"And so when we’re thinking about how important these resources are for improving child outcomes, we need to remember that if we don’t have equal inputs, we cannot expect equal outcomes." A good interview between @rcobooth.bsky.social and @christinajcross.bsky.social. Read on.

The longer I teach, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t yet know. The more this world turns into a conflagration, not knowing everything feels even more urgent than it did. We need to radically overhaul what goes on in schools. Radically.

Today's win: Working for a school division that built in two mental health days for employees this year. Sure I'm at work, but I didn't get here until 2. I worked out at a reasonable hour (not 5 am), had breakfast with a friend, & a nap. Now, for my mental health, I'm dealing with all of the stuff.

Today's major win: I've pressed for more writing this year, including writing the daily writing activities for sixth grade. Today a student who struggles with reading & writing proudly whipped out his writing notebook to share what he'd written with one of our reading specialists. Write more.

" I cant believe his show was canceled for that and his livelihood taken!" Paul Robeson and Josephine Baker

Hey. I need a favor. 817-877-1959 Text this ^ number and type RAIDERS in the message. No strings. No list. My kids just need your vote. They’re playing a team of notoriously racist teenagers and adults and I’m hoping we can get them enough votes to win some money for their program.

The following is a statement from the WGA on ABC’s decision to pull ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’

Wow. Had a conversation with a student about what qualified as learning. In a very short conversation about Mansa Musa he has a million great questions - science & history related. When I suggested THAT was learning, he said it wasn't. Learning is what teachers tell him. What are we doing?

Trump’s Economic Magic Trick Is Coming Undone www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/o... by @jamellebouie.net

It's not going to solve all of the bigger issues, but having a principal who caters lunch from El Puerto on National Guacamole Day and randomly decides that because it's going to be a dreary, rainy day, we should have a staff pop-up pajama day does make it all a little easier.

I ❤️ reading abt stuff like this, but here's a thing that called out to my teacher brain: "The project began in 2017 w/a casual conversation between two of its lead authors, & later expanded to include 24 experts." Learning & collaboration take place during casual conversations. Let students chat.

We are all fucked when farms are fucked & yet...we tried to tell you. This feels like willful ignorance & now that the consequences of your votes are showing up on your doorstep rather than "those people," it's a problem. We tried to get you to care about other people, but that was a bridge too far.

My fave when-I-had-a-sub story: B4 being able to see all the things kids were doing was widespread, I was giving my kids a quiz while I was out. I told them to take their time & do their best. One kid SPED through that test & failed. I called the school & had them put me through to my room.

Firing a Black woman for quoting a white man about how unintelligent he believes Black women are is a clear example of how misogynoir, white supremacy & ableism work together to harm Black women uniquely. That is how intersecting oppressions work.

Enjoying the fact that I’m clearly living rent free in a HS acquaintance’s head after I said that no one deserves to be murdered and quoted the murdered man’s words. Trying to decide if I should wade into the post where she says silence is an option or to once again point out her hypocrisy.

Whiteness only demands civility and grace in response to calls for accountability and responsibility for whiteness and white supremacism.

I know there’s a lot happening right now but I want to say this: I’ve been deeply affected by the way the 80s tabloid media has been almost entirely memory-holed. Not even a lot of today’s media scholars seem to appreciate how much tabloids shaped everything, much less the political scholars

Bryan Stevenson speaking truth ——-Trump vs. Truth: The Fight for America’s History www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/o... gift link

This afternoon: Student: Ms. Des is SO cool! Me: She's always been cool. I taught her in sixth grade. Different student: You're THAT old? Sigh.

Thanks to @msespo.bsky.social for the takis! And if anyone else would like to help replenish my snack stash I'd really appreciate it! www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...

Things that, under no circumstances should have to be said, and yet, here we are.

Happy birthday Ms Ruby Bridges Hall. Thank you.

Due to discrimination, many Black farmers in Arkansas never received federal assistance to begin with, so they are unaffected by the current crisis. Some may call that karma. www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/black-arkans...

I can't remotely believe nine months in we would as a country be in the exact same place if the Black lady won. This was true one month in and five months in as well.

