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Jason Himsl (he/him/his)

@jasonhimsl.bsky.social
178 followers 158 following 119 posts

Education Officer in Ontario’s Ministry of Education where I'm supporting ELL and Secondary English curriculum writing. Passionate advocate for kids and literacy. Any opinions expressed are solely my own.

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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This remains an excellent story about him (and a useful reminder that talent is not meted out equally). www.si.com/extra-mustar...
si.com
Brian Scalabrine Torches Teenager Who Foolishly Challenged Him to One-on-One
Even NBA benchwarmers are ungodly basketball players.
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Walking Eagle News @theeagleist.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
BREAKING: sucks to have stuff renamed by white people, doesn’t it?
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kottke.org @kottke.org · 26/08/2026
On a 1987 episode of her variety show Dolly, Dolly Parton was joined by Kermit the Frog for a lovely rendition of Sly and the Family Stone's 1968 hit Everyday People. 💞 [kottke.org]
kottke.org
Dolly Parton and Kermit the Frog Sing Everyday People (1987)
On the fifth episode of her late 80s variety show Dolly, Dolly Parton was joined by Kermit the Frog for a lovely rendition of Sly and the Family Stone’s 1968 hit Everyday People. You can also watch the clip on I
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David Atkinson @davidatkinsonpoet.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Today I was proud to take part in a panel discussion sharing my story about being the parent of a trans child I love this poem by Jay Hulme. It is about grace & belonging It's about the possibility of being loved exactly as you are & accepting this truth. #poetry #poemoftheday #Pride #LoveIsLove
Poem - 'Jesus at the Gay Bar' by Jay Hulme
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Marcus Luther @marcusluther.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Annual reminder that ending the school year by asking students to create a project about what is meaningful to them and then share it with classmates is the absolute best way to end the school year. Once again, absolutely inspired walking out of the classroom today. So much hope.
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simoinfinite.bsky.social @simoinfinite.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Base-12 and base-60 systems the Babylonians inherited from Sumerians, and kindly wrote it down ~5000 years ago. If you bend one of your hands fingers (exclude the thumb)you have 3 points x 4=12. If you count this 12 as one set for each of the fingers in the other hand, 12 x5=60.
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 14/04/2026
Can we have a moment of your time?  ‘Minute’ comes from the Late Latin ‘minuta,’ referring to 1/60 of a unit, such as an hour.  ‘Second’ comes from the Medieval Latin ‘secunda,’ short for ‘secunda minuta,’ literally “second minute” (1/60 of a minute).
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 11/04/2026
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little." ‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.” So a napkin is a little tablecloth. 10/10, no notes.
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 08/04/2026
Wake up, kids We got the dreamers disease. ‘Radical’ comes from a Latin word meaning "root." Because roots are the deepest part of a plant, ‘radical’ came to describe things understood as fundamental or essential. ‘Radical change’ was a change at the root of a system.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
I enjoyed this piece a great deal. I'd certainly like to see English classrooms embrace more of the "knowledge commons" ethos.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Thanks for the discussion. I'll definitely give this a read today.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
I certainly won't defend the for-profit programs that have insinuated themselves into classrooms, but nor can I defend a discipline that reflexively shrugs off reflection about what English and literacy look like in 2026. Ownership of the discipline requires active and aware stewardship of it. 3/3
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
In my 26th year in education, I wonder sometimes how much we're collectively open to wrestling with this blurring and messiness. A lot of classrooms today look too much like the ones I sat in as a HS student in the early 1990s. The discipline needs to continually evolve and renew itself. 2/3
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Canadian educator and provincial curriculum writer here, so my perspective is a little different here. I'm sitting, however, with: "The lines between academic, digital, and public literacies are blurring in ways that are messy, uneven, and not without their own serious problems" 1/3
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John Warner @biblioracle.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
When FYW students told me it took them 3-5 hours to write a draft of a 750 word piece, I had them track interruptions from their phones and some said they had more than 60 notifications per hour. I let them draw their own conclusions on what to do after these observations. Only some chose silencing.
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kottke.org @kottke.org · 10/03/2026
The Shape of Paris, a balletic short film of skateboarder Andy Anderson zooming, grinding, spinning, and floating around Paris in the summertime. "This is the cleanest footage I've ever seen. The cinematography and color grading is insane." [kottke.org]
kottke.org
The Shape of Paris
The Shape of Paris is a balletic short film of skateboarder Andy Anderson zooming, grinding, spinning, and floating around Paris in the summertime. It is also beautifully shot by Brett Novak; Paris has never looked bette
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John Warner @biblioracle.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Sneak preview of the paperback version of More Than Words, including some updated chapters and additional discussion material. Coming October.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
For a prominent linguist.
A photo of a lingcod swimming in its natural environment with the text "Gretchen McCulloch: Figure of Speech" below it.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Thanks so much. I've just dipped my toe in so far, but I'm enjoying it.
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Ontario Library Association @onlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
That's a wrap on #FTRW26! Thank you to all the partners - Library and Archives Canada, Canadian Urban Libraries Council, and the Book and Periodical Council - who came together to celebrate our #FreedomToRead.
A word graphic reads: Freedom to Read Week (February 22 to February 28, 2026)

