3 reasons you should build assessments as a class : Metawriting Final Update: One of my advanced expository writing students just noted: I think the goals I set for myself for...

learning is better supported by lowering the stakes which is why I have made ungrading and reflection my focus for more than a decade

3 reasons you should build assessments as a class

What Zohran Mamdani Gets Right We spent Tuesday’s episode talking about headline national and global news, and it felt pretty bleak. Today, we’re zooming in on a bright spot, New York City, and asking what we can learn from Mayor…

what we can learn from Mayor Zohran Mamdani as he crosses the first-100-days milestone. Mayor Mamdani’s “pothole politics” are a stark and welcome contrast to what we see in Washington D.C.

pca.st/episode/eb2d...

Reading the USA In honor of America's 250th birthday I plan to read a book for each of the 50 states (and territories too)

Are you interested in joining my Reading the USA Challenge? I would love to work on this challenge in community! myact3.substack.com/p/reading-th...

26. It’s Not Only The Violence: Women are Enraged by Men’s Cultivated Ignorance A weekend long read that might make your blood boil, but might also help have better conversations about hard things.

open.substack.com/pub/sorayach...

3 reasons you should build assessments as a class : Metawriting Final Update: One of my advanced expository writing students just noted: I think the goals I set for myself for...

learning is better supported by lowering the stakes which is why I have made ungrading and reflection my focus for more than a decade

3 reasons you should build assessments as a class metawriting.deannamascle.com/3-reasons-yo...

Poetry Month This month I have been writing with Samar Jade as part of my Poetry Gauntlet work and before the month is out I will do so in person. I am trying to be cool about this as after only a few pages of …

Ada Limón’s Instructions on Not Giving Up. Ada Limón always hits us where we live.

Iran's Memes Are Winning This very online administration (derogatory) is facing push back from Iran in their own home territory: the world of insipid memes, A.I. videos, and online mockery.Guest: Ali Breland, staff writer…

This very online administration (derogatory) is facing push back from Iran in their own home territory: the world of insipid memes, A.I. videos, and online mockery.

pca.st/episode/2de3...

How Do You Lower the Stakes? : Metawriting Final Update: I have only weeks left in this season of transition into my third act (and retirement) and with a number...

One thing definitely remains true – I believe learning is better supported by lowering the stakes which is why I have made ungrading and reflection my focus for more than a decade.

How to fight burnout We've been stuck in cycles of burnout for decades. Have Gen Z workers found a way out? This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Danielle Hewitt, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked…

We've been stuck in cycles of burnout for decades. Have Gen Z workers found a way out?

pca.st/episode/05e1...

The Greatest Episode of Television Bracket (Part 2) Welcome to  the conclusion of April Madness, an epic face off of the greatest episodes of television in the last 25 years. Jason and Rosie are joined by Joelle, Aaron, and Ian, to vote their way…

These are the brackets I'm looking for:
Welcome to  the epic face off of the greatest episodes of television in the last 25 years... two brackets, one for hour-long television episodes and another for 30-minute episodes. Today, a champion.

pca.st/episode/2ca1...

Shattered Clone Wars and other joys of watching in community

How do you enjoy watching in community? What movies and shows are inspiring you to share the experience with other humans?

Teaching Toward the Sweet Spot : Metawriting When I think of sweet things one of my first thoughts will always be The Original Candy Kitchen in Williamson,...

I know developing audience awareness is key to writing success and motivation as well as disinclining students from creating AI slop.

Brewing Writing Communities Sometimes I wonder why I make plans

I love writing with others

Landing Softly : Metawriting Final Update: I have only weeks left in this season of transition into my third act (and retirement) and while I am...

What are you doing to make sure that you and your students land softly?

Poetry Month This month I have been writing with Samar Jade as part of my Poetry Gauntlet work and before the month is out I will do so in person. I am trying to be cool about this as after only a few pages of …

Ada Limón’s Instructions on Not Giving Up. Ada Limón always hits us where we live. deannamascle.com/poetry-month/

How Do You Lower the Stakes? : Metawriting Final Update: I have only weeks left in this season of transition into my third act (and retirement) and with a number...

One thing definitely remains true – I believe learning is better supported by lowering the stakes which is why I have made ungrading and reflection my focus for more than a decade. metawriting.deannamascle.com/how-do-you-l...

Poetry Month This month I have been writing with Samar Jade as part of my Poetry Gauntlet work and before the month is out I will do so in person. I am trying to be cool about this as after only a few pages of …

I am so moved and inspired by Samar Jade’s poetry

Brewing Writing Communities Sometimes I wonder why I make plans

there is nothing I love more than writing with other humans

Shattered Clone Wars and other joys of watching in community

How do you enjoy watching in community? What movies and shows are inspiring you to share the experience with other humans? myact3.substack.com/p/shattered

Teaching Toward the Sweet Spot : Metawriting When I think of sweet things one of my first thoughts will always be The Original Candy Kitchen in Williamson,...

I know developing audience awareness is key to writing success and motivation as well as disinclining students from creating AI slop. metawriting.deannamascle.com/teaching-tow...

Teaching Humans : Metawriting Final Update:  I recently re-read a student’s final reflection from the Fall 2025 semester and it highlighted for me the...

How do you center humanity in your classroom?

Unease is growing in the military. The Iran war made it worse Unease is growing in the ranks of the US military.Since President Trump began his second term, his controversial use of the armed forces both at home and abroad has left some service members…

Unease is growing in the ranks of the US military.

Since President Trump began his second term, his controversial use of the armed forces both at home and abroad has left some service members unsettled and demoralized. 

The Iran war made those feelings worse. 

pca.st/episode/aa4f...

Brewing Writing Communities Sometimes I wonder why I make plans

Maybe you would like to invite me to your community to write with your humans?

Brewing Writing Communities Sometimes I wonder why I make plans

I love writing with others myact3.substack.com/p/brewing-wr...

Good Writing is Magic Not Alchemy : Metawriting Good writing is magic not alchemy and that makes teaching writing a challenge when the education system is mostly built...

There is no universal elixir for good writing. There is no sorcerer’s stone. There is only spending time studying the stories that humans share to better understand both the narratives and the humans

Landing Softly : Metawriting Final Update: I have only weeks left in this season of transition into my third act (and retirement) and while I am...

What are you doing to make sure that you and your students land softly? metawriting.deannamascle.com/landing-soft...

Brewing Writing Communities Sometimes I wonder why I make plans

How lucky am I to know how to spark such magic?

Dangerous Gifts I recently finished reading Kate Milford’s The Boneshaker and I highly recommend (see Demons, Monsters, and Death for more thoughts) but as a writing invitation this book offers up a lot to c…

simply loving other humans can be dangerous and might lead you into tempting deals with the devil

Poetry Month This month I have been writing with Samar Jade as part of my Poetry Gauntlet work and before the month is out I will do so in person. I am trying to be cool about this as after only a few pages of …

I am so moved and inspired by Samar Jade’s poetry deannamascle.com/poetry-month/

Brewing Writing Communities Sometimes I wonder why I make plans

there is nothing I love more than writing with other humans myact3.substack.com/p/brewing-wr...