Using X (formerly Twitter) to Transform Teaching

What if your most powerful teaching tool wasn’t a curriculum, but a connection?

In the past decade, X (formerly Twitter) has evolved into a vital hub for educators seeking to stay inspired, collaborate across the globe, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in a classroom. For me, it started with curiosity—and turned into a career-shaping resource.

In this post, I’ll share how I’ve used X since 2014 to document classroom learning, grow my professional network, and explore how emerging technologies like AI, AR, and VR can enhance early childhood education. You'll walk away with ideas for how to use X as a digital learning tool, how it can expand your PLN (Professional Learning Network), and how you might begin using social media as a springboard for innovation in your own classroom.

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A Principal’s Passion Sparked My Professional Fire

My earliest inspiration for using social media as an educator came from my first principal, Hamish Brewer. His relentless drive to advocate for students was contagious. He used Twitter as a megaphone—to share success stories, build community connections, and get resources donated to our school. Watching him use social media to amplify our work and uplift our students planted a seed. I realized: teaching isn’t just what happens in the classroom—it’s also what we communicate beyond it.

That same year, I created a classroom Twitter account. At first, it was a simple way to share daily highlights with families: student art projects, reading celebrations, math games. Parents loved seeing their children in action. It built trust and extended our classroom culture into their homes. It made learning visible.

"In 2014, I was a 22-year-old first-year teacher, and Principal Brewer was the first person to inspire me to be relentless—for my students, my school, and my own growth. He always said, 'Teaching is an opportunity, not an obligation,' and I’ve carried that mindset with me ever since."

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From Sharing to Learning: Building My PLN

Over time, my use of X began to shift from sharing to learning. I started following educators outside my district—those trying new ideas, taking risks, integrating tech creatively. That’s how I discovered the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, which I later had the privilege to visit. That school experience was electric: students were rapping multiplication facts, teachers used movement to anchor lessons, and everyone—adults and kids alike—seemed fully engaged in the joy of learning. That visit transformed my mindset around what teaching could look like. And I never would’ve known about it without X.

Through Twitter, I also made real networking connections. I connected with Tyler Gates, CEO of Brightline Interactive, who introduced me to what augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) could look like in an elementary classroom. We built a friendship and discussed our passions. Those conversations pushed me to imagine immersive storytelling centers, student-created AR artifacts, and new ways to spark curiosity in early learners.

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Pandemic Teaching: A Crash Course in Innovation

The biggest shift came in 2020. Like so many educators, I was thrust into virtual teaching overnight. Suddenly, I had to rethink everything—my routines, my materials, my expectations. It pushed me way outside my comfort zone. Teaching kindergarten through a screen meant reimagining how to make learning playful, personal, and visible—all without the physical presence of the classroom.

X became a lifeline. I connected with other early childhood teachers experimenting with digital tools. I learned how to create digital choice boards, adapted phonics games to Zoom, and even began exploring asynchronous tools like Seesaw to keep families engaged. When I moved into a hybrid model, I leaned even more on X to find ideas for creating equitable experiences between in-person and online students.

That challenge changed me. I became more confident in tech integration. I no longer saw digital tools as “extra”—I saw them as essential supports for engagement, access, and connection. And X was where I found the ideas, the resources, and the encouragement I needed.

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The Evolution of My Twitter Use

While I no longer post pictures of my students due to updated school policies, I still use X as my go-to space for professional learning. I follow thought leaders in early literacy, AI in education, and blended learning models. I participate in educator chats like #KinderChat and #EdTech to stay current. I save threads that challenge my thinking. And I share insights I’ve gained from trying new approaches in my own classroom.

One trend I’m especially excited about is the use of generative AI to differentiate instruction. Through connections I made on X, I’ve started experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, MagicSchool AI, Diffit, and LearntAI to help me create customized lessons, differentiation based on data, and so much more! It has changed how I plan—and how I empower students to show what they know.

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Try This: Using X to Expand Your Practice

If you’re new to X or hesitant about using social media professionally, start small:

✅ Create a teacher-specific account
Keep it separate from your personal one.

✅ Follow a few key hashtags
Try #edtech, #kinderchat, or #AIinEducation.

✅ Follow accounts that inspire you
Start with @HamishBrewer, @RonClarkAcademy, and @AlphaSchoolUS.

✅ Engage once a week
Like, retweet, or reply to a post that speaks to your goals as an educator.

✅ Bookmark threads
Save ideas to revisit when planning.

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Final Thoughts + Let’s Connect

X (formerly Twitter) changed my teaching—not overnight, but over time. It helped me grow from a classroom-centered mindset to a globally connected educator. It opened doors I didn’t know existed. And even when I wasn’t sure where to begin, it reminded me that I didn’t have to figure it all out alone.

What about you?
How have you used social media to grow as an educator? What’s holding you back? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Let’s learn from each other.

💬 Connect with me on X: @MsApgar_K

"In 2018, I explored AR in the classroom through interactive tattoos. This early experiment sparked my interest in how immersive technology can engage young learners in playful, meaningful ways."

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