L'image lit : Semaine de la liberté d’expression (Du 22 février au 28 février 2026)
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
(And now to start tunneling through the @lingthusiasm.com podcast...)
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Just finished the consistently excellent #BecauseInternet. While I don't have access to a lamb, I'll name the first lingcod I encounter after @gretchenmcculloch.com to celebrate a book I enjoyed and learned a lot from. I really loved her view of the internet and its power to democratize language.
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Canadian Paintings @canadianpaintings.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
This Painting is a Mirror Christi Belcourt ~ Métis 2012
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
I'm increasingly of the mind that if kids are going to engage in formal writing, it should be about a topic they're familiar with and have picked themselves. I find it can be hard to assess their skill development as writers when it's conflated with their content knowledge.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
I'm most of the way through @gretchenmcculloch.com's #BecauseInternet and am *thoroughly* enjoying it. I keep coming back to her intro, though, and would love for the English teachers out there to spend some time sitting with the ideas here.
An excerpt from Gretchen McCulloch's "Because Internet" that addresses the idea that the talk that we hear in polished texts like movies, news programs, audiobooks, and speeches bears little resemblance to what we experience in real life.An excerpt from Gretchen McCulloch's "Because Internet" that extends the idea about unrealistic communication and draws important connections to how we learn to read and write - that educational experiences privilege polished writing that focus on minimizing errors rather than engaging in authentic acts of communication.
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The Pudding @pudding.cool · 26/02/2026
The world feels quite precarious right now—and sometimes we forget what it feels like to pursue happiness. @alv9n.com digs into a study that asked more than 10,000 people to share their joy. From personal growth to friends and family, here’s our happiness mapped. pudding.cool/2026/02/happ...
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Ontario Library Association @onlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
📢 #FTRW26 has officially begun! This week, we're sharing events and activities across Canada to celebrate the #FreedomToRead. Follow the hashtag or visit freedomtoread.ca to find events near you.
A word graphic reads: Freedom to Read Week (February 22 to February 28, 2026)

