Kat Kao
@kathrynkao.bsky.social
Middle school social studies teacher. Place-based and project-based learning. BA in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History; MFA in Musical Theater Writing; MS Ed in Museum Education.
Reposted by Kat Kao
This is amazing and I’m planning my visit right now
The music and lyrics from Stephen Sondheim's creative archive will be available to view at the Library of Congress starting on July 1. www.broadwayworld.com/article/Libr...
Library of Congress Acquires Manuscripts and Papers of Stephen Sondheim
The Library of Congress has acquired the manuscripts, music and lyric drafts, recordings, notebooks and scrapbooks of legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Learn more here!
www.broadwayworld.com
June 25, 2025 at 11:04 PM
This is amazing and I’m planning my visit right now
Reposted by Kat Kao
As I've been saying over and over on our book tour for The AI Con, the inevitability argument (including in the form of "AI is here to stay") is an attempt to steal our agency. We don't have to accept that and I encourage everyone to refuse it.
June 8, 2025 at 10:10 PM
As I've been saying over and over on our book tour for The AI Con, the inevitability argument (including in the form of "AI is here to stay") is an attempt to steal our agency. We don't have to accept that and I encourage everyone to refuse it.
Reposted by Kat Kao
There are few things more motivating for me as a teacher than the experience of stepping into another teacher's classroom + seeing the world they have built, the tools they wield, the magic they create.
My point? We need way, way more chances to see each other teach.
My point? We need way, way more chances to see each other teach.
June 1, 2025 at 12:45 PM
There are few things more motivating for me as a teacher than the experience of stepping into another teacher's classroom + seeing the world they have built, the tools they wield, the magic they create.
My point? We need way, way more chances to see each other teach.
My point? We need way, way more chances to see each other teach.
Often I have them building something—high engagement and gets them moving. This year I don’t have enough time for that so doing something challenging and structured.
The last full week of school for me …
Still expected to be teaching bell to bell … kids are turning in their computers …
How do you keep kids focused on learning when their minds are on Summer break?
Don’t forget to add the #bfc530 hashtag in your response.
Still expected to be teaching bell to bell … kids are turning in their computers …
How do you keep kids focused on learning when their minds are on Summer break?
Don’t forget to add the #bfc530 hashtag in your response.
May 19, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Often I have them building something—high engagement and gets them moving. This year I don’t have enough time for that so doing something challenging and structured.
This is a big reason I only grade assessments. Otherwise, grading is overwhelming. I also give thorough, actionable feedback, which the kids appreciate. If they pressure me to grade faster, I remind them how much work it is to write that type of feedback. And the closed gradebook helps.
A student is absent for whatever reason, say sports, or illness and they need to make up some work.
They take awhile to make it up, and then complete the work. Their parents want their grade immediately updated and they do too.
You have 180 students, so that's not possible. What happens?
They take awhile to make it up, and then complete the work. Their parents want their grade immediately updated and they do too.
You have 180 students, so that's not possible. What happens?
May 17, 2025 at 12:59 AM
This is a big reason I only grade assessments. Otherwise, grading is overwhelming. I also give thorough, actionable feedback, which the kids appreciate. If they pressure me to grade faster, I remind them how much work it is to write that type of feedback. And the closed gradebook helps.
Reposted by Kat Kao
Audra McDonald’s version of “Rose’s Turn,” in the latest Broadway revival of “Gypsy,” is reaching audiences on a deeper level than any other song being performed on Broadway at the moment, Ben Brantley writes.
Audra McDonald’s ‘Gypsy’ Showstopper Is a Revelation
www.nytimes.com
May 14, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Audra McDonald’s version of “Rose’s Turn,” in the latest Broadway revival of “Gypsy,” is reaching audiences on a deeper level than any other song being performed on Broadway at the moment, Ben Brantley writes.
