Brian Connell

This would be so much more revealing and entertaining than "Tell me about one of your weaknesses"

Love this article @mraleosays.bsky.social! It's not just the English teacher's job to choose (if they're lucky) and present the book, but to show students what it looks like to be in a really cool, thoughtful, smart, fun, critical, and joyful relationship with it.

This post was absolutely amazing, Ray— I listened to the whole show on my drive today and it made my day!

Kids give the weirdest compliments. After helping a 9th grade student work on his essay today, he looked at me earnestly and said, "Mr. Connell, you smell like the flower section at Safeway."

For every way, shape, and form of AI a child uses, one book will be donated to the little free library in the Dallas Mavericks' locker room.

Great conversation here, Marcus—thank you!

Great and thoughtful discussion about teaching writing in the challenging age of AI.

This is what I'm saying 👇

Put it on my tombstone

In 1st grade I put super-pink bubble gum in Matt McMahon's super-white hair. It was not mean spirited—I just wanted to see the color juxtaposition. It got stuck and they had to use peanut butter to get it out.

Student works on laptop

Rictavius is writing about how neighborhood violence impacts children's sense of safety. He was on a roll, and I love that he wanted to keep going even after the bell rang.

Student points to laptop showing off his thesis

YAWP! student Xavier (9th) developed a thesis today:

"Religious indoctrination of young people that justifies harmful ideologies such as racism, sexism, and discrimination can limit independent thought and development into adulthood and perpetuate hateful beliefs in society."

This may be correct/factual/good, but how can I also make it cool?

Would I like to read this?

An incredibly handsome Eagles fan gets kissed by his superhot author while joyfully watching the Kansas City Chiefs get humiliated

GO SPORTS!

just gonna keep licking toads until i find the one that makes me see god

Nikola friggin' Jokic, man.

A 66-footer to give him a 22-21-15 triple double at the end of the third quarter. Sure. Why not.

I'm helvella, which feels somehow badass

I'm a little worried by how truly elated I feel when a Skyrizi commercial comes on

I love everything about this, mostly how you're embedding compassion into critical analysis ❤️🙌

Information highway my ass 🤔

It looks like AI images are becoming widely accepted as part of the landscape so I guess I'll just barf until I die.

I also like to zero in on a specific theme or question to consider as they read on their own (i.e., "As you read tonight, ask yourself 'Who's more evil—Dimmesdale or Chillingworth?'") This can give them purpose, make them feel like they're in on it, and prevent them from feeling adrift.

With reluctant or inexperienced readers, I find reading aloud the first few chapters can get them into it. Read and discuss together. This helps build attention and gives them a model for how to simply talk about stories.

Hey Admin: No matter what EdTech tells you, reading full novels in middle/high school is the easiest, cheapest solution to problems of student achievement. Be courageous, launch a quality reading program. #EduSky

I'm still reeling

Yes!

A Complete Unknown still featuring Bob Dylan and Joan Baez singing

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN!!!! I loved this movie. I only wish that, ala Lord of the Rings, they'd gone ahead and shot two sequels at the same time covering the subsequent 10 years!
#bobdylan

"Powerful like a gorilla, yet soft and yielding like a Nerf ball." 😂 😂 😂

This is the only true control we have in times like these