By adapting to student communication styles, we ensure more students feel heard and valued.
Why Star Educators and Students Disengage
Has a high-achieving student ever stopped participating with no explanation?
Do we notice when our strongest performers quietly start doing the bare minimum?
Disengagement isn’t always about laziness or lack of effort—it’s often a response to frustration, burnout, or feeling unheard. Whether in teachers or students, withdrawal is a form of communication that should be explored, not dismissed.
The Tone Trap: Teaching Students How to Recognize and Use Tone Effectively
Tone—the way something is said or written—shapes meaning as much as the words themselves. In the classroom, at home, online, and in literature, tone influences understanding. When students don’t recognize shifts in tone, they can misinterpret messages, struggle with reading comprehension, or even create unintentional conflict.
Respect or Disrespect?: Why Students and Staff Struggle with Communication
nstead of assuming someone is being intentionally rude, dismissive, or resistant, ask: 👉 Could this be a difference in communication style? 👉 How can I model clear and respectful communication in return?
Just as we teach students to analyze tone and audience in writing, we should apply the same lens to real-world interactions in schools. By recognizing that respect is expressed in different ways, we can create more inclusive classrooms and collaborative work environments.
The Spring Break Reset: Why Rest is Essential for Learning
Spring break often gets treated as lost instructional time, but what if we reframed it as an essential part of the learning cycle? Rest and relaxation are not barriers to productivity—they’re necessary for growth.
Here’s why encouraging real rest during spring break benefits both students and teachers—and how you can create a classroom culture that values balance.
March Madness in the Classroom: Tournament-Style Literacy Activities
If so, it’s time to bring some March Madness energy into your literacy instruction! Inspired by the excitement of the NCAA basketball tournament, literacy brackets can create a fun, competitive atmosphere that keeps students engaged while reinforcing key reading and writing skills.
Women in Education: Then and Now Series Literacy Changemakers
Throughout history, women educators have played a pivotal role in shaping literacy instruction, using reading and writing as tools for empowerment and social change. In this installment of Women in Education: Then and Now, we highlight two influential literacy champions—Lucy Craft Laney and Dr. Gholdy Muhammad—who, despite living in different centuries, share a common mission: ensuring all students, particularly Black students, have access to meaningful and empowering literacy education.
Leveraging Gamification to Assess Reading Comprehension
Assessing reading comprehension is essential, but traditional methods like quizzes or essays can sometimes feel repetitive or intimidating for students. Enter gamification—a creative approach that transforms assessments into interactive, engaging activities. By incorporating game elements into your literacy instruction, you can motivate students, provide immediate feedback, and deepen their understanding of texts in a fun, low-pressure environment.
Here’s how to use gamification to assess reading comprehension effectively.
Creating Safe Spaces for Difficult Conversations in Literature
Literature provides a powerful lens through which students can explore complex social issues, understand diverse perspectives, and develop empathy. However, facilitating discussions around sensitive topics—such as racism, inequality, or trauma—requires careful planning to ensure students feel safe and respected. By creating a supportive environment, educators can guide students through meaningful conversations that promote critical thinking and personal growth.
Here are strategies to create safe spaces for discussing difficult topics in literature.
Graphic Novels and Black History: Visual Storytelling in the Classroom
Graphic novels have emerged as a dynamic and engaging tool for teaching history, blending compelling visuals with powerful narratives. When it comes to Black history, graphic novels offer a unique way to illuminate stories of resilience, creativity, and cultural contributions, making complex topics accessible and relatable to students.
Here’s how educators can use graphic novels to bring Black history to life in the classroom.
