Welcome back! In Part 1, we explored how The Achievery aligns with the SAMR Model and Triple E Framework to support meaningful technology integration. Now, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the practical side—how to get started, navigate the platform, and bring its engaging content into your classroom. Whether you’re planning whole-group instruction, personalized learning, or remote activities, this guide will help you make the most of The Achievery’s free, flexible resources.
The Achievery is AT&T’s free digital learning platform, offering over 1,000 engaging videos for K-12 across seven subjects: Digital Arts, Digital Literacy, Math, Science, English/Language Arts, Social-Emotional Learning, and Technology/Engineering, each with interactive activities. Available in English and Spanish, the platform allows users to search by subject, grade, standards, and activity type (Interactive, Instructor-Led, or Self-Paced). New videos and activities are regularly added to keep resources fresh and relevant.
What You’ll Find in This Post:
- Step-by-step guide to signing up and navigating The Achievery
- Tips for filtering by grade, subject, standards, and activity type
- Classroom integration ideas across content areas and grade levels
Getting Started with The Achievery:
As you arrive at the site, click to Sign Up or Sign In. You can also click the white button in the middle of the screen to view a video and learn more about this resource. Also, note on the top right side, you will find the option for EN (English) or ES (Spanish).
The first step of registration is to share your birth month and year, so younger students are not able to register on their own. Students under 13 must have an account created by an adult.
If a younger student tries to register, they will receive this message.
The next question asked is: What is your role? (Student, Teacher, Parent/Caregiver)
The final step of registration asks how you wish to create your account. Options include email, Google, Facebook, Apple, or a Partner Code (if applicable from one of The Achievery’s partners).
Once you are logged in, the fun begins! Here is the landing page for All Units. Click All Units to search different options, such as Title or Description, Grade Level, Category, Collaborator, Activity Type, and Educational Standards. Let’s break down some of the specifics for each search option.
Below is a sampling of The Achievery’s impressive list of collaborators and partners. You’ll find a wide array of trusted content from organizations such as Code.org, Common Sense Media, Khan Academy, and countless others.
Another game-changer for this resource is the ability to choose the Activity Type. Interactive learning can fall into both the Instructor-led and self-directed categories. However, this search option provides a great starting point for students seeking self-directed lessons for remediation or acceleration/enrichment.
One final helpful search area includes the Educational Standards. If you are looking for lessons/interactive activities that use specific standards, this is for you! Standards included are CASEL, CCSS, CCSS (ELA), CCSA (Math), ISTE, and NGSS!
Now that you have learned how to navigate the search area, let’s explore what the resources have to offer. In addition to the video (or interactive) itself, the resources also include a lesson plan and a video transcript. Previewing the transcript is also a quick and easy way to ensure the content is suitable for your students and aligns with your teaching goals.
Each Achievery resource is packed with helpful details—let’s unpack what you’ll find and how to use it. When you open a resource on The Achievery, you’ll find several helpful elements that make it easy to preview and plan your instruction:
- Grade Level: Clearly marked to help you match content to your students’ developmental stage.
- Title
- Creator Attribution: Shows who developed the resource—helpful in identifying trusted partners or recurring contributors.
- Favorite Button: Allows you to bookmark resources for quick access later.
- About this lesson: A short description of the resource.
- Subject Tags: Lists all subject areas the resource supports, such as English Language Arts, Digital Arts, or Social Emotional Learning.
- Note-Taking Tool: A small notebook icon appears in the lower-right corner. Clicking it opens a private space where teachers and students can jot down reflections, reminders, or instructional notes. These notes are saved to your account and are not visible to others.
- Learning Activities: Each resource includes one or more interactive activities or lesson plans, often paired with a video transcript. These activities are designed to reinforce key concepts and offer flexible options for whole-class instruction, small groups, or independent learning.
This thoughtful layout supports both planning and personalization, whether you’re previewing content for alignment or encouraging students to reflect on what they’ve learned.
The note-taking tool is an excellent way for teachers to indicate what to change the next time they do this lesson. It is also a fantastic resource for students to take notes on the content that can be recalled for a later assessment.
The final item we would like to share is an example of a lesson plan. While each lesson plan is slightly different, they all contain the same basic information.
Classroom Implementation Ideas:
The Achievery offers over 1,000 engaging interactives and videos for K-12 across seven subjects: Digital Arts, Digital Literacy, Math, Science, English/Language Arts, Social-Emotional Learning, and Technology/Engineering.
Below, we share 16 ideas for using The Achievery in your lessons.
- Morning Warm-Up Activities – Start each day with a short Achievery story or activity that connects to your lesson objectives. Use short video clips to spark students’ interest and guide them into lessons and activities aligned with academic standards.
- Introduction to New Units – Use captivating videos to hook students and introduce new concepts across any subject area.
- Virtual Field Trips – Explore science phenomena, historical events, or cultural topics through immersive video content.
- Class Discussions Starters – Use thought-provoking videos to spark meaningful classroom conversations and debates.
- Differentiated Learning Stations: Set up learning centers where students can work at their own pace through various Achievery units tailored to their interests and skill levels.
- Early Finisher Activities – Provide engaging extension activities for students who complete assignments quickly.
- Remediation Support – Assign targeted videos and activities to help struggling students catch up on specific skills.
- Enrichment for Advanced Learners – Challenge high-achieving students with more complex activities in their areas of interest.
- Flipped Classroom Content – Assign videos for homework viewing, then use class time for hands-on activities and discussion about the topic from the video.
- Remote Learning Days – Provide consistent learning experiences for students, whether they’re in-person or learning remotely during snow days or other times.
- Summer Learning Programs – Prevent summer slide with fun, educational content that keeps students engaged during school breaks.
- Research Projects – Use videos as starting points for deeper research and student-created presentations.
- STEM Challenges – Use engineering and technology videos to launch hands-on building and coding projects.
- Cross-Curricular Connections – Combine English Language Arts storytelling activities with Science or Social Studies content, allowing students to create digital narratives about scientific discoveries or historical events.
- Test Preparation – Review key concepts through engaging videos before major assessments.
- Social-Emotional Learning Integration: Use the platform’s SEL resources during transition times or as part of your classroom community-building routine.
Additional Video Tutorials and Articles:
- TeachersFirst Review: The Achievery
- Video: Students K-12 Excel with the Achievery, Created by AT&T
- Video: The Achievery
- Video: Enhance Your Back-to-School Lessons with The Achievery
The Achievery offers something unique in the crowded educational technology space—a platform that prioritizes storytelling and student engagement while maintaining academic rigor. Whether you’re looking to enhance remote learning, add digital literacy components to your curriculum, or find fresh ways to engage your students, The Achievery deserves a spot in your educational toolkit.
Ready to explore? Head over to The Achievery and discover how stories can transform your students’ learning experience. Your classroom adventure awaits! Do you already have a favorite way to use The Achievery? Share it in the comments below!