For many teachers, summer is the "off-season." My plans for this off-season are fairly simple: heal my plantar fasciitis and carpal tunnel, spend more time reading and writing, create new resources, visit Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and enjoy a few afternoons by the pool. Here is a video explanation with my daughter. After a long school year, a little rest, recovery, and creativity sounds just about perfect—at least to me. But many of you have different plans. Last week, I asked teachers how they...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, The fact that so many World Cup fans are discovering the magic of the United States and its people just confirms what I experienced during years of traveling. The news often makes the world seem darker and more divided than it truly is. But when you visit another country, meet local people, and experience their culture, you often discover something surprising: most people are remarkably similar. Here are some teaching resources that celebrate travel, soccer, and flags. Travel,...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, If you're aiming to be more rebellious this summer, here are some ideas. 10 Ways Teachers Can Rebel This Summer 1. Use the bathroom whenever you please. 2. Finish a cup of coffee while it's hot. 3. Eat lunch in a span longer than six or seven minutes. 4. Do something for fun with no expectation of collecting data. 5. Tell your adult friends to stop "aura farming." 6. Throw a paper dart at your in-laws' ceiling. 7. Repeatedly ask people, "Wait... what day is it?" 8. Take a...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, I teach students to vary the length of their sentences because it forces them to think about the rhythm of their writing and how it glides, pivots, spins, and moves. In the same way a soccer player must master different dribbling lengths to control the ball, a writer must master different sentence lengths to control ideas. A soccer player uses a long dribble to push the ball into space, gather speed, and create separation from a defender as they gallop down the pitch. Then,...
8 days ago • 1 min read
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...
10 days ago • 2 min read
Hello Teachers, I apologize. This is early. Way too early. But this Google Doc has received over 400,000 views this week, so clearly some of you are already thinking about next school year. With that in mind, here is my way-too-early Back-to-School Game Plan. I'll be adding to it throughout the summer as I create and collect new ideas, so stay tuned. First Week of School "Game Plan" Resources From the Week Write a Professional Email to Clarify a Grade Write a Professional Email to Clarify a...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, 10 Ways to Rebel at the End of the School Year as a Teacher Fart in class. Then immediately blame it on the student who has been giving you problems all year. Give extra credit for writing about giant squid. Don’t tell students why. Randomly award “aura” points for sneezing. Plug in the pencil sharpener so it sits on the floor. Call on random students that don’t exist. Declare a student the “Assistant Regional Manager of Learning.” End class with an inspirational quote: “Those...
22 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, I’m really excited about the future of this email newsletter and all of the free content I’ll be sharing. My goal is to make this a hub of creative ideas for teachers. I see it as a place where educators can discover activities, lessons, inspiration, and practical ideas they can share with their students. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve received so far, I think you’ll love what’s coming next. Also, I’m excited to share that I’m beginning to work with sponsors. These partnerships...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hello Teachers, I’m currently organizing my Google Drive, and soon I’ll be offering full access to it for a one-time payment of $100. This will also include every new activity and resource I create during the 2026–2027 school year. That said, I want to be clear: all of my resources will continue to remain free on my website. The Google Drive access is simply meant to give teachers a more convenient option. Anyways, here are a few “choose a prompt” activities that can be a fun change of pace...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read