In case you need me to tell you this, whatever the Clown Car says about autism today, it's going to be a bunch of shit. Read autistic writers and researchers if you actually care about us. We are legion and live it.

Asking questions is brave—especially for kids in a world of AI, bias, and peer pressure. In this post, I share 7 play-based ways to help students practice curiosity, take risks, and feel safe wondering, experimenting, and learning together.

12 New and Forthcoming Books by Indigenous Authors by Nel Aldrich from Bookstr. PEEK: “Here are 12 new or soon-to-be-released books by Indigenous authors, ranging from memoirs to fantasy epics, to an anthology about a legendary fry bread diner.” bookstr.com/list/12-new-... #BookSky

We urge all authors who believe their books may have been unlawfully downloaded by Anthropic to visit the website and provide the requested information. www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...

Conversation with a 2nd grader today - translated from Danish Her: Hi Pernille, I have a question Me: Yes… Her: Why when you get old do you get large knockers? Me: Well, we continue to develop as we grow older Her: You must be really old… Happy first day of school 🤣

1. Planning self directed time for the afternoon of PD day 1 bc the morning is district run 2. Putting must know content in the AM of PD day 2, and giving teams time the rest of day 2. Reflecting on what to spread out over staff mtgs, what can be an email, what are team leads best suited to share

Admin and school leaders: how are you protecting your staff’s time and load capacity during back to school PD?

First day of PD and I am so overstimulated. So many small decisions discussed, so much conversation, so much sitting. It was all needed but my brain was not ready for that much stimulus at one time. Time to chill with my kids and then CrossFit to clear the mind before going back tomorrow.

Ready to kick off the year with joyful reading? I’ve created a First 20 Days of Reading calendar to help you build reading stamina & community—one day at a time. It’s full of simple, powerful activities you can use right away! 🌟 #readingculture #pernillerecommends #backtoschool

What if a child’s “I can’t read this” is really self-doubt in disguise? Inspired by Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s work on imposter syndrome, this post offers practical ways to support students who don’t feel like real readers—yet. #pernillerecommends #readingidentity #literacysupport

Looking to boost the adult reading culture at your school? I added a few ideas here 1/2

A dream come true - there are less than twenty of these in all of Denmark 🇩🇰❤️ #littlefreelibrary

Woke up from my first back-to-school nightmare—heart racing, mind spinning. But this year, I’m preparing differently. Less hustle, more presence. Rest isn't a break from teaching; it’s part of becoming the teacher I want to be. #teacherlife #restiswork #backtoschool #teacherwellbeing

Mandated Lexile-only reading lists? You're not alone. In my latest post, I unpack the harm of Lexile-driven instruction—and offer practical, student-centered alternatives grounded in joy, choice, and real complexity. Let’s rethink what counts as “rigorous” reading. #ReadWriteJoy

One more week of school and then three days of wrap up work time. I am so eager to go on summer break

🧵1/4 #schoolutionspodcast S4E40 BONUS: Teacher Hacks to Preserve Your Sanity Micro-experiments that will save teachers' sanity. Danish education expert, @pernille.bsky.social just changed my perspective on teaching forever. Key insight: "You don't live to work. You work to live."

🧵1/3 The teacher asking "Am I good enough to shape these young lives?" is exactly the teacher we want in our schools. That self-reflection, that weight of responsibility-it shows they care deeply. The least we can do is create spaces where they feel trusted and supported. 🎯 @pernille.bsky.social

Another reason I love teaching at my school in Denmark. Today we have a fieldtrip to go see puppies at a student’s house. The goal is to build community and swoon with cuteness.

Summer reading from We Are Kidlit. Representation matters! For the complete list: wtpsite.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/2...

🧵1/4 #schoolutionspodcast S4E40: How One Teacher Fought Back Against Burnout with @pernille.bsky.social What I learned from a former U.S. teacher who moved home to Denmark 🎧 Listen: pod.fo/e/2e21e9 📺 Watch: youtu.be/gllwfk8vPY0

The public meltdown happening between the world’s richest man 🙄 and the President of the United States 🙄🙄 once again begs the age-old question: are men simply too emotional to be in positions of power?

I wish we would stop insulting girls everywhere when referring to the two grown men fighting. It’s not girlish. It’s two grown men doing what grown men do: fighting for power, fueled by ego.

