Unlocking Wakelet: Essential Tips for Educators

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Grab your giant mug of coffee (the one that’s practically a bowl), that specific gel pen you hide from your students because you know it will disappear into the abyss of a backpack if you lend it out, and maybe a donut. Or a bagel. Actually, grab both. I won’t judge. We’re educators; we run on caffeine and hope.

Today, we are staging a little intervention.

I want you to look at the top of your web browser right now. Go ahead, look up. Do you see a nice, clean row of two or three necessary tabs? Or does your browser look like a crime scene of 47 tiny, squished tabs that you are “totally going to read later”?

If you are currently hoarding links like a digital squirrel preparing for a long winter, this post is for you.

But first, a Confession.

We need to have a little “circle of trust” moment. I have a long-term relationship with Wakelet. Like, long-term long-term.

I’ve been a Wakelet Ambassador for almost as long as Wakelet has existed, which in “edtech years” is basically a lifetime. I’ve seen tools come and go. I’ve seen them shine brightly, get acquired, get rebranded, or quietly disappear into the digital abyss.

Wakelet? Still here. Still growing. Still doing what teachers actually need.

So this week’s Teach & Tech Tuesday is special. I’m partnering with them to share how it works, why it matters, and, because I love you guys, how you can save some money if you decide to go Pro.

What It Actually Does (The Teacher-Friendly Version)

If Pinterest, a heavy-duty three-ring binder, and a very organized personal assistant had a baby, it would be Wakelet.

At its simplest, Wakelet allows you to save links, social media posts, videos, images, and text notes into visual “collections.”

Instead of a boring list of blue hyperlinks in a Google Doc that no one (let’s be honest, not even you) wants to click, Wakelet turns your resources into a beautiful, scrollable “board.” You can arrange items, add your own context or instructions, and share it all with a single link.

Click here to see a Collection of videos and info on how to get started!

Classroom Uses: Moving Beyond the Basics

Okay, so it looks pretty. But how does it actually save us time on a Tuesday morning? Here are the power moves:

• The “Un-Loseable” Newsletter: Stop sending paper newsletters that end up crushed at the bottom of backpacks next to a fermenting banana. Create a Wakelet collection with updates, photos, and links. Parents can view it on their phones without downloading a single app.
• The Ultimate Sub Plan: Need to be out for a day? Create a “Sub Hub” collection. Record a 2-minute video giving instructions, link the article they need to read, and add the YouTube timer you want them to use. You share one link, and the sub has everything. No lost papers, no confusion.
• Student Portfolios: This is where student agency kicks in. Instead of you collecting their work, let them curate it. They can upload a picture of their artwork, a link to their slides, and a video reflection. It turns assessment into a narrative.
• The Accessibility Win: This is my favorite part. Wakelet has Microsoft’s Immersive Reader built right in. That means any text in your collection can be read aloud, translated, or adjusted for students with dyslexia. It’s an equity tool, plain and simple.

The “Pro” Tip (And a Discount for You)

Wakelet is free to use, which is awesome. But if you are a power user (like me) who wants to unlock all the features, like unlimited collaborative collections and advanced layouts, you might want to look at the Annual Pro Plan.

And because you’re reading this blog, I’ve got you covered.

You can get 20% off the Annual Pro Plan using my code: PAULA20

Think of it as a “friends and family” discount. It supports a tool I genuinely believe in, and it saves you some cash. Everybody wins.

Privacy and Ethics

You know I’m not letting you use a tool without checking the fine print.

• Student Data: Wakelet is COPPA, FERPA, and GDPR compliant. They take student privacy seriously.
• The Age Factor: Generally, students need to be 13+ to create accounts. However, younger students can view and contribute to your collections using a code without needing an account at all. Massive win for elementary teachers.

Final Thoughts

Wakelet isn’t flashy edtech. It’s reliable edtech.

It’s the kind of tool that quietly supports good teaching without demanding you become a content creator or a platform expert overnight. After nearly three decades in education, that’s the kind of tech I’ll stand behind every time.

So, go ahead. Create a collection. Use the code if you want to go Pro. And please give your browser a break and close those 47 open tabs.

Happy curating, friends!