Hello colleagues--happy summer! Just recently I had the pleasure of collaborating with Dr. Carla España on a blog post for The Educator Collaborative's Community Blog. It is a response to a gorgeous new book for all ages by Minh Lê and Dan Santat called Drawn Together (2018) that I highly recommend you ask your school librarian to… Continue reading My Latest #TheEdCollab Blog Post
Category: Literacy
Teacher Appreciation Week Giveaway!
Hello, friends! We've all seen the posts and the memes: "Teachers Are Rock Stars!" "I'm a Teacher; What's Your Superpower?" But do any of us ever really feel like "rock stars" or superheroes? I know I don't. Like, ever. That's why I want to do a giveaway for Teacher Appreciation Week that just celebrates teachers for… Continue reading Teacher Appreciation Week Giveaway!
The Problem with Dyslexia (It’s Bigger Than You Think)
I'll never forget the day I was told never to speak the word dyslexia by a colleague with whom I was about to endure a particularly difficult parent meeting. Our student*, a sixth grader, was experiencing an enormous amount of difficulty reading and writing the sorts of things the majority of his classmates were breezing… Continue reading The Problem with Dyslexia (It’s Bigger Than You Think)
Your New Favorite Form of Writing, Revealed
If you, like me, have ever clicked on a social media post with a headline that reads, "5 Reasons Your Eyes Are Puffy," "10 Ways to Look Less Like a Frumpy Mom" or "50 Times Judge Judy Proved She's Our Bae," you've engaged with a form of writing that can be found virtually everywhere these… Continue reading Your New Favorite Form of Writing, Revealed
“Getting It Write” on the Dr. Will Show
This week, I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Dr. Will Deyamport for his podcast/vlog, "The Dr. Will Show," which focuses on issues around learning and education and has featured such incredible educators as Rafranz Davis, Christina Torres, Pernille Ripp, and Sarah Thomas, among many others. In this episode, Dr. Will asks me about… Continue reading “Getting It Write” on the Dr. Will Show
“But they only read graphic novels!”
I often get questions about how to "deal" with students who prefer, almost exclusively, to read comics and graphic novels as opposed to other kinds of texts. Underlying these questions (and the language embedded in the concept of "dealing with" any student) is often an assumption--fair or not--that the ultimate end goal is for students to… Continue reading “But they only read graphic novels!”
What It Means to “Write”–and What We Teach Students
Here's a quick exercise for you. Take a few minutes to write, sketch, doodle, or jot your answer to the question, "What does it mean to write?" Think about what we mean--what we really mean--when we refer to this act of writing. Next, take a moment to jot down the writing units you teach, have taught in… Continue reading What It Means to “Write”–and What We Teach Students
Free Book Preview!
Sorry to send out two posts in one week--but I'm just too darn excited. My debut book from Stenhouse Publishers, Renew! Become a Better--and More Authentic--Writing Teacher is available for pre-sale now, and as an added bonus, my generous friends at Stenhouse have offered anyone who visits their site a free preview of my entire book. I KNOW,… Continue reading Free Book Preview!
Stages of Edu-Twitter: A Comic
When I get (what I consider) a good, solid idea for a comic, all I want to do is work on it. Dinner prep be damned! This particular idea came to me during a workshop I gave this past week through the UNH Professional Development & Training program on using comics, picture books, and graphic… Continue reading Stages of Edu-Twitter: A Comic
Comic: “What’s For Dinner?”
Hi friends--happy Spring**! If you follow my (somewhat inane) Twitter feed, you might be aware that I am currently knee-deep in a comic/graphic novel inquiry with a group of second and third graders. Most of these students had never tried writing a comic before this particular exploration, and yet they continue to blow me away daily with… Continue reading Comic: “What’s For Dinner?”
My So-Called Literacy Life 