From Writer’s Block to Breakthrough: A Classroom Moment

From Writer’s Block to Breakthrough: A Classroom Moment

by | Feb 3, 2026 | Teacher Tips

Helping Students Find Their Voice When They Think They Have None

 

 

By: Rahma Shammaa, ELA teacher @digiTIES

 

Yesterday during an ELA breakout room, students were brainstorming ideas for a paragraph on a simple but powerful prompt: What inspires you, and how would you like to inspire others?

One student froze. He said he had nothing to write and didn’t think he had anything that could inspire anyone. It was a classic case of writer’s block, but it was also something deeper. He was struggling to see his own value.

So I asked him a few focused questions.

What are you genuinely passionate about?
What is something you would gladly spend most of your time improving?

His answer was immediate. Computer science.

Then he paused and said, “But I’m not that good at coding.”

So I asked a different question.

Who inspired you to care about coding in the first place?

He smiled and said, “My uncle.”

That became the turning point. I invited him to step into his uncle’s shoes. If your uncle could inspire you through his skills, what would it look like for you to inspire someone younger one day? How would you do it? What would you say? What would you build?

His eyes lit up. He asked if he could write a hypothetical scenario, not his real life experience yet.

Absolutely.

Sometimes the fastest way through writer’s block is imagination. When students can’t see their own impact, we can help them borrow a lens. Start with the person who inspired you, then practice becoming that person for someone else.

This is why teachers matter. Not because we give answers, but because we ask the right questions at the right time.

What strategies do you use to help students move from “I have nothing” to “I have an idea”?

Why Immersive Learning Still Matters

Why Immersive Learning Still Matters

by | Jan 17, 2026 | Food for Thought

 

Recently, Meta announced that it is shifting focus away from the metaverse, at least for now, and placing greater emphasis on artificial intelligence. While the rise of AI in education is important and exciting, stepping back from immersive virtual environments may be a missed opportunity, especially when it comes to online learning.

At digiTIES, we see a powerful educational use case for metaverse-style tools that goes far beyond novelty or entertainment. Our school serves students from all over the world, with teachers teaching from different countries and time zones. While online learning offers flexibility and access, it can also bring a sense of isolation. Too often, students experience learning alone, seated behind a screen.

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Now imagine something different.

Imagine students entering a virtual classroom where they are present together, not just logged in. Imagine a teacher standing at a board, teaching naturally, but looking out through her headset and seeing her students seated in front of her as if they were physically in the same room. Students are no longer small boxes on a screen. They are active participants in a shared learning space.

Now imagine the instructional possibilities.

Imagine conducting a frog dissection in science class through a Meta headset, where students can explore anatomy in a detailed, ethical, and repeatable virtual environment. Imagine students manipulating three-dimensional geometric figures in math, rotating shapes, measuring angles, and exploring volume right in the virtual palm of their hands. Abstract concepts suddenly become tangible, interactive, and deeply engaging.

This kind of immersive learning has the potential to transform online education. It restores what many virtual classrooms struggle to replicate: presence, curiosity, and embodied understanding. Instead of being confined to a flat screen, students step into their learning. The classroom opens up.

The world opens up.

For global schools like digiTIES, immersive technologies could bridge distance in ways traditional video platforms cannot. They offer shared attention, collaboration, and a stronger sense of community, all of which are essential for motivation and meaningful learning.

AI can personalize learning, streamline workflows, and support teachers. But immersive technology addresses a different and equally important need: helping students feel connected, engaged, and fully present.

A Night Of Remembrance

A Night Of Remembrance

by | Jan 16, 2026 | Announcements

Celebrating Al-Israʾ and

Al-Mi^raj:

Faith, Learning, and Innovation at digiTIES

 

       As we approach the blessed occasion of Al-‘Israʾ & Al-Mi^raj, the Night Journey and Ascension of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, our digiTIES community is preparing for a meaningful online school celebration that brings faith, learning, and innovation together.

      Al-‘Israʾ & Al-Mi^raj marks the miraculous journey in which the best of all mankind ﷺ traveled by night from Al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Al-Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and then ascended through the heavens by the will of Allah. During this miraculous event, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ witnessed powerful signs, and he led the prophets in prayer. This event remains a cornerstone of Islamic belief and a source of reflection for Muslims of all ages.

At digiTIES, we view Al-‘Israʾ & Al-Mi^raj not only as a historical miracle, but also as an opportunity for students to celebrate and engage deeply with meaning, purpose, and growth. In preparation for our upcoming celebration, students are actively working on creative projects that explore the lessons of this journey through research, reflection, digital presentations, and multimedia storytelling.

      Technology plays a key role in how our students learn and share. By using digital tools to enhance understanding rather than replace it, students are developing critical thinking, communication, and presentation skills that prepare them for the future. Their projects reflect both reverence for tradition and confidence in modern learning methods.

      Our online celebration will showcase student voice, creativity, and learning in action. Families and community members will be able to see how faith-based education and innovative technology come together in a virtual learning environment that values both academic excellence and character development.

      As we commemorate a journey like no other, we look forward to celebrating how our students are learning to navigate the future with faith, purpose, and responsibility, guided by timeless credibly sourced lessons and empowered by modern tools.