I spent October traveling to schools throughout the South talking to students about American history. What I found were young people who understand we can tell a story that includes both the positive and the negative. As one 8th grader in Memphis said, “Doesn’t seem that hard, just say both things.”

Are you reading THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN in your classroom or library? ❤️🦍 Jodi Carrigan, Ivan's primary care specialist and friend, offers a great virtual classroom program about the real Ivan, western lowland gorillas, and her work at @zooatl.bsky.social. Learn more:

NEW on my blog: what does unconditional positive regard look like for the parents and caregivers of our students? www.unconditionallearning.org/blog/uprcare...

We've raised almost $700 so far!!! I would love to see us hit $1000 by the end of the week!!!!

Hot take but I always see videos of the butterfly method go viral but I would *never* teach this method and here's why.

Given the hunger and fear that this administration is inflicting upon so many children across the country, it has never been a more difficult time for schools to be good places for kids to walk into and it has never been a more important time, too. And that both/and is overwhelming.

Debbie Allen and Misty Copeland after Copeland’s final performance with the American Ballet Theater on October 22, 2025. Copeland is an alumna of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.

Join me for some perfect poems and short writing activities to get us through the dark days. It's 10 fresh ideas in 30 minutes, and once you've got the link, you can watch it at any time that's good for you. Department leader? Go for the group rate and enjoy the learning experience together :)

Reading Rainbow emphasis is encouraging kids to read. The focus is not on teaching them to read. The mission is reading should be fun! We are all readers, worthy of literacy. LeVar Burton said “but you don’t have to take my word for it” because he wanted us to look to the books. That’s the beauty 💚

The 2025 Global Read Aloud kicks off on October 6, 2025. This is one of our favorite reading events every year.📚 You can click on each book cover to find the Global Read Aloud Books in @follettcontent.bsky.social Titlewave.❤️ buff.ly/NkBk8bL #TLSky #EduSky #tlchat #futurereadylibs #edchat

Mychal Threets To Host ‘Reading Rainbow’ Reboot www.slj.com/story/Mychal...

"There is no sharp line between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom. It’s a very blurry line, and it’s getting more blurry all the time." A tremendous loss. 💔

Audre Lorde wrote, “Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence. It forms the quality of the light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams toward survival and change, first made into language, then into idea, then into more tangible action.” Assata Shakur embodied this.

George Hardy, last of the Tuskegee Airmen's World War II combat pilots, dies at 100

I know this seems simple, but bread-and-butter teaching: ⓵ have students write stuff that matters ⓶ read that stuff and take notes/leave feedback ⓷ design next lesson in response to what you notice Yes, this takes time. But it's worth it.

Can’t wait to celebrate this book’s publication in the DMV tomorrow. 2pm at MLK library. Free and open to all. RSVPs still available. Hope to see you there! loyaltybookstores.com/wordtothekids

Happy September 21st to those that celebrate!!! 😃 💃🏾🕺🏾

Important.

I know this is an unpopular opinion but what if we wrote fraction division like this, at least a couple times? Here's why:

I joined Victoria Reese Brathwaite, an MS warrior, to discuss Autism Awareness and Acceptance on her podcast Patient In You. open.spotify.com/episode/0wcl...

So excited to own this and share it with my students. Thank you for your all your work and your ever-thought provoking words.

When students ask "why everything is about race" I have them select a noun. Any noun. "Air?" Factories are built next to Black neighborhoods... "Cars" Interstates... "Football" Few if any minority coaches... "Dirt" Slavery and the entire US economy... It takes a minute but they get it.

"We're there to be humans in the room with other humans talking about ideas" The case by @mattrkay.bsky.social in this conversation: never more than now have classroom discussions been needed, in both quantity and quality. (And that quantity and quality? Not an easy thing.)

Trans kids are not •disposable •the reason Dems lose •a threat Trans kids are •deserving of basic human rights Trans kids should be •protected, always

Service Journalism - News you can use. The Big Bad Bill ends Federal tax credits for residential rooftop solar but if you install it by December 31, 2025 you can still get the 30% rebate for the project cost!

When I was little, the U.S. military came to our home at gunpoint and took me and my family away. We were imprisoned for years in barbed wire camps simply because we were Japanese American. I have spent my life telling that story, hoping it would never be repeated.

Listen closely as Carl Sagan explains how regular people can create change!

Also, sign up for PBS Passport! You pay what you want, money goes to your local station, and you get access to tons more great programming on-demand. help.pbs.org/support/solu...

I am sitting here in a coffee shop watching two strangers bond over an unusual fruit that the barista was snacking on during his break. Enjoying the gift of our humanity to connect with each other over food and simple kindness is a hopeful delight.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Powerful episode to expand understanding of America’s economy. More importantly, a powerful lesson outline for educators. Thank you for your important work.

Toni Morrison is one of the greatest writers to ever live. What many don’t know, is that she was also the first Black woman to become a senior editor at Random House. I wrote about a new book that discusses how she edited by day, wrote by night, and ushered in a new generation of Black writers.

Happy Father’s Day to my best friend and the best soccer-chauffeur/advice-giver/shoulder-to-lean-on these girls could wish for.

I can't believe this book has been out in the world for two years. I will be forever grateful to @mattrkay.bsky.social for inviting me into this work and for sharing all of his wisdom and the energy he'd put into Not Light, But Fire.

My neighbor divided her Irises and gave them to me years ago when we first bought our farmhouse. I have been dividing them and giving them away ever since…

If you haven’t already pre-ordered your copy of THE PEOPLE’S PROJECT, we’re working on copy edits and the table of contents ALONE will have you shooketh. bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

Wrapped up this graphic novel at sunset on a beautiful night. After spending 90% of the book smh about how we could be living history all over again, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending.

A1: A favorite poem of mine by Ada Limon, perfect for this time of year, helps me reflect on nature’s resilience, its willingness to keep trying, its unwillingness to quit. #BuildHOPEedu

seriously: to read stuff like this? this job is really cool a lot of the time (also: Abdurraqib's "The Prestige" is 🔥🔥🔥)

My 6th graders ended the quarter with an epic rock,paper, scissors game that we coded using a @microbit.org #EduSky

Beginning each day with an intention and moments of stillness, gratitude and contemplation has been one of the best things for me in 2025. Small steps.

Happy book birthday to @katemessner.com's History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment!

The 2025 National Poetry Month poster: poets.org/national-poe... Poem by Naomi Shihab Nye | Art by @christymandin.bsky.social

After giving feedback to a student... In Google Docs Use the File menu Select EMAIL "Email collaborators" I love this option because it sends the LINK to the Google Doc to the student to direct them to the feedback loop. #GoogleEDU #EduSky

Good morning friends! Sending you all a big hug on this Friday morning. Today I will be trying to remember that even small acts of kindness and love matter—and to do a few.

Video: “Eyes On The Prize III” Is Coming To Max On February 25th larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2025/02/15/v...

This makes me soooo happy!

In 1963 Gloria Richardson saw a National Guardsman's bayonet pointed at her & pushed it away like:"If you don't get that foolishness out of my face!"She led the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee,a grassroots movement in the Deep South. She died in 2021 at 99. Celebrate Black History 365.