What if a story about wanting the right pair of shoes could help students think about something much bigger: belonging, generosity, and knowing that we matter? In Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts, Jeremy desperately wants the black high-tops that seemingly everyone at school is wearing. But Grandma reminds him that there is a difference between…
What if one picture book could help your students build friendship, before they’ve even learned everyone’s name? The first weeks of school are about creating a place where every child feels seen, valued, connected, and safe enough to be themselves. Positive psychology reminds us that happiness is something we can teach. Like literacy itself, the…
Summer has a funny way of making teachers do two things. First, we finally catch our breath. Then we start looking through books. Stacks begin to form on the dining room table. Favorite picture books find their way back into our hands. We think about new read-alouds, replace worn-out copies, and start imagining the first…
What if the next step in our read-aloud journey was not about getting it exactly right, but about discovering the joy of trying? Over the past few months, we have explored how stories can help students recognize character strengths in action. With Swimmy, students developed an appreciation for beauty, perspective, teamwork, and perseverance. With Owl…
What if we kept the momentum going? Resource: Using Owl Babies by Martin Waddell to Build Well-Being Through Character Strengths Last month, many of us explored how Swimmy could spark conversations about character strengths and how something as simple as a read-aloud could shift a classroom. Students leaned in, made connections, and began recognizing strengths…
What if literacy weren’t just about learning to read but about learning how to live well? For too long, literacy has been defined by what students can decode, measure, and produce. But literacy is much more than an academic skill. It is a gateway to meaning, connection, autonomy, and participation in the world. This is…
What if literacy weren’t just about decoding words on a page? What if it were about fostering belonging, supporting agency, and enabling a life that feels possible? For decades, literacy has been framed as an academic skill, measured by benchmarks, scores, and grade-level expectations. These measures matter. But they tell only part of the story.…