Reposted by Kat Kao
I hope you will listen to the "African-American Passages: Black Lives in the 19th Century" podcast episodes that I did with some other scholars for the Library of Congress several years ago. I don't know how much longer they will be available via the Library's website.
www.loc.gov/podcasts/afr...
www.loc.gov/podcasts/afr...
African-American Passages: Black Lives in the 19th Century | Podcasts | Library of Congress
Explores the lives of three African Americans whose passages through the 19th-century are uniquely documented in the Library's manuscripts.
www.loc.gov
May 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I hope you will listen to the "African-American Passages: Black Lives in the 19th Century" podcast episodes that I did with some other scholars for the Library of Congress several years ago. I don't know how much longer they will be available via the Library's website.
www.loc.gov/podcasts/afr...
www.loc.gov/podcasts/afr...
Reposted by Kat Kao
The more I contemplate my #AIResistance in my FYW courses, the more I’ve found: 1️⃣ Ss respect a clear, reasonable AI Policy, 2️⃣ my assessment approach (#ungrading) is key to removing the incentive to use GenAI tools, & 3️⃣ Ss actually feel relieved that AI has no place in their learning & writing!
May 3, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The more I contemplate my #AIResistance in my FYW courses, the more I’ve found: 1️⃣ Ss respect a clear, reasonable AI Policy, 2️⃣ my assessment approach (#ungrading) is key to removing the incentive to use GenAI tools, & 3️⃣ Ss actually feel relieved that AI has no place in their learning & writing!
Really looking forward to this
How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers) will be out September 2nd and is now available for pre-order. Can’t wait for you all to read it. Shout out to teachers. This is for y’all.
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/clint...
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/clint...
April 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Really looking forward to this
Working on one myself, so this is a great source of inspiration.
I was very excited to share a few of my favorite historical fantasies (set in our world) over at @nytimes.com last week:
Historical Fantasy Novels Offer a Magical Escape Into the Past www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/b...
Historical Fantasy Novels Offer a Magical Escape Into the Past www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/b...
Historical Fantasy Novels Offer a Magical Escape Into the Past
The author of “The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi” recommends fantastical tales grounded in real history.
www.nytimes.com
March 30, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Working on one myself, so this is a great source of inspiration.
Love this idea!
One of my favorite projects of the yr: March Madness Bracket covering the many trigger events of the Civil War. Each topic had to be connected back to slavery and they had to convince their classmates to vote for them.
Winners got candy/gift cards.
*you can do this with any topic!!*
#sschat 🍎🗺️
Winners got candy/gift cards.
*you can do this with any topic!!*
#sschat 🍎🗺️
March 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Love this idea!
Love this! Many of my students research and write about Deborah Sampson during our Revolution unit—glad to see younger students learn about her!
Lexington (MA) High School History/ Social Studies Department
@lexingtonhighhist.bsky.social
· Mar 18
What a way to celebrate Rev250! Reenactor Jude Kalaora of History at Play brought Deborah Sampson, a woman who fought for over two years disguised as a man (and who dug a musketball out of her own leg!), to life for this audience of Bowman Elementary 3rd graders.
March 18, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Love this! Many of my students research and write about Deborah Sampson during our Revolution unit—glad to see younger students learn about her!
The projects my students say are most meaningful are the ones where they are fully off screens, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence #EdChat
Welcome to #EdChat Topic: If students today will be living in a world of constantly and rapidly evolving technology, why do some teachers insist on tech-free paper-driven projects?
March 11, 2025 at 11:56 PM
The projects my students say are most meaningful are the ones where they are fully off screens, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence #EdChat
I try to incorporate the arts in class activities but also in my larger projects. Just had a unit where kids designed and built monuments, and I’ve had kids write and perform plays and write historical fiction. The arts isn’t only fine arts!
March 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I try to incorporate the arts in class activities but also in my larger projects. Just had a unit where kids designed and built monuments, and I’ve had kids write and perform plays and write historical fiction. The arts isn’t only fine arts!
