Some days I really, really miss the community we had here.

So I’m heading to Memphis in March. Any great recommendations of what to do/eat? Especially looking for great and somewhat un-crowded places to hear live music :)

Hi, friends! My fourth graders and I will be starting a This I Believe podcast writing unit when we return from winter break. I’m searching for good This I Believe mentor texts. If you have a favorite, send them my way! Bonus points if they would be good for fourth graders!!

For the past few years, as the year ends, I’ve searched for a poem to carry with me into the new year. So here we go, folks. This year’s poem. From the book, Good Stock Strange Blood, by the poet Dawn Lundy Martin. “Leave the wreckage by the roadside,” friends. Happy New Year!

Sometimes, I think grownups have no idea just how much kids can understand. As we learned to read fairy tales with through a critical lens, the kids blew me away today when I asked them which version of Sleeping Beauty showed a more even balance of power.

Today we compared and contrasted the conflict, characters and power dynamics present in a traditional version of Sleeping Beauty and the updated version from the book Crowned. It was such a beautiful conversation and it made me so hopeful for what our kids can do.

Last night, I came home to this beautiful book. After seeing the work my students were doing learning how to critically read fairy tales,Franki Sibberson sent me this gift. Folks. This book is something so special and I cannot wait to share it with kids.

Just finished this powerful book and I am so grateful for the story shared. While we hold space and continue to work for Israeli hostages to be released, we can also work to understand the impact Israeli occupation and oppression has had on Palestinian people.

Sure, empathy is a good thing. And. It alone will not bring equity and justice into our schools. I am so tired of being told to wait to try to stop the harm we are causing to children while we take more time to try to build empathy in grownups.

According to American Library Association, 7 of the most challenged books last year featured necessary LGBTQ+ narratives.

Join us Friday at National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)'s High School Matters session where we'll spread some queer joy, raffle off books, and discuss reading/teaching LGBTQ+ texts.

See you there, #NCTE23 .

with authors Mark Oshiro - Pre-Order JASMINE IS HAUNTED, Mariama Lockington, Anna-Marie McLemore ✨ SELF-MADE BOYS out now & Elliott McLemore along with Dr. Cody Miller, Dr. Mollie Blackburn, Jess Lifshitz, and a special book talk from Carol Jago!

My very talented instructional assistant created the best representation of the work my students have done throughout our study of what stories can teach us about people and places. We’ve learned so much about story and culture while also learning about theme and text evidence.