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Anna H

@maestrahelzer.bsky.social
136 followers 114 following 232 posts

she/her Spanish teacher, ELCA Lutheran, fan of rights and joy for all as well as books, prairies, and music Personal account

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Anna H @maestrahelzer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Excellent article quoting local experts!
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Anna H @maestrahelzer.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Just finished A Man On The Inside on Netflix - this easter egg (Easter rock?) scene mid-finale made me smile. Grateful for the work of Mike Schur and his many teams of talented people. (Might have to open the picture to see all three stones)
Picture of a TV screen showing three stones with writing on them. The left one says “Find your team and get to work,” the center “you’re never too old to start a new adventure,” and the third “the wave returns to the ocean.”
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Anna H @maestrahelzer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Just bought one of these (on sale!!!) and it arrived this week. So cute, comfy, and with INCREDIBLE pockets!! Check out the other cute patterns!
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🚗 Computer Caitlin 🧀 @teacherontopic.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I mostly buy books that I already read because I want to read them again, or reference them. Guess how I read them first!
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Chris Helzer @prairieecologist.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Hubbard Fellowship – Applications Due September 27, 2026 Are you a recent college graduate looking for a career in conservation? Or will you be a recent college graduate by December? Would you like a year-long position in which you can gain a ton of different experiences without having to change…
prairieecologist.com
Hubbard Fellowship – Applications Due September 27, 2026
Are you a recent college graduate looking for a career in conservation? Or will you be a recent college graduate by December? Would you like a year-long position in which you can gain a ton of different experiences without having to change jobs/locations every few months? The Hubbard Fellowship with The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska is a great way to complement your college education with real life experience - and lots of it.
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Howard Sherman @hesherman.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Farewell to costume designer Bob Mackie, a designer of spectacular gowns for great divas, but also the creator of perhaps the greatest costume sight gag in history.
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Matt is Just Trying His Best @thegrampus.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Whoever decided to promote Coyote vs Acme by letting Wile E do an AMA using only signs deserves all the praise.
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Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 02/09/2026
I am a scientist – and the answer is climate change. Yes, there is nuance. Yes, it could take a long time to identify the precise mechanisms. But there is no question why ice and snow-related disasters are on the rise. Our planet is warming at an unprecedented rate, and humans are responsible.
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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
with alt text. this is so beautiful 💕
Dolly Partons IMAGINATION LIBRARY

Dear Imagination Library Graduate,

My, how time flies. It seems it was only yesterday when your family and friends read you your first story. You were just a baby. Now you're five years old and about to go to school. How exciting!
This may be your last book from my Imagination Library but you have to promise me you will keep on reading. If you go to your local public library you will find a great number of books just for kids your age. Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places.
I hope you have a great time in school. I bet your school will even have a library where you can check out books. You and all of your friends are very special. There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go.

Just remember the lessons my family taught me - dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you. You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be.

You are terrific, and remember...
I Will Always Love You,
Dolly
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 25/08/2026
Do not normalize children dying from measles. Measles was previously eliminated in the US, thanks to vaccines. When children die from measles, it means that adults have catastrophically failed to protect them because they have rejected basic science.
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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Busco amigos de correspondencia (email o videollamada) para mis estudiantes de 11-14 años. Envíame un mensaje para mas detailles. Favor de compartir. 😊
Foto de un gato con un libro. El título del libro es El escape cubano. El gato tiene un hocico blanco y ojos verdes.
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Anna H @maestrahelzer.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Downloading Libby two years ago got me back into reading, which I love deeply, and helped me start easing away from such frequent social media use. Exactly this: it’s easier to switch apps to a constantly available resource than it is put the whole phone down! #supportyourlibrary #readbooks
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Anna H @maestrahelzer.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
#langchat
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Crawford Kilian @crof.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Annals of Unsurprising Results: Undocumented migration does not raise crime rates, huge study finds www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Undocumented migration does not raise crime rates, huge study finds
Analysis of neighbourhoods in more than 100 US cities finds no evidence that rising numbers of undocumented immigrants are linked with violent crime.
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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 17/10/2024
ACCESSIBILITY / ALT TEXT: It's very easy to add "alt text"—short descriptions of images for people with visual and cognitive impairments—and Bluesky users appreciate it! Click on an image while you're uploading it to enter text, and follow the guidelines below. (You can even turn on a reminder!) 🧵
ALT text copied and pasted from the linked website: An infographic titled “How To Write Alt Text” featuring a photo of a capybara. Parts of alt text are divided by color, including identify who, expression, description, colour, and interesting features. The finished description reads “A capybara looking relaxed in a hot spa. Yellow yuzu fruits are floating in the water, and one is balanced on the top of the capybara’s head.”Bluesky settings panel:

