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
April 21, 2023: Slow Down and Listen
A lot of people are so used to just seeing the outcome of the work. They never see the side of the work you go through to produce the outcome....
April 14, 2023: The Beauty and Brilliance of Students
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. —Howard Thurman I...
March 24, 2023: Poetry
Poetry is the mother-tongue of the human race. —Johann Georg Hamann The Color of the Sky I answered the phone and Jordan, my senior-in-high-school son, said, “Mom! Look outside. You...
March 17, 2023: Strengthening Turn-and-Talk
There’s a thin line between mockery and endorsement. —Dawn Foster Turn and Talk I once sat in a staff meeting where the principal used a turn-and-talk video as an opener....
March 10, 2023: Students as Teachers
I wouldn’t say anything is impossible. I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put the work and time into it. —Michael...
March 3, 2023: Nobody Wants to Write
Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. —Vince Lombardi Nobody Wants to Write “What do you do when kids won’t write?” This was asked by a teacher who...
February 24, 2023: Do Hard Things
In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. —Mary Poppins Wisdom and Whimsy Four portraits hang in my office: Walt Disney, Harry Houdini, Helen Keller,...
February 17, 2023: Literacy Toolkits and Meaningful Lessons
Facts can be helpful, but rarely are they soulful. —Bob Goff Soulful In my opening keynote for CCIRA, one of the statistics I shared is that on average human knowledge...
February 10, 2023: Rural Education
It’s our roots that really give us our identity. —Rosalia Deep Roots of Rural Life Recently I was working with a group of middle school writers and found myself drawing...
February 3, 2023: Informational Writing
Write what you know. —Mark Twain Everyone Writes Nonfiction I have a soft spot for nonfiction writers. My reading life has a steady diet of nonfiction, and I am addicted...
January 27, 2023: Powerful and Fun(!) Assessment
It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. —Walt Disney Powerful and Fun(!) Assessment Hands up if you’ve ever been to a data meeting. Unless you retired from teaching while...
January 20, 2023: Story Elements and Author Studies
Purr more; hiss less. —Linda C. Marchman Skin a Cat? “There’s more than one way to skin a cat! That’s what he said to me! Can you believe it? I’m...
January 13, 2023: Novels in Verse, Book Clubs, and More
In a turbulent world, there’s another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. —Adam Grant The Ability to Rethink On Fridays I take...
January 6, 2023: Joyful Learning Communities
Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher. —Oprah Winfrey Get Connected I am overflowing with joy as I write this note to you. Because relationships...
December 9, 2022: Awareness and Inclusivity
As you enter positions of trust and power, dream a little before you think. —Toni Morrison A Quiet Next Step I am savoring the articles in this issue because they...
December 2, 2022: Nourish Student Growth
The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart. —Helen Keller Nourish the Heart When I was a...
November 25, 2022: The Thanksgiving Issue
The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become. —Robert Holden The Thanksgiving Issue In the United States we have Thanksgiving break...
November 18, 2022: Benefits of Poetry
Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. —Anthony J. D’Angelo Learning Does Not Belong in Silos When I was in the thick of...
November 11, 2022: Stronger Conferences and Feedback
No one is perfect—that’s why pencils have erasers. —Wolfgang Rieb Learning to Receive Feedback The team of teachers gathered around the table. They had hauled so much stuff into the...
November 4, 2022: Engaging Secondary Students
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. —Robert F. Kennedy Straight from the Field Holly Wenning is a secondary instructional coach whom I first met many...
October 28, 2022: Getting to Know Digital Learners
Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. —Epictetus Rocky Ground Recently I learned...
