Marcus Luther
@marcusluther.bsky.social
HS English teacher clinging to what the legendary Gwendolyn Brooks wrote: "we are each other's / harvest:" (yes, that line break feels heavier than ever these days)
Also: I share writings, resources + thoughts on education at thebrokencopier.substack.com!
Also: I share writings, resources + thoughts on education at thebrokencopier.substack.com!
Pinned
Marcus Luther
@marcusluther.bsky.social
· Sep 27
"But at the same time the stakes feel higher, I feel like the solutions feel smaller."
One of the places @mrneibauer.bsky.social and I arrived in our conversation: we don't think adults are meeting the moment with their "solutions" right now.
One of the places @mrneibauer.bsky.social and I arrived in our conversation: we don't think adults are meeting the moment with their "solutions" right now.
One of the nice things about having a student 2 years in a row is that they can pull you aside after class to let you know "they're having one of their tough stretches" and you know exactly what they mean and need—and that it meant a lot to them, too, to know that you immediately know that
November 11, 2025 at 2:22 AM
One of the nice things about having a student 2 years in a row is that they can pull you aside after class to let you know "they're having one of their tough stretches" and you know exactly what they mean and need—and that it meant a lot to them, too, to know that you immediately know that
Continue to love having this thing as a "teaching tool" in my classroom after a rewatch of The West Wing and a reminder of how much I love Toby (and at times empathize with him as a teacher)
November 11, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Continue to love having this thing as a "teaching tool" in my classroom after a rewatch of The West Wing and a reminder of how much I love Toby (and at times empathize with him as a teacher)
"It’s isolating to be the one still trying. Some days, resisting doesn’t feel noble; it just feels lonely."
Learning shouldn't feel lonely.
macleans.ca/education/ai...
Learning shouldn't feel lonely.
macleans.ca/education/ai...
AI Is Ruining My Education - Macleans.ca
I’m a university student in Ontario, and everyone’s taking shortcuts. Learning has never felt lonelier.
macleans.ca
November 10, 2025 at 3:09 PM
"It’s isolating to be the one still trying. Some days, resisting doesn’t feel noble; it just feels lonely."
Learning shouldn't feel lonely.
macleans.ca/education/ai...
Learning shouldn't feel lonely.
macleans.ca/education/ai...
Oh my. (What a deserved indictment of where we're heading.)
"We choose a school, pick a major and enrol in classes, following the same steadfast path as students before us. The difference now is that we have a painfully accessible and socially acceptable way to do everything in our power to make it meaningless."
November 10, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Oh my. (What a deserved indictment of where we're heading.)
I wonder sometimes about the number of colleges that leaned into online credentialing for the short term $$$ and are now seeing the long term costs showing up...
(Long term costs, I'd add, that more than just colleges are paying)
(Long term costs, I'd add, that more than just colleges are paying)
November 10, 2025 at 4:15 AM
I wonder sometimes about the number of colleges that leaned into online credentialing for the short term $$$ and are now seeing the long term costs showing up...
(Long term costs, I'd add, that more than just colleges are paying)
(Long term costs, I'd add, that more than just colleges are paying)
Reposted by Marcus Luther
The opening paragraph of Tuck Everlasting remains my all-time favorite passages in literature to introduce to and discuss with students. In 1 pge, Babbitt throws us into the natural world w/ the changing seasons. We see the month of August like a giant ferris wheel, “at the very top of summer.”
November 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The opening paragraph of Tuck Everlasting remains my all-time favorite passages in literature to introduce to and discuss with students. In 1 pge, Babbitt throws us into the natural world w/ the changing seasons. We see the month of August like a giant ferris wheel, “at the very top of summer.”
I mean, I could choose pretty much any page of this book, but the one I always find myself floored by is this paragraph and how Zora Neale Hurston so poignantly and presciently names the human condition of how we share "crayon enlargements" of our life because they are "nicer to listen to."
November 9, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I mean, I could choose pretty much any page of this book, but the one I always find myself floored by is this paragraph and how Zora Neale Hurston so poignantly and presciently names the human condition of how we share "crayon enlargements" of our life because they are "nicer to listen to."
Reposted by Marcus Luther
This is one of my favorite passages of Walden. I use it to teach enjambment. Groups of students create poems using mostly only these words. Every group always has a different poem. Then we look at the work the line breaks are doing in their creations. 📖
November 9, 2025 at 6:52 PM
This is one of my favorite passages of Walden. I use it to teach enjambment. Groups of students create poems using mostly only these words. Every group always has a different poem. Then we look at the work the line breaks are doing in their creations. 📖
Reposted by Marcus Luther
Night
The evil of mankind has one question their own identity. Everything that made them them, they no longer believe
The evil of mankind has one question their own identity. Everything that made them them, they no longer believe
November 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Night
The evil of mankind has one question their own identity. Everything that made them them, they no longer believe
The evil of mankind has one question their own identity. Everything that made them them, they no longer believe
Sunday question for ELA folks: what is the best page/passage of literature you've brought into the classroom from a book this year? Why?
