Success Stories

Going into a year of unprecedented blended learning needs, science and math teachers needed a “fun and engaging way of reteaching math and science while being able to reassess students’ mastery of skills”.         

During the summer of 2020, teachers across Spring ISD tested out Legends to see if students would be engaged in the platform and if students would be motivated to invest time when learning from home. Feedback from across the district was very positive: students loved playing and we expanded Legends into a resource teachers could use throughout the year for review, intervention, and more. As Robyn notes, “This has provided a great tool for asynchronous learning and the data is showing us that students are engaging during and after school hours.”

One of Robyn’s greatest Legends moments was seeing the investment teacher Robert Garza, who has “wholeheartedly infused Legends into his classroom”. Mr. Garza got so excited when we rolled Legends out last fall he printed out the Legends superheroes and hung them on his walls to get his kids pumped about using the program. Just recently, Mr. Garza won a grant from Toshiba to fund Legends of Learning for his school for all of the 21-22 school year.  

Robyn goes by “The Leavanator” because not only is she constantly striving to raise the bar for her teachers and students, but she is also an amazing baker with a family that is lucky to share in the bounty of all those cookies!

Back To Administrator Testimonials & Use Cases

Whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid, teachers have been superstars at helping their students develop strong work habits. A 6th-grade science educator, Perla Rodriguez, AKA The Glitter Atom, nurtures these work habits with students through her weekly classroom routines. With a goal of encouraging students to build valuable review skills, The Glitter Atom uses Legends of Learning as a weekly reinforcement tool: “I usually assign a Legends of Learning [assignment] weekly. We will take notes at the beginning of the week, do activities, and when they have free time, they…play Legends of Learning. This usually has [helped] my students [stay] on top of their work.”

The Glitter Atom uses her charming powers to weave student engagement into her science curriculum. She recognizes that enabling students to see learning as an enjoyable process can boost student achievement. To enable students to accomplish this goal, she uses Legends of Learning:  “The students are excited to learn because they know that it means they get a chance to play Legends of Learning. They are learning while playing games, and they do not even realize it.” Perla notes, “[although] it is a lot easier to see the students learning and having fun in-person, they are always asking if they can play at home.” 

Thank you Glitter Atom for creating a stimulating classroom environment for your students!

“Do what’s best for kids!” is positioned at the bottom of every one of Katelyn Leitner’s emails, and that is exactly what she aims to do as the Supervisor of Science Instruction for Suffolk Public Schools!

Science instruction in the age of the coronavirus presents a big problem: how can students complete lab work and experience hands-on, inquiry-based learning without access to a science lab? With cues from her teachers and students, Katelyn, aka Captain Engagement, turned to the Legends of Learning team to help solve this very problem: “With virtual learning, I wanted to ensure our teachers and students had an aligned resource that increased engagement and allowed for hands-on and inquiry-based learning to still take place.” Today, Suffolk’s students are thinking like scientists and through interactive engagement with the Legends of Learning platform. 

Teaming with Legends of Learning has teachers and students alike excited: “Our teachers are thrilled to have a science resource to use to assist with asynchronous learning!” As far as her students, Katelyn loved seeing the excitement in their eyes as they learned about this new resource: “The ‘hook’ is the gaming platform; students love video games!” Strong usage data across the district confirms that Suffolk teachers and students are enjoying the platform while also mastering science and math skills. 

Suffolk students “are not only intrigued by these educational games and making large gains in science, but the research indicates that video games can improve problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking skills”. Additionally, Katelyn recognizes how Legends of Learning supports district initiatives; for example, “it has allowed Suffolk students to check their understanding of content while engaged in the 5C’s”.  

Yes, Suffolk Public School students have “LOVED” creating their own superhero avatars on the Legends platform. However, we know that Katelyn is the true superhero here, doing “what’s best for kids” and providing a standards-aligned resource that “hooks” students into science learning. She has truly earned her superhero name, Captain Engagement! 

Back To Administrator Testimonials & Use Cases

Despite the hybrid learning environment, Brandon Thomas, aka “Mr. Magic”, maintains high expectations for his students. Day in and day out, he remains committed to providing his students with the high level of support needed to help them master the skills and content introduced in his course. Legends of Learning has provided Mr. Magic with a needed tool that promotes a classroom culture in which students can succeed: “I use Legends of Learning with my students not only as a learning instrument but [also] a reinforcement instrument. This is a guide for students whether virtual or in person.”

One superpower Mr. Magic greatly values is building student confidence through practice. Realizing the pivotal role that a student’s self-esteem plays in their learning outcomes, Mr. Magic strives to cultivate a sense of self-achievement among his students. Mr. Magic uses Legends of Learning to help his students increase their self-confidence, not only in the classroom but also in their application of course material outside of the classroom: “Legends of Learning is that accomplishment students feel when they have grasped a concept and are able to apply that concept to the real world. Legends of Learning is a great way for students to express what they know through a fun platform.”

Mr. Magic, we are so happy to see how you are empowering your students! Keep up the great work!

Recognizing that some of her students struggle with challenging math concepts, Chelsea Wright, aka “Professor Productive”, created a strategy to drive student success in her class. After teaching a course topic, she helps her students to revisit difficult concepts and skills in meaningful ways. How does Professor Productive do this? With Legends of Learning! “I use Legends of Learning to enhance my lessons. If we are going over something very tricky for my third graders, such as equivalent fractions, then I make sure that my lessons set aside time for my students to play one of the standards-aligned games. This way, my students are getting to practice these skills in a more enjoyable way.”

Professor Productive goes above and beyond for her students. She strives to meet their diverse needs by understanding individual areas of growth and figuring out ways to adequately address them. Legends of Learning has empowered Professor Productive to accomplish her daily mission of meeting students’ academic needs: “I have a student who is very bright, but hates anything to do with school and homework. I was having a difficult time assessing his learning because he was not turning in his work. I was able to assign a game from Legends of Learning after a math lesson, which he played. He then thanked me for letting him do something so fun, and we were able to find a common ground to discuss the skill and the issues he was having with the concept.”

Thank you, Professor Productive, for continually using your powers to create a positive, student-centered learning environment!