kayaker navigating whitewater rapids in occitanie

Riding the Rapids

by Kim Johnson Hello, readers!  I’m thrilled you’re reading the EthicalELA blog today, and I’m honored to have an opportunity to share a little about myself and my EthicalELA journey with you.  Allow me to introduce myself using a Hashtag Acrostic with the letters in …

gray animal plush toy

This Photo Wants to be a Poem

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 and daily in April — no sign-ups, no fees, no commitments. Come and go as you please. All that …

a person holding a shellfish

Hermit Crab Poem

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 and daily in April — no sign-ups, no fees, no commitments. Come and go as you please. All that …

worms eyeview of green trees

Start With a Single Word

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 and daily in April — no sign-ups, no fees, no commitments. Come and go as you please. All that …

clear light bulb planter on gray rock

Neurodivergence and Disclosure as Ethic of Care

by Alisha M. White, Western Illinois University Who Am I  I am a teacher educator at Western Illinois University focusing on literature and reading pedagogy as well as language diversity, young adult literature, and multimedia texts. Before graduate school, I taught secondary English for students …

people giving high fives

Ten Thoughts for Teaching Tough Kids

by Gayle Sands 1.“Always leave a man a horse to ride out on.”   I got this advice from my principal on my first assignment. It has served me well. When dealing with a student issue, it is important to leave them some dignity to walk …

chickadee resting on someone s hand on a wintery day

A Moment in Nature

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 and daily in April — no sign-ups, no fees, no commitments. Come and go as you please. All that …

silhouette of mountains

What I Knew

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 and daily in April — no sign-ups, no fees, no commitments. Come and go as you please. All that …

photo of hand loom

Memory Threads

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 and daily in April — no sign-ups, no fees, no commitments. Come and go as you please. All that …

photo of a pupils sitting in a classroom with raised hands

Engaging Students in the Reading/Writing Classroom

Engaging Students in the Reading/Writing Classroom by Barb Edler Hello, readers. I am a retired public school Language Arts/Composition teacher from Iowa. Currently, I am an online writing tutor for Kirkwood Community College. My teaching instruction has been greatly influenced by the Iowa Writing Project, …