🎉 New Semester, New You(Tube) Integrations: WHY Teachers Should Incorporate YouTube in Class! 🎥
In This Email:
👋 A lil compilation of words from Tyler
🎥 FREE Module from "YouTube in Education"
📌 5 Tips for Using YouTube in Your Classroom
📺 Dr. T’s Favorite YouTube Channels for Teachers
🙌 Encouragement to Keep Being Awesome
Hey there, #BallerTeachers!
Incorporating the title of my book SEE WHAT I DID THERE NO PRESSURE DON’T BUY IT JUST STEAL IT FROM LIMEWIRE!
First off, YOU ROCK. You’re stepping into a new semester with the same energy that you brought the manager at Chili’s when they spilled ranch on you (true story: i did this once as a waiter at Chili’s 🤦🏼♂️) and I’m here to help you any way I can!
Whether you’ve been digging out of snow or sitting on the couch watching TikTok before it disappears from the US of A, I hope you’re safe, warm, and caffeinated!
(Mini P.S. If they do actually get rid of ye ole TikTok, and you still want free tips/templates/encouragement from ya boi, you know I got your back like Forrest Gump on Instagram and YouTube)
In today’s episode of “Tarver Academy Email List Goodies,” we talking YOUTUBE!!
I just launched a brand-new course called "YouTube in Education" to help teachers like you incorporate YouTube into the classroom!
But waitttttt—don’t think you gotta give me dat $3 to get something outta this cause YOU KNOW YA BOI GONNA GIVE YOU SOMETHING FOR FREE!
Even if you’re not ready to dive into the full course or join the Honor Roll to get it PLUS every other course, I’ve got something for you: one of the course modules is included free in this email.
It’s my gift to you because I love you and I’ve been one of those teachers who scraped the Internet for the free stuff and dodged the paying stuff like Ben Stiller!
Why You Should Use YouTube During Class
Click to Watch the Video! (Hit Like & Subscribe while you’re there pretty pleaseeeee)
How This Helps Teachers
YouTube isn’t just for how-to’s or movie trailers (though, hey, those are fun). It can revolutionize your teaching by:
🎯 Grabbing attention like a TikTok trend gone viral.
🎨 Hitting every learning style—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners will thank you.
🛠️ Making life easier with classroom management hacks and fresh content ideas.
This video will help you take YouTube from "that thing I show during filler time" to "the MVP of my lesson plan." 🏆
Key Concepts
Why Use YouTube?
🔥 Boost engagement and retention (aka “students actually remember stuff”).
🌎 Reach all learners—visual folks get the visuals, talkers hear explanations, and doers...well, they’ll love the follow-up activities.
🚀 Bring lessons to life in a way that’s anything but traditional (goodbye boring PowerPoints).
How to Do It Right:
🎬 Use short, focused videos as bell ringers to kick off class with a bang.
💻 Flip your classroom: Assign video content for homework, so class time = deeper learning.
🎥 Use tools like Brisk Chrome Extension to make quizzes, presentations, or polls from videos.
🛠️ Embed videos in Google Slides or Forms for interactive lessons that scream, “Yes, I planned this, and it’s awesome.”
Pro Tips from the YouTube Jedi Council:
🕒 Shorter is better. Clip videos to the best parts—like skipping to the guitar solo of a song.
🎛️ Adjust playback settings to start and stop exactly where you need.
🎤 Let students run the show! Have them create presentations based on video content.
Age-Level Applications
Elementary (Grades K-5)
🛝 Keep it simple and fun with bite-sized videos during transitions or as bell ringers:
🌱 Example: Play a 2-minute video on how plants grow to spark curiosity in science class.
🎨 Follow-up: Students draw their favorite part or share in pairs.
🤝 Bonus: Show an animated video on kindness, then host a class discussion (cue warm fuzzies).
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
🌀 Flip the script (and your classroom):
💧 Example: Assign a water cycle video for homework.
💻 Follow-up: Students make Google Slides summarizing what they learned, then teach it to classmates.
📝 Bonus: Use Brisk to create quizzes that ensure they didn’t just "pretend-watch."
