Thanks!

As we wrap up 2014, I just want to thank you for making this the best year yet for Read … More

Would This Guy Pass the New Test?

Am I wrong, or is the title of the nation’s new standardized test grammatically incorrect? Did the benevolent creators of … More

Not Too Late for Holiday Plays

I was recently contacted by a theater company in Maryland which wants to add my adaption of “The Gift of … More

Six Tips on Writing Your Own Classroom Plays

Every so often I get a request from a reader to draft a play based on a specific book: The … More

Nine Ways to Prep for a Sub

1. Don’t! Ignore that cough. Cancel that meeting. Show up to class with a box of Kleenex and a bottle … More

Grow Some Neurons!

Many kids begin school already knowing how to read. They haven’t had formal lessons. Their parents haven’t been trained in … More

Text Books vs Read Aloud Plays

Admit it. You’re using one of those big fat textbooks to teach reading, one of those monstrosities brought to you … More

Why You Should End the Year with Algebra

I think much of what I know about teaching, about kids, about life itself, I learned from Spanky and Our … More

High Stakes Testing Leads to High Blood Pressure

This time last year I admitted to a high degree of frustration when it comes to standardized testing. It drives … More

Nine Minutes, Two Misconceptions, and One Easy Fix

The good people of America have some misconceptions about teaching. Planning for a lesson, they believe, is as easy as … More