(Bonus points for a pic of the actual page 😎)
(Bonus points for a pic of the actual page 😎)
Also: it's quite fun to think of which passages you would bring to this hypothetical "PD opportunity," right?
November 9, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Sunday question for ELA folks: what is the best page/passage of literature you've brought into the classroom from a book this year? Why?
(Bonus points for a pic of the actual page 😎)
(Bonus points for a pic of the actual page 😎)
Okay, I have to say it: Pluribus (on Apple TV) is remarkable.
Anyone else 2 episodes in and just overwhelmed?
(in the best of ways?)
Anyone else 2 episodes in and just overwhelmed?
(in the best of ways?)
November 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Okay, I have to say it: Pluribus (on Apple TV) is remarkable.
Anyone else 2 episodes in and just overwhelmed?
(in the best of ways?)
Anyone else 2 episodes in and just overwhelmed?
(in the best of ways?)
I wish there was a "PD opportunity" where English teachers met in groups of 5-6 + each brought a passage from a book that they find meaningful in craft as well as substance to share with others, explaining why it moves them.
Each gets a turn—then you walk away with 4-5 new passages to play with.
Each gets a turn—then you walk away with 4-5 new passages to play with.
November 9, 2025 at 3:09 AM
I wish there was a "PD opportunity" where English teachers met in groups of 5-6 + each brought a passage from a book that they find meaningful in craft as well as substance to share with others, explaining why it moves them.
Each gets a turn—then you walk away with 4-5 new passages to play with.
Each gets a turn—then you walk away with 4-5 new passages to play with.
Reposted by Marcus Luther
2025: where I grade the AI that was built to grade my students. Circle of (educational) life.
November 8, 2025 at 8:44 PM
2025: where I grade the AI that was built to grade my students. Circle of (educational) life.
Reposted by Marcus Luther
The uncertainty of the state takeover is taking a toll. For years, my colleagues and I have worked under unreasonable conditions and we’ve made some real magic.
+
+
November 8, 2025 at 7:26 PM
The uncertainty of the state takeover is taking a toll. For years, my colleagues and I have worked under unreasonable conditions and we’ve made some real magic.
+
+
Reposted by Marcus Luther
It brings me a lot of joy to feel inspired by a poem, to create and teach a lesson, to share that lesson, and then see someone like Marcus adapt and mold it to an entirely new objective.
Let's keep sharing here on #EduSky #TeachersofBluesky!
Let's keep sharing here on #EduSky #TeachersofBluesky!
Reason #192391 that I continue to love connecting with other teachers here:
1️⃣ found a poem activity from @thevogelman.bsky.social
2️⃣ had students to read/annotate/discuss
3️⃣ then asked them to write their own "ingredients" poem
4️⃣ each student shared one line to create our "classroom ingredients"
1️⃣ found a poem activity from @thevogelman.bsky.social
2️⃣ had students to read/annotate/discuss
3️⃣ then asked them to write their own "ingredients" poem
4️⃣ each student shared one line to create our "classroom ingredients"
November 8, 2025 at 6:19 PM
It brings me a lot of joy to feel inspired by a poem, to create and teach a lesson, to share that lesson, and then see someone like Marcus adapt and mold it to an entirely new objective.
Let's keep sharing here on #EduSky #TeachersofBluesky!
Let's keep sharing here on #EduSky #TeachersofBluesky!
🎯 without question this is the reality for many English teachers right now: we are having to advocate in every way possible to keep the longer texts we know students love in our curriculum and to bring more whenever we can
(however we can)
(however we can)
November 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
🎯 without question this is the reality for many English teachers right now: we are having to advocate in every way possible to keep the longer texts we know students love in our curriculum and to bring more whenever we can
(however we can)
(however we can)
"If you needed proof that the ‘Mississippi Miracle’ has jumped the shark..."
⬆️🦈⬇️
⬆️🦈⬇️
November 8, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"If you needed proof that the ‘Mississippi Miracle’ has jumped the shark..."