This is the year I’m pushing myself to take opportunities to present about my work. Presented about one project at a department meeting; presenting at a statewide summit on another; just applied to present at a national conference. Nervous and excited!
February 25, 2025 at 2:36 AM
This is the year I’m pushing myself to take opportunities to present about my work. Presented about one project at a department meeting; presenting at a statewide summit on another; just applied to present at a national conference. Nervous and excited!
Realized today that my Seneca Village unit is happening this month completely by accident! Lucky timing
Just a quick reminder that if you are teaching a course in American history properly, you are teaching the history of African Americans throughout the year. #BlackHistoryMonth #sschat #historyteacher
February 1, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Realized today that my Seneca Village unit is happening this month completely by accident! Lucky timing
Reposted by Kat Kao
This is an incredible resource for those of you who teach American history in New England. #BlackHistoryMonth #sschat #edusky #historyteacher 🗃️ apps.bostonglobe.com/metro/2025/0...
Legacy of the Green Book travel guide in New England
Though long out of publication, pieces of New England history live in its pages. The Globe mapped the listings.
apps.bostonglobe.com
January 31, 2025 at 5:54 PM
This is an incredible resource for those of you who teach American history in New England. #BlackHistoryMonth #sschat #edusky #historyteacher 🗃️ apps.bostonglobe.com/metro/2025/0...
I look at what I’ve previously done and think about what wasn’t quite working. I look online for inspiration and also talk it over with our librarian for more ideas.
January 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I look at what I’ve previously done and think about what wasn’t quite working. I look online for inspiration and also talk it over with our librarian for more ideas.
Wrapping up my Constitutional Convention simulation. I’m still pretty happy with the project and the changes I made—bringing in more data, for example—but I’m already thinking how to improve it next year.
January 27, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Wrapping up my Constitutional Convention simulation. I’m still pretty happy with the project and the changes I made—bringing in more data, for example—but I’m already thinking how to improve it next year.
Reposted by Kat Kao
If you're interested, we're holding a Virtual Mini-Con on 2/17/25 (President's Day). All SLs and educators are welcome to register!
More info at: bit.ly/NJASLVIRTUALCON
More info at: bit.ly/NJASLVIRTUALCON
January 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
If you're interested, we're holding a Virtual Mini-Con on 2/17/25 (President's Day). All SLs and educators are welcome to register!
More info at: bit.ly/NJASLVIRTUALCON
More info at: bit.ly/NJASLVIRTUALCON
This week my classes are in our Center for Quantitative Reasoning as part of our Constitutional Convention Simulation. Students were assigned delegates, and are analyzing data for their state. The hope is that the data will help them plan what they’re advocating for at the Convention.
January 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This week my classes are in our Center for Quantitative Reasoning as part of our Constitutional Convention Simulation. Students were assigned delegates, and are analyzing data for their state. The hope is that the data will help them plan what they’re advocating for at the Convention.
There’s a lot of really interesting things to think about here! It’s particularly fascinating to see what #Ungrading looks like at the college/university level. It makes me think about what I’m working towards in middle school.
It’s Sunday after grades are due, so I’m going to take a minute to reflect on how my first attempt at #Ungrading went this semester. Long time readers will remember I did a studs-up remodel of my first-year writing course for the first time in 15 years. The results were…mixed.
December 24, 2024 at 1:05 AM
There’s a lot of really interesting things to think about here! It’s particularly fascinating to see what #Ungrading looks like at the college/university level. It makes me think about what I’m working towards in middle school.
I am so excited to see this production.
Jeff Lunden's great piece on the new production of Gypsy, with Audra McDonald.
www.npr.org/2024/12/16/n...
www.npr.org/2024/12/16/n...
How casting makes this 'Gypsy' hit different
Gypsy has been called the best musical of all time. Audra McDonald is starring in a new Broadway revival, and the race-conscious casting gives the production a new frame.
www.npr.org
December 21, 2024 at 6:02 PM
I am so excited to see this production.