Reading Practice for Students Who Would Rather Be Reading Manga
Some of my older students will work hard at reading if the reading is about something they already love. For…
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Three Fall Reader’s Theaters, Seven Readers Each
October in my classroom means owls, a fox in a hat, and one very surprising spider. These three reader’s theaters…
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A New Oklahoma Reader: Nawtsi and the Ancient River
This week’s Oklahoma Reader takes my students to Spiro Mounds, through the eyes of a young black bear who follows…
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How Leveled Reader’s Theater Saved My ELA and Social Studies Block
On paper, I have an hour and a half for ELA and social studies combined. In real life? By the…
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Perfect Plans, a Pity Party, and a 100% Success Rate
My relaxing summer “off” as a teacher ended with a missed alimony check and an unsettling app notification. (I spun…
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Pearls, Dolphins, and Rubies: What Three Years of Patience Grew
Three trailing succulents, three stories, and three years of patience—on what it really takes to watch something (and someone) grow.
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Feeling Differently About Phineas (the Ficus): How Elon Musk Changed the Way I Think About Living Things
A struggling ficus named Phineas, and an unexpected comment from Elon Musk, changed the way I think about caring for…
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Sunflowers & Strength
What sunflowers can teach us about resilience — orienting toward the light, growing through uncertain seasons, and finding our way…
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Designing the Sequel
After my marriage ended, I had to rebuild a life I didn't recognize — learning real boundaries, understanding my ADHD,…