by Dave Schaafsma “I’m Still Standing”–Elton John Thanks to Sarah for inviting me to write an update to my blog post dated January 18, 2018, “You Can’t Drive 65: An English Teacher Reading in (Late) Middle Age.” I was 65, and am now 72 (do …
Toward Better, Toward Healing, Toward Hope
by Erin Vogler Five years ago, when I began writing and sharing daily messages in my classroom, I never would have imagined that I’d still be writing and sharing them today. The #3024daily message began as a way to welcome students back from the isolation …
Code-Switching, Code-Meshing, Translanguaging and the Vulnerable Scholar
by Sue Weinstein Almost exactly four years ago, I published the essay “To Code-Switch or Not to Code-Switch: Wrangling Linguistic Politics in the Interest of Students” on the Ethical ELA website. At the time, we were almost exactly one year into the COVID-19 shutdown. I …
Have You Asked the Students?
by Amber Harrison In celebration of the 10th anniversary of our website, Ethical ELA, I have created a Top Ten List, which takes me back to the reason why I am in the teaching profession: the people of our future! Student feedback has been one of …
Examining A Writing Manifesto from 2015
by Erica Johnson 2015 was the year I was first introduced to the National Writing Project. That summer I participated in a two week program with the Little Rock Writing Project, focused on helping teachers support their student writers. In working on this blog, I …
From Sage on a Stage to Partners
by Ashley Valencia-Pate Partner–a word I cherish and center my teaching style around. In the past eight years, I have learned the most successful relationships I have with my students centers on becoming partners. As the teacher in the room, I have to enter my …
A Favorite Lesson Plus a Golden Shovel
Jessica has been a special educator in Arkansas for 15 years. A newly published author, she is employed at a school district in Morrilton, Arkansas. I stumbled upon a poem that has now become a favorite of mine. My daughter, who was in 5th grade …
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 …
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 …
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 …