Michelle Boyd Waters
@michelleboydwaters.bsky.social
Scholar of adolescent literacy, writing pedagogies & student-centered learning | Oklahoma Writing Project TC | Educational publishing company owner
Reposted by Michelle Boyd Waters
Secondary educators: The prompt is now available for the 2027 Achievement Awards in Writing! This year's prompt asks sophomores and juniors to reflect on the meaning of literacy in today's world: https://bit.ly/3Ua7KEk
We look forward to reading your students' submissions starting in the fall!
We look forward to reading your students' submissions starting in the fall!
August 13, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Secondary educators: The prompt is now available for the 2027 Achievement Awards in Writing! This year's prompt asks sophomores and juniors to reflect on the meaning of literacy in today's world: https://bit.ly/3Ua7KEk
We look forward to reading your students' submissions starting in the fall!
We look forward to reading your students' submissions starting in the fall!
One of the biggest shifts in my teaching happened when I stopped asking, "What should 8th graders read?" and started asking, "What would these 8th graders want to read?"
So I've organized common short stories by student interests.
What would you add to the list? www.rethinkela.com/2026/07/my-s...
So I've organized common short stories by student interests.
What would you add to the list? www.rethinkela.com/2026/07/my-s...
My Students Hate Reading... Until I Hand Them the Right Short Story
Discover how matching short stories to student interests can transform reluctant readers into engaged readers. Includes story recommendations by interest.
www.rethinkela.com
July 8, 2026 at 1:49 PM
One of the biggest shifts in my teaching happened when I stopped asking, "What should 8th graders read?" and started asking, "What would these 8th graders want to read?"
So I've organized common short stories by student interests.
What would you add to the list? www.rethinkela.com/2026/07/my-s...
So I've organized common short stories by student interests.
What would you add to the list? www.rethinkela.com/2026/07/my-s...
Reposted by Michelle Boyd Waters
There are multiple ways to learn how to read, and I'm of the opinion that we need many different approaches, including but not limited to phonics and phonemic awareness.
www.humanrestorationproject.org/writing/who-...
www.humanrestorationproject.org/writing/who-...
Unsettling The Science of Reading: Who is Being Sold A Story? | Human Restoration Project | Nick Covington
Literacy doesn’t come in a box, we’ll never find our kids at the bottom of a curriculum package, and there can be no broad support for systemic change that excludes input from and support for teachers...
www.humanrestorationproject.org
December 8, 2025 at 7:13 PM
There are multiple ways to learn how to read, and I'm of the opinion that we need many different approaches, including but not limited to phonics and phonemic awareness.
www.humanrestorationproject.org/writing/who-...
www.humanrestorationproject.org/writing/who-...
Reposted by Michelle Boyd Waters
As if seeing so many amazing educators and colleagues at #NCTE25 wasn't enough, on Saturday, THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES was named a Charlotte Huck Honor Book for 2026! I'm absolutely thrilled and so, so grateful to the awards committee for recognizing Finn's story. ❤️
November 25, 2025 at 6:34 PM
As if seeing so many amazing educators and colleagues at #NCTE25 wasn't enough, on Saturday, THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES was named a Charlotte Huck Honor Book for 2026! I'm absolutely thrilled and so, so grateful to the awards committee for recognizing Finn's story. ❤️
I could have used this book when I was teaching students in rural MS & HS! So many of my mechanically inclined students had negative experiences with reading after elementary school. This novel in verse with a young car mechanic could have helped them see that books are for them, too. #ALAN25
November 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I could have used this book when I was teaching students in rural MS & HS! So many of my mechanically inclined students had negative experiences with reading after elementary school. This novel in verse with a young car mechanic could have helped them see that books are for them, too. #ALAN25
Do audiobooks count as reading? And do you provide your students with the option to listen to their books or stories?
Opinion | Do Audiobooks Count as Reading?
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Do audiobooks count as reading? And do you provide your students with the option to listen to their books or stories?
Reposted by Michelle Boyd Waters
There are lines we should not cross, no matter what sort of future promise anyone believes when it comes to AI. This one could not be clearer.
