The power of Toothy lies in its versatility. Whether you prefer hands-on learning with task kits or a seamless digital experience, Toothy makes skill practice fun, engaging, and effective. If you’re already familiar with Toothy, switching between the physical and digital versions is a breeze. But if you’re looking for fresh ideas to shake up your routine, you’re in the right place!

In this post, we’re diving into five new Toothy routines that blend both digital and hands-on learning. These ideas will keep students engaged, encourage collaboration, and make skill-building more interactive than ever.

If you are new to Toothy check out these posts to get you started.

• Toothy Task Kits
• 5 Reasons Toothy is a Game Changer in the Classroom

Routines for Using Digital Toothy

Teaching digitally is another world! One that, prior to this school year, many of us had only dipped our toes into. If this school year has taught us anything, it’s that flexibility is key! Being able to transition physical lessons into a digital portal is so important. So, let’s start with three ways to use Toothy in a digital setting. 

Toothy Routine #1: 1, 2, 3, Show Me

• Teacher materials: printable toothy cards, a document camera (optional) or digital toothy task cards
• Student materials: whiteboard & marker or paper & pencil, Toothy mat

This method works during synchronous Zoom or Google Meet lessons with your students. As the teacher, you will stream the Toothy task cards to your students. You can do this in two different ways. One way is to project the cards on the Zoom or Google Meet screen using your document camera. If you don’t have a document camera you can simply hold the card up to the camera. Another way is to project the digital versions of the task cards on the screen.

Once the cards are on the screen, your students will then write down their answers and put the board or paper face down in their learning space. When your students have been given time to answer say, “1, 2, 3, show me!” and they will all show their answers to the camera. The students who have the correct answer get to put a tooth in Toothy’s mouth. 

Toothy Routine #2: Assign Independently 

• Teacher materials: digital toothy task cards, learning platform of your choice
• Student materials: device (laptop, tablet, etc.)  

Another way to use Toothy digitally is to simply assign the task cards to your students for independent work. Digital Toothy is compatible with Google Classroom, Seesaw, Schoology, Canvas, or can be sent as a direct link. Students will work through the cards at their own pace. If Digital Toothy is new to you, take a look at our FAQ here. 

This method is an option for teachers who teach in districts where the devices for students are provided or it can be used as optional work for families who as asking for more at-home content and have their own devices. 

There are digital Toothy task cards for grades K-3. Take a look at the Toothy Kits below to take you to grade-specific Toothy Task Kits.    

Toothy Routine #3: Whole Group Instruction

• Teacher materials: digital toothy task cards, smartboard or computer connected to a projector
• Student materials: whiteboard & marker or paper & pencil, Toothy mat

The final Toothy tip is to use the cards for whole group practice. Students will work in their own spaces to maintain social distancing. Toothy cards will be projected for the whole class to see using a smartboard or a computer connected to a projector and a white surface. If you are using a computer with a document camera you can place your printable Toothy cards under the camera and use those. Otherwise, use Digital Toothy cards. 

Once you are ready to begin, show one card at a time and ask kids to write down their answers on a personal whiteboard, or piece of paper, and keep it face down on their desks. Tell students to give you a thumbs up when they’re done. Again, say, “1, 2, 3, show me.” Students will raise their boards to show their answers. They can give Toothy a new tooth for every correct answer. Depending on your school’s guidelines, you can ask a student to tap the correct answer on the projected card to see the tooth fly into Toothy’s mouth. You’ll need to be using Digital Toothy task cards for this to be an option. 

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Hands-On Routines for Using Toothy

Before talking about ways to use Toothy in a face-to-face setting, it’s important to remember that every school district has different safety guidelines. Please, keep the requirements of your own district in mind when reading through these tips. 

Toothy Routine #4: Solve the Room 

• Teacher materials: printable Toothy cards and tape
• Student materials: clipboard, Toothy answer sheet, pencil, Toothy mat

The traditional Toothy method where students share sets of cards at a math center isn’t an option for many teachers. This is a bummer for teachers who have already prepped their Toothy sets. One way to continue using the sets you’ve already made (or the new sets you’re going to make) is to tape the task cards to the walls of your room. Your students will use their clipboards with answer sheets and space themselves out evenly around the room. Next, students will rotate around the room solving one card. To maintain social distancing, students will rotate as a whole with your guidance. Students can give you a thumbs-up whenever they finish their problem to let you know when they are all ready to rotate.

Typically, Toothy cards are self-checking. Students would normally flip the card over to check their answers. For health and safety purposes, this part can be skipped. After students have answered all the questions you can send students back to their seats and go through the answers as a group. Students give Toothy a tooth for every correct answer.

Toothy Routine #5: Assign As a Literacy or Math Center 

• Teacher materials: digital toothy task cards
• Student materials: device (laptop, tablet, etc.)

This method is similar to Toothy Tip #2. Students are assigned the Digital Toothy task cards through the learning platform your students use. Students sit in their own spaces and maintain their distancing while working through their task cards. Also, students can work at their own pace while still getting instant feedback about their answers. There’s also the added incentive of watching Toothy’s tooth fly into his mouth when they’re correct!

Where Can I Get Toothy?

Interested in using Toothy with your students but haven’t had a chance to snag any Toothy Task Kits? See all things Toothy on All Access!