Teachers Take On TikTok

Pull up the TikTok profile for Boston-area public television station WGBH and you'll see a series of short science-themed videos featuring a familiar face: Milken Educator Dan Adler (MA '17), a sixth-grade science teacher at UP Academy Leonard in Lawrence. As a WGBH educator ambassador, last spring Dan led interactive science experiments via webinar and appeared in a commercial touting the station's distance learning resources. "In early May, WGBH reached out and told me they were looking for a science teacher to investigate gross science facts at home," says Dan. "I had been thinking about making TikToks for my students, given how interested they are in the platform. This seemed like a good opportunity to get started." For his screen test, Dan investigated whether the old food in his refrigerator was still safe to eat. He got the role, but "my family was a little frustrated I breathed all over the cold cuts."

@gbh

Bugged out yet? ##TikTokPartner ##LearnOnTikTok ##EwDaniel ##bugs

♬ original sound - wgbh

Through his partnership with WGBH, Dan spent the summer creating videos about bacteria ("There's poop on your phone!"), dust, pollen, bugs, and flatulence, topics he brainstormed with the WGBH team. While the TikTok app makes stitching together video snippets and adding fun on-screen graphics and text relatively easy, WGBH handled that part after Dan sent them video files recorded with his phone. His students loved his videos: "They keep commenting, 'That's my teacher!' "

Dan's not the only educator who's jumped into TikTok. Teachers are using the platform to connect with students, using popular music tracks and trending formats to show they speak the students' online language. They're also connecting with other educators, commiserating over common challenges and exchanging tech tips—especially important as many schools start the year with remote instruction.

We've gathered some of our favorite teacher TikTok videos below. Like other social media platforms, it's easy to explore TikTok via hashtag. Try these: #teachertiktok, #teachersoftiktok, #teachersbelike, #teacherlife2020, #coolteacher.

Teaching tips

@life_full_of_lemon

##standardbasedgrading ##masteryteaching ##teachersoftiktok ##tiktokteacher ##teachertiktok ##studentteacher ##fyp ##foryoupage

♬ Boom Bababom Pow - officialbearr

@heyteachergidget

Review choice board for distance learning or class. ##teachertiptok ##teachertiktok ##teachertips ##teacher ##foryou ##4you ##teachertech

♬ original sound - heyteachergidget

Lesson time

@learningwithheidi

##wholebrainteaching ##teachersoftiktok ##teacher ##teachertiktok

♬ original sound - droppinknowledge2

@tabwesley

Tricks to mental math! TikTok School is in session! ##tiktokteacher ##teacher ##teach ##teachersoftiktok ##teachertiktok ##mathtricks ##studentsbelike ##math

♬ Lalala - Y2K & bbno$

@stephaniesimsmcco

Keeping Kindergarteners engaged during virtual learning ##teachertiktok ##wegotthis ##kindergarten ##firsttiktok

♬ original sound - wesley.padilla

The lighter side

@malr22

When you’re a former teacher and your old students find you on Tik tok ##millennial ##teachertiktok ##hamilton ##humor ##comedy

♬ I Know Him - Jonathan Groff

@mrstellarteaching

No doubt. ##fyp ##teacher ##teacherlife2020 ##teachertiktok ##teachersbelike ##momsoftiktok ##teachersoftiktok

♬ Come Out and Play - The Offspring

@mrhamilton

meet my kiddos ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##xyzbca ##ActingChallenge ##hamdance ##suitandtiedance ##suitandtiechallenge

♬ Suit & Tie (feat. JAY Z) - [Radio Edit] - Justin Timberlake

@jknight5253

Guess who’s back... back again (with students) ##chickenwing ##teacherlife ##WaitForTheGreats ##justforyou ##fypage ##teacherdance

♬ The Chicken Wing Beat - Ricky Desktop

Classroom hacks

@rachelarcher_

Classroom organization Hack!! ##teachersoftiktok ##classroomorganization ##schoollife ##teachertiktok ##texasteacher ##texanshelpingtexans

♬ original sound - rachelarcher_

@toolboxteachers

Speed talking to get the info in some fav past code words: bubbles, Pokémon and hot dogs! ##classroommanagement ##school ##teacher ##fyp ##teachertiktok

♬ original sound - everythingelementary

@signedbyscott

How I handle students who arrive late. ##teaching ##teachersoftiktok ##teachertiktok ##teachertok ##blackcreator ##teaching ##teacher ##blackteachers ##teacher

♬ original sound - signedbyscott

Human connections

@hellomshudak

a lil teacher q&a for your monday morning ##fyp ##foryou ##teacher ##teacherlife ##tiktokteacher ##teachertiktok

♬ original sound - mshudak

@carriewisehart

My students surprised me today. ##teachertiktok ##tiktokteacher ##mrswisehart ##remotelyloving ##studentsbelike ##mrswisehart

♬ when she loved me cover by katelyn lapid - katelynlapid

@heymshnatt

Yes, the H in Hnatt is SILENT!!! ##teachertiktok ##teachertok ##7thgrade ##middleschool ##teachersoftiktok

♬ Crank that x Poke it out DJ Yames - dj_yames