Yesterday I achieved a goal I set for myself over 6 years ago: I presented at NCTE. And to my surprise, a bunch of people actually came to hear me speak! #ncte18 #englishteacher

Look at my students’ lit circle selection for Q2! So lucky to work in a district dedicated to diversity. #bookstack #teachertwitter #DiversityEquityInclusion #thepoetx #openlystraight #funnyinfarsi #thecolorofwater #thebookthief #fahrenheit451

Some students go an entire day at school without anyone saying their name. Be the adult who speaks to each student by name. Everyone loves to hear their name.

Our Famous Pairs and Trios theme was a hit at JPS! 🎃👻⚡️ I got called ED Sheeran a few times but most Ss got it! 😅

ICYMI

We visited “Starbooks” last week to select our next lit circle book. The kids sampled audio, digital, and print versions of 6 awesome titles before making their decision. #openlystraight was a big favorite!

The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ goodreads.com/book/show/29209

Happy Diwali!

Grab a burrito and support the class of 2025!! This Saturday 4-8 at Chipotle on Rt 1!

Chipotle on Rt 1 closed unexpectedly today, due to staffing issues! Stay tuned for a new date for the fundraiser.

Take care of yourself first so you can be well enough to take care of your students. We too often say nothing about our struggles; as a result, we feel we must carry that weight like a secret. To teach well, we must BE well. Keep an eye on each other (and the kids, of course)!

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ goodreads.com/book/show/17645

Today, All Boys Aren’t Blue was returned back to the shelves of libraries in Kansas City under the first amendment rights of students 🙏🏾💗

❤

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

TEXAS…while supplies last! 🤷🏾‍♂️ HAPPY GIVING TUESDAY, and screw censorship and banning!

A parent just told me that their teenage son has begun to read at home every night, for fun, and he said it was because of my class. Best compliment I’ve ever received.

My students blew me away today with their annotations of Circe for our Odyssey unit! When I told them how proud I was, they asked me to take a selfie with it and post it on Twitter. 🤣🤣🤣

What great resources!

Unplugged Day at JPS was a total success! Nearly 200 freshman handed over their devices and went on a literary device scavenger hunt around the building. This was a joint effort with the equally brilliant Ms. Barbitta and Ms Willett-Brown.