Grace Choi

Photo of a brown paper package with the message “Merry Christmas from your amazing mom! Hug her real good!” Signed by author Nic Stone.

Authors are the best. I emailed Nic Stone after NCTE to tell her how much my own kid loved Dear Martin and Dear Justyce and that he read them in record (for him) time. Also told her he was so mad he’d have to wait til March for the new one. SO SHE SENT HIM AN ARC! The best. He’s going to be stoked!

White woman in a beige top with a red skirt and neck scarf. She has an exasperated look on her face.

One of the random ways I’ve connected with students this year is through my clothes. Several kids (mostly girls) give me a “fit check” and troll me on what I’m wearing or tell me the outfit is acceptable.

It’s pretty hilarious, but today I had a realization…am I Ms. Geist??

So, beige.

Thank you!!?

Four photos of James Baldwin

"I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually"

~ James Baldwin, who passed 37 years ago today, and whose voice is needed now more than ever

..while state standards about only reading “GRADE LEVEL” texts are breathing down my neck? What does grade level even mean??

Gahhh. I really want to just help kids find books they want to read and work on the skills the standards say they need in those choice books…

What’s worked for others?? 6/6

We shifted our unit (on perspectives) to focus on reading nonfiction about human rights and I feel like I have some good goals and teaching points to work with.

But, like, how do I continue to balance this? How do I practically give students lots of choice (in addition to choice ind. reading)…5/

Their responses were great and made me feel like we made the right choice. My favorite response was from a student who said she doesn’t want to read any “old man books” (hi, SAME).

They also shared about strategies they felt they could work on (reading stamina, clarifying understanding, etc) 4/

The kids weren’t feeling it, they weren’t reading it, and it was a struuuuggle to keep them engaged.

Before we said goodbye to the book, though, I asked them to reflect on what they learned about their reading identities during our short bit (4 chapters) with LotF. 3/

I’m mostly following along with my team this year as I feel a bit like a first year teacher again. But I’m also trying to be responsive to my students and lean in to what they’re showing me they need (and want).

So, today, my teammate and I abandoned Lord of the Flies as a whole class text. 😬 2/

This is my first year teaching HS English. I love it and am figuring things out as I go. One of the things I’m thinking a lot about in the shift from elementary to HS is how to maintain the student choice and agency that felt so natural in ES.

(This is now going to be a thread, I can tell 😂) 1/

That is a MAJOR inconvenience 😂

I’d steal one of each sock.

Omg, my husband did not hear the end of it from his family during our visit. 😬

IMDB said he was around from 1983-2023!!! 😮 I was watching him during the mid-late 80s. I appreciated that his niece, Penny, was the real hero. 😂

a cartoon character is jumping in the air with the words `` go go gadget '' written below him . Alt: a cartoon character is jumping in the air with the words `` go go gadget '' written below him .

I’m an Inspector Gadget era kid 😂

Ooohhh, good question. Maybe Parasite. It was so good and so powerful and I don’t think I could stomach it again. It was WILD and such a ride because of all the twists and turns.

Yes! Anne of Green Gables. 💚 I used to read it annually. I saw a lot of myself in Anne when I was little. @readingspark.bsky.social @ebonyteach.bsky.social sending you something is still on my to-do list!! 😂

Totally. Unless it’s someone suuuuuper stuffy rich, the parameters around black tie is looser than it used to be.

a woman with red lips is smiling with the words ask me behind her Alt: a woman with red lips is smiling with the words ask me behind her

Taking a cue from @natebyr0n.bsky.social…currently on hour 6 of what is turning out to be a 14-hour drive. 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠 AMA!

What’s a book you wish you could give your teenage self?

Books.

When buying books for gifts this holiday season, please don't buy from Amazon. Please shop at your local independent bookstore/bookseller. Ask for recommendations. If they don't have a particular book in stock, ask them to order it.

Support creatives, local businesses, and your community.

I’m so sorry, Ebony. Sending you love and strength. 💙

It was at a crappy time (haha), but we had lots of fun!!

Yes!!! So great to make farty friends! 😉

Thank you so much for coming! Please let us know if you end up writing about farts! ☺️

This panel was poopendously fun! These amazing teachers have great tips for motivating reluctant readers and writers. #ncte24 @gracekchoi.bsky.social @chthompson.bsky.social @kassiaowedekind.bsky.social

So glad I got to end my #NCTE24 with this incredible panel about novels in verse! Stories do indeed help and heal us. 💙💚 @mrschureads.bsky.social @maerespicio.bsky.social @katemessner.bsky.social

Thank you for coming!!! 💙

It was a lot of fun!

We did it! We spoke about poop at length at a national conference. 😂 So much fun sharing about using “gross” topics in the classroom to connect to kids’ humanity, raise engagement, and give kids agency! #NCTE24 @chthompson.bsky.social @kassiaowedekind.bsky.social