Dear Colleague, In my last article, I asked what your Focused Finish might look like for this school year. And y’all are wise, sane people — so many of you are seeking that sweet spot between limping to summer and overwhelming yourselves with All The Things. Based on these conversations, I’m pumped to unveil my […]
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What’s Your Focused Finish?
Dear colleague, At the front of my classroom hangs a simple poster with the words “Do Hard Things.” It reminds my students—and me—that growth happens when we embrace challenges with purpose. Doing (the right) work with (belief-fueled) care = the core of the Do Hard Things ethos. As we enter the final quarter of the […]
How an 8th Grade Teacher Made an Everest Statement for Reading and Had Her Students Make One for Writing
Dear colleagues, Earlier this year, our colleague Mrs. Ariella Kranczer wrote in to me about her clever “I do, you do” implementation of Everest Statements in her eighth grade ELA classroom. Wanted to share it here because it is excellent! Hi, Fellow teacher and follower of you. I love what you model and share- thank […]
How David Reese Mini-Sermonized an Assignment’s Instructions
Dear colleague, Our colleague David T. Reese wrote in to me earlier this year with a pretty phenomenal example of a written mini-sermon. I wanted to share it here on the blog in case it helps or encourages someone like it has me! Best, DSJR 3 Part Writing Task: Letter, Annotated Writing Moves, Writing about […]
An Incredible Moment in Caleb N’s English Class
Dear colleagues, When our colleague Caleb wrote in to me with this classroom story (below), I was covered in goosebumps. What a phenomenal example of the power that is possible in everyday classrooms like yours and mine. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Recently, my 8th grade language arts students have […]