Current situation: Starting a new project. Done a ton of reading, have a lot of teaching experience. Seeing so many cool ideas here & having trouble integrating all of the new things I've seen and learned into what I already know. Guess this is what it's like to be a kid. Excited to kick this off.

Gone are the days of expecting the government to do its job to protect public health, so a small way we can enact the values of justice and love in our every day lives is to mask up if you're feeling sick. It's how you say "I care about others" in a world devoid of compassion.

Admittedly. I am the most sometimey substacker in the history of substackers, but I've been thinking about @heymrsbond.com's post since yesterday. We're losing kids & teachers bc of those boxed curricula that are simply not high quality instructional materials. msespo.substack.com/p/to-teach-o...

There is very little that is cuter than watching young love play out on the walk home. Giggling girls, boys who say it's awkward, but are still the wingman. Sixth grade is so much fun.

Centrist Democrats: Wow, this guy has real charisma, a connection with young voters and a clear and compelling message. How can we destroy him?

Please help a local 20-year-old who's been through a lot with her health and just had a heart transplant. Every donation will make a real difference in her recovery and help her get back to living life normally. gofund.me/0b54ad531

Whew. Learning yet another thing I didn't have to think about growing up but determined to see where we demand this of our Black students still today.

You know what's really awesome? Watching people who are new to your building just absolutely crushing it.

THIS. I'll know it's time to go when I can't find that hopefulness. I'm about to start a project with kids. I'm super excited and I hope I can get them as excited as I am to combine reading, writing, and art. It's going to be a lot of work, but it's that hopefulness that makes it worth it.

Today's tragic mistake: Setting up notebooks, skipping pages for their table of contents & having them start on page 7. WHY? They could have started on page 5 or page 9, but NOOOOOOOO. I randomly picked 7. tl;dr: Middle school teacher doesn't pay enough attention to life around her. Regrets it.

I've been a gifted specialist for 15 years. For about 7 of those, I remained a classroom teacher. I love being able to interact w/large swaths of the school (we serve all students & work w/teachers), but I really miss having my own classroom. My yearly question: Where would I make the most impact?

Agreed. It’s always about racism and ppl trying to obfuscate that are doing the racism too.

Just started "Rebuilding Students' Learning Power" by Zaretta Hammond. Despite my determination to take the weekend off, I may read this book instead.

“Do not offer thoughts and prayers as you systemically enable such tragedies. Do not claim prayers are sufficient when children die as they pray. Do not pretend you do not understand.” — Lydia, 16, Minneapolis

One of this year's goals: Knowing when to be LOUD and when to be quiet in order to best meet the needs of my students.

Charlottesville: There’s still time to sign the petition and endorse a MOU that actually puts the best interests of students, parents, and teachers over those of administrators and police! chng.it/nPVXRVqgb6

I went into a class today to teach a math lesson. It was a lot of fun. I kept saying things in my usual somewhat sarcastic manner and kids kept saying, "Clock it." I think that's not bad.

My former student will be teaching 8th grade science and Biology this fall. I am so excited for her and proud! I am sharing her wishlist. Please help if you can! #BlackEducators www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...

My fellow white women: You really don't need to put in your two cents on everything. You can sit this discussion out and the world will not fall off its axis. You don't have her lived experience. You don't know why she and her doctors have made the decisions they have. Practice listening.

I wonder if Snoop Dogg is as worried about explaining his discography to his grandchildren as he is about LGBTQ folks.

THIS. THIS. THIS.

What’s happening here is not about Mr. Abrego’s alleged crimes. What’s happening is whether or not the US can human traffick someone anywhere they wish, especially a place where they have no real connection to.

Looking forward to this conversation tonight with the good folks at @zinnedproject.bsky.social discussing my young readers edition of How The Word Is Passed, out next month. Virtual, free, and open to anyone. 25 attendees will also get a free book. Join us! www.zinnedproject.org/news/how-the...

Read @mrneibauer.bsky.social’s blog post first thing this morning and I’m blown away (and I shed a tear!) I’m so grateful for Adrian and Mr. Rowe (read the blog!) and all of the teachers who raise the bar. Our children deserve it. open.substack.com/pub/adrianne...