Accessibility Settings
Alt text
Require alt text before posting
Display larger alt text badges

Media
Disable autoplay for videos and GIFs
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Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg @theradr.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The LIST of actors telling us they do not give a SHIT abt the lives, safety, personhood, dignity of human beings that this woman is trying to legislate out of existence* because a tiny bit more fame and a bigger paycheck matter more whew *yes that's genocide **trans people will always exist
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merebeing.bsky.social @merebeing.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Anyway! Do you like a man who is sad but Handling It With Help From His Friends and bureaucracy that actually works and helps people at least sometimes? Then BOY DO I HAVE A BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU argyllproductions.com/product/pala...
argyllproductions.com
Paladin’s Grace (Saint of Steel Book 1)
Stephen’s god died on the longest day of the year… Three years later, Stephen is a broken paladin, living only for the chance to be useful before he dies. But all that changes when he encounters a …
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Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 02/08/2026
So, ultimately: I'd love to see some kind of study looking at the relationship between how fast students can type on a standard keyboard and how likely they are to jump to AI when asked to type a lengthy (and grammatically correct) answer to a prompt. 11/
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jessamyn @librarian.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
I work at a public library. People who want to use AI seem to have no trouble doing so. People who don't want to use AI have a harder time. I crowdsourced and then finalized this document "How to disable or avoid intrusive AI" and then gave it a short URL: notoai.org Please pass along if it's useful
An aircraft passenger oxygen mask: a drop down passenger mask with air bag and yellow plastic mouth and nose cover, oxygen tube has been cut; Demonstration model used by flight attendant crew for passenger instruction. Has text on the side indicating that it's non-functional.
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🌈Dr. Frizzle @swilua.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Success isn’t something we achieve in spite of failure. Failure is a requisite part of success. Failure is as fundamental to success as work, as effort, as intent, as practice.
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laperry2.bsky.social @laperry2.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
www.worseonpurpose.com/p/your-cookw...
worseonpurpose.com
Your Cookware Got Worse On Purpose
One buyout firm quietly collected Pyrex, Corelle, Instant Pot, and Oneida. Farberware is a name on a 200-year lease. And the pans still worth buying.
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Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg @theradr.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Please? 1) ALT-TEXT GRAPHICS. It's good internet behavior. Accessibility matters. 2) Please do not ask strangers online qs that (basic/non-AI) Google can answer. It's just rude to demand their time. 3) Check someone's profile before you decide you know their deal & start yelling at them? OK?
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Peggy Flanagan @peggyflanagan.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
To date, immigration officials have shot and killed 11 people, including two Minnesotans. Across the country, they operate with no respect for human life, the law, or consequences. There's no reforming this agency. Rip it apart.
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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Wickham and Lydia have just run off and if you aren’t reading the @trungles.com thread yet it’s an excellent day to start (the Jane shade really makes me laugh. there is such a thing as being too nice!)
Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com • 1h
"Our distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother believe the worst, but! cannot think so ill of him."
Jane.

Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com • 1h
Jane.

Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com • 1h
Jane.Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com • 33m
ELIZABETH: How's mom?
JANE: She's a little rattled, but otherwise she's fine. Totally fine.
JANE: She won't leave her room, though.

Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com • 33m
Jane.

Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com • 31m
MRS BENNET: "And now here's Mr. Bennet gone away, and I know he will fight Wickham, wherever he meets him; and then he will be killed, and what is to become of us all?"
Jane.
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OBrienSci 🦆🧊, ❌👑 @obriensci.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
This is awesome! ❤️ 1 thing I wish I would have done early: make a "generic" sub plan doc ea yr. Include anything that a sub will always need to know (schedule, rooms, times, supply locations, etc). Make a copy w/ the date you'll be out & just add the plan. SO MUCH EASIER w/ fewer mistakes.
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Chanea Bond @heymrsbond.com · 13/07/2026
Hey #EduSky I’ve revamped my “Before the first days!” checklist and it’s no longer ugly 😂😅 If you’re a new teacher: make a copy and even if you don’t fill it out, this document is full of questions you may not even know you have! Mentors: pass it along! 💛 Chanea canva.link/wpylcsy7837y...
Page 1 of Chanea’s “before the first days” checklist Mrs.
BEFORE THE FIRST DAYS
Your digital binder for the important things!

