Weekly Classroom Reset Week 7: Using Kindness to Ground February By the time February starts, classrooms usually feel different. Students aren’t misbehaving. Routines haven’t disappeared. But energy is higher, patience is thinner, and it takes longer for the room to settle. If you’re noticing that shift, you’re not doing anything wrong. This happens every year. Early February is when students need support that calms, not corrects. This week’s classroom reset question:What helps my class slow...

Planning Black History Month One of the questions I hear every year around this time is: “How do I plan Black History Month in a way that’s meaningful, but still realistic for my schedule?” Here’s the honest answer I’ve learned over time:You don’t need a brand-new unit to do this well. Strong Black History Month instruction often comes from thoughtful structure, not more activities. A clear plan for read-alouds, discussion, and follow-up work gives students space to engage deeply without...

Weekly Classroom Reset Week 4: How to Tighten Routines Without Starting Over By now, January has fully shown its hand. The excitement of a fresh start has faded. Students are a little restless. And routines that felt solid a few weeks ago might feel shaky again. If that’s you, I want you to hear this clearly:This is normal. Mid-January isn’t the time for brand-new systems. It’s the moment to tighten what’s already there. This week’s classroom reset question: What can stay the same, even when...