Most of my students intrinsically understand conflict; after all, it's an essential reality in all...
Why Conflict (in Sarah Speak)
read more
Sarah Brown Wessling
Taking Public Notes to Scaffold
I'm a big believer in taking public notes of classroom discussions and work. Public notes not only...
The Two-Cents Discussion
I call it the “Two Cents Worth” discussion and I really like to use it when I need to encourage...
Engaging Learners in Online Productive Group Work
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ld-P1scI324 In our urgency to put content in front of our students,...
A Letter to My Children: a Decade of National Teacher of the Year
April 29, 2020 Dear Evan, Lauren and Zach: I woke up early this morning, way before my alarm went...
Teaching Students to Think: YOUR QUESTIONS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNqyNvO69KU&list=PLrcHvMakmbgbCEw_hxYMt1a1De5IzUO0Q&t=1s...
Unit Design: A Think Aloud
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6OMV2WiyMw&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE Unit Design: A Think Aloud...
Using Shared Slide Decks for Reflection & Discussion
Voice Memo Feedback for Students
I've been using voice memo feedback for students since I was a student teacher...
Student Well-Being Survey
https://www.youtube.com/embed/L3lK28I8DGo Student Well-Being Survey If you want to check in, at...
Creating Poetry Comics
https://www.youtube.com/embed/b3RwjNLKvZk Creating Poetry Comics Are you looking for a way to help...
Alternatives to Using the Word “Great”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ja6mSUW2E8s Alternatives to Using the Word "Great" Ubiquitous at...
Ask Sarah LIVE with Sharif El-Mekki: Teacher Appreciation
It won't even take one full minute to grasp the wisdom Sharif El-Mekki brings to any conversation...
Four-Corners Reading Day
the STRUGGLE: It took me awhile to make sense of “reading days.” I know it sounds ridiculous, but...
Doubt Creeps In
https://www.youtube.com/embed/uKwnxTOSs3s Dear Sarah, I have all of this self-doubt about myself...
Purpose Driven Discussions
the STRUGGLE: I’m constantly working towards creating more purposeful and authentic discussions in...
Paint Chip Discussions
the STRUGGLE: I often have trouble determining how engaged students are in discussion. There was a...
Ask Sarah LIVE with Orly Mondell: Social-Emotional Learning
It doesn't take long to realize you're in the presence of a passionate educator. That's exactly...
From the Archives: Concept Attainment
https://www.youtube.com/embed/w9Jt2EGL4sg Context & History I originally taught this lesson in...
From the Archives: “Mirror” Choral Reading
Context & History I first taught this lesson when I interviewed for my first teaching job. (I...
Triggers & Levers: What Physical Therapy Taught Me About Teaching
Recently, I found myself in an impassioned conversation with a teacher who kept asking, “How do we...
The Transition “Game”
the ASK: I noticed that in our writing and in our conversations, we were struggling to call on...
Sentence Stems for Helpful Peer Feedback
the ASK: I’m constantly struggling with ways to help students give more authentic feedback to each...
Ask Sarah LIVE with Darbie Valenti: Teacher Appreciation
You can't help but smile along with Darbie Valenti, my guest for this Ask Sarah. Her energy is...
Ask Sarah LIVE with LaVondia Menephee: Self Care and Second Semester
She's smart, articulate and full of years of experience to help make this conversation one that...
Ask Sarah LIVE with Josh Parker: School Culture in Frustrating Times
Ask Sarah, made the leap to Facebook Live and once again, you showed up with your questions, your...
Losing Faith
Dear Sarah, What if you keep trying to master something (management, goals, etc) but you...
Ask Sarah LIVE: Testing Season
Once again, Ask Sarah, made the leap to Facebook Live and once again, you showed up with your...
I’m Overwhelmed!
Dear Sarah, It’s hard to have time to do things well. Sincerely, I’m Overwhelmed ...
Ask Sarah LIVE: #LoveTeaching
Once again, Ask Sarah, made the leap to Facebook Live and once again, you showed up with your...
Overstepped from Above
Dear Sarah, How do you deal with situations where you’re overstepped and disrespected by those...
Reflections on More than Disciplinarians
I often tell my students they should somehow be changed by the books they read. I ask them to pay...
Black Male Teachers – More Than Disciplinarians
Sometimes I get questions that seem BIG...bigger than I can manage on my own. A few months ago, I...
Tense Staff Meetings
Dear Sarah, My question is concerning change... more specifically how to foster change within a...
Ask Sarah’s Students
If there’s one thing teenagers have taught me it’s that there’s no truth serum like students....
Losing Love of Teaching
Dear Sarah, I don’t think I love teaching anymore. There are loads of initiatives being dumped on...
Remembering Great Ideas
Dear Sarah, How do I keep track of changes I want to make for next year? I find that I always have...
Balancing it All
Dear Sarah, How do you balance your teaching with everything else going on in your life...
A Year of Ask Sarah
52 weeks. Hundreds of questions. Thousands of words. Countless teachers making a difference....
Winter Break Slump
Dear Sarah, What should I be doing to wrap up things for the calendar year and make sure my...
Tough Conversations
https://www.youtube.com/embed/I7brB4ug-tQ Dear Sarah, How do you have conversations in class about...
Tough Parent Conferences
Dear Sarah, How do you handle a tough parent-teacher conference? And, then, how do you recover...
Should I grade discussions?
Dear Sarah, Do you ever just grade students on discussion? Sincerely, Grading Discussions ...
Channeling Patience
Dear Sarah, How long do I stay patient? It’s year nine of a second career. Not sure. Sincerely,...
Ask Sarah LIVE: PLNs, Vulnerability & Potential
Ask Sarah was Live on Facebook and once again, you showed up with your questions, comments and...
Advanced Degree or Not?
Dear Sarah, I have a question. Why should I pursue a master’s degree? I mean, it’s nice to have...
Bringing Out Student Ideas
Dear Sarah, Hey super lady! My co-worker and I are hoping to find new ways to bring out student...
Asking for Help
Dear Sarah, It is hard to have administration in my classroom. How do you ask for help without...
Ask Sarah LIVE: First-Year Teachers and Their Mentors
Once again, Ask Sarah, made the leap to Facebook Live and once again, you showed up with your...
Feeling Judged
Dear Sarah, This is really random, but I just wanted your advice...I have started back to school...