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Three Changes I’m Making This School Year
I’ve said this before, but the beginning of the school year is a rather rare time. For those first shining weeks, we (and our students) are open to real change thanks to the fresh start effect, where a new context… Continue reading
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Looking to Upgrade Your Grammar and Language Lessons This Year? Meet Good Grammar!
It is still hard for me to believe, but after nearly four years of writing and editing, Good Grammar: Joyful and Affirming Language Lessons That Work for More Students is officially out! I’ve talked about it here before, so I… Continue reading
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About That Google Commercial (And What It Has Me Thinking About Concerning AI in My Classroom This Year)
A Quick Note from Matt: Good Grammar: Joyful and Affirming Language Lessons That Work for More Students is officially out! More will be coming on it next week, but right now you can get 25% off and free shipping if… Continue reading
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Making the Point (or Comma or Dash) : A Fun and Powerful Punctuation Lesson to End the Year
With Good Grammar only two months away (you can pre-order it now for 25% off and free shipping by using the code RAVEN25) and the end of the school year days away, I thought I would share one of my… Continue reading
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My Favorite End of the Year Writing Assignment
The end of the school year is not only on the horizon, it—like a sunset in full glory—has become the horizon. And if you are like me, these waning days where all eyes fix upon the horizon can be a… Continue reading
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Questions from Readers: Should I Encourage Students to Get AI Feedback?
Generative AI is the tool that launched a million thought-pieces in the education world and beyond. This makes sense, as despite its current limitations and endless cliches and somewhat unsettling voice, it is still a remarkable, society-altering new invention that… Continue reading
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One of the Most Powerful, Least-Covered Grammar and Language Topics
In 2007 writing-instruction legends Steve Graham and Dolores Perin did a meta-analysis on a massive scale to get to the bottom of what works when it comes to writing instruction. The result, a report called Writing Next, offered eleven recommendations… Continue reading
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Where My Grammar and Language Lessons Begin: Tools for Emphasis
In my last post I discussed the first of five lessons I’m sharing this spring from my new book Good Grammar: Joyful and Affirming Language Lessons That Work for More Students (due out this summer). The concept I shared, while… Continue reading
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Five Lessons I Learned While Writing a Book on Grammar, Language, Mechanics, and Writing Instruction: Part 1
Happy Belated New Year! I’m delighted to announce that I’m properly back to the newsletter, and for those wondering where I’ve been, I spent the fall and early winter finishing up my now-completed manuscript for my third book: Good Grammar:… Continue reading
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Smile Before Winter Break (and Thanksgiving and Halloween)
As a young teacher I was advised by multiple veteran teachers not to smile before Winter Break. The notion was that because I was new (and in my case looked fifteen), I needed to show that I meant business. That… Continue reading