In some ways, it seems like this summer has flown by. In others, it seems like it has lasted forever. Or maybe that’s just me. How has it been for you? I substitute teach at a year-round school. For the first time ever, I taught the last day of the 2024-25 school year and the … More What Are You Doing for Labor Day?
I’m sorry. I know I’ve fallen out of communication for several weeks now. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be in touch. Part of it was that I’ve just been really busy. I teach at a year-round school, so I taught the last day of school for 2024 (Wednesday July 2) and the first … More I’m Back…Thanks to One Person
Last year, I took my son to see the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington DC for the first time. To be honest, I’m not crazy about it. I get what they were trying to convey about him, but I think I would have made a different choice. Still, I believe it is … More Let’s Celebrate Dr. King With Hope Today
Well, I’m still processing all the events of January 6 and beyond. In the meantime, however, we have one final Inaugural Poem to enjoy before the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris next week. I actually had my high school students analyze this poem on January 5, the day before the madness struck. This … More Inauguration Poetic Countdown: One Week
EVERYONE in our house loves books! Preface: The following are my personal reflections on how white bias becomes institutionalized in high school literature classes. I teach group literature classes to homeschool students, but have never taught in a conventional public or private school, so my perspective reflects that. Also, I earned a Masters degree in … More How White Bias Becomes Institutionalized in Literature Classes II: Part 2- Teacher Work Load
Today was my last poetry unit for this academic year with my students. As glad as I am that I get to keep teaching via technology, it isn’t the same. I always get a little emotional at the end of every school year because I hate saying goodbye to my students (even though I enjoy … More Poetry for Our Times
Most of us may not be feeling exactly blissful with all the issues related to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. However, bliss is a matter of perspective. We may not like our self quarantining and social distancing. We may not appreciate having the children that we’ve paid thousands of dollars to send to college being sent … More Bliss in the Time of Coronavirus
I teach both middle school and high school group literature classes, and once a month I do a poetry unit with the students. While some of them are into it, others doubt the relevancy of poetry to their lives. I tell them that many times, particularly during events of high emotion or great significance, poets can … More Mending Wall
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