Sliding into break by stopping the teacher thought train An oldie but a goodie as many start to slide into summerbreak. Here in Denmark we go all the way until the end of June, with "just" a month off, before we head back in August. Perhaps like me, you need to find a way to stop the teacher…

On a family road trip. Told our preteen and teen kids to create a shared playlist for songs the rest of the family should know. Highly recommend the insanely multifaceted musical experience we are having 🤣

Would I like being a student in my own classroom? A reflection tool One of my driving questions for the past 15 years has been a simple one; at the end of the day, would I like being a student in my own classroom? And as I have one month left of school, I feel the question pressing in on me as I…

How do we build a thriving reading culture in our schools? Not with guest speakers, but with small, daily acts of book love. Explore the blog post for ideas on cocreating authentic reading joy.

We are in a constant state of upheaval due to things beyond our control and our kids’ special needs. I don’t get much sleep. My principal pulled me aside today and asked me how my kids were and if I needed anything. He reminded me to come to him for help if I need time off etc.

A fantastic must read new middle grade. Not to be missed!

Just updated my Best reads of 2025 so far list in case you need any reading inspiration pernillesripp.com/pernille-rec... #Kidlit #Read #ChildrensBooks #PernilleRecommends

Erica continues to be a beacon of awesomeness

Often we think of the creation of reading structures, routines, and rules. But what if we also considered reading opportunities? What opportunities would children like to have? Which opportunities can we also create? Why do opportunities help us consider new ways we can create reading joy?

Struggling to get students talking—or to help them talk with purpose? This post is packed with creative, practical ideas to spark meaningful classroom conversations, from speed networking to life soundtracks.

Today I get to start with two hours of prep and I cannot tell you how fantastic of a gift this is May your day be filled with little gifts as well

Every day ends with a few quiet questions. No script. No shame. Just a chance to reflect on who we were—and who we want to be. Two minutes, tops. But it’s become one of the most powerful parts of our day. Want to try it? I shared the questions we use.

Man, this is a pretty fucking gross move from Amazon, huh? Good on @bookshop.org for not mincing words, though:

I wish we could all learn the difference between something being inevitable and someone saying that it is over and over to convince us it is true because they are selling it. 💰

This is your regular reminder that executive orders are not royal decrees. Because America has no king.

My biggest tip for new teachers — your room does not need to look like an Instagram ad. Especially in light of the fact that even if your decorations come from the dollar aisle, you still have to pay for them out of pocket.

In a podcast tonight with incredibly down-to-earth and caring @olivia-wahl.bsky.social (will be released June 9th) we spoke about how educators can protect themselves. One idea I had is doing a microexperiment to see what you can stop doing, because all those little things we do, add up to a lot

A small tweak for better reading goals I think we are all really good at setting goals. But goals that we actually attain? Those are harder. So when I think of the reading goal work I do and have done with students, there is a small tweak that has made a big difference: including the why. And not…

I’ve been thinking about how the three pillars of self-compassion—kindness, shared humanity, and mindfulness—might shape the way kids see themselves as readers. What if part of building reading identity is helping them be gentler with themselves, too?

We've done the read-alouds, book talks, and choice—but what happens when that’s not enough? If we want lasting reading communities, we need to shift the center. Here are simple, student-driven ideas to help kids take the lead in speaking books. #ReadingCulture #StudentVoice

Many kids and adults have stepped away from reading—by choice or circumstance. Often, well-meaning efforts to help them reconnect miss the deeper why. Not just a survey question—real curiosity. If you're looking for inspiration, these thoughts might help.

Final day Im Italy, it has been a dream. No more waking up to this view

Vaccines save lives. And no, they do not cause autism.

What a day ahead. Music and art fill our school day and then we are off to Italy tonight for the first time. I can barely contain my excitement.

From the ADHD webinar I am in today... It is estimated through studies that children who grow up with untreated ADHD receive 20,000 more reprimands before the age of 12 than those without ADHD.

🎉🎉 Can’t wait for all the classrooms to meet Kareem and Shifa Saltagi Safadi’s wonderful novel in verse, KAREEM BETWEEN. #GRA25 #EduSky

And here they are ❤️

In 59 minutes, the Global Read Aloud choices for 2025 will be made public. I can’t wait!!! #gra25