Jess Lifshitz
@jess5th.bsky.social
Fifth grade teacher who believes we can use reading and writing to make the world a better place.
One of the things that makes me most sad about these new packaged reading curriculum (and so so much makes me sad) is the way it feels as if we have switched from teaching children to training children. And we can do that, we can make it work, but it is costing us (and our students) so very much.
February 5, 2026 at 1:05 PM
One of the things that makes me most sad about these new packaged reading curriculum (and so so much makes me sad) is the way it feels as if we have switched from teaching children to training children. And we can do that, we can make it work, but it is costing us (and our students) so very much.
Because the truth is, I believe that if we focus on care, the rules and routines will come from that focus. Because so much of the compliance we demand of children can also be reached through conversations on how we care for ourselves, our community and our space.
January 4, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Because the truth is, I believe that if we focus on care, the rules and routines will come from that focus. Because so much of the compliance we demand of children can also be reached through conversations on how we care for ourselves, our community and our space.
When we return to school tomorrow, we are going to begin our new year by taking time to set goals on how we will work to care for ourselves, our community and our space. We will do this instead of focusing on rules and routines. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Setting Goals on Taking Care
Name: ____________________________________ Setting Goals on Taking Care In this new year, we are going to focus on taking care here at school. Taking care of ourselves, our community and our space. ...
docs.google.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:44 PM
When we return to school tomorrow, we are going to begin our new year by taking time to set goals on how we will work to care for ourselves, our community and our space. We will do this instead of focusing on rules and routines. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
I’ve been feeling so sad at the loss of freedom to craft curriculum in a way that allows us to cover standards while also guiding students towards compassion, critical thinking & justice. So I’m trying to find other ways to do that work. With that, I’m committing to a focus on care this new year.
January 4, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I’ve been feeling so sad at the loss of freedom to craft curriculum in a way that allows us to cover standards while also guiding students towards compassion, critical thinking & justice. So I’m trying to find other ways to do that work. With that, I’m committing to a focus on care this new year.
Chanea. I am sending you all the love. I am so grateful to know you exist in this world. The goodness you add to it, gives my very tired heart so much hope. Happy year’s end, my friend. Here’s to a new one.
December 31, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Chanea. I am sending you all the love. I am so grateful to know you exist in this world. The goodness you add to it, gives my very tired heart so much hope. Happy year’s end, my friend. Here’s to a new one.
Every year, on New Year’s Eve, I pick a poem to carry with me into the new year. It’s a way for me to set some intention on what I want this new year to be. This year, my poem for the new year is Joy Harjo’s “For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet.” Here’s to 2026.
December 31, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Every year, on New Year’s Eve, I pick a poem to carry with me into the new year. It’s a way for me to set some intention on what I want this new year to be. This year, my poem for the new year is Joy Harjo’s “For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet.” Here’s to 2026.
Holding on to justice and liberation in the classroom right now feels like trying to light a candle outside on a really windy day. And the lighter, it’s running low on fuel, y’all. And I guess we just keep on going. Trying to light the fire in whatever ways we can. That’s all.
December 8, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Holding on to justice and liberation in the classroom right now feels like trying to light a candle outside on a really windy day. And the lighter, it’s running low on fuel, y’all. And I guess we just keep on going. Trying to light the fire in whatever ways we can. That’s all.
Thanks, Jenn. I just don’t know where we go from here. I can’t remember ever feeling quite so hopeless in our profession.
November 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Thanks, Jenn. I just don’t know where we go from here. I can’t remember ever feeling quite so hopeless in our profession.
Oh, Jenn. The money. The hundreds of thousands of dollars spent. And all that is being lost. I don’t know how we keep on doing this. I am also not sure what choice we have. I’m going to try to just keep on loving the kids through this all. But goodness. What this is doing to my heart!!!
November 25, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Oh, Jenn. The money. The hundreds of thousands of dollars spent. And all that is being lost. I don’t know how we keep on doing this. I am also not sure what choice we have. I’m going to try to just keep on loving the kids through this all. But goodness. What this is doing to my heart!!!
Today I filled my shelves with workbooks. And my heart is just so sad at what teaching and learning have become.
November 25, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Today I filled my shelves with workbooks. And my heart is just so sad at what teaching and learning have become.
I’d be curious to know how many people at the large national teacher conferences are classroom teachers. It just seems like such a far away world to what’s happening in our classrooms these days.
