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Thanks Pandas and Zeniths
I often start my blog posts with a title in mind. Today I am just going to type and like I say to my students, "perhaps a title will...
Brent Gilson
Mar 19, 20224 min read


Give them time
Another great Dr. Gholdy Muhammad quote for the wall Every day I sit and consider the work I ask my students to complete. WHat tasks we...
Brent Gilson
Feb 5, 20222 min read
Let them shine
As we entered the school year there was so much talk of "learning loss". This idea that the interruptions of covid have done mountains of...
Brent Gilson
Jan 19, 20225 min read


Lift your chin-call it exercise
From Rudy Francisco's Complainers Jess Lifshitz, a phenomenal educator, extended an invitation to bring a poem with us into 2022. In the...
Brent Gilson
Jan 2, 20222 min read


Taking a dive
I got to spend some time with teachers talking teaching and books last week. I think it is my favorite thing to do outside of working...
Brent Gilson
Dec 11, 20214 min read
This I believe
I was originally going to title this post I believe in Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, but it is an assignment for University and I was not certain...
Brent Gilson
Nov 25, 20213 min read


Book Clubs in Room 157 (updated with NCTE slides)
A few weeks ago I shared that we had started our Book Club rotation for this semester. I would love to do multiple rounds but I make sure...
Brent Gilson
Nov 15, 20214 min read


Gatekeeping Greatness
I started this school year promising to do things differently than in the past. I am teaching English 30-1 which is the Alberta...
Brent Gilson
Oct 22, 20213 min read


Learning Alongside Them
Theatre Learning I spend a lot of time dreaming of changes in education. The more and more those dreams start to slip away I wonder how...
Brent Gilson
Oct 14, 20212 min read
When we jump
Earlier this month I had the honour of sitting in community with shea martin and a few others as shea talked with us about dreaming. I...
Brent Gilson
Sep 28, 20213 min read
What Happens When We Lower The Bar
A few years ago I was listening to Kylene Beers speak about student achievement. One point that really stuck with me was around the role...
Brent Gilson
Sep 20, 20212 min read
The Rules
A student sits at his desk responding to an essay we have read, writing his own piece. As I walk up, I see sketches sprinkled among the...
Brent Gilson
Sep 11, 20213 min read


To the Classes of 2021/2022
As I sat pondering what I wanted to write after the Alberta Summer Literacy Institute the topics of all the speakers kept coming back to...
Brent Gilson
Aug 14, 20213 min read
Reading is not Monolithic.
“Reading is not monolithic.” These are some of the wise words that kicked off a lecture during my Masters course this week by guest...
Brent Gilson
Aug 2, 20213 min read
A Crisis of Faith
"This is what is best for kids" Seven words that I use to go to often as I planned and taught. When I went to professional development...
Brent Gilson
Aug 2, 20213 min read


You deserve it
Well it has been a while since I blogged. This summer has been a healing journey so far that is much needed. I have been able to get the...
Brent Gilson
Jul 21, 20213 min read
Lessons Learned in a Pandemic
I have struggled to put words to the thoughts and feelings over the last year. Professionally it has been a collection of highs and lows,...
Brent Gilson
Jun 7, 20215 min read
Learning has not been lost
This year has been something Covid New teaching assignments Changes in assignments part way through More changes Making it up as we go...
Brent Gilson
Apr 27, 20213 min read
The chains that bind us
A student told me the story of training baby elephants the other day The chain attached early Just strong enough to hold them Just strong...
Brent Gilson
Apr 22, 20213 min read
Finding Inspiration
I have talked about my dreams so much that I feel lately like they will only ever be dreams. It is funny how I can go from this high of...
Brent Gilson
Apr 16, 20212 min read
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