L'image lit : Semaine de la liberté d’expression (Du 22 février au 28 février 2026)
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
I'm happy to share that I'll once again be slipping into the role of student in my old stomping grounds. I'm looking forward to all of the new learning that will come my way.
An excerpt from a letter from Western University admitting me to the Doctor of Education program in Curriculum and Pedagogy beginning in September 2026.
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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 11/02/2026
When high school English teacher @thevogelman.bsky.social made space for open dialogue about AI, students responded with curiosity, candor, and insights that helped to shape the classroom culture. 💬 #EduSky
edutopia.org
AI Transparency Surveys: A Tool for Navigating Student Choices Together
A high school English teacher wondered: What happens when students can openly discuss AI boundaries, then reflect on their own use through a simple survey?
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
I found the section with advice for high school students to be particularly effective here.
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Larry Ferlazzo @larryferlazzo.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Where Is A.I. Taking Us? Eight Leading Thinkers Share Their Visions. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Carl Benedikt Frey Economist
A.I. tutors may already outperform most human teachers, but they also make shortcuts tempting and can hinder genuine exploration. We need to set aside A.I.-free time to read and explore independently, and encourage using A.I. tutors to question and probe one’s own understanding.
Moreover, we should place greater emphasis on in-person, tutorial-style teaching in which students debate, defend their views and are pushed to articulate their reasoning.
Gary Marcus
Gary Marcus Cognitive scientist
Most of the impact has been negative; high schools and colleges are at a loss as to how to proceed now that term papers are no longer valid either as an evaluation or as a means to get students to think. Most other applications remain speculative.
Helen Toner
Helen Toner A.I. policy researcher
Education was already due for a significant shake-up, so the need to adapt to new A.I. tools might be a blessing in disguise.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
I'm happy to be able to help.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
It's got a very utopian 60s feel about it, but Richard Brautigan's "All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace" may work for you. www.readingdesign.org/all-watched-...
readingdesign.org
All Watched Over by Machines — R / D
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 29/01/2026
In English, adjectives seem to follow a specific order: opinion - size - age - shape - color - origin - material - purpose - noun We’re steeped in the pattern from birth, and apply it effortlessly.
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 29/01/2026
Ok, which one sounds better? A) It’s an old little amazing house. B) It’s an amazing little old house. B, right? Which of these? 1) She was wearing a huge green raincoat. 2) She was wearing a green huge raincoat. You chose 1, didn't you? WHY??
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Hopefully you'll find this helpful. A colleague and I have been regularly updating this Padlet with prospective mentor texts that we find interesting and valuable. We've leaned hard into multimodality, so you'll find a range of text types under each of the categories. padlet.com/himsjaso1809...
padlet.com
7-12 English/Language - Mentor Texts
Texts you can use to inspire your speaking, writing and creating!
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
I'd wager that's so he can lock into a long-term deal should he stay healthy after the first two.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
4/$240M is just crazy money. I'm floored by that number.
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 08/01/2026
'E' before 'i,' when the “rule” feels like a lie...
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Nardwuar the Human Serviette @nardwuarserviette.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
I am honoured to announce I’ve been appointed as a member to the Order of Canada. Thank you to everyone for the support! I dedicate this to my late Mom who taught me so much about history, local independent media & research. I know that she would be, like me, screaming with joy! #orderofcanada
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 28/12/2025
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little." ‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.” So a napkin is a little tablecloth. 10/10, no notes.
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George Janeteas @georgejaneteas.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Reflecting on the incredible work of the #TDSB Middle Years Digital Storytelling initiative with Apple. From drawing and video creation to interactive digital storytelling, teachers are discovering powerful ways to help students communicate their ideas with authenticity, creativity, and confidence.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
The tragedy of Ziggy's character arc really landed for me with a rewatch. I really enjoyed all of his David Simon collaborations.
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John Warner @biblioracle.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
And I'll add that one of the reasons why students may not value the experience of writing is because much of the writing they're asked to do in school does not require thinking. In fact, they're given lots of methods (templates, et al) that actively discourage thinking.
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Baseball Reference @baseball-reference.com · 27/11/2025
118 days until Opening Day
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
I had a student ask me once how I could answer so many questions about Romeo and Juliet so quickly. I told him it's a lot easier when you've read or watched it 40 times.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
It's a position that has evolved over the course of my career. Rookie me would have absolutely voted for 3+. While I'm an English major and love literature, every part of me now believes that our first responsibility is to prepare students for the literacy landscape of 2025 and beyond.
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
There are many traditional practices in English classrooms that I *wish* teachers would reevaluate. If there's learning in Shakespeare that can't be achieved in any other way, then go for it. If there are more current, relevant, and engaging ways to achieve the same ends, why not use them? 5/5
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Jason Himsl (he/him/his) @jasonhimsl.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
And by no means am I maligning Parasite - it's a movie that deals with love, struggle, greed, power, ignorance, and inequality. These are issues every bit as universal as anything Shakespeare wrote about. Why then a month for Shakespeare but Bong Joon Ho would instead likely be dismissed? 4/5
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