Choice Lit Topic: Big Fresh Archives
Here is where you can find all the Big Fresh enewsletters from the past six years archived, with the most recent issues on top. If you haven’t already, sign up for the Big Fresh! It’s been the go-to resource for tens of thousands of teachers around the globe for over 12 years. We never send subscribers anything but the weekly newsletter, and we absolutely never share your email address with anyone else.
Results
May 16, 2025: Trusting Students
I think that success is having fun. —Bruno Mars Are We Having Fun? Our family sometimes went on outings when I was a little girl. When it was time to...
May 16, 2025: Trusting Students
A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect. —Jonathan Lockwood Huie Bananas At a summer writing retreat, my colleagues and I met for breakfast in the community dining...
May 9, 2025: Brain-Based Learning
It’s rarely information we need; it’s inspiration we crave. —Bob Goff What We Crave I lift heavy weights with a group of five women. You’ll find us at the gym...
May 2, 2025: Keeping Steady (Part 2)
Slow but steady wins the race. —Aesop Let’s Not Be Frazzled I swim. Perhaps more accurately, I spend a lot of time exercising in the water. I don’t lap swim,...
April 25, 2025: Keeping Steady (Part 1)
Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weaknesses. —Brené Brown Be Brave Fourth graders looked up at me from their...
April 18, 2025: Differentiation
Remember, if people like it here, they’ll come back. —Ms. Fortini to Eilis in the novel Brooklyn, by Colm Tóibín Honor and Value Students Where They Are We’ve arrived at...
April 11, 2025: Conversation in Small Groups
Learning to speak, therefore, and the power it brings of intelligent converse with others, is a most impressive further step along the path of independence. —Maria Montessori Meaningful Conversations I’ve...
April 4, 2025: Helping Students Take Charge of Their Learning
Self-confidence is contagious. —Stephen Richards Write a Little Poetry It is April which makes us all think of poetry…At least I hope it makes us all think of poetry. I...
March 21, 2025: Give Space and Time for Learning
Small habits, when repeated consistently, lead to remarkable results. —James Clear Ignore the Mess? How many of us have supervised the car line before or after school? The elementary level...
March 14, 2025: Let’s Learn!
Grant me the curiosity to explore the things I do not understand, the courage to question the things I do, and the wisdom to never stop learning. —Anne-Laure Le Cunff...
March 6, 2025: Writing Process Tips
A word after a word after a word is power. —Margaret Atwood Big News! I’m excited to share some news with you. Becca Burk and I are officially contracted to...
February 28, 2025: Finding Possibilities with Mentors
A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself. —Oprah Winfrey Protect Hearts Recently, a colleague said to me, “You know, 10 or 15 years ago...
February 21, 2025: Let Hope Stick
Hope is not always rational, but it is always necessary. —Bryan Stevenson Let Hope Stick There are days when we feel completely, totally, and undeniably disheartened—days that threaten joy and...
February 14, 2025: Spark Reading Response
To love at all is to be vulnerable. —C.S. Lewis Happy Valentine’s Day? Happy Valentine’s Day! I wonder how many people groaned at that greeting. I know Valentine’s Day did...
February 7, 2025: Boost Talk = Boost Learning
Our passion is our strength. —Billie Joe Armstrong Join Us! One of my secret delights each month is leading the Coach-to-Coach group. It started on a whim in 2023; I...
January 31, 2025: Meaning Matters
Admiration and familiarity are strangers. —George Sand Making Meaning Together Recently I was invited to lead a series of short professional learning sessions at the school where I started my...
January 24, 2025: Ways to Show Learning
He that will enjoy the brightness of the sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade. —Samuel Johnson Quitter’s Day I recently learned that the second Friday in January is...
January 17, 2025: More Engaged Students
Whether you’re keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it’s the same thing. What’s important is you’re having a relationship with your mind. —Natalie Goldberg A Personal Story from...
December 20, 2024: Graphic Novels and Novels in Verse
A little candy now and then is relished by the wisest men. —Roald Dahl Sweet Reads & Treats We’re heading into the end of the calendar year, and many of...
December 13, 2024: Literacy in All Subjects
What does this space encourage? —James Clear The Beauty of Literacy in All Subjects I was a biology major and I write books about teaching writers, so it shouldn’t be...
December 6, 2024: Gratitude
When we accept the fact that we can’t do everything, we are more willing to ask for and accept help when we do anything. —Simon Sinek I’m Good? I noticed...
