Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
20 Best Texts to Teach in January: Fresh Starts, New Beginnings, and Smart Classroom Momentum
January is one of the most important — and underestimated — teaching months of the year. After the break, students don’t need noise or novelty; they need texts that rebuild focus, invite reflection, and spark meaningful discussion. This curated list of 20 novels, short stories, poems, films, and podcasts offers flexible, high-impact texts that work across ages and formats, helping you reset classroom momentum without overloading your planning.
How I’m Setting My Business Goals for 2026 (And Why Target-Setting Isn’t Just for Students)
As teachers, we spend our working lives helping students set clear, meaningful targets — yet we rarely give ourselves the same structure. This year, I decided to change that. In this post, I share how I’m applying classroom strategies to my business planning for 2026, why goal-setting protects creativity rather than restricting it, and how a more intentional approach is helping Ink & Insights grow with clarity and purpose.