Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
—Naomi Shihab Nye
Abundance by Suzy Kaback
Abundance is my word of the year. I chose it because it holds several truths at once: Abundance names not only the good things that overflow in a life, but also the hard ones, what nourishes and what weighs, what delights and what challenges. Striving to live with a complicated definition of abundance felt like the right way to start 2026.
It hasn’t taken long to put that “just right” theory to the test. For those of us living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, paying attention to abundance is proving its value. You have likely read stories and seen images from the Twin Cities. We have an abundance of stress, heartbreak, and anger flowing through our streets. There is a sense of concern everywhere—what’s coming next?—and that feels hard. Many people are afraid to go to work, to school, to grocery stores, to libraries, to health appointments, to church.
There’s also an abundance of humanity shining through. Folks joining up to get food to where it’s needed. Neighbors getting trained to be in a protective citizens’ brigade. Doctors and nurses volunteering time at pop-up medical clinics to serve people too scared to visit their regular medical offices.
As a teacher educator who works in local schools with preservice teachers, I feel a special reverence for the ways administrators, teachers, students, and families are responding to the shifting dynamics. One school leader wrote to teachers drawing a parallel between enduring a Minnesota winter and navigating the unrest of the moment. The message pointed to familiar tools: salt (the people who show up for one another with steadiness and care, warmth (the strength that comes from collective solidarity), and light (the values and hope educators strive to model).
Teachers are digging deep (again) to design in-person learning for the students who feel safe coming to school and virtual learning for the students who don’t. My teacher colleagues talk about families who send notes, treats, and extra tissues in solidarity and gratitude. One teacher showed me a photo of her school’s elementary-grade students marching on the playground (in full outdoor gear) carrying the protest signs they had made. At a recent board meeting of the Minnesota Council of Teachers of English, our president told us that the Iowa chapter of NCTE reached out with an offer to collaborate in supporting Minnesota teachers.
Underneath Fred Rogers’s brilliant advice to “look for the helpers” is a complete definition of abundance. If helpers are around, then help is needed. There’s the good thing with the bad thing. Right now, in Minnesota and beyond, uncertainty, fear, rage, and righteousness are abundant and justified reactions to what is happening. What is also abundant and justified, and important to see, is the collective care rising to meet the occasion. In so many ways, people small and tall are using “literacy for good,” reading, writing, listening, and speaking to lift each other up during a time when many forces are acting to hold us down.
Suzy Kaback
Teacher Educator
Just reading. Pure, unadulterated reading. That’s the reading homework that matters most in the long run. Stephanie Affinito explains why.
Don’t let being busy stop you from sharing new books with your students. We make it easy to expand the representation of books in your classroom with our book guides. For a limited time, access the book guide for Big by Vashti Harrison. Big is the story of a young girl who receives many messages about what it means to be big and which of those messages she chooses to own.
Are you looking to connect with other instructional influencers? Join Coach-to-Coach—a free monthly gathering for instructional coaches. You’ll receive an inspirational article from our Leaders Lounge and a Zoom link to learn and collaborate with others. Coach-to-Coach is led by Ruth Ayres. Our next gathering is Tuesday, February 10, at noon (EST).
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Choice Numeracy | How can we help students reflect on their mistakes so that they can be honest with themselves about the type of error they made? Mallory Messenger offers suggestions for how to position students to reflect on their mistakes during problem solving.
Becca Burk’s kindergartners had a tough recess. As they were discussing what they could do differently, one student proclaimed, “Mrs. Burk, writing, writing will help!” Becca shares what unfolded as students made a plan and created signage to post around the playground as reminders for self-control.
Tara Barnett and Kate Mills remind us that more important than the physical layout of the classroom or the assessments we’ll give is the type of community we’ll become. Building a brave and enthusiastic community of learners is the foundation that everything else stands on. They share a community-building experience that can be adapted for any age.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Heather Fisher wisely encourages school leaders to take the time to walk in the shoes of those we lead. When we do this, we position ourselves to become more connected with our teachers, more aware of their individual and collective needs, more credible in their eyes, and more mindful of suggesting working alternatives.
Matt Renwick helps us consider a digital declutter. We all have limited time, and we have choice and agency. It’s up to us to decide what we want to commit our attention and time to today and in the future.
Quote It:
Without education you are not going any where in this world.
—Malcom X
That’s all for this week!
