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.
If you're at that point in the school year that you need to mix it up a bit with student writing, these continue to be a great tool in our own room—feel free to use/adapt for your own space!
docs.google.com/presentation...
docs.google.com/presentation...
November 15, 2025 at 1:44 AM
If you're at that point in the school year that you need to mix it up a bit with student writing, these continue to be a great tool in our own room—feel free to use/adapt for your own space!
docs.google.com/presentation...
docs.google.com/presentation...
Reposted by Marcus Luther
It's a useful reminder that sometimes tech can make a task more efficient for one side (applying for jobs), and more efficient for the other side (writing job adverts), and yet make the system as a whole completely inefficient.
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
It's a useful reminder that sometimes tech can make a task more efficient for one side (applying for jobs), and more efficient for the other side (writing job adverts), and yet make the system as a whole completely inefficient.
"They were right to be distrusting: evaluations of the work done by the people hired in the post-LLM period no longer had any correlation to cover letter quality."
We aren't talking nearly enough about drastically (and consequentially) the way we communicate with each other is shifting.
We aren't talking nearly enough about drastically (and consequentially) the way we communicate with each other is shifting.
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
November 14, 2025 at 1:57 PM
"They were right to be distrusting: evaluations of the work done by the people hired in the post-LLM period no longer had any correlation to cover letter quality."
We aren't talking nearly enough about drastically (and consequentially) the way we communicate with each other is shifting.
We aren't talking nearly enough about drastically (and consequentially) the way we communicate with each other is shifting.
“What happened to helping them interrogate what it means to be human?”
This entire conversation with Scott F. Parker felt like such a divergence from "transactional charade" (his words) that education too often is.
The big questions matter!
This entire conversation with Scott F. Parker felt like such a divergence from "transactional charade" (his words) that education too often is.
The big questions matter!
November 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
“What happened to helping them interrogate what it means to be human?”
This entire conversation with Scott F. Parker felt like such a divergence from "transactional charade" (his words) that education too often is.
The big questions matter!
This entire conversation with Scott F. Parker felt like such a divergence from "transactional charade" (his words) that education too often is.
The big questions matter!
Three thoughts here in response to this:
1️⃣ In my opinion, all of this starts with building culture and trust—if teachers feel affirmed and supported, then they're open to observations, feedback, etc.
Too often policies skip culture-building, and words like "incentivize" are usually a red flag...
1️⃣ In my opinion, all of this starts with building culture and trust—if teachers feel affirmed and supported, then they're open to observations, feedback, etc.
Too often policies skip culture-building, and words like "incentivize" are usually a red flag...
What comes up for folks in response to these points?
1. School leaders should be incentivized to normalize filming instruction.
2. Teachers must get comfortable with filming themselves and discussing it.
I’ve seen this done well (current school) and poorly…and curious about necessary conditions.
1. School leaders should be incentivized to normalize filming instruction.
2. Teachers must get comfortable with filming themselves and discussing it.
I’ve seen this done well (current school) and poorly…and curious about necessary conditions.
![An excerpt from an article titled, “Dead LETRS: What good is a mandate without great PD?” The following line is highlighted:
“[Districts] should incentivize school leadership to normalize filming classroom instruction.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j2fc735mnytrnynqdlmemfme/bafkreiansaf6nxo25jjv246mrk76xfxarbp7m3watavox7hdv4gxqdb3v4@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Three thoughts here in response to this:
1️⃣ In my opinion, all of this starts with building culture and trust—if teachers feel affirmed and supported, then they're open to observations, feedback, etc.
Too often policies skip culture-building, and words like "incentivize" are usually a red flag...
1️⃣ In my opinion, all of this starts with building culture and trust—if teachers feel affirmed and supported, then they're open to observations, feedback, etc.
Too often policies skip culture-building, and words like "incentivize" are usually a red flag...
Teaching Macbeth for the first time ever next semester—and selfishly thinking of doing a slow-read with a Sunday discussion for each of its five acts across the month of December.
If anyone wants to nerd out over Shakespeare, I'll come up with a schedule in the next week or so!
If anyone wants to nerd out over Shakespeare, I'll come up with a schedule in the next week or so!
November 14, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Teaching Macbeth for the first time ever next semester—and selfishly thinking of doing a slow-read with a Sunday discussion for each of its five acts across the month of December.
