@tolentinoteaching.bsky.social
My goal is to provide ready-made lessons that are creative, clear, and concise. 18k subscribers on YouTube. Website: https://briantolentino.com
Here are some video mini-lessons!
Link: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Here’s some advice for teachers in 2026!
01.01.2026 21:05 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
10-Sentence Story Challenge: Santa vs. the Grinch!
Link: briantolentino.com/10-sentence-...
Epic Battles of Winter Holiday Legends!
Link: briantolentino.com/epic-battles...
Much of professional development in education is built on the illusion that teaching is more complicated than it truly is.
Instead of simply asking students to read, write, think, and discuss, we bury ourselves in jargon, acronyms, data charts, and endless protocols.
Respond to a Quote From a Toronto Blue Jay!
Link: briantolentino.com/respond-to-a...
You’re the only person who can teach the way you do.
Sure, some teaching styles get more praise than others. Don’t stress about that.
Your personality, your quirks, your insights—those are your superpowers.
Students need a teacher who is calm, confident, and unafraid to be themselves.
When we become obsessed with “rigor” and dismiss fundamental skills as “below grade level,” we stop teaching for student needs and start teaching for appearances.
It’s insanity, bruh.
Unpopular idea:
In our effort to make lessons both rigorous and equitable, we often create lessons that are neither.
Educational jargon is burning teachers out.
It’s vague, overloaded with buzzwords, and rarely offers anything concrete—just layers of theory with no practical path forward.
A clear, focused mind is ready to teach—not one weighed down by half a dozen trendy acronyms.
Since the education world is so easily captivated by the latest buzzworthy book, someone needs to write one about the art of keeping teaching simple and focused.
26.10.2025 18:42 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Here is a vocabulary-building worksheet that has worked well with my students!
briantolentino.com/vocabulary-b...
When I say teachers need space to be creative, I’m not saying “ditch the curriculum.”
I’m talking about the small tweaks and additions that make lessons come alive for the students you know best.
The genius of great teaching lies in its simplicity.
The tragedy of modern education is how complex we’ve made it.
To be truly great, a teacher must resist the noise of fads, trends, and buzzwords—and return to the art of simplifying everything.
05.10.2025 17:45 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
One of my biggest concerns about professional development: there’s almost no room for disagreement.
It’s a compliance system. Check the boxes, get the points, move on.
We need self-driven PD that encourages debate, creativity, and real growth.
The Evolution of Seating Charts
2010: Fixed rows — designed for a teacher-centered classroom.
2018: Collaborative tables — built for a student-centered classroom.
2025: Groups of six or seven — arranged for an aura-centered classroom.
In the presence of a great teacher, you feel their conviction.
Apathy doesn’t shake them.
Hard days don’t break them.
Guided by purpose, they remain steady and consistent—and that steadiness leaves a lifelong mark on their students.
Teaching requires authority balanced with compassion. It’s a profession of intuition—knowing when to be firm and when to recognize the quiet struggles your students carry.
No assessment can capture this profoundly human skill.
If you want to improve reading scores, you have to get students to read.
It is that simple.
All the other systems, methods, and protocols are fluff.
Gotta get students to put down their phones, and pick up books.
Writing Prompt: The Locker!
Link: briantolentino.com/writing-prom...
10-Sentence Argument Challenge (Cell Phones)
Link here: briantolentino.com/10-sentence-...
The most encouraging words an administrator can say to a teacher:
“Trust your instincts. Use your professional intuition for this unit—I can’t wait to see how you make it your own. Cut what you need. Add what you need. I trust you.”
I love planting big ideas in students’ minds with “I could see you…” statements:
- I could see you as a doctor.
- I could see you running your own gym.
- I could see you traveling the world.
- I could see you speaking 3+ languages.
Teach students to dream big.
Over-scaffolding feels good.
It feels good to see students working and turning in assignments.
My best lessons—however—involve resistance from students:
-complaining
-bickering
-signs of frustration
Overcoming doubt and adversity is when true learning occurs.
27.09.2025 16:08 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
What’s changed with students since Covid?
Plenty.
But one thing stands out to me: stamina.
The stamina to read.
The stamina to write.
It wasn’t perfect before Covid, but it feels like it’s gotten worse.
What do you think?
25.09.2025 01:59 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
What Does “Six Seven” Mean?
I’m tired of hearing it—might as well have them write about it.
Link here: briantolentino.com/what-does-si...
Write a 10-Sentence Story About a Monster!
Link here: briantolentino.com/write-a-crea...
