Teaching Using Seesaw
- Jan 7
- 2 min read
by Dylan Hayley, Keeley Elementary
In today’s classrooms, technology plays a key role in enhancing student engagement and
improving communication between teachers, students, and families. One powerful tool that
supports all of these goals is Seesaw — a digital learning platform designed to help students
showcase their learning, teachers organize instruction, and families stay connected.
Seesaw provides teachers with a suite of tools to create assignments, give feedback, and track student progress, all in one place. But beyond its functionality, it fosters a classroom environment where student voice and creativity are front and center.
What Is Seesaw?
Seesaw is a student-driven digital portfolio and learning platform. It enables students to document their learning using photos, videos, drawings, text, and voice recordings. Whether students are demonstrating math strategies, reading fluency, or science observations, Seesaw allows them to express their understanding in ways that are interactive and personalized.
Why Use Seesaw in Education?
There are several reasons why educators across grade levels and subject areas turn to Seesaw:
Student engagement: Seesaw empowers students to actively participate in their learning journey.
Creative expression: Multimodal tools let students share their knowledge in formats that work best for them.
Easy feedback and assessment: Teachers can provide timely, targeted feedback to guide student growth.
Family connection: Families get a window into the classroom and can support learning at home.
Portfolios over time: Student work is saved in a portfolio, making it easy to reflect on progress.
Getting started with Seesaw is simple, and the platform offers a smooth onboarding process for teachers and students alike.
1. Create Your Teacher Account (may not be needed)
Sign up with your email, Google, or Microsoft account.
Choose your school and grade level.
Confirm your email to activate your account.
2. Set Up Your First Class (Only needed for manual classes; Garland automatically syncs through Skyward)
Name your class and select a class icon.
Choose the grade level to help tailor content recommendations.
Decide on the student sign-in mode:
1:1 Devices: Use email or SSO (Single Sign-On).
Shared Devices: Use Class Code or QR login.
3. Add Students (Only needed for manual additions; Garland automatically syncs through Skyward)
Import from Google Classroom or Clever (if available), or enter student names manually.
Share the join code or QR code with your students for easy access.
4. Adjust Class Settings
Choose whether teacher approval is required before posts go live.
Decide if students can view or comment on classmates' work.
Enable or disable likes and comments.
Turn on translation for family comments.
Create folders by subject or unit for easy organization.
5. Build Your First Activity
Browse the Seesaw Activity Library by grade level and subject area.
Or create your own custom activity:
Add clear instructions.
Provide a sample or model.
Attach a template (drawing, video, worksheet, etc.) for students to use.
Best Practices and Tips for Success
To make the most of Seesaw in your classroom, keep these best practices in mind:
Set clear expectations early: Teach students how and when to post, comment, and reflect on each other’s work.
Model the process: Show students how to complete and submit an activity before they try it on their own.
Keep instructions simple: Use short text, icons, and even voice instructions to make directions accessible.
Leverage multimodal learning: Encourage students to respond using voice, video, drawing, or written text to meet diverse learning needs.
Tag skills and standards: Use built-in tagging tools to align student work with learning goals and monitor growth over time.
Organize with folders: Separate work by subjects, projects, or themes to keep everything tidy and accessible.
Engage families consistently: Share updates, student highlights, and celebrate learning to build a strong school–home partnership.
Seesaw is more than just a digital tool — it’s a platform that transforms how students learn, how teachers teach, and how families stay connected. With features that support creativity, organization, and communication, Seesaw helps foster a student-centered classroom where growth and reflection are part of everyday learning.
By starting small, setting clear routines, and applying best practices, educators can unlock Seesaw’s full potential. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or just beginning your tech journey, Seesaw offers a powerful and user-friendly way to enhance your teaching and deepen student engagement.
I used AI for brainstorming only and crafted the content myself.
