Dear Sarah, If I don’t grade an assignment, my students won’t do it. But that can be so...
I Can’t Grade It All
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Sarah Brown Wessling
Finding the Energy
Dear Sarah, You’ve been teaching for awhile. How do you find the energy to start another year?...
Fighting Resistance
Because you all are continuing to send me so many fabulous questions each week, this week, I'm...
First Day of School
Dear Sarah, I wonder what a first day of school looks like for you. I’ve been teaching for...
First Year Priorities
Dear Sarah, I am going into my first year of teaching. If you could give a list of your top 5...
Ideal Classroom
Dear Sarah, What does your ideal classroom look like? Sincerely, Ideal Classroom ...
Why Doesn’t It Work for Me?
Dear Sarah, I’ve watched many of your videos at the Teaching Channel and love them. But how come...
Ask Sarah LIVE: Passion, Empowerment and Forgiveness
This week, Ask Sarah, made the leap to Facebook Live and we couldn't be more excited about the...
Textbook Stuck
Dear Sarah, I have been watching some of your videos on the Teaching Channel and it always seems...
Learning from My PLN
Dear Sarah, My question is short. I want to know how to learn best from my PLN. Thanks!...
First Year Blur: a VIDEO message
Dear Sarah, I am getting ready to finish my first year of teaching! Overall, it’s been a good...
Vocabulary Families
the ASK: I never seem to have enough approaches to teaching vocabulary. Here, I wondered how I...
Summer Learning
Dear Sarah, After a rewarding but exhausting school year, I’m definitely looking forward to...
Saying Goodbye to Graduates
Dear Sarah, I am teaching seniors for the first time. Graduation is coming up and that means I’m...
Burnout Blues: a VIDEO message
Dear Sarah, How do I avoid burnout? Sincerely, Burnout Blues ...
Teaching “Elite” Students
Dear Sarah, Just yesterday I accepted a new position at a very prestigious school where they are...
End of School Year Inspiration
Dear Sarah, As the end of the school year approaches, I want my students to begin reflecting on...
Leaving the Classroom: a VIDEO message
Dear Sarah, I just took a position as a school improvement consultant. I can’t shake the feeling...
Managing Parental Involvement
Dear Sarah, I just finished parent/teacher conferences and they made me wonder if I’m meeting the...
#WhyITeach: A Letter to a Former Student
This week’s Ask Sarah column addresses a question Teacher2Teacher has been posing to a lot of...
Finding Teaching Persona: a VIDEO message
Dear Sarah, I'm a student teacher. My primary goal as a new teacher is developing a teacher...
Shy Teacher?
Dear Sarah, I'm a shy person, in many ways, a shy teacher. But I want to become a good leader....
Testing Season
Dear Sarah, It’s testing season and I’m worried about the pressure of high-stakes assessments, and...
Candidates and Classroom Ethics: a VIDEO message
Thanks to your feedback, we're going to make the video messages a little more regular. This week's...
Paper Guilt
Dear Sarah, I've had this stack of papers on my desk for nearly three months. Do I hand...
Saying “Yes” or “No?”
Dear Sarah, How do you know when to say, “yes?” When to say, “no?” Sincerely, Deciding yes...
Overcoming School Politics: VIDEO message
This week's Ask Sarah is a special video message. Enjoy! Dear Sarah, I am in the Navy and will get...
Job Interview Jitters
Dear Sarah, I’m student teaching right now and getting ready to apply for jobs next fall. As I...
Classroom Management Help
Dear Sarah, I have been asked to support a first year high school English teacher who is...
Feeling Demoralized and Unworthy
Dear Sarah, This is my 16th year as a high school teacher. I remember my first few years as being...
#loveteaching
Dear Sarah, Teaching is exhausting, challenging, and sometimes as draining as it is rewarding. How...
What Shaped You?
Dear Sarah, What books, texts or experiences have most shaped you as a teacher? Sincerely, What...
Never-Ending Cycle
Dear Sarah, How do you deal with the constant cycle of planning, teaching and grading? It feels...
Eager Student Teacher
Hi Sarah, I am currently a student teacher this semester and I really want to make an impact on my...
Did I Teach the Right Things?
Not only do I enjoy responding to your questions, but I also have to contend with my own concerns,...
Reclaiming Classroom Joy
Hi Sarah, I am currently a student teacher this semester and I really want to make an impact on my...
New Teacher, New Year
Dear Sarah, I’m a new teacher and am looking forward to my first winter break. This first year has...
Encouraging Student Writers
Dear Sarah, What strategies do you use to encourage student ownership and choice in writing...
First Detention Ever
Dear Sarah, I just gave my first detention in five years of teaching. Right now, I’m angry and I’m...
Constantly Concerned
Dear Sarah, What are your thoughts about teachers re-using the same curriculum every year? Is this...
Mindset for Mentoring
Dear Sarah, Do you think older teachers have a responsibility in coaching or mentoring new...
Wessling Writing Tips: A Video Message to My Students
In honor of the final day of this year's NaNoWriMo (which I vow to complete some year), I thought...
Seeking Student Participation
Dear Sarah, How can a student better participate in class? Seeking Student Participation Dear...
Magnets for Student Grouping
the ASK: I like to switch up groupings of students on a regular basis and am always wondering how...
Facetime Teaching
the ASK: I often wonder how to minimize the effects of being gone from class when I travel to work...
Looking For A Boost
Dear Sarah, I keep wrestling with this one question about teaching: how do teachers stay...
Frustrated In The First Year
Good morning Sarah! I am a first year teacher who is teaching Freshman English (English One) and I...
Audience is Everything: Teaching our Parents
the ASK: I know that audience is everything when comes to writing or creating, so I was curious...
Extended Definitions Go Digital
the ASK: After a week of thinking about and exploring the concept of hubris, I wondered how...
Student Voice at Parent-Teacher Conferences
the ASK: Our school has traditional parent/teacher conferences where we each have a table in the...