Hello Teachers,

I don't pretend to have the answers to most of the challenges facing education.

But I do enjoy asking questions.

So here are a few that I keep coming back to:

Why do so many students seem to be struggling with foundational skills?

Why are so many teachers reporting concerns about reading, writing, attention, and basic academic habits?

And why does there often seem to be a disconnect between what teachers are experiencing in their classrooms and what is being emphasized by educational leaders?

Every day, I receive thousands of comments, emails, and messages from educators around the world. While every school and community is different, certain themes emerge again and again.

One of the most common is concern over foundational skills.

Teachers consistently tell me that many students are struggling with skills that once seemed routine.

Now, that doesn't mean I have the solution. I don't.

But I do have some ideas.

With that in mind, I've put together a collection of activities centered around a simple theme: back to basics.

If you have thoughts on this topic, I'd love to hear them. Send me an email and share what you're seeing in your classroom. I may feature some of your ideas in a future newsletter or social media post so we can continue this conversation together.

On a side note, today's newsletter is sponsored by 1440.

If you're looking for a new source of news and information, I recommend checking them out. Their newsletter, The 5-Minute Daily Briefing for the Intellectually Curious, delivers a quick, balanced overview of the day's most important stories.

Give them a look if you're interested. Their support helps me continue creating and sharing free resources for teachers.

Back to Basics Resources

Handwriting Self-Assessment & Reflection

Handwriting Self-Assessment and Reflection

Handwriting Challenge

Editing Worksheets (Google Drive Access)

These worksheets were created for students to focus on writing conventions (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and basic grammar)

Editing Worksheets (Google Drive Access)

Editing Videos

These YouTube videos are simple to implement and require very little preparation. Here's a brief explanation of how I use them in my classroom.

Editing Videos (Click Here)

YouTube Editing Playlist

Knowing When to Talk--And When to Listen

Lock-In Challenge: TikTok Edition

Lock-In Challenge: Tik-Tok Edition

This is just a small sample of what I have to offer. Throughout the summer, I'll be creating and sharing more "back to basics" activities and resources.

And as always, if you have a teaching idea, strategy, or resource that has worked well for you, please send it my way. I'd love to feature your ideas and share them with other educators.