Author | Lightnews

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Apr 5

This would be so much more revealing and entertaining than "Tell me about one of your weaknesses"

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Mar 30

Love this article @mraleosays.bsky.social! It's not just the English teacher's job to choose (if they're lucky) and present the book, but to show students what it looks like to be in a really cool, thoughtful, smart, fun, critical, and joyful relationship with it.

Trevor Aleo @mraleosays.bsky.social · Mar 27

Forgive the click-bait title, but I had to wade into the "Kids can't read" & "Give them books!" discourse. While I 100% agree we should advocate for teaching long-form texts, it's easy to forget that teaching literature well is HARD. #literacies #academicsky

trevoraleo.substack.com/p/books-cann...

Books Cannot Not Save English (Part 1)

Why literature is necessary but insufficient for transformative teaching

trevoraleo.substack.com

2

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Mar 12

This post was absolutely amazing, Ray— I listened to the whole show on my drive today and it made my day!

2

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Mar 6

Kids give the weirdest compliments. After helping a 9th grade student work on his essay today, he looked at me earnestly and said, "Mr. Connell, you smell like the flower section at Safeway."

2

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 18

For every way, shape, and form of AI a child uses, one book will be donated to the little free library in the Dallas Mavericks' locker room.

1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 18

Great conversation here, Marcus—thank you!

1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 18

Great and thoughtful discussion about teaching writing in the challenging age of AI.

Marcus Luther @marcusluther.bsky.social · Feb 18

I was looking forward to this potential conversation with @biblioracle.bsky.social the moment I opened his new book, More Than Words—and was even more excited once I finished it.

About writing, ChatGPT, and making meaning more broadly:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

Writing in this AI Era with John Warner

Podcast Episode · The Broken Copier · 02/18/2025 · 51m

podcasts.apple.com

1 4

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 17

This is what I'm saying 👇

Ray Padgett @raypadgett.bsky.social · Feb 16

Feel like no one’s writing songs about blind deaf mutes who are really good at pinball anymore

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 13

Put it on my tombstone

1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 13

In 1st grade I put super-pink bubble gum in Matt McMahon's super-white hair. It was not mean spirited—I just wanted to see the color juxtaposition. It got stuck and they had to use peanut butter to get it out.

1 1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 13

Rictavius is writing about how neighborhood violence impacts children's sense of safety. He was on a roll, and I love that he wanted to keep going even after the bell rang.

1 2

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 13

YAWP! student Xavier (9th) developed a thesis today:

"Religious indoctrination of young people that justifies harmful ideologies such as racism, sexism, and discrimination can limit independent thought and development into adulthood and perpetuate hateful beliefs in society."

Student points to laptop showing off his thesis

1 3

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 11

This may be correct/factual/good, but how can I also make it cool?

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 11

Would I like to read this?

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Feb 10

GO SPORTS!

An incredibly handsome Eagles fan gets kissed by his superhot author while joyfully watching the Kansas City Chiefs get humiliated

2

Reposted by Brian Connell

Emma Bolden @emmabolden.bsky.social · Feb 6

just gonna keep licking toads until i find the one that makes me see god

8 7 55

Reposted by Brian Connell

Dan Devine @yourmandevine.bsky.social · Jan 24

Nikola friggin' Jokic, man.

A 66-footer to give him a 22-21-15 triple double at the end of the third quarter. Sure. Why not.

79 390 3.5K

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Jan 21

I'm helvella, which feels somehow badass

1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Jan 13

I'm a little worried by how truly elated I feel when a Skyrizi commercial comes on

1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Jan 8

I love everything about this, mostly how you're embedding compassion into critical analysis ❤️🙌

1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Jan 7

Information highway my ass 🤔

1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Jan 7

It looks like AI images are becoming widely accepted as part of the landscape so I guess I'll just barf until I die.

2

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Dec 30

I also like to zero in on a specific theme or question to consider as they read on their own (i.e., "As you read tonight, ask yourself 'Who's more evil—Dimmesdale or Chillingworth?'") This can give them purpose, make them feel like they're in on it, and prevent them from feeling adrift.

1 1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Dec 30

With reluctant or inexperienced readers, I find reading aloud the first few chapters can get them into it. Read and discuss together. This helps build attention and gives them a model for how to simply talk about stories.

1 1

Brian Connell @connellschool.bsky.social · Dec 30

Hey Admin: No matter what EdTech tells you, reading full novels in middle/high school is the easiest, cheapest solution to problems of student achievement. Be courageous, launch a quality reading program. #EduSky

2 3