Feeling queasy now I've learned that Google is not only now offering Gemini ambassador certificates to teachers but also awarding students and *children* to be corporate AI mascots. Coercive normalization of commercialized digital education. blog.google/outreach-ini...
November 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
There are lines we should not cross, no matter what sort of future promise anyone believes when it comes to AI. This one could not be clearer.
Reposted by Michelle Boyd Waters
Teenagers are the walking version of your intrusive thoughts.
😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅
@mychal3ts.bsky.social #NCTE25
😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅
@mychal3ts.bsky.social #NCTE25
November 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Teenagers are the walking version of your intrusive thoughts.
😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅
@mychal3ts.bsky.social #NCTE25
😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅
@mychal3ts.bsky.social #NCTE25
Are you trying to keep independent reading in your classroom? Check out this teacher's experience and my three quick tips. #ncte25 #ela #highschoolela #languagearts
I love having this article. I especially love it because I have had my students reading their independent books for 9-19 minutes a day for the past 3 weeks since STAAR.
It also is helping me fight to keep my choice book SSR in my plans during fiction unit for next year.
It also is helping me fight to keep my choice book SSR in my plans during fiction unit for next year.
50 years of research says independent reading is... complicated. 😬 Get the details & 3 quick tips here: www.rethinkela.com/2025/05/reth... #IndependentReading #ReadingTips
November 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Are you trying to keep independent reading in your classroom? Check out this teacher's experience and my three quick tips. #ncte25 #ela #highschoolela #languagearts
Reposted by Michelle Boyd Waters
Amazing talk from @biblioracle.bsky.social #NCTE25 3 pages of notes and counting. . . This book is a necessary read for all ELA teachers!
November 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Amazing talk from @biblioracle.bsky.social #NCTE25 3 pages of notes and counting. . . This book is a necessary read for all ELA teachers!
My colleagues and discussed genres of creative writing, including personal narratives, short stories, poems, comics, and screenplays,and the teaching creative writing framework I developed. I really appreciate the generative discussions we were able to hold! #ncte25
November 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
My colleagues and discussed genres of creative writing, including personal narratives, short stories, poems, comics, and screenplays,and the teaching creative writing framework I developed. I really appreciate the generative discussions we were able to hold! #ncte25
Denver, here we come! 🏔️ Thrilled to be presenting at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention with several longtime colleagues.
So excited to see many of you there!
#NCTE25 #EnglishEducation #Denver #rethinkela
So excited to see many of you there!
#NCTE25 #EnglishEducation #Denver #rethinkela
November 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Denver, here we come! 🏔️ Thrilled to be presenting at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention with several longtime colleagues.
So excited to see many of you there!
#NCTE25 #EnglishEducation #Denver #rethinkela
So excited to see many of you there!
#NCTE25 #EnglishEducation #Denver #rethinkela
A friend reminded me that a better word is "contribution." Not a difference, but a contribution. See my note in the video's comments.
youtu.be/NH6i85o_gQw
youtu.be/NH6i85o_gQw
Are We Making a Difference? An Article for Secondary English Teachers
YouTube video by ReThink ELA LLC
youtu.be
June 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
A friend reminded me that a better word is "contribution." Not a difference, but a contribution. See my note in the video's comments.
youtu.be/NH6i85o_gQw
youtu.be/NH6i85o_gQw
Reposted by Michelle Boyd Waters
June 1, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Reposted by Michelle Boyd Waters
I love having this article. I especially love it because I have had my students reading their independent books for 9-19 minutes a day for the past 3 weeks since STAAR.
It also is helping me fight to keep my choice book SSR in my plans during fiction unit for next year.
It also is helping me fight to keep my choice book SSR in my plans during fiction unit for next year.
50 years of research says independent reading is... complicated. 😬 Get the details & 3 quick tips here: www.rethinkela.com/2025/05/reth... #IndependentReading #ReadingTips
Rethink Reading: Is Independent Reading Really Working?
Struggling to justify independent reading? Discover research-backed strategies & a structured approach to boost student comprehension & engagement. Learn how to make silent reading effective.
www.rethinkela.com
May 16, 2025 at 1:43 AM
I love having this article. I especially love it because I have had my students reading their independent books for 9-19 minutes a day for the past 3 weeks since STAAR.
