Eight Steps to Being Great as a New Publications Adviser
August 6, 2018
You’ve been hired to advise a high school publication. Now what? Taking over the publication of a school newspaper or yearbook can be a daunting task, especially when you are the only member of the journalism department of your school. Here are some things to consider when facing the challenge: ...
A Satirical Look at the Experience of a New Teacher
May 27, 2018
First Year Teacher Survives Ruthless Hazing From Students and Colleagues ATLANTIC, IA- First-year teacher Nora Walker has survived a year of merciless hazing carried out by students and colleagues as she was appointed the 8th grade English Teacher for “the worst group of kids to ever come through t...
‘Classic American Scene’ and Other Verses
May 20, 2018
Classic American Scene after Louis Simpson It’s a classic American scene— snow is dusting the lawns surrounding the public high school. Students skid into the parking lots and randomly land their ha...
Day 1 Devotional
May 13, 2018
Day 1 Listen James 1:19-21 “You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implant...
The NCTE Doublespeak Award
May 6, 2018
I first heard of the Doublespeak Award in an applied linguistics class at UNI. The award, developed by the NCTE Public Language Committee in 1974, is “an ironic tribute to public speakers who have perpetuated language that is grossly deceptive, evasive, euphemistic, confusing, or self-centered.” ...
Memoir: Toward the Teacher I Want to Be
April 29, 2018
“Kenna, will you tutor this student in biology?” Music to an aspiring teacher’s ears! Excited to feel needed, my head spun with so many plans for worksheets and flashcards and quizzes and games. The possibilities were endless and so was my enthusiasm. This particular student, adopted from Sierra...
February 15th, 2018 (A Poem)
April 22, 2018
February 15th, 2018 Today I traced letters into my cheek tested their warmth bit around their edges and held them on my tongue until they grew soft and quiet I wanted my students to hear wildflowers or telescopes or a promise that all of this was not us That our axis was Sunday potlucks Main...
Two Empty Chairs: A Poem
April 16, 2018
Two Empty Chairs We waited, saving the last two chairs for them Small talking about bleacher-friend days Asking the catch-up question, “What’s new?” It wasn’t unusual, that these two would come late. She would often stop to greet some long-unseen friend. He’d stop beside with his cari...
My Tía’s Redención, A Lyric Poem
April 9, 2018
My Tía’s Redención, A Lyric Poem Click, click, click. Medium blue flames licked the bottom of the cellophane-flaking, greased stained pan. Raw white sopes lovingly slid into crackling oil, never measured, perfectly patted into form; she gracefully dragged queso fresco up and down, each clump fa...
Firing Up for the Fall Conference
April 8, 2018
By Nikki Smith and Kirstey Ewald, ICTE Fall Conference Chairs ICTE’s annual conference has always felt like coming home. It hits at the perfect time of the school year as teachers are just starting to lose the beginning-of-the-year excitement. We know it rejuvenates us with new ideas and practices ...
No One Owned the Hour: A Poem
April 2, 2018
No One Owned The Hour --for Heather Heyer no one owned the hour no one saw the land turn into water or the sky offer its light to the last door of morning no one remembered when men & women forgot what it was to be men & women who remembered that time was before memory & befo...
Short Story: A Seed of Hope
March 25, 2018
A Seed of Hope “Ruby? Is that you?” Mrs. Mertens asked as she poked her head out of the trailer next door. “Yes, Mrs. Mertens,” Ruby replied. “Good morning.” “Them mums are sure lookin’ perty!” she continued, as she clutched her plaid robe around her thin shoulders. “Thank...
Two Poems: “The Family Farm” and “Students”
August 15, 2019
Practice What You Preach: Start with Brainstorming
July 31, 2019
#10: English Alumni Roundtable on Podcasting (UNI)
July 24, 2019
Board Members Attend NCTE Affiliate Meeting
July 24, 2019
July 23, 2019
May 26, 2019