Fort Bend ISD (October 28, 2024) – Sartartia Middle School English Language Arts (ELA) teacher Brittany Decker’s contribution to a published book helps teachers integrate social-emotional learning into the classroom using poetry. 

She discovered an online writing community, Ethical ELA, during the pandemic where teachers collaborate and share resources. 

“I love to write and was looking for something to feed my soul during my time at home,” Decker said.

Through her participation in the online forum, Decker’s writing prompt was selected to appear in 90 Ways of Community: Nurturing Safe & Inclusive Classrooms Writing One Poem at a Time. The published collection of writing prompts can be used by teachers to integrate poetry into their classrooms with an emphasis on fostering a safe and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and heard. 

Decker’s prompt “Written on a Shirt” was inspired by memories of her mom bringing her t-shirts from the places she travelled without her. The prompt encourages students to write a poem that is inspired by their favorite t-shirt.

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