Trees, Bees, and Centipedes . . .

The clocks have all sprung forward, the turkey vultures have returned, and the sprouts are beginning to pop. Spring has …

Greatness Isn’t Born

I don’t usually do reviews, but I just finished an awesome book called The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle (2009, …

Four Plays for the Humbug Holidays

I noticed the artificial Christmas trees arrived at my local home store even before the inflatable Frankensteins and motion-activated witches …

Commemorating Juneteenth

My most poignant play—and it’s perfect for celebrating Juneteenth! Based on actual slave narratives, Freedom for the First Time is historically-accurate, kid-friendly, and …

Monster Fun for Spring

I recently surveyed my fifth graders about what they’d like more of. It probably won’t surprise you that “more Zoom” …

So Bad, It’s Funny

Call them flops, bombs, fiascos. Read Aloud Plays have turned out to be pretty ideal for the Covid classroom because …

Compelling Reader’s Theater for Black History Month

February is Black History Month. While I encourage you to acknowledge it with some dedicated activities, I’m also reminded that …

How to Create that Interactive Vibe

I’ve heard many teachers lament that this online instruction deal isn’t what they signed-up for, yet here we are. What …

Free Play for the Fourth

When I wrote Read Aloud Plays: Symbols of America for Scholastic back in 2002, it was supposed to be a …

How to Commemorate Juneteenth

Here’s my most poignant play—and it’s perfect for celebrating Juneteenth. Based on actual slave narratives, Freedom for the First Time …