DO NOW
Do very soon
Personal: Your plan to care for yourself and your personhood.
Insurance provider? Premium? Network? Referral system?
Write it down!

Primary care physician information?

If none: What's your plan to find a primary care physician, friend? If yes: next appointment date?



Vision & dental benefits/providers/next appointment

Do you have a journal? (if no, get one! Digital Is great!)

• Can you commit to journaling at least once a week?

Mindfulness activities?

Who can you call when you're overwhelmed?

How many hours of sleep do you need? (be so for real!)

Plan to move your body when school starts?

Do you have a water bottle? (you need a water bottle!)

What's your plan for lunch during the school day? (you need sustenance, fam!)

Consider: What age-appropriate student behaviors might be triggering for you personally? (example: I HATE yelling and even when it's positive, it grates on my nerves)

Ideas on how to address this behavior before it becomes a problem for you?

Sources of information (list any websites, contacts, phone numbers, etc here to circle back to in order to address any of the above)
Page 2 of Before the first days checklist
Professional: Your plans to do the mechanics of your job
Where is the copy machine?
How do you get paper?
Who is your immediate boss? Your principal?
How many sick days do you have? Personal days?
How do you call in?
Sub plans? Who do you send them to? Where are they stored?
What should be included?
Who do you go to when you need supplies?
Restroom? Where do YOU go? Your students?
Restroom and hallway policy?
What are you teaching? Grade level? Content? Curriculum?
Do you have a PLC (professional learning community)? (When) do you meet?
Does your school have a learning management system? Do you know how to use it?
How do you document students' grades during the grading period?
What other duties are you responsible for? (hallway monitoring. lunch duty, after school, etc)
Sources of information (list any websites, contacts, phone numbers, etc here to circle back to in order to address any of the above)Page 3 of before the first days checklist Ius.
Pedagogical: Your plan for the type of teacher you want to be
How will you learn your students' names?
How will you reach out to home adults close to the beginning of the year?
Plan for sustaining contact?
What and where are your curriculum resources?
Lesson plans? Do you turn them in? Is there a template your
cenoo 1icoc?
What unit do you start the school year with?
Are you expected to stay paced with your team?
What standards are you supposed to teach during the first unit?
How will your students demonstrate mastery of these standards?
What data informs your decision-making?
Plan for addressing EPs and 504 plans? English language learners?
How will you document this? (link)
Where will you document reflection on your lessons and units?
How will you deal with due dates and late work?
What is your professional goal (what will you accomplish to become a better teacher?) How is that measured?
What is your student learning goal? How is it measured?
What interventions are in place to address minor behavioral issues within your classroom? (parent phone call, behavioral documentation sheet, class agreement, etc)
What interventions are in place to address major behavioral issues within your classroom? (counselor intervention, parent contact, office referral, coaching session, principal intervention, etc)
Sources of information (list any websites, contacts, phone numbers, etc here to circle back to in order to address any of the above)
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Janna Sophia 🏔️ @jannaphia.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Please help me finish my thesis so I can finally be free of academia 🫶✨ aidetectionsurvey.carrd.co
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Old School Punk Librarian @kennethf62.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Just a reminder. I'm always surprised how many people aren't aware of this. #Libraries
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ACLU @aclu.org · 29/06/2026
Trans kids should be able to exist freely, fully, and joyfully.
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Marcus Luther @marcusluther.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
If everything we do just comes down to “how can we save time,” then what are we even doing?
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👻madeline bOoOoOoOodent👻 @oldenoughtosay.com · 24/06/2026
today on “y’all need to learn that two things can be true at once” aircon is good and should be more easily accessible and affordable across Europe And we need to fix climate change yesterday because it should not be getting this hot in Europe and that is the bigger issue
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needs emotional tuning @persian-slipper.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
I think it's time for the yearly "how to deal with extreme heat" thread. Please reskeet and comment with advice.
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Dorie @doriec.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
As a language teacher I get asked my opinion on Duo all the time. I used to say that if you’re looking for a free way to get through the beginning levels, Duo is fine. But since they switched to an AI first model, I can no longer recommend them even for the novice stages.
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Jeanne Theoharis @jeannetheoharis.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Today is my 54th day of posts on Coretta Scott King. Juneteenth seems like an important time to revisit who she was, her leadership, faith & life of activism (that began long before meeting MLK) & how that is largely missed in dominant portrayals of her as a "beautiful helpmate." Check out the 🧵!
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Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com · 28/05/2026
So I’ve started Pride and Prejudice, and already I feel bad for Mrs Bennet.
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Anna H @maestrahelzer.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
#langchat this would be fun with FVR books! Thinking about my heritage speakers specifically but it would be doable with simple language for L2 learners as well
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Alex Shevrin Venet @asv.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
NEW from me on @edutopia.org www.edutopia.org/article/help...
edutopia.org
Helping Students Feel Safe in an Uncertain World
There’s no magic strategy for living through hard times, but educators can support students by creating spaces that feel safe and joyful.
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Jay Hulme @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
"In the era of artificial intelligence, when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human. We must lovingly safeguard the grandeur of humanity bestowed upon us"
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Come teach French at our middle school in Melrose, MA, or kindly spread the word! #langchat #edusky www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jo...
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The Trandalorian @charliejaneanders.com · 19/05/2026