High School (Grades 9-12)
🔥 Spark debates or deeper analysis:
⚔️ Example: Share a video on the causes of World War I and let students battle it out in a debate.
🗣️ Follow-up: Reflect using Google Forms or host small group discussions.
📜 Bonus: Kick off with a quote-of-the-day video clip to start philosophical convos or connect to current events.
Challenge: Your Call to Action! 🚀
This Week’s Mission:
Use one YouTube video in your lesson. Pick from:
A bell ringer.
A flipped-classroom assignment.
A class discussion starter.
Then ask your students to respond by:
🎨 Drawing it out.
✍️ Writing a reflection.
🎤 Presenting what they learned.
YouTube isn’t just entertainment—it’s a secret weapon.
Wield it wisely, teacher Yoda. 🟢
Personal Application Questions
💡 Reflect on this:
What’s a concept your students just aren’t getting that a video might explain better?
How could YouTube save you time (roll call, transitions, etc.)?
What tools (like Brisk or Google Slides) could streamline your process even more?
Team/Group Discussion Questions
👩🏫 Team huddle! Ask your fellow teachers:
What are your go-to YouTube channels for teaching?
How do you balance video time with traditional teaching?
Got a cool story where YouTube turned a “meh” lesson into a mic-drop moment? Share it! 🎤
Keep It Fun!
Using YouTube in your classroom is like giving your lessons the Marvel trailer treatment—it hypes your students and makes them want more. 🦸 Why wouldn’t you want your algebra class to feel like the next Avengers movie?
So go out there, hit “play,” and make your lessons legendary. 🎬💥
🎥 5 Quick Tips to Use YouTube in Your Classroom
Create Playlists for Students
Group videos by topic or unit so students can binge-watch learning like it’s their favorite Netflix show. No cliffhangers, just pure knowledge dropzzzz (that you curate for quality and appropriateness)!Assign Video Reflections
Have students watch a video and respond with a short essay, a Google Form quiz, or even a TikTok-style review. Engagement? ✅Use Channels for Tutorials
Stuck on reteaching that quadratic formula? Let YouTube be your co-teacher. Just vet the video first—no one needs a random ad for doggie sweaters mid-lesson (although if they are cold, please bundle them pups up)!Flip the Classroom
Record yourself explaining concepts and assign it as homework. In-class time becomes all about practice and Q&A. Plus, you’ll feel like a YouTuber superstar.Encourage Students to Create Content
Let students make videos explaining a concept to their peers. Not only will they learn better, but you might just launch the next MrBeast of education.
📺 My Top 5 Teacher YouTube Channels
CrashCourse: I wanted to be SUPER bias and choose myself, but even I know they’re better 😂 Perfect for everything from history to biology. It’s the gold standard of educational YouTube.
Edutopia: Real strategies from real teachers that actually work! Fun Fact: I interviewed here when I was a principal and I think we were close to falling in love. Honestly, came down to me not wanting to move. The end. 🤷
Tarver Academy (shameless plug): For math, tech, and a few bad jokes OKAY MOVE ON!
Mr. DeMaio: Probably more for middle school or younger, but imma say…he’s awesome. Actually met him at a conference and he was kind enough to say hi to my son via video (who was a HUGE fan at the time)! Nice guy, even better creator!
Eric Curts: He’s always on top of the new tech stuff, PLUS he’s nice and free! Check him out pleaseeee!!!
🙌 Keep Doin You, Booboo!
To wrap up like Dr. Dre skydiving, thank you for showing up every day to inspire and equip the next generation.
Seriously, you’re not just teaching content; you’re building character, resilience, and curiosity. Every video you share, every question you answer, and every little encouragement you give makes a difference.
Let’s keep being the change these students need in the little amount of time we have to be a part of their story!
Never stop learning,
Dr. Tyler Tarver
P.S. If you try any of the YouTube tips or have one of your own, I’d love to hear about it (and possibly steal your tip and make a YouTube short outta it)!
Or if you just want to tell me I’m your favorite YouTube teacher (apart from all those other people who are better), my inbox is open! 😉😂
Hit me up if you need a speaker and/or trainer for your school and/or conference!! LOVE Y’ALL BYEEEEE!!!
