Out of difficulties grow miracles.
— Jean de La Bruyère
Small Things Matter
I’ve been in a season of personal and professional upheaval. Many of you can relate. When things are crumbling around you, it’s sometimes hard to know what to do next. I decided to hold tight to three things:
- Morning prayer
- A nutritious breakfast
- Exercise
These are small things in the face of some very big, life-changing events. At times, I felt silly that these were my anchors when it seemed like the whole world was shifting out of my control.
It’s been a season of adversity, and I’m finally starting to see the light break through the darkness. It is clear that the small things actually were the important things to hold steady through a trying time.
I’m coming to believe that this is a universal truth.
I am especially enamored of our contributors and the content in this week’s Big Fresh. In this era of structure, precision, and pressure to perform, they stay true to small things that make a big difference. May you find inspiration and the wherewithal to keep paying attention to the things that matter most to the students in your corner of the world.
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
Gretchen Schroeder shares three meaningful ways to incorporate drawing into her high school English classes, and the purpose behind each strategy.
Christy Rush-Levine wraps meaningful conversations about race into her curriculum instead of making it “one more thing” to squeeze into the school day.
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.
To develop a deep understanding of subject matter, comprehension is necessary across all content areas. Jodie Bailey shows the intricate use of bar models and a slow-reveal method for solving a problem by providing time and space for students to make sense of the story before jumping into action.
Josie Stewart and Hannah Tills push against the adage that “early readers are focused solely on learning to decode, while later readers are making meaning.” Instead they remind us of the beautiful way all readers are meaning makers.
Bitsy Parks offers wise insight about a student who often ran from the classroom in kindergarten. When she joined Bitsy’s first-grade class, everyone was surprised by the student’s new attitude and willingness to learn. Bitsy reflects on what made a difference.
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.
Sometimes the complex needs of students can feel overwhelming. Becca Burk introduces the concept of micro-wins and offers three suggestions for inspiring teachers to collect them in your school.
Quote It:
The true measure of leadership is not what you achieve, but what matters because you led.
—John C. Maxwell
That’s all for this week!
