Archive - Desk Notes from Mr. Merrill

13: Turning My Classroom Into A Magazine Company

A consideration for my classroom next year.

Jun 17 •

Brandon Merrill

March 2025

12: The Work of Teaching is Restoring Value

...and school gets in the way

Mar 7 •

Brandon Merrill

February 2025

11: Mary Oliver & Extraordinary Teaching

I made structural changes in my class four weeks ago. Here's how it's going.

Feb 4 •

Brandon Merrill

January 2025

Will The Real Narrator Please Stand Up?

Teach students the power of narrators with this 15-20 minute exercise. (It involves a mini-field trip in your own school.)

Jan 28 •

Brandon Merrill

10: Redesigned Class Structure: Emphasizing Goals, Agency, and Reflection

Changes to how I'm ungrading.

Jan 20 •

Brandon Merrill

December 2024

November 2024

To Read Better, Write a Letter

A simple structure that leads to great reading (and great writing).

Nov 23, 2024 •

Brandon Merrill

07: Schools Need New Gods — What You Do > What You Say — Letters Rock

Why do we do this school thing?

Nov 19, 2024 •

Brandon Merrill

When Writing, Unexpect the Expected

A simple exercise for students to freshen up their writing.

Nov 9, 2024 •

Brandon Merrill

06: What is an English Teacher? — No More Units — Writing Brains

How we teach changes the questions our students ask.

Nov 5, 2024 •

Brandon Merrill

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