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
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...
November 22, 2024: Vulnerability
Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness. —Brené Brown Vulnerability Is Not Weakness Many years ago I accepted an...
November 15, 2024: Supporting Learners
It’s our roots that really give us our identity. ―Rosalia We’re the Kind of People Who… “Becca, we’re the kind of people who help.” I looked my nine-year-old foster daughter...
November 8, 2024: Growing Writers
Just as Michelangelo thought there was an angel locked inside every piece of marble, I think there is a brilliant child locked inside every student. ―Marva Collins Rid Your Mind...
November 1, 2024: A Community of Secondary Readers
One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever. ―Linda Lam Hope Matters We are living in tumultuous times in education and as a society, and now more than...
October 25, 2024: Talking Politics?
One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever. ―Linda Lam Talking Politics? The Pew Research Center found that over half of American adults refrain from talking politics. I...
October 18, 2024: Learning to Collaborate
Reading and writing float on a sea of talk. —James Britton More Than Magical Two students greeted me in the front office. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” I said....
October 11, 2024: A Community of Readers
Let’s not forget how beautiful simply washing dishes can be. —Noah Hawley What Official Title Do You Need? I am the Official Kitchen Cupboard Closer in my house. It started...
October 4, 2024: A Love of Books
Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. —Kofi Annan Books Offer Hope My daughter Stephanie is living the exact life she wants. This is not the life that many...
September 27, 2024: No Struggle, No Story
Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a...
September 20, 2024: Tough Ones
The human capacity for burden is like bamboo—far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance. —Jodi Picoult Connection Is Always Enough My husband and I adopted three kids...
September 13, 2024: Create Space
Inner stillness is the key to outer strength. —Jared Brock What Makes an Inspirational Leader? I recently heard about a new research study that defines characteristics of the most inspirational...
September 6, 2024: Beginning a New School Year
Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Life is so endlessly delicious. ―Ruth Reichl The Tuesday Crew A few years ago Andy’s cousin Denver moved home. We started eating meals...
August 30, 2024: Belonging
True belonging doesn’t require that we change who we are. It requires that we be who we are. ―Brené Brown Be You I missed a week at the gym because...
August 23, 2024: Becoming a Reader
Reading is an active, imaginative act; it takes work. ―Khaled Hosseini The Beginning is Always Today A few weeks ago, on a neighborhood walk in mid-summer, I bumped into Stuart,...
August 16, 2024: Starting Strong
In letting go we find strength to begin again. ―Marianne Williamson What I’ll Keep Doing The older I get, the more conscious I become of time. My younger self didn’t...
August 9, 2024: Good Vibes to Start the School Year
The beginning is always today. ―Mary Shelley The Beginning is Always Today I read Frankenstein for the first time when I was a college freshman. I’ve always been resistant to...
August 2, 2024: School and Classroom Libraries
Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life....
July 26, 2024: Spinning Ideas for the New School Year
I’ve always loved the first day of school better than the last day of school. Firsts are best because they are beginnings. ―Jenny Han Inspiring Ideas to Start the School...
