Teachermade’s Digital Classroom features articles on interactive worksheets for online learning, instructional technologies, classroom management strategies, standardized testing, and other EdTech strategies. Learn about the latest best practices in teaching, e-learning, and EdTech.
Discover practical ways to support teachers and students when using daily formative assessments, ensuring stronger instruction, clearer feedback, and better learning outcomes.
Explore how data-driven instructional systems improve teaching, streamline intervention, and give educators real-time insights that support stronger student learning.
In 2025, Texas passed HB 8, banning district-level benchmark testing, STAAR practice tests, and test-prep as a district-sanctioned practice. As the second most populous state, the passage of the new law marks the official beginning of the end of the benchmark era.
Exit Tickets in the post-HB 8 era Texas has just taken a bold step with HB 8, banning test prep packets, local benchmark assessments, and STAAR practice tests. For decades, these practices consumed instructional time and distorted teaching, turning classrooms into test-prep factories
What is HB 8?
HB 8 in Texas is a landmark education bill passed by the Texas Legislature in 2025. It restructures how state assessments are delivered and — more importantly — bans local benchmark testing and test-prep practices that have dominated Texas schools for two decades.
In 2025, HB 8 marked a turning point for Texas education by banning benchmark testing and practice test prep. For decades, benchmarks were sold as “instructionally supportive,” but in reality they were compliance tools — designed to identify “bubble kids” and push them over the passing line, not to improve everyday instruction.
Learn how the benchmark testing ban under Texas HB 8 reshapes district assessment, instruction, and progress monitoring—and what educators must prepare for next.
Discover how exit tickets are evolving with AI to deliver faster, smarter progress monitoring—helping teachers adjust instruction and support students in real time.
Who Wrote The Bluebonnet Learning™ Math Curriculum for Grades K-5? Bluebonnet Learning™ is the brand name for the State of Texas’ Open Educational Resources (OER)
Many Teachers spend hours upon hours making curriculum materials, supplements, tests… the list is long. After organizing and creating what they need, they may grapple with the copy machine or Google Classroom or their school’s LMS in an attempt to distribute PDFs or Google Docs, Slides, and Forms.
Once distributed, how do their students fill in their answers? And when will the overworked Teacher get the materials graded with feedback and returned to the students?
TeacherMade was created to solve this problem. Any curriculum materials can be uploaded into the platform and quickly converted for interactive digital delivery with autograding. Students see their scores as they work, striving for improvement. Teachers get formative data at the moment of learning, not days later. The copier gets a much needed rest.
Considered best in class by many, TeacherMade is an essential part of any classroom because it is so versatile, easy to use, and cost-effective.
You’ll find many articles to help fuel your journey as an educator here in The Digital Classroom. You’ll also discover how other Teachers are using TeacherMade on a daily or weekly basis and what they’ve learned about how to use this indispensable tool to the greatest benefit for their students.
The shift to online learning has never been more pronounced than it became in 2020. Engaging with digital classroom technologies became a necessity. In the post-pandemic world, it feels as if there’s too much tech in the classroom and not enough time to teach effectively. The pendulum is always swinging in the education space! Enjoy reading about it here.
