For Teachers

In my book, Last Day Blues, the students in Mrs. Hartwell’s class worry that she will be sad when the school year ends and will

“Through the years I’ve learned that the most successful writers are those who have learned to think about their process and reflect on their work.” 

Whenever I talk to students, whether in my own class or during school visits, I’m inevitably asked how my book, First Day Jitters, came into

We’ve all heard the saying, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Now, substitute the word teacher for mama. And then, substitute the words optimistic

“By words we learn thoughts, and by thoughts we learn life.”  –Jean Baptiste Girard I have a question for you. Which comes first?  Thoughts or

“The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing.”  –Stephen Covey In the flurry of day-to-day lesson planning and teaching, the emphasis on

“We surprise ourselves by what we write.  Writing is thinking, not thought recorded.”  —Donald Murray Far be it from me to add one more thing

“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” –Henry Ford I have always thought that one of the gifts of being a teacher is

“When we take time to notice the things that go right—it means we’re getting a lot of little rewards throughout the day.” – Martin E.

“The shortest distance between two people is a story.”   –Patti Digh     Before first period, Sandra told me about her embarrassing cheerleading accident. After second

“Something ancient and holy was unfolding all around me. It was what the wandering pilgrim-poet Basho called a ‘glimpse of the under-glimmer’ an experience of

On a good day, when there isn’t a pandemic, it’s hard to be a teacher. And yet, day-by-day, year-by-year, teachers bring their A-game, giving their

Whenever I visit schools, students ask me where I get my ideas. I tell them that ideas are everywhere and that I get them from

I believe that one of the most valuable tools I use as a writer is understanding my own personal process of creating and revising.   Over

  The book, First Year Letters, covers Mrs. Hartwell’s first year teaching at a new school. Through her student’s letters, we see their class grow

It’s not pots we are forming, it’s ourselves.” –M.C. Richards   I love this quote from M.C. Richards. He is talking about the art of

“Writing that is over-planned and over-rehearsed is juiceless.  Later drafts are about pumping it up.  How much better to have a wild and somewhat unruly

The environmentalist John Muir was born on April 21, 1838.  If you are looking for a way to celebrate this great man’s birthday in your

“The shortest distance between two people is a story.” –Patti Digh. Before first period, Sandra told me about her funny cheerleading accident.  After second period,

  As an author, I find that mentor texts are one of the most powerful, and versatile, tools in my toolbox.  As a teacher, I