“And the truth is that, when I was younger, books were given to me. Right? I want to be clear. There were books around me. There were books in the home. But the books that were given to me had nothing to do with my life." –Jason Reynolds #AARI20 www2.ncte.org/blog/2018/01/m…

Ss-Theme is hard! 😣 So we read a common novel with lots of themes. Pulled out lots of topics. Each group of 3 chose 1 and wrote a thematic statement. Found quotes to support, added symbolism & characterization, & Wow! 💜#whyIteach #NCTEvillage #ELAchat National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) #engchat #2ndaryELA

Picture books ✔️ Time to read ✔️ Amazing people ✔️ Perseverance, Determination, & Overcoming the odds ✔️ Ss created book cards with quotes to remember from each. Love their passion! 💜 #BHM #NCTEvillage #ELAchat #edchat National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) #booklove #whyIteach

Here's to the "better" you're reaching for in your classroom! #TeacherTwitter #JoyfulLeaders, via T Monte Syrie

Sent a book home with one of my reluctant readers last night. Me: Try to read 2 chapters tonight & see what you think. Today... S: So, I read 6 chapters. Is that okay? I just couldn't stop! Me: 🥰💃🎉‼️ #whyIteach #booklove 📚💜#NCTEvillage #GiveKidsChoice National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) #ELAchat

Looking for ways to make vocabulary stick? More meaningful? Try visual vocab #sketchnotes! Love how Ss connect with the words! ✍️🖊️🖍️💜 #NCTEvillage #ELAchat #engchat #whyIteach National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) #2ndaryELA #edchat #GiveKidsChoice

Don't forget-in the midst of online lessons-to let the children just read and be creative! Don't crush the love of reading with virtual worksheets only! #booklove #whyIteach @pennykittle National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) #NCTEvillage #ELAchat

Made my teacher heart happy today to chat with my Ss!💜 They truly are #whyIteach. Discussed things they are thankful for during #QuarantineLife. Pets, books, family, music, phones... Love these kids so much, and I'm so proud of their online efforts! NNMS Collier County Public Schools

To teachers on teaching anti-racism..."Put love first. It's not an option not to try." Jason Reynolds News discussing Stamped on #NCTElearns

So proud of my kids! You guys rock! 📚💜

Some Friday inspiration...my Ss personified qualities this week. Here is L's "Hope" poem- "She is the ink of understanding that bleeds through our paper-sheets of doubt" 💜 #KeepHopeAlive #whyIteach #NCTEvillage #ELAchat #engchat #2ndaryELA

Have a great summer and read a great book NNMS

...and it's a wrap! The 2019-2020 school year is in the books! Whew!! What a year! Summer never looked so good! Time to #recharge, #refresh, & #ReadMoreBooks! 📚💜😄🎉☀️ #HappySummer NNMS #NCTEvillage Collier County Public Schools #TEACHers #edchat

Yes! #LetThemRead #GiveKidsChoice 📚💜

Who said analyzing poetry is boring?? Celebrating #MayaAngelou this week. #OnePagers give Ss the opportunity to be creative & still show their understanding. Better than a quiz any day! 😄✍️📖💜 #ELAchat #2ndaryELA #NCTEvillage #GiveKidsChoice

Rhetoric can be hard for 6th graders. 🥴 So find a good speech, & allow choice & creativity - the results will blow you away! 🥰💜 #NCTEvillage #ELAchat #engchat #2ndaryELA #whyIteach National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) #OnePagers #GiveKidsChoice

Chat during lit circles today... S:You know I hate to read, but I really love this book. It's hard to stop reading! Me:So, maybe it's not that you hate to read...Maybe you just haven't found a book you loved until now. S:Huh. Could be...Any more like this one? Me: 💃🙌 #whyIteach

During Lit Circles, my Ss created Reading Graffiti boards with their favorite lines each day. So cool to hear why they chose each line! We have to just #LetThemRead! 📚💜 @pennykittle #NCTEvillage #whyIteach #booklove #ELAchat

Finished Refugee by Alan Gratz last week - the Ss loved it! They did an amazing job creating backpacks and last journal entries for their favorite character. Best part? They found out books are pretty cool! 💜#thisiswhyIteach #booklove #LetThemRead #NCTEvillage #ELA 𝙲𝙲𝙿𝚂 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙴𝙻𝙰

I consider this high praise from a middle school boy. 😏 Thank you, Jason Reynolds News, Kwame Alexander, & @ciaobellacreech! Not only is #poetry not dead, it's finally cool! 😆 💜 🎉 #whyIteach #ELAchat #engchat