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
August 15, 2025: Positive Approaches to Change
You just can’t beat the person who never gives up. —Babe Ruth The Power of Just I wandered up to the bonus room and was excited to see Charlie, my...
August 8, 2025: Anchor Charts
True belonging doesn’t require that we change who we are. It requires that we be who we are. —Brené Brown No More Extra-Extra I’ve been going to the same gym...
August 1, 2025: Simple Joys
Simplicity is often one of the greatest strengths. —Erik Spoelstra No More Extra-Extra Summer is wrapping up, and I wonder where it went and what I did. If I’m really...
July 25, 2025: Let’s Get Started
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. —Nido Qubein On Sunday On Sunday I picked up my friend Buford and we went...
June 27, 2025: Restore, Refresh, Rejuvenate
Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure. —Oprah Winfrey The Power in Learning to Pause It was...
June 20, 2025: Choice Numeracy
Collaboration allows us to know more than we are capable of knowing. —Paul Solarz Joint NCTE/NCTM Conference I’m writing this a few days before attending the Joint NCTE/NCTM Conference in...
June 13, 2025: Generative AI (Part II)
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. —Albert Einstein With Humanity The early 1900s, before the Roaring Twenties set in, is known as the Progressive...
June 6, 2025: Generative AI (Part I)
AI will not replace humans, but those who use AI Will replace those who don’t. —Ginni Rometty, Former CEO of IBM Four Things I Didn’t Use AI for This Week...
May 30, 2025: Nourish Independence
Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings. —Ray Bradbury Nourish Independence My youngest son, Sam, accepted a job with Norfolk Southern railroad and is in...
May 23, 2025: Have More Fun
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...