November 16, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I’d be curious to know how many people at the large national teacher conferences are classroom teachers. It just seems like such a far away world to what’s happening in our classrooms these days.
I think about what we, as educators, will say in years from now when we are asked, “How did you help kids through the crisis when human beings were being dragged off the streets by masked folks with guns?” For some of us the answer is sadly going to be, “Oh. We doubled down on phonics instruction.”
November 7, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I think about what we, as educators, will say in years from now when we are asked, “How did you help kids through the crisis when human beings were being dragged off the streets by masked folks with guns?” For some of us the answer is sadly going to be, “Oh. We doubled down on phonics instruction.”
This year the letter home about Halloween costumes and ways to help us ensure they are not harmful, feels particularly important. Teachers, please feel free to use in whatever ways feel helpful!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Halloween Letter Home
Dear Families and Caretakers, Halloween is quickly approaching! While dressing up and celebrating the holiday provide opportunities for fun and community building, they can also create situations w...
docs.google.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
This year the letter home about Halloween costumes and ways to help us ensure they are not harmful, feels particularly important. Teachers, please feel free to use in whatever ways feel helpful!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
If you want to teach students to read media critically, to seek out reliable resources and multiple perspectives and support them as they process their emotions in response to that, that is important work that must be done with care and such deliberate intentions. That does NOT happen in a debate.
October 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
If you want to teach students to read media critically, to seek out reliable resources and multiple perspectives and support them as they process their emotions in response to that, that is important work that must be done with care and such deliberate intentions. That does NOT happen in a debate.
Teachers: DO NOT DEBATE ICE IN YOUR CLASSROOM! To ask students to witness their own humanity and safety being debated by their classmates is harmful. This is a reality that is causing harm and fear and pain to so many young people.
October 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Teachers: DO NOT DEBATE ICE IN YOUR CLASSROOM! To ask students to witness their own humanity and safety being debated by their classmates is harmful. This is a reality that is causing harm and fear and pain to so many young people.
What they are asking us to do is not teaching. It is moving through curriculum. And I fear for what that means for our students.
October 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
What they are asking us to do is not teaching. It is moving through curriculum. And I fear for what that means for our students.
Yes, there is good reason to be deeply concerned about what is happening in our schools. But no, it is not because of our test scores.
September 21, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Yes, there is good reason to be deeply concerned about what is happening in our schools. But no, it is not because of our test scores.
Reposted by Jess Lifshitz
We hope you’ll join us in the work of building toolkits that help us create LGBTQ-affirming schools. Register today to secure your spot! 2/2 #IREL25
September 5, 2025 at 2:03 AM
We hope you’ll join us in the work of building toolkits that help us create LGBTQ-affirming schools. Register today to secure your spot! 2/2 #IREL25
Reposted by Jess Lifshitz
We can’t imagine moving through the world of education without the light that Jess consistently provides for children, families, and communities. Now more than ever we need this light and each other. 1/2
September 5, 2025 at 2:03 AM
We can’t imagine moving through the world of education without the light that Jess consistently provides for children, families, and communities. Now more than ever we need this light and each other. 1/2
Join us virtually on Saturday, September 27th. Find more information at theirel.org.
The Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy
Remixed and Reimagined. Practical and Radical. Liberatory Literacy Instruction.
theirel.org
August 31, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Join us virtually on Saturday, September 27th. Find more information at theirel.org.
The school year has started and I find myself already in desperate need of the kind of community rooted in justice and liberation. I am so grateful that @sonjacherrypaul.bsky.social and @triciaebarvia.bsky.social are bringing us back together again for another Teaching Towards Freedom.
August 31, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The school year has started and I find myself already in desperate need of the kind of community rooted in justice and liberation. I am so grateful that @sonjacherrypaul.bsky.social and @triciaebarvia.bsky.social are bringing us back together again for another Teaching Towards Freedom.
Might I add that I’m terrified of what this coming year will bring.
August 8, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Might I add that I’m terrified of what this coming year will bring.
Y’all. I’m trying something new this year. I am going to completely ignore the start of the school year. Until it arrives. I’m going to hold on to summer until it is gone. I’m going to welcome my students with a big open heart and a lot of love and whatever I can plan in the time I’m given.
August 8, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Y’all. I’m trying something new this year. I am going to completely ignore the start of the school year. Until it arrives. I’m going to hold on to summer until it is gone. I’m going to welcome my students with a big open heart and a lot of love and whatever I can plan in the time I’m given.