TL;DR: Students will need to email in their future jobs and often in their academic lives as well. Therefore, let’s teach them to do it well! Students will have a higher chance of professional success if they know how to communicate clearly and respectfully. The videos in this series will help your students learn to write emails that are both … Read More
Feeling bitter? Write it. Then, rewrite it.
TL;DR: A teacher faced parental anger over a plagiarism incident and initially responded by writing it out feeling bitter and sarcastic. A colleague suggested rewriting the piece to focus on understanding parents’ frustrations and the education system’s challenges. Lesson learned: Channel bitterness into productive reflection, seek accountability from trusted colleagues, and aim for thoughtful, compassionate communication. Feeling Bitter? About midway … Read More
Connecting Your Class with Authors
TL;DR: Virtual learning led to decreased student motivation, prompting the need for engaging and meaningful activities. Using picture books and connecting with authors proved effective in fostering social-emotional learning and motivation. Strategies such as utilizing social media, attending author book signings, and exploring author websites facilitated connections and sparked students’ interest in writing and reading. After several weeks of virtual … Read More
Why I Blog
TL;DR: Blogging is a way to share ideas and best practices with those who need help. Having a blog supports those who are struggling. It’s important to share failures. Why I Blog People often ask me why I blog. Of course, my instant response is to help those who may benefit from my ideas and best practices. But, reactions to … Read More
Using ChatGPT in the Writing Process
TL;DR: As teachers, we can accept and embrace AI tools. Some examples of how chatbots can be acknowledged as part of the writing process are shared. See AI chat as a way to help prepare students for the future. Using ChatGPT in the Writing Process I’ll admit, my first reaction to AI authors was a mixture of horror and fascination, … Read More