Meet Pete Laffin of Write On

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pete Laffin.

Hi Pete, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In short, I was a classroom literacy teacher who wasn’t satisfied with the pedagogical constraints imposed upon me. There was a better way to improve the outcomes of my students, particularly those at the margins of capability.

More could be done to raise the level of the lowest achievers, and more could be done to unlock the potential of the brightest. But above all, more could be done to help kids fall in love with the written word.

The key was to emphasize the great “why” of literacy: We write and read to deepen our relationship to reality. It’s not just another task on a long list of “to-dos” in a given day, and it should never be framed as such. Rather, it’s an unparalleled opportunity to discover meaning.

I built a business on this principle ten years ago. I haven’t looked back.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
First off, I’m a teacher, not a businessman. Learning the ins and outs of operating privately has been extremely challenging. But once I got the basics down, I could put all of my energy into my practice. Like all challenges, this one was just another opportunity to fortify and grow.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The one thing I’d like my practice to be known for above all is that we have fun. Every day, every session, every student. We smile when we have a pencil in hand. We crack up at each other. We enjoy our time together. Everything flows from there.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Three books I’d recommend to anyone attempting to innovate in their corner of education are: How We Learn, by Benedict Carey, Emotional Success by David DeSteno, and The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge.

Contact Info:

• Email: pete.writeoncolorado@gmail.com
• Website: www.writeoncolorado.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8eQDe-AXqs
• Other: www.rogerthathandwriting.com

Image Credits:
Caroline Colvin Photography