I am a teacher and author committed to questioning school practices that silence children and to building classrooms rooted in trust, identity, and joy.
From 2008 to 2022, I taught elementary and middle school in the United States. Today, I teach primary students in the Danish public school system after moving back home in 2022. Across both systems, my work has centered on one core belief: school does not have to be built on compliance. It can be built on trust, identity, and meaningful literacy.
In my classroom, students’ identities drive our work. We embed choice, reflection, and personal goal-setting into our days. Reading and writing identity sit at the heart of what we do, alongside the ongoing work of understanding ourselves and each other. Children learn best when they feel safe, valued, challenged, and seen — and when they have real ownership over their learning.
I am the author of four professional books for educators, including Passionate Learners, Passionate Readers, Empowered Schools, Empowered Students, and Reimagining Literacy Through Global Collaboration. The third edition of Passionate Learners was released in 2023. Through my writing, I share practical, classroom-tested ideas for educators who want to create student-centered, choice-driven learning spaces.
In 2010, I founded the Global Read Aloud, a free global literacy initiative built on a simple idea: one book to connect the world. Since then, millions of students across more than 85 countries have connected through shared reading experiences. It continues to be proof that books, kids, and a bit of technology can build something extraordinary.
My work has been recognized with several awards, including the 2022 WCTE Award for Diversity and Inclusion and the 2015 ISTE Award for Innovation in Global Collaboration, and has been featured by The New York Times, The Guardian, Publishers Weekly, Literacy Today, Educational Leadership, and School Library Journal. Still, the moments that matter most are the quiet ones — like when a child who “hates reading” suddenly refuses to put a book down.
This blog, which has been running since 2010, is where I reflect, question, advocate, and occasionally rant. It is not the voice of my employer. It is mine. My thinking evolves, just like my practice does.
I speak, write, and collaborate with educators around the world, working to make school more meaningful, more engaging, and more human. If we can add a little humor along the way, even better.
At the heart of everything I do is this belief:
Every child deserves to belong.
Every child deserves an education that honors who they are and who they can become.
Working With Me
I collaborate with schools, districts, and organizations globally through:
– Keynotes and conference sessions
– Professional development workshops (virtual and in person)
– Ongoing literacy coaching
– Collaborative consulting and facilitation
My work focuses on reading and writing identity, student agency, classroom culture, global collaboration, and sustainable literacy practices rooted in trust and choice.
If you are interested in working together, you can reach me at: psripp@gmail.com
You can also connect with me on Instagram or continue the conversation here on the blog.
A Note on Endorsements
I am not sponsored by publishers or organizations, and I do not sell my opinion. Publishers occasionally send books for consideration in connection with the Global Read Aloud, but I am not paid to promote them. When I recommend a book, it is because I genuinely believe in it.
I am, however, a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means that some links on this site may be affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them—at no additional cost to you.
Pernille Ripp 
What you’re doing is amazing. If you have a moment, please have a look at our website http://www.ourboox.com which allows students and teachers to create and share their own digital picture books. It’s completely free of course. Please help us encourage “reverse literacy” – children who write picture books, as well as read them!!
Do you have a post anywhere on here explaining how you do your lesson plans for the week? The structure of your class periods? I too am starting a blog (actually already started) because I won the Patterson Partnership grant through James Patterson and Scholastic this summer. I’m bringing “choice” to the 7th grade, even if I cannot entice my coworkers to try it out work me 🙂
I don’t have a post, however, all of these things I wrote about in my book Passionate Learners, which comes out September 22nd.
I would love to check out your blog. I am always encouraging colleagues to use choice in the secondary world 🙂
How do you get by with limited grades? Our districts here require 3 recorded grades weekly, minimum. Do you do fewer?
I do, we are a personalized learning district any way so it wouldn’t make sense to ask people to do three grades a week. Instead we do a lot of goal setting and students report on their goals. We also do SBG and so that helps too because a lot of their work is formative rather than summative.
Hi Admin,
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Hello Pernille. My name is Andra Clarke, I’m an early childhood educator and once a month I’m involved with a non-profit organization that works with children with Down Syndrome. I recently found your website as I’ve been looking for a good questionnaire parents can use to give to teachers about their child. May I use your parent beginning of the year survey? I would probably give it to about 30-40 parents this year and about 20 parents each year there after. I have modified it a tiny bit. I just wanted to get permission first before I pass it out to parents.
Thank you for your time and all the good work you appear to be doing!!!
Yes, you may
Thank you so much Pernille!
How can I find out what other schools are participating. I am interested in working with a school in Copenhagen.
Hi Pernille, I was conducting a PD for a network of teachers in India last Monday and the recurring questions were about getting students excited about reading. You are my go to person about this, so I hope you don’t mind me giving them a link to this site. As a senior secondary English teacher I have a limited understanding of the primary/middle school development phase.
Fascinating reading your story since we’ve worked together. Thought of you watching a Wisconsin football game today and seeing one of our and your students J. H. playing major college football in the Big Ten.