NM UDL

Supporting universal, accessible, learning to students and educators in communities across the state of New Mexico.

08/13/2026

BookaKucha: A Simple Way to Make Learning More Engaging

One of my favorite EduProtocols is BookaKucha!

Students use a set of images or slides to tell a story, explain their thinking, or demonstrate what they know. The structure keeps students focused while giving them a creative way to communicate.

What I love most about BookaKucha is that it naturally supports UDL by giving students a different way to show what they know. It builds speaking skills, confidence, creativity, and content knowledge all at the same time.

And the best part? It doesn’t have to be complicated!

Give students a topic. Give them a few visuals. Let them create, practice, and share.

Learning doesn’t always have to look like a worksheet or an essay.

Sometimes, learning looks like BookaKucha!

08/11/2026

🎯 Tip Tuesday!

Looking for a fun way to help students introduce themselves and build classroom connections?

This week’s tip comes from Matt Miller with Ditch That Textbook! His Activity Maker has some great ideas, including this fun Trading Card activity.

Students create their own personalized card with a picture, nickname, superpower, passions, a cool stat, a fun fact, and a wildcard question. Then they can trade cards and learn more about their classmates!

A simple, creative way to build connections and spark conversations while making introductions more engaging.

Check out Ditch That Textbook’s Activity Maker for more ready-to-use ideas!

08/05/2026

Lights, camera, ACCESS!
The incredible educators at Public Academy for Performing Arts took center stage during a hands-on professional learning session filled with games, teamwork, laughter, and lots of learning!
Thank you, PAPA educators, for bringing the energy and showing up for every learner.

08/04/2026

What a great start to the school year at Mark Armijo Academy!

Our first PD was full of collaboration, creativity, and meaningful learning. We explored Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), tackled plenty of “laundry” as a team, and even built a cyber sandwich while learning about the history of McDonald’s. It was a fun reminder that the best professional learning is engaging, hands-on, and connected to real-world experiences.

Looking forward to an amazing year of learning and growing together!

nmudl

08/03/2026

Back-to-school prep looks different when we design for learner variability from the start. 💡
Small shifts in classroom spaces, routines, tools, and choices can remove barriers before they get in the way. You don’t have to change everything. Choose one idea that works for your classroom and build from there.
✨ Change the space, not the student. Design for every learner.
Find the link in our bio to explore classroom-ready ideas for PreK–12!

05/16/2026

Rally Reader has a wonderful digital library that can help students of all ages enjoy reading without leaving home this summer! Be sure to share with your families.

05/08/2026

Day five of our favorite Eduprotocols! Iron Chef!

One of our favorite ways to increase collaboration, engagement, and deeper thinking in the classroom is through the Iron Chef EduProtocol.

Students work in teams to:
• Research a topic
• Synthesize information
• Create collaborative slides
• Present their learning in a short amount of time

The “Secret Ingredient” is what makes it even more engaging. Students might:
• Create a meme
• Write a headline
• Make a real-world connection
• Create an analogy

Simple directions to get started:

1. Pick a topic
2. Create student teams
3. Provide resources
4. Set a timer (usually 10 minutes max)
5. Have students present their learning

Why teachers love it:
• Replaces long lectures with active learning
• Encourages student ownership
• Builds communication and collaboration skills
• Keeps students engaged

05/07/2026

What happens when students generate the questions instead of only answering them?

You get curiosity, collaboration, and deeper thinking.

This 6th grade Wicked Hydra activity on the Water Cycle turned a science topic into an inquiry-based learning experience where students built questions together in a collaborative mind-map format.

Students explored questions like:
• Why does water v***r rise?
• How do clouds form?
• Why is the water cycle important?
• What would happen if the water cycle stopped?
• How does the water cycle affect living things?

Using the Wicked Hydra strategy from EduProtocols, students:
✔ Collaborated with peers
✔ Added onto each other’s thinking
✔ Practiced inquiry and discussion
✔ Built background knowledge
✔ Made their learning visible

I love how this strategy encourages students to think beyond memorizing vocabulary words like ev***ration, condensation, and precipitation. Instead, they begin asking meaningful questions and making connections.

This works great for:
• Science
• Social Studies
• ELA
• Test prep
• Front-loading a new unit

Learn more about EduProtocols:
https://www.eduprotocols.com

05/06/2026

Day 3 of NM UDL‘s favorite Eduprotocols!

✨ Thin Slides: Big Thinking, One Image ✨

Looking for a quick, engaging way to check for understanding while giving students voice and choice?

Try Thin Slides!

Students create:
• 1 slide
• 1 word
• 1 image

That’s it — but the thinking behind it is powerful.

This strategy encourages:
✔ Visual communication
✔ Student voice
✔ Retrieval practice
✔ Quick engagement
✔ Meaning-making across content areas

Examples:
• Science → “Translucent” with a real-world image
• Social Studies → “Monarchy” with a historical example
• Math → “Parallel” shown through photography
• Test Prep → “Most important concept from this unit”

How it works:
• Give students a prompt
• One slide per student
• Add one image + one word
• Set a quick timer
• Share and discuss

It’s simple, low prep, and works for elementary through high school.

Learn more:
🔗 https://www.eduprotocols.com/thin-slides

05/05/2026

Day 2 of Our Favorite EduProtocols: Number Mania

Resources here: bit.ly/4eshVMG

If you’re looking for something simple that actually gets ALL students involved, this is a good one to try.

Number Mania is a quick, collaborative way for students to explore a topic using numbers and facts.

Here’s how it works:
• Each student adds one fact + one number
• The class builds in a shared space
• Every student creates their own slide
• It all comes together into an infographic

What I love about this strategy is that it:
• Gets every student contributing
• Builds real content knowledge (not just busy work)
• Works in ANY subject
• Is easy to implement this time of year

Great for:
End-of-year review
Research projects
Quick engagement lessons

Want to check it out?
Moler’s Musings:
https://mrmoler.com/2018/02/04/number-mania/

How-to video:
https://youtu.be/6XlQqF0G4hA

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Albuquerque, NM
87110

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