assistants were first released, among teachers’ first questions was: “What will we do about cheating?” In this session, we’ll take a look at cheating, plagiarism, and academic integrity. We’ll discuss the place that AI should have in classrooms -- and what AI shouldn’t be used for. We’ll also address how to move forward with changes so we get this right. Perfect for teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators navigating new academic policies.

💡 THE BIG IDEA 💡

💼 Our best Ditch That Textbook resources

We have TONS of resources to support you on our site.

I’m excited to share some incredible resources with you that will spark creativity and lighten your lesson planning load.

Whether you've been with us for a while or are new to the community, these resources are designed to inspire and engage both you and your students.

From innovative teaching ideas to handy templates and AI tools, we've got something for everyone. Dive in and discover how these resources can transform your classroom experience and make learning more enjoyable for your students.

And don’t worry, as a Ditch That Textbook subscriber there will be lots more dropping into your inbox each week!

📚Free ebooks

If you've been part of our #DitchBook family for a while, you might have already downloaded these resources. But if you're anything like me, you might have forgotten you even have them!

I'm confident that the ideas in these ebooks will lighten your lesson planning load in the coming days and weeks—and your students will love them!

1.The AI Teacher Toolkit: AI tools, activities, and time savers to help you focus your attention on what matters most — and engage your students in learning.

2. 100 Templates for Teachers: Lots of pre-made files you can copy (or download), adjust as necessary, and assign to students immediately

3. 101 Practical Ways to Ditch That Textbook: Lots of creative, techy teaching ideas you can use in class right away

4. Teaching with TEACHFLIX: A companion guide to our TEACHFLIX website. This guide includes several plug-and-play activities you can do with your students after watching almost any TEACHFLIX video. (Or almost any video you find on YouTube or other places, for that matter.)

5. Tomorrow Glasses Teacher Resource Pack: Help your students prepare for THEIR future, not ours. These resources will help align your classroom with the future.

6. The EfficienTEACH Toolkit: These templates, protocols and activities are those that you can use in class tomorrow to save time AND teach better.

Want to find all of them in one place?

🗄️The Ditch That Textbook Template Library

"Don't do the work if you don't have to" is the slogan for our template library.

With these activity templates, you can copy them, adjust them as necessary, and assign them to your students.

Did I mention they're all free? (You can save your TpT money for something else.)

Here are some of my favorites:

  • Learn Like an Influencer Template Guides them through the steps and helps them showcase their knowledge from your class like a social media influencer.

  • Jeopardy Game template Google Slides and PowerPoint can be used to create lots of different games. Try editing this one to create your own Jeopardy game.

  • The Exit Ticket Builder A set of prompts to help students recall new learning and reflect on learning -- in a fun, creative way

  • Interactive Resource Room Template Make important class resources easily accessible with this digital resource room, customizable to fit your needs and shareable with students through a link or your learning management system.

💻Ditch That Textbook Resource Pages

🔐 Digital Escape Rooms

Discover and enjoy a variety of FREE games on our digital escape rooms page! You'll find links to each escape room, along with locks, answers, and explanations. It's a great idea to try one out as a class first, and then assign them to students in groups or individually.

🌎 Virtual Field Trips

Virtual field trips allow us to take our students on adventures we never thought possible. We can take our students under the ocean, across the globe and even into space. But sometimes finding the right virtual field trip, or even finding a virtual field trip at all, can be time consuming.

That's why we put together this growing database of virtual field trips you can take with your class!

🎮 Gamification

Gamification doesn't have to be intense or takeover your planning time. A simple Kahoot game or a Jeopardy style review is all it takes to add some game elements to your class.

There are so many options out there and so if you're looking for ways to bring game elements your class then you're in the right place! On our Gamification page you'll find:

  • Our favorite posts with tons of tips and ideas for how to gamify your class.

  • Tools for instant gamification.

  • Templates you can adapt to fit your class.

😄 Smile of the day

If you live in the cold, you know how this feels! 🥶🥶

👋 How we can help

There are even more ways I can support you in the important work you do in education:

  1. Read one of my six books about meaningful teaching with tech.

  2. Take one of our online courses about practical and popular topics in education.

  3. Bring me to your school, district or event to speak. I love working with educators!

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