If anyone wants to nerd out over Shakespeare, I'll come up with a schedule in the next week or so!
If anyone wants to nerd out over Shakespeare, I'll come up with a schedule in the next week or so!
Teaching Chapter 4 of Of Mice and Men and Chapter 16 of Their Eyes Were Watching God in back-to-back units is quite a thing
November 14, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Teaching Chapter 4 of Of Mice and Men and Chapter 16 of Their Eyes Were Watching God in back-to-back units is quite a thing
the cool thing about hosting an education podcast is that you not only get to read really thoughtful books that you never would have stumbled across before—you get to talk to the incredible people who wrote them
(this conversation dropping tomorrow!)
(this conversation dropping tomorrow!)
November 14, 2025 at 2:23 AM
the cool thing about hosting an education podcast is that you not only get to read really thoughtful books that you never would have stumbled across before—you get to talk to the incredible people who wrote them
(this conversation dropping tomorrow!)
(this conversation dropping tomorrow!)
Every 3 weeks or so students get a blank piece of paper returned to them that they "mindmap" their reflections on throughout the year. They get 5-7 minutes to add to it, then I take it back up until the next time. (I don't read them!)
Several years into doing this, zero regrets.
Several years into doing this, zero regrets.
November 14, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Every 3 weeks or so students get a blank piece of paper returned to them that they "mindmap" their reflections on throughout the year. They get 5-7 minutes to add to it, then I take it back up until the next time. (I don't read them!)
Several years into doing this, zero regrets.
Several years into doing this, zero regrets.
Reposted by Marcus Luther
In Sept, @homelandgov.bsky.social raided a Chicago complex and took dozens of immigrants — under the cover of darkness.
Officials called it a victory against terrorism.
A team @propublica.org set out to check the claims, and find and talk with the Venezuelans:
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
Officials called it a victory against terrorism.
A team @propublica.org set out to check the claims, and find and talk with the Venezuelans:
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:18 PM
In Sept, @homelandgov.bsky.social raided a Chicago complex and took dozens of immigrants — under the cover of darkness.
Officials called it a victory against terrorism.
A team @propublica.org set out to check the claims, and find and talk with the Venezuelans:
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
Officials called it a victory against terrorism.
A team @propublica.org set out to check the claims, and find and talk with the Venezuelans:
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
"By virtue of those changes, digitizing college life has led to grade inflation, too."
I get exhausted more than anything by the "grade inflation" debate but the point about how digitizing the education experience has exacerbated the fixation on grades?
That tracks.
I get exhausted more than anything by the "grade inflation" debate but the point about how digitizing the education experience has exacerbated the fixation on grades?
That tracks.
November 13, 2025 at 2:14 PM
"By virtue of those changes, digitizing college life has led to grade inflation, too."
I get exhausted more than anything by the "grade inflation" debate but the point about how digitizing the education experience has exacerbated the fixation on grades?
That tracks.
I get exhausted more than anything by the "grade inflation" debate but the point about how digitizing the education experience has exacerbated the fixation on grades?
That tracks.
Sometimes you open your email in the middle of a quite-stressful day + out-of-the-blue there is an email a student wrote just to say they appreciate how the class is going so far + yes, for the thousandth time, this work is really, really difficult but students, despite everything, are incredible.
November 13, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Sometimes you open your email in the middle of a quite-stressful day + out-of-the-blue there is an email a student wrote just to say they appreciate how the class is going so far + yes, for the thousandth time, this work is really, really difficult but students, despite everything, are incredible.
I was today years old (and in Year 14 as a teacher) to realize the value of setting a chair in the hallway as a "read aloud" chair for students to step outside and read their own drafts out loud to themselves during the writing process 1 at a time
(Seriously: this was a major win!)
(Seriously: this was a major win!)
November 13, 2025 at 2:33 AM
I was today years old (and in Year 14 as a teacher) to realize the value of setting a chair in the hallway as a "read aloud" chair for students to step outside and read their own drafts out loud to themselves during the writing process 1 at a time
(Seriously: this was a major win!)
(Seriously: this was a major win!)
Not saying this would change everything but sure would be nice to get open access to scholarly journals as a K-12 teacher
November 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Not saying this would change everything but sure would be nice to get open access to scholarly journals as a K-12 teacher
Reposted by Marcus Luther
My amazing, brilliant mutuals who are not literacy scholars—pleaaaasseee do not spread the moral panic about three-cueing v. phonics. The idea that this is what we should blame for our so-called literacy crisis is the product of a literal podcast & click-bait articles, not actual scholarship.
