Reflections on teaching, parenting, and living
This past Friday I was privileged to present two sessions at the Virginia Association of Teachers of English. One of which was titled Write This! Not That! and examined the typical problems students run in to when writing on imagery, diction, syntax, and narrative pace. Here is the portion on the complex device of imagery. ... Continue Reading →
You have stacks of papers to grade, two parent conferences this week, a school improvement report to file, and (fill-in-the-blank here with your additional extra-curricular, home, and life responsibilities). You do not think that you can do one more thing this week, but then a student catches you in the hall and says, “Could you... Continue Reading →
Happy Birthday to me. 38. As I look around the pages of books that encompass my life, I find very few heroes, heroines, or even villains my exact age. To me, this is disappointing. Thirty-five was my favorite birthday of literary significance with Lady Bracknell of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest boldly proclaiming,... Continue Reading →
This week I burnt the beans. This is what happens when you try to play a spirited game of badminton in the driveway with your child while cooking supper. Not only were we playing badminton, but we were working on his spelling words for the week; spelling one letter per hit: P-E-R-F-E-C-T. I burnt the... Continue Reading →
Today my son Liam turns five. This really is a birthday to celebrate as he begins his final year of preschool. He is growing and changing, while still keeping his love of cooking, crafts, and his “doggy”. This birthday also marks the end of Liam’s excited trips from the mailbox each month for a new... Continue Reading →
The first month of school has really been about trying new things in my classroom. For the last several years I would have good intentions to try new approaches in my classroom or teach new texts. I found that if I waited to implement these things later in the year, comfort and routine would take... Continue Reading →
As my youngest son enters his last year of preschool, I am increasingly amazed at everything that preschool and elementary schools teachers do. I knew I could never teach in a classroom full of young children, and most elementary school teachers feel the same way about the idea of teaching teenagers. I like small children.... Continue Reading →
One of my first assignments for my AP Literature students the past two years is to write about their lives through a journey of four books. I made a commitment in my teaching manifesto to write alongside my students, so I will attempt to narrow this list to choose four books that have been significant in... Continue Reading →
But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man That he didn't, didn't already have To my former students heading to college, The first week of summer break I heard the song "Tin Man" by America. The lines “But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man/That he didn't, didn't already have” kept running... Continue Reading →
Tomorrow I will welcome new students and their parents (and likely many recent alumni) into my classroom for open house. This fresh start is the perfect time to set some "gutsy goals" as we look ahead towards 180 days of learning together. I will pray for my students, individually and collectively. I will fail spectacularly.... Continue Reading →
Learning Curve 