This is the Open Write, a place for educators to nurture their writing lives and to advocate for writing poetry in community. We gather every month for five days and daily in April — no sign-ups, no fees, no commitments. Come and go as you …
Show Your Love
This is the Open Write, a place for educators to nurture their writing lives and to advocate for writing poetry in community. We gather every month for five days and daily in April — no sign-ups, no fees, no commitments. Come and go as you …
A Poem for You: Unconstitutional by Stacey L. Joy
“Unconstitutional” by Stacey L. Joy is offered to educators and students as an open resource — free to share and print through Just YA on Open OkState. We invite you to read this poem and listen to the interview (including a reading and discussion about …
Leaving Academia for K-12 Teaching, Part 1
Welcome to this Ethical ELA article series on leaving academia for K-12 teaching. Dr. Russ Mayo will offer insight into this process over the next few weeks. Subscribe to the site to receive each installment of this important series. by Russell Mayo, PhD Russell Mayo …
A Poem for You: Moonscape by Zetta Elliott
“Moonscape” by Zetta Elliott is offered to educators and students as an open resource — free to share and print through Just YA on Open OkState. We invite you to read this poem and listen to the interview (including a reading and discussion about the …
This is the Year
A very special “thank you” to the educators who hosted this January’s Open Write out of pure generosity. We deeply appreciate our volunteer hosts and the care they take in responding to our poems. Thank you, Shaun, Gayle, Glenda, Erica, and Jessica. Please join us …
Until I Discovered
Our Host: Erica Johnson Erica lives in the suburbs of Little Rock, but teaches in the rural town of Vilonia, Arkansas. She has dedicated thirteen years to helping high school students excel in Advanced and College level English courses. Not only does Erica work with …
How Embarrassing!
Our Host Glenda retired from full-time teaching in 2019 after a 38 year career and is now substitute teaching in her district. In addition to being a dog and cat mom, Glenda loves to travel and is a doting grandmother to Ezra, a budding reader …
KonMarie: the 2025 Edition
Our Host: Gayle Sands Gayle lives in Taneytown, MD. She quickly de-retired after her exit from 27 years of teaching middle-school English, Today, she supervises secondary education practicum students for McDaniel College. When not supervising, she wrangles her curmudgeonly husband and growing menagerie. The pet …
Are You Down?
As we prepare to begin our January Open Write—a time for teachers to come together over five days to nurture our writing lives, witness one another’s words, and gather ideas to support student writers—we want to take a moment to hold our California teachers and …