kelly labonte

@ChrisWillx I'm still waiting for the next Life Hacks! I miss Jonny & Yusef!

For the first time in a while I'm genuinely nervous ahead of shooting some episodes. We're doing a very expensive, very experimental production with 4 huge guests this week. Could all go absolutely terribly and waste the same amount of money I paid as the deposit on my house, could be really cool and exciting and break new ground for podcasting. Filming a BTS vlog to go alongside the episodes, if nothing else it'll be a good story to tell. #bde

@mommapollock @CarolJago @ONTSpecialNeeds All my first drafts are garbage. But without a garbage first draft, nothing gets written. Writers have to just start, get something on paper, then go back and fix it up. Editing and refining are very important!

If your students find writing difficult, that’s because it is.

Growth. That is my focus. One of my writers has grown from 1 page with 1.5 lines written to 2 pages with 3-4 lines on a page. This writer has doubled his volume!!! A reminder to meet kids where they are & celebrate their growth.

Over-scaffolding is a cheat that doesn’t help students win the game.

LEADERS!!!!!! NEW doesn’t automatically mean BETTER. FIRST DAY TEACHER TIRED is often less about being TIRED from the FIRST DAY and more about being TIRED from everything that leads up to the FIRST DAY. #LeadFromWhereYouAre #1minwalk2work #ImpactTheNarrative #HackingLeadership

If you are planning PD for teachers and concerned about “filling the time” that’s a big problem. Teacher time is too precious. If the time isn’t purposeful, just give it back to the teachers. There is far too much to do.

Do you ever wish you suddenly knew the answer to every educational query you’ve ever pondered? I have for 49 years, and yet.. I’m forever grateful for NOT knowing since knowledge is a perpetual quest for new and shifting understandings! Think you know it all? Well, think again!

I'm excited to announce that next year... I'm not changing jobs and our school isn't launching any major new initiatives. Instead, we'll try and get a little bit better at what we do each day - and I'll keep trying to make school a little more awesome for kids and staff.

@dlabo10 I’ll tell you what I want what I really really want…to hold my grand babies! 👧🏻👦🏻👶🏻

Whatcha want whatcha want whatcha really really really want?

Wonderful post from Val Kimmel: Summer Reading Support That’s High on Engagement Letting go of what does matter so we have room for what does! @vrkimmel #G2great valindakimmel.com/summer-reading…

If you want students to write from their hearts and find joy in the process, they need to feel safe in your class. Avoid grading fiction writing and engage in talk so you understand their choices and decisions! @ERobbPrincipal @pmgmcgee @teachermantrav

Wisdom from Richard Allington!

Make sure school schedules have enough time for daily independent reading of self-selected books. 40-45 minute classes need to adjust to more time. Don’t use a 19th-20th century schedule in 21st century!

A5 Teachers notoriously tend to be “rescuer” so kids won’t struggle. The problem with rescue thinking is that we don’t give students room to do what real readers do. My best thinking happens if I can think out loud for myself and then with others. #G2Great

As schools design summer reading programs, please resist competitions/contests that create reading winners & losers. Readers motivated for personal reasons are more likely to remain interested in reading than readers who are externally motivated through rewards.

A6 Stop coveting spreadsheets focused on #s that ignore kids beneath those #s & obnoxious publisher driven ignorance & accept that computerized programs ARE NOT interventions. W/o knowledgeable professional decision makers at the helm, it’s STUFF! #G2Great

A3: Be a teacher who writes. There's so much that can be woven into the pieces created with specific students in mind! My own writing lets me customize lessons, as well as content, AND I understand the cognitive work better. #g2great

@MrsRyanTeaches @lizziehetzer @tenilleshade @kellipalmerNISD Say more...