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The Joyful Toolkit for Literacy Leaders
A few years ago, pre-pandemic, I came across this TED Talk from Ingrid Fetell Lee. In it she describes her 10-year quest to figure out where joy comes from. The...
Purposeful Play
One of my favorite quotes comes from Math for Love’s Dan Finkel: “What books are to reading, play is to mathematics.” To develop a child’s reading habits, we know that...
Fixer of Everything
Fixer of Everything. This is what the nameplate reads on the cabinet behind my small-group desk. I placed it there after a colleague gifted it to me on a random...
The Power of Story
“Miss Masse,” Philippe said, looking at me with tears streaming down his cheeks. “I waked up on the bus and it was cold and nobody was there, and the door,...
Your Voice Matters
To honor the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., my class read the I Have a Dream speech along with Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop. The picture book version of...
Examining (and Changing) Our Literacy Beliefs over Time
Our beliefs construct what we notice, which constructs what we believe. So noticing on purpose and questioning those beliefs is pure genius. —Jennifer Garvey Berger and Carolyn Coughlin, Unleash Your...
Examining Power Dynamics
Now more than ever it is important for teachers to include anti-bias education in our curriculum. Learning for Justice has created a set of Social Justice Standards as a guide...
An Invitation to Elevate Readers’ Thinking Through Conversation
Approach with Curiosity I leaned over to peek at the sticky note jot that launched a book club’s conversation, and I crouched down with curiosity as their talk continued. Their...
Teaching Students to Self-Monitor
“And so the man trapped the bear in the mermaid trap and hostile him up the hill to his shake…” Brody aggressively flipped the page, took a deep breath to...
Engaging from the Start: Considering Accessible Professional Development Experiences for a Range of Educators
Accessibility allows us to tap into everyone’s potential. —Deborah Ruh "B doesn’t belong because it is the only blue shape." "C doesn’t belong because it is the only shape that...
Developing Transcripts of Classroom Teaching with AI
I see AI as an additional tool, but a very powerful one. —Sal Khan in The Courier (2023) The Idea If you had a co-teacher who was experienced, well educated,...
Fostering a Love of Reading in All Students
“I read all the way to here,” Rebecca exclaimed, showing me the spot in her book. She had just borrowed El Deafo the Friday before. Now, on Monday, she had...
Know/Wonder Chart
Teaching young kids to read is uncomplicated. Please do not misunderstand: Teaching young kids to read is hard, hard work. It takes intentionality, perseverance, systematic planning, knowledge of how the...
AI in Teacher Prep
A just machine to make big decisions Programmed by fellows with compassion and vision We'll be clean when their work is done We'll be eternally free yes and eternally young...
Building Vocabulary One Purple Word at a Time
Seek to be the purple thread in the long white gown. —Epictetus I have never been a fan of purple. When I see a rack of clothing items in a...
Let’s Do It Again, Together
It started off strong. Our word-of-the-week vocabulary segment was filling the air daily on our video morning announcements. I was choosing words that coordinated with classroom instruction and words that...
Meet Stevie, Our Imaginary AI Friend
Imaginary friends are one of the weirder forms of pretend play in childhood. But the research shows that imaginary friends actually help children understand the other people around them and...
Building Bridges (and Confidence): Planning Solid Essays
The morning after a New England snowstorm, I had forgotten I needed gas to get to school. No problem, I thought, as I made a plan for where I would...
Informational Poetry
A primary teacher, deep into an informational writing unit, wondered how to bring new enthusiasm into the unit. These primary students loved the poetry and songs that were often embedded...
Writing About Reading
On and off during my career I’ve had students write me letters about their reading. I get really excited to start. I make a plan and implement it well for...
Morning Message 5 — Meaning and Content Connections
The day I posted this morning message, the room was buzzing. Kids walking in the door were beckoned by those already gathered around the morning message. Snippets of their conversation...
