Jess Lifshitz

@jess5th.bsky.social

921 Followers 127 Following

Fifth grade teacher who believes we can use reading and writing to make the world a better place.

A post it note with the words, “Just stay quiet” written on it.
Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long. Your spirit will need to sleep awhile after it is bathed and given clean clothes. Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you. Keep room for those who have no place else to go. Make a giveaway, and remember, keep the speeches short. Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark.
Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop. Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control.
Counter filled with workbooks.
Saturday, September 27th Teaching Towards Freedom. Register at theirel.org.
Dining room table filled with random household objects in small plastic bags.
Flyer advertising the workshops and facilitators of IREL and the special guest author, Jaqueline Woodson. Event is July 9th and 10th and is completely virtual.
Results of a study showing Into Reading is culturally destructive in most areas.
Kids cheering as results of Mock Caldecott awards were announced. First place went to Home in a Lunchbox.
Quote. “Stay angry, little Meg,” Mrs. Whatsit whispered. “You will need all your anger now.” Madeline L’Engle in A Wrinkle in Time. Quote written in black text over a night sky.
heightened anxieties from both children and adults. In anticipation of the conversations that might arise in connection with topics brought up surrounding the presidential inauguration on Monday, January 20th, we wanted to proactively provide some language that may be helpful for educators. As always, we hope that we, as educators, can remain vigilant as it is our responsibility to ensure a sense of safety for all of our students, in particular for our marginalized students. Maintaining awareness of the words being said in the coming days and weeks and being prepared with language to use to interrupt and respond to any potentially harmful language is an important way for us to maintain a sense of safety within our schools. Things to keep an eye out for: Hate speech Example: "I heard on the news that the new president is going to stop letting in immigrants because they are all criminals."
Cover of HOME BODY by Rupi Kaur.
Cover of CALL US WHAT WE CARRY by Amanda Gorman
Cover of COUNTING DESCENT by Clint Smith.
Cover of the book GOOD STOCK STRANGE BLOOD by Dawn Lundy Martin.
Cover of the book Bone by Yrsa Daley-Ward
Cover of the book Black Star by Kwame Alexander.
Cover of the book We Still Belong by Christine Day.