It also is helping me fight to keep my choice book SSR in my plans during fiction unit for next year.
It also is helping me fight to keep my choice book SSR in my plans during fiction unit for next year.
Reposted by Michelle Boyd Waters
In response to book bans, the Rhode Island Senate has approved the “Freedom to Read Act‚” which creates a uniform process for challenging books and shields librarians from charges related to what’s on their shelves.
R.I. Senate backs uniform process to respond to book ban attempts, passes ‘Freedom to Read Act’ - The Boston Globe
House Speaker Shekarchi says he supports the concept but the House is working on a possible amendment.
www.bostonglobe.com
May 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
In response to book bans, the Rhode Island Senate has approved the “Freedom to Read Act‚” which creates a uniform process for challenging books and shields librarians from charges related to what’s on their shelves.
50 years of research says independent reading is... complicated. 😬 Get the details & 3 quick tips here: www.rethinkela.com/2025/05/reth... #IndependentReading #ReadingTips
Rethink Reading: Is Independent Reading Really Working?
Struggling to justify independent reading? Discover research-backed strategies & a structured approach to boost student comprehension & engagement. Learn how to make silent reading effective.
www.rethinkela.com
May 15, 2025 at 5:23 PM
50 years of research says independent reading is... complicated. 😬 Get the details & 3 quick tips here: www.rethinkela.com/2025/05/reth... #IndependentReading #ReadingTips
Cool Slam Poems for Middle School! 😎🎤 My top 10 picks are here to inspire your young poets. Click through to see the list! #poetry #slampoems #teachpoetry #classroomfun www.rethinkela.com/2022/04/10-b...
10 Best Slam Poems for Middle School Students - reThink ELA
Earlier this month, I wrote 10 Best Slam Poems for High School -- a list of poems hitting on a few tough but relevant topics for today's classrooms. I didn't want to leave our younger secondary studen...
www.rethinkela.com
May 8, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Cool Slam Poems for Middle School! 😎🎤 My top 10 picks are here to inspire your young poets. Click through to see the list! #poetry #slampoems #teachpoetry #classroomfun www.rethinkela.com/2022/04/10-b...
Want to bring fresh energy to your high school poetry unit? 🤔 Here are 10 of the best slam poems that resonate with teens and can spark incredible classroom conversations. Tap to explore! #highschoolpoetry #poetryunit #teachingresources #studentengagement
www.rethinkela.com/2022/04/10-b...
www.rethinkela.com/2022/04/10-b...
10 Best Slam Poems for High School Students - reThink ELA
Note: Check out our slam poems for middle school, too!Every year I want to write posts sharing my favorite poems for National Poetry Month. But unfortunately, every year, April is also national testin...
www.rethinkela.com
May 8, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Want to bring fresh energy to your high school poetry unit? 🤔 Here are 10 of the best slam poems that resonate with teens and can spark incredible classroom conversations. Tap to explore! #highschoolpoetry #poetryunit #teachingresources #studentengagement
www.rethinkela.com/2022/04/10-b...
www.rethinkela.com/2022/04/10-b...
Met some amazing people & my research-in-progress presentation went well! The conversation we had after all our presentations helped me remember why I'm researching students' experiences with and perspectives on writing in high school. I do have a lot think about. #aera2025
April 27, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Met some amazing people & my research-in-progress presentation went well! The conversation we had after all our presentations helped me remember why I'm researching students' experiences with and perspectives on writing in high school. I do have a lot think about. #aera2025
Not only did I find a copy of the book, but I read it, loved it, and wrote a review of it today. I wish I still had a class to give the poetry assignment to -- I bet the students would create some amazing works! (I'm also going to have to try those recipes... ) www.rethinkela.com/2025/04/find...
April 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Not only did I find a copy of the book, but I read it, loved it, and wrote a review of it today. I wish I still had a class to give the poetry assignment to -- I bet the students would create some amazing works! (I'm also going to have to try those recipes... ) www.rethinkela.com/2025/04/find...