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
November 12, 2025 at 1:20 AM
My amazing, brilliant mutuals who are not literacy scholars—pleaaaasseee do not spread the moral panic about three-cueing v. phonics. The idea that this is what we should blame for our so-called literacy crisis is the product of a literal podcast & click-bait articles, not actual scholarship.
In an imaginative place and want to lean into multimodal projects much more frequently this school year (rather than just as culminations)—especially in new ways
Curious: what have been some creative ways folks have done this?
Curious: what have been some creative ways folks have done this?
November 12, 2025 at 1:13 AM
In an imaginative place and want to lean into multimodal projects much more frequently this school year (rather than just as culminations)—especially in new ways
Curious: what have been some creative ways folks have done this?
Curious: what have been some creative ways folks have done this?
"I've seen _______ make great strides throughout this year."
Regularly asking students to anonymously nominate their classmates for how they are living out our classroom values and making our space better?
One of my favorite traditions in our room:
Regularly asking students to anonymously nominate their classmates for how they are living out our classroom values and making our space better?
One of my favorite traditions in our room:
November 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
"I've seen _______ make great strides throughout this year."
Regularly asking students to anonymously nominate their classmates for how they are living out our classroom values and making our space better?
One of my favorite traditions in our room:
Regularly asking students to anonymously nominate their classmates for how they are living out our classroom values and making our space better?
One of my favorite traditions in our room:
👀❤️
@marcusluther.bsky.social I SUCK at bulletin boards and the last two years I have fully intended to do this and it just…stayed blank thru June. but this is gonna be the year! finally got it populated! will let you know how the youth respond!
November 11, 2025 at 7:16 PM
👀❤️
One unexpected benefit of "color-coding" our weekly updates to indicate when students need Chromebooks is a way of reflecting back on how frequently students have been on their computers this year in my classroom
(Thankfully? Not much at all. Also? Don't plan on changing that.)
(Thankfully? Not much at all. Also? Don't plan on changing that.)
November 11, 2025 at 2:19 PM
One unexpected benefit of "color-coding" our weekly updates to indicate when students need Chromebooks is a way of reflecting back on how frequently students have been on their computers this year in my classroom
(Thankfully? Not much at all. Also? Don't plan on changing that.)
(Thankfully? Not much at all. Also? Don't plan on changing that.)
"Teaching is hard. Being a parent is hard. Being a good human can be hard some days. There are so many aspects to our lives that make it easy to numb and remain stagnant."
🎯 Starting with generosity, in conferences and elsewhere, is the way. (As always, read @mrneibauer.bsky.social)
🎯 Starting with generosity, in conferences and elsewhere, is the way. (As always, read @mrneibauer.bsky.social)
November 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
"Teaching is hard. Being a parent is hard. Being a good human can be hard some days. There are so many aspects to our lives that make it easy to numb and remain stagnant."
🎯 Starting with generosity, in conferences and elsewhere, is the way. (As always, read @mrneibauer.bsky.social)
🎯 Starting with generosity, in conferences and elsewhere, is the way. (As always, read @mrneibauer.bsky.social)
Love this post from @mrrablin.bsky.social — especially since it is quite doable to think about your classroom and prioritize one of these four things almost immediately.
(Also: #5 I think? Patience. Sometimes it takes awhile for that lightbulb to click for a student.)
(Also: #5 I think? Patience. Sometimes it takes awhile for that lightbulb to click for a student.)
What can *really* move the needle for students who see school as not worth the effort? 🪡 Instructional coach @mrrablin.bsky.social digs into the research on engagement to share these strategies.
#StudentEngagement #EduSky
#StudentEngagement #EduSky
4 Ways to Guide Disengaged Students to Try Again
There are many reasons why students disengage in school. The tips here are not a panacea, but both research and teacher experience demonstrate that they can help.
edut.to
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Love this post from @mrrablin.bsky.social — especially since it is quite doable to think about your classroom and prioritize one of these four things almost immediately.
(Also: #5 I think? Patience. Sometimes it takes awhile for that lightbulb to click for a student.)
(Also: #5 I think? Patience. Sometimes it takes awhile for that lightbulb to click for a student.)
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.)