Mentor Text: The Word “Nice” from Heartbreak Is the National Anthem by Rob Sheffield Techniques: Background – I’ve probably shared this here before, because I’m pretty open about it, but I’m an insomniac. I’m used to it, and often, it actually feels like an asset, because I have a couple more hours in the day to […]
Show of hands… how many people feel that the need to differentiate in your classroom has become more intense? Here at my public high school in New York City, in the Bronx, working with students who are over-aged, under-credited, working with students who’ve had some disruption to their education…the differentiation needs have become overwhelming. What do […]
Feb 11 2025 Ashley Anderson Source Roses are red, violets are blue. My students loathe reading. I’m sure yours do too. To say that I love reading is an understatement: I devour books. Reading is like breathing for me. So many of the stories I have read influenced who I am today. Books were my first […]
Mentor Text: The Deer by Ama Codjoe Techniques: Background – Making sure I meet my deadlines to share something with you all often adds an extra thing or two to a busy day. But I am really glad I do it. I’m three days into a new semester, teaching two sections of something I taught last […]
Mentor Text: excerpt from Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel Techniques: Background – I’m noticing a trend. Pretty much every preface to Mentor Text Wednesday has me talking about being busy. Ah, teacher life. I balance that by escaping into story. I’ve always got a show or two on the go, and a book or three on the […]
Our dear Brett Vogelsinger has a NEW BOOK coming to the world in 2025 — all about using not fighting AI in our writing instruction. He’s hosting a new live (and recorded) webinar next month to help all of us get started. Here’s his description: As a teacher of writing during the last two years, […]
I’ve been working on an 11-page digital primer to begin changing the way we think about research-writing. No more semester-long research papers, rife with inauthentic, teacher-driven rules and procedures. Here’s a place for all of us to start. Grab a copy of the guide and then join us for a webinar (sent to your inbox […]
If you’ve paid much attention to BookTok or even the shelves at your local bookstore, you’ve probably realized that romance is having a moment. And that moment extends far beyond the days of grocery store paperbacks with Fabio on the cover. Whether through cozy holiday stories, contemporary meet-cutes, or sweeping romantasy series with swords and […]
Mentor Text: Lamb by Eric Hoffman Techniques: Background – It’s the last week before the holiday break. It’s Winter Concert, Christmas Party, final practices before the break week. And my Grade 12 students write a Provincial Exam the week we get back, so we’re prepping for that. There’s a lot on my plate right now, but […]
I’ve been thinking about hope lately. It’s winter here in New York City. There are certain things about the season here that feel hopeful: the smell of Christmas trees on some street corners where lots have popped up, the twinkle of lights along the railings of brownstones, and even some of the neighborhood dogs have […]
moving writers 