I was blessed to inherit a vibrant literary magazine extracurricular tradition at my high school. Every year that I've guided the Washington Literary Press, at least twenty students have been active...

In my classroom I have two large signs on the whiteboard. These signs identify two things I refuse to let my students say: “can’t” and “is this good?”. Hopefully the reasoning for the first...

I’ve lived in my apartment for almost seven months now, but everything has felt a-jumble, a little off.  Part of that, I think, is that my apartment has been a mess ever since I moved in. When I...

In the past three years, my position in the English/Language Arts department has changed quite a bit. Long story short, I am now the Reading Specialist for the middle school. I teach a variety of classes,...

I turn to repair books and online forums for help when I'm working on my VW Bug. The web is full of predators, but I don't think too many people working on Beetles are mean spirited - most intend to...

Our teaching colleagues are a network of support who become our work family if we are lucky enough to find a school to call home where we grow older together. We are more likely to enjoy our jobs and...

Today I sat in the bleachers of our high school gymnasium as we celebrated the life of Cody Wills, a May 2017 graduate, who tragically died in a car accident on August 18.  The bleachers were full....

My anxiety shows up the minute I start to put myself back in school mode.   I am overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done in the few days I have before everyone else demands my...

  Summer, the sweet reward for our endless time worrying, fretting, agonizing for nine and a half months each year.   I made a list a couple of weeks ago…a list of things I need...

Advocacy - Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy; championing of   Medieval Latin: Advocate - summon, call to one’s aid   Leave it to Medieval...

Rally Rally on 2-2-2! Rally Rally on 2-2! I chanted my rally cry from my softball years and nobody got it. I might be a little bit of a unicorn in the English Teacher world as a jock/musician/book/writing...

How to resign from your first teaching job: Make sure you have another opportunity waiting for you. Don’t just resign and hope for the best. You have to take care of yourself. First, tell your...