⬆️🦈⬇️
⬆️🦈⬇️
Reason #192391 that I continue to love connecting with other teachers here:
1️⃣ found a poem activity from @thevogelman.bsky.social
2️⃣ had students to read/annotate/discuss
3️⃣ then asked them to write their own "ingredients" poem
4️⃣ each student shared one line to create our "classroom ingredients"
1️⃣ found a poem activity from @thevogelman.bsky.social
2️⃣ had students to read/annotate/discuss
3️⃣ then asked them to write their own "ingredients" poem
4️⃣ each student shared one line to create our "classroom ingredients"
November 8, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Reason #192391 that I continue to love connecting with other teachers here:
1️⃣ found a poem activity from @thevogelman.bsky.social
2️⃣ had students to read/annotate/discuss
3️⃣ then asked them to write their own "ingredients" poem
4️⃣ each student shared one line to create our "classroom ingredients"
1️⃣ found a poem activity from @thevogelman.bsky.social
2️⃣ had students to read/annotate/discuss
3️⃣ then asked them to write their own "ingredients" poem
4️⃣ each student shared one line to create our "classroom ingredients"
It was a long week but I have a student this year who begins each of our classes by standing at the front of the room + delivering a brief 30-second comedy routine for their classmates + I don't think I can overstate how much joy this brings into our room.
Students can really be incredible.
Students can really be incredible.
November 8, 2025 at 12:55 AM
It was a long week but I have a student this year who begins each of our classes by standing at the front of the room + delivering a brief 30-second comedy routine for their classmates + I don't think I can overstate how much joy this brings into our room.
Students can really be incredible.
Students can really be incredible.
Being a teacher in 2025: being required to submit student writing into an AI tool + then being required to edit/override the scores since they are unreliable.
(Make it make sense.)
(Make it make sense.)
November 8, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Being a teacher in 2025: being required to submit student writing into an AI tool + then being required to edit/override the scores since they are unreliable.
(Make it make sense.)
(Make it make sense.)
Reposted by Marcus Luther
Trying something new in the classroom is both the most exciting and scary thing. This is such a great reflection of that pedagogical process! #TeacherSky
Trying something new in the classroom can be a "best of times but also worst of times" experience—esp. if you want that "new" to be both good/sustainable
That's what I reflected on today: learnings from bringing a new strategy/system into the classroom
thebrokencopier.substack.com/p/bringing-s...
That's what I reflected on today: learnings from bringing a new strategy/system into the classroom
thebrokencopier.substack.com/p/bringing-s...
Bringing Something New Into the Classroom
my experience bringing literary theory into our classroom this year (so far!)
thebrokencopier.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Trying something new in the classroom is both the most exciting and scary thing. This is such a great reflection of that pedagogical process! #TeacherSky
Trying something new in the classroom can be a "best of times but also worst of times" experience—esp. if you want that "new" to be both good/sustainable
That's what I reflected on today: learnings from bringing a new strategy/system into the classroom
thebrokencopier.substack.com/p/bringing-s...
That's what I reflected on today: learnings from bringing a new strategy/system into the classroom
thebrokencopier.substack.com/p/bringing-s...
Bringing Something New Into the Classroom
my experience bringing literary theory into our classroom this year (so far!)
thebrokencopier.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Trying something new in the classroom can be a "best of times but also worst of times" experience—esp. if you want that "new" to be both good/sustainable
That's what I reflected on today: learnings from bringing a new strategy/system into the classroom
thebrokencopier.substack.com/p/bringing-s...
That's what I reflected on today: learnings from bringing a new strategy/system into the classroom
thebrokencopier.substack.com/p/bringing-s...
Super-cool activity adapted from @briansztabnik.bsky.social to mix things up at the halfway point of our novel:
1️⃣ groups determine 5 key moments in reading so far, summarize them on slide deck
2️⃣ groups trade slide decks to complete analysis of each moment that the other group summarized
(1/2)
1️⃣ groups determine 5 key moments in reading so far, summarize them on slide deck
2️⃣ groups trade slide decks to complete analysis of each moment that the other group summarized
(1/2)
November 7, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Super-cool activity adapted from @briansztabnik.bsky.social to mix things up at the halfway point of our novel:
1️⃣ groups determine 5 key moments in reading so far, summarize them on slide deck
2️⃣ groups trade slide decks to complete analysis of each moment that the other group summarized
(1/2)
1️⃣ groups determine 5 key moments in reading so far, summarize them on slide deck
2️⃣ groups trade slide decks to complete analysis of each moment that the other group summarized
(1/2)
My one consistent point about doing check-in surveys, etc., in the classroom: you HAVE to share the results with students.
(Even if the numbers go down!)
(Even if the numbers go down!)
November 6, 2025 at 2:16 PM
My one consistent point about doing check-in surveys, etc., in the classroom: you HAVE to share the results with students.
(Even if the numbers go down!)
(Even if the numbers go down!)