why does google suck now

Google search feels worse today because its core experience has been traded for ad revenue, clutter, and automated summaries. Several systemic changes have contributed to this decline: 

YouTube
·Alex Falcone
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Ad Clutter and Sponsoring: Top results are heavily dominated by pay-per-click ads and sponsored content, forcing authentic organic results further down the page.
AI Overviews: AI summaries frequently occupy the most prominent space above the search results, which can sometimes scrape and surface incorrect information instead of directing you to the original source.
SEO Gaming: A constant arms race between Google and websites optimizing for search engines means that many results are filled with affiliate links and keywords, rather than genuine, high-quality human content.
Reduced Discoverability: Google has heavily deprioritized exact-match boolean searches (like putting phrases in quotes) and natural language queries, meaning it hides the niche human-written content you are actually looking for. 

seo2.onreact.com
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If you are frustrated with the current state of search, you can bypass the clutter by modifying your habits or trying alternative platforms:
Add "Reddit" to Queries: Many users rely on finding actual human discussions by appending site:reddit.com or just "reddit" to their search.
Try Privacy-Focused Engines: Alternatives like DuckDuckGo filter out the heavily bloated tracking and aggressive sponsored widgets.
Consider Paid Search Alternatives: Platforms like Kagi offer ad-free, premium search experiences designed to surface high-quality human content rather than SEO-farmed websites.
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Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg @theradr.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
❤️‍🔥📣 MORE THAN HALF YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US Y’all check these incredible stats — most Americans—*including OVER 50% OF TRUMP VOTERS — want trans-inclusive sex ed in schools. How much did they spend to try to make us hate our children? FAILED. ❗️Action item next skeet ❗️
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Anna H @maestrahelzer.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
#langchat
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Dorie @doriec.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Hearing people, this is a good opportunity to be an ally. When the speaker inevitably asks “can you all hear me?”, respond with “please use the microphone”. People in the room who need the microphone may not even hear the question being asked and therefore cannot answer.
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Marcus Luther @marcusluther.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Part of making teachers feel appreciated is empowering them with the autonomy to do what's best for their students and classroom. (That's more important than a gift card or balloon.)
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Dex Anderson @dexanderson.com · 02/05/2026
"It takes zero courage to love you." the ten year old trans kid in me is just ... welp, the 40yo me is crying.
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Kacey325 @kacey325.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
This is AWFUL and should get national press.
Neither of the Makoka brothers has been accused of or charged with a crime. Their immigration status was in good form as late as fall of last year. They are, by all accounts, model students and athletes at Hancock High School in Kiln, Mississippi, having recently transferred from the Piney Woods Country Life School in Rankin County. Now, they are in ICE custody, on track for deportation. Gail Baptiste, their host mother, was still in the bedroom when her granddaughter sprinted in.

“Nana,” she said, “they have the boys.”
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