My classroom library clocked in at 459 titles—so it’s not an exaggeration to say that this English teacher’s shelves and heart are both full. I’m very grateful to MSF and the generous community for awarding my grant, A Hundred Lives in 100 Books. Time to read! 📚

We couldn’t be more excited for Mason Middle School LA teacher Aaron West Aaron West and his 8th grade students who now have 100 new books to choose from as Mr West’s Grant “A Hundred Lives in 100 Books” classroom library is complete! 📚📚

Always an inspiration to see how the problem-solvers in Idea Launch brainstorm solutions to pressing world issues. Today’s tackle? The world’s water crisis.

I had a great time collaborating on exciting ideas with my awesome colleagues: Roni Carpenter, Laura Palmer, Katie Lin, Hayley Kennedy, Lisa Speiller, and Sarah Taylor today. It helped that this was my view when I looked down!

Well it finally happened. As students were revising, one leaned over to her partner and dubbed my indie playlist “TJ Maxx music.” Your thoughts are appreciated at this time.

I couldn’t end the year without yet another (sunburned) West Selfie. I can’t wait to hear what these young leaders do in the future! They give me hope.

☑️

Struck today by this passage from the novel I’m reading: The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. Friends, Banned Books Week is next week. I’d like to use it to increase engagement, spread awareness, and garner critical thinking in my students. What good ideas do you have for it?

Spending my morning learning with Ohio Writing Project colleagues. Thanks to @a2matthew for a convicting and practical keynote!

We had the honor of welcoming Edgar Allan Poe (Ms. Lohman) to our class for a reading of his master class piece, “The Raven.” Quoth my students: “Um…Mr. West, what was that?” Quoth me: “Art, my friends. Art.”

Happy D.E.A.R. Day! I have memories of walking into bookstores—warm and inviting, quiet jazz playing, the smell of books and coffee. I figure I can’t expect my students to love reading if I don’t at least *sometimes* recreate the conditions that got me there in the first place.

The Art of Storytelling students prepared and presented at a Story Fair, where they discussed favorite stories, the craft techniques that make them skilled, and critical lenses that could be applied to them. I’m proud of them. So fun collaborating with Mrs. Hahn on this class!

I’m more than encouraged—I’m inspired—seeing the published work of students from my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years of teaching in the MHS Chronicle. Great job to Sean, Shrija, Ava, and all others who contributed to this impressive work!

We had the honor of hosting Tom Long—professional storyteller—in our Art of Storytelling class yesterday! He performed stories, told Appalachian folktales, and gave us the 5 Commandments of Storytelling. Thanks to Karen Long for helping us arrange this!

Another year, another End of the Year West Selfie. Good luck and all the best to these world-changers!

IYKYK

Yesterday The Art of Storytelling students put on our Story Fair. I had a great time hearing about our kids’ favorite stories and how they dove deeper into them to gain new insight.

You know what time it is! (Sorry to my 5th bell for forgetting to take one with you!) It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to this group—so I’ll settle for See You Later.