A Tale of Disruption: Teaching The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline – Post by Emily Visness

September 22

“We’ve always taught that novel.” “The lesson plans and activities for that novel are already prepared.” “I love teaching that book!” “We have enough copies of the book for all our classes.” “It’s a classic!” The reasons, or rather the excuses, are many, but these are some common responses from teachers when the contentious topic […]

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Missing Stories by Emily Visness

January 28

I’ve been a book collector for many years.  My collecting began because I have two children of my own and I wanted them to be surrounded by books in our home since birth.  My obsession with books for kids of all ages enabled me to begin this school year, in my move from special education […]

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Other Duties As Assigned by Emily Visness

July 10

Summer is here, and as the weeks of shuttling my kids to swim team practice, swim meets, and for-fun swimming consumes many of my waking hours, I also spend time chipping away at my enormous “To Be Read” list. Like many readers, my TBR list is an ever-growing mountain, and each time I read one […]

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A Gift of Stories by Emily Visness

November 04

As a special education inclusion teacher who co-teaches in middle school language arts and history classes, I work with students who face many challenges.  One challenge is getting them to see past the “work” of learning and see the fun in the stories that surround them through their learning in school.  A love for stories […]

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A Classroom Culture’s Impact on Students’ Reading Success by Emily Visness

​Inspiring students to read can be challenging. Yes, I realize that is a gross understatement. Middle school students have a reputation for not wanting to do much of anything except socialize with each other and exhibit Great Disdain for adult humans.  However, middle school students are not always disaffected, malcontent, and divisive. At least, not […]

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