Thank you to our Ethical ELA contributors!

While Ethical ELA began as a place for me, Sarah J. Donovan, to share stories from my classroom, it has evolved as a space somewhere in between school and home life, beyond walls and affiliations to connect with educators navigating questions of what is good and right in English language arts for the human beings with whom we are entrusted: our students.

Some educators come here to write, some to read, but most, I think and hope, come to this space for thoughtful ideas that blend theory and practice all guided by deep reverence and critical hope for what teachers can do for our country.

And so one year ago, I put out a call to Ethical ELA friends to launch series of blog posts exploring contemporary issues in teaching English language arts. I wanted to hear what was happening in their classrooms across the country. I wanted to hear what they were learning, seeing, and caring about. I wanted to share the hearts of respected colleagues. I wanted to learn alongside all of you for a few precious minutes each week.

Together we have gathered 31K visitors to view these 32 generously offered articles, which have been read over 100K times. Indeed, the ideas and considerations collected in this thank you post defy such neat measurement. The impact of these writers trusting Ethical ELA with their words, the profound care documented on this site — well, I offer them here for you to meet for the first time or revisit as many times as you need to carry their stories into your classrooms.

What do you notice in the themes across this year’s posts? In the comment section at the end, we’d love to hear which articles you read, which informed your practice, which you shared with colleagues and students. Thank you for writing and reading alongside us in 2021.

1. Ripley-Crandall, B. & Ger. D. (2021, Jan. 3).  Walk toward the rising sun: A new year for reflection & offering wisdom with refugee-relocation stories. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/walk-toward-the-rising-sun/ 
2. Vasinda, S. (2021, Jan.10). Social reading in the margins of digital texts. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/social-reading-in-the-margins-of-digital-texts-by-sheri-vasinda/ 
3. Fleming, S. (2021, Jan. 17). Teaching English, the day after. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/teaching-english-the-day-after-by-sarah-fleming/ 
4. Slusser, K. (2021, Jan. 24). The stories we share. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/the-stories-we-share-are-the-stories-we-value-by-kim-slusser/
5. Pitre, L. (2021, Jan. 31). What’s in a word? Employing close reading to enhance analytical skills.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/whats-in-a-word-employing-close-reading-to-enhance-analytical-skills-by-leilya-a-pitre/ 
6. Miller, C. (2021, Feb. 7). Considering the Supreme Court as teachers. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/considering-the-supreme-court-as-teachers-by-henry-cody-miller/ 
7. Koudelka, C. (2021, Feb. 21). Supporting student agency through small moments. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/supporting-student-agency-through-small-moments-by-dr-cindi-koudelka/  
8. Weber,R. (2021, Feb.28). Seeing, reading, and talking about disability: Furthering inclusion in the classroom.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/seeing-reading-and-talking-about-disability-furthering-inclusion-in-the-classroom-by-rebecca-weber/
9. Nagel-O’Rourke, D. (2021, March 7). The teacher’s multimedia reflection notebook, art & pedagogy hand-in-hand. http://www.ethicalela.com/the-teachers-multimedia-reflection-notebook-art-pedagogy-hand-in-hand-by-danielle-nagel-orourke/
10. Weinstein, S. (2021, March 14). To code-switch or not to code-switch: Wrangling linguistic politics in the interest of students.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/to-code-switch-or-not-to-code-switch-wrangling-linguistic-politics-in-the-interest-of-students-by-sue-weinstein
11. Charest, B. (2021, March 21). Reviving our democracy and revitalizing our schools and communities: Reframing the work of teachers.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/reviving-our-democracy-and-revitalizing-our-schools-and-communities-reframing-the-work-of-teachers-by-dr-brian-charest/ 
12. Pastore-Capuana, K. (2021, March 28). Rooted in community. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/rooted-in-community-by-kristen-pastore-capuana/
13. Anderson, M. (2021, May 2). A few glimpses into the good.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/a-few-glimpses-into-the-good-by-michael-anderson/ 
14. Mayo, R. (2021, May 9). Writing environments. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/writing-environments-by-russ-mayo/ 
15. Novack, R. (2021, May 16). The spectacular speculative of outdoor activities in English classrooms.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/outdoor-activities-in-english-classrooms-by-rich-novack/ 
16. Kindeslsperger, A. (2021, May 23). The blurred boundary of expert and novice. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/the-blurred-boundary-of-expert-and-novice-by-abby-kindelsperger/ 
17. Keyes, D. & Wiley. J. (2021, May 30). Spaces for writing, thinking, and becoming. Ethical ELA.http://www.ethicalela.com/spaces-for-writing-thinking-and-becoming-by-dixie-k-keyes-and-jessica-wiley/  
18. Martin-Young, S. (2021, June 6). Tulsa Race Massacre: Knowing the history of your place.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/tulsa-race-massacre-knowing-the-history-of-your-place-with-shelley-martin-young/
19. Falter, M. (2021, June 13). Rejecting queer erasure: Moving towards queer visibility.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/rejecting-queer-erasure-moving-towards-queer-visibility-in-ela-by-michelle-m-falter/
20. Schoonover, N. (2021, July 4). Through the (contemporary) looking glass, and what teachers found there.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/through-the-contemporary-looking-glass-and-what-teachers-found-there-by-nina-schoonover/
21. Parton, C. (2021, July 11). Hiding in plain sight: Rural students in sub/urban teacher education programs. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-rural-students-in-sub-urban-teacher-education-programs-by-chea-parton/ 
22. Levy, A. (2021, July 18). Writing real to reel for teens: Transforming the English classroom with dramatic writing.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/writing-real-to-reel-for-teens-transforming-the-english-classroom-with-dramatic-writing-by-aaron-levy/ 
23. Richmond, K.J. (2021, July 25). Mental health in the high school English classroom. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/mental-health-in-the-high-school-english-classroom-by-kia-jane-richmond/ 
24. Toliver, S. (2021, August 8). Combatting dreams deferred in English language art.  Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/hopescape_toliver/ 
25. Burns, L.D. (2021, August 15). Using storytelling for trauma-informed pedagogy and Ethical ELA during COVID and beyond. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/trauma-informed-pedagogy/ 
26. Hill, J. (2021, August 22). A short note on open houses. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/a-short-note-on-open-houses-by-jim-hill/ 
27. Sjostrom, K. (2021, Sept. 5). Read aloud! You’re never too old for storytime (or to become an expert oral reader). Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/read-aloud-kate-sjostrom/ 
28. Nyachae, T. (2021, Sept. 12). Literacy to what end…for students and teachers of color…because academically, systemically, and structurally we still are not saved!? Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/tiffanynyachae/
29. Goering, C. (2021, Sept. 26). Teaching English language arts endorses and requires a curriculum based on Critical Race Theory. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/critical-race-theory/ 
30. Dungey, D., Gustafson, M., Snyder, M. & Hochstetler, S. (2021, Oct. 17). Community, agency, and voice: Creating authentic writing opportunities by celebrating the National Day On Writing. Ethical ELA. http://www.ethicalela.com/national-day-on-writing/ 
31. Allred, J. (2021, Nov. 7). From Chromebook carts to video remix: Critical and creative digital practices. Ethical ELA. https://www.ethicalela.com/from-chromebook-carts-to-video-remix-critical-and-creative-digital-practices/ 
32. Hicks, J. (2021, Dec. 26). Place-based writing: Feeling like they belong and proving it. https://www.ethicalela.com/feeling-like-they-belong