Category: Featured
teaching style: the art of the em dash.
My writers struggle when threy receive feedback to “be more sophisticated” or “elevate your level of sophistication.” So, a few years ago, I began rethinking my approach to writing instruction—for my English classes and my Creative Writing ones. I decided to break Sophisticated Writing… Continue Reading “teaching style: the art of the em dash.”
the gratitude project (2023).
Six years ago, during Thanksgiving week, I began assigning what I lovingly call “The Gratitude Project.” Essentially, I forced my students–and myself–to reflect on the Good in our lives in the midst of all of the Bad. And it quickly became one of my… Continue Reading “the gratitude project (2023).”
why we stay.
Teachers are still leaving by the droves. Unless you’re on a media fast, you’ve heard all about it. But these aren’t newbies, 44% of whom typically quit within five years. (That’s pre-pandemic data, by the way.) No, these are seasoned teachers simply walking away… Continue Reading “why we stay.”
when numbahs don’t lie (2022-3).
Students can’t be reduced to a number. They can’t be defined by their results on a common assessment, reduced to where they fall on a state test, nor limited by their SAT/ACT scores. However, sometimes numbers don’t lie. With a towering goal of helping students fall… Continue Reading “when numbahs don’t lie (2022-3).”
our breakup letters to 2022
After a pretty rough 2020 and its Bait-and-Switch cousin 2021, we were all excited for a shiny new 2022. Until we had to live through it. So, what better way to cut free than to write Dear John letters to 2020 and 2021. (Our… Continue Reading “our breakup letters to 2022”
the gratitude project (2022).
Back in 2017, during Thanksgiving week, I began assigning what I lovingly call “The Gratitude Project.” Essentially, I forced my students–and myself–to reflect on the Good in our lives in the midst of all of the Bad. And it quickly became one of… Continue Reading “the gratitude project (2022).”
when numbahs don’t lie (2021-2).
Students can’t be reduced to a number. They can’t be defined by their results on a common assessment, reduced to where they fall on a state test, nor limited by their SAT/ACT scores. However, sometimes numbers don’t lie. With a towering goal of helping students fall… Continue Reading “when numbahs don’t lie (2021-2).”
the myth of the working (teacher) mom.
I beat myself up. A lot. Like a lot a lot. I know I’m not alone–especially for those of us who are juggling responsibilities at home AND at school. Whether we’re raising babies or tolerating teenagers or caring for elderly parents or working second… Continue Reading “the myth of the working (teacher) mom.”
all i really need to know i learned in the covid classroom.
(with apologies to Robert Fulghum) In 1986, Robert Fulghum’s bestseller All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten reminded us to return to the basics. Fulghum’s premise was, if we just recalled the principles from kindergarten (e.g., share, play nice, clean up… Continue Reading “all i really need to know i learned in the covid classroom.”
our break-up letters to 2020.
My Creative Writers keep Writers’ Notebooks, housing writing exercises we complete each week. Some entries are brainstorms, others are single-sitting warm-ups, and others are the beginnings of pieces we’ll develop at a later date. It seems fitting, then, that our final entry for 2020… Continue Reading “our break-up letters to 2020.”
WHERE OTHERS GO
THE LIFELONG LEARNER 