I’m Not Nice
Yesterday, I held my first rehearsal for the Contest Play, and I started by telling the students on my cast a little bit about myself. In my opinion, the most important detail I shared was that I am not nice.… Read more ›
Yesterday, I held my first rehearsal for the Contest Play, and I started by telling the students on my cast a little bit about myself. In my opinion, the most important detail I shared was that I am not nice.… Read more ›
Check me out! I’m on Teaching Tolerance today with my article, “Personal Connections Empower Students”: I just started my sixth year teaching high school English. This year began with the same question as always: “How will I empower the young… Read more ›
I’m over at Gender Across Borders today, talking about US and global viewpoints of single-sex classrooms: Picture this: A 120-pound, 5’5″, white, 23-year-old teacher stands in front of a classroom of 30 juniors in high school who are mostly Black… Read more ›
Apparently, an elite education has its disadvantages. Yet it is precisely that opportunity that an elite education takes away. How can I be a schoolteacher—wouldn’t that be a waste of my expensive education? Wouldn’t I be squandering the opportunities my… Read more ›
We’re reading Anthem and Fahrenheit 451 in my College Prep and Honors classes respectively (all sophomores), and they all read The Hunger Games for their summer reading, and I’m using this infographic to discuss the modern implications of censorship and… Read more ›
I had a moment yesterday when I looked at my calendar of lesson plans, and only the second half of August is filled out. Because it isn’t even September yet. How is it not even September yet?! I realize it… Read more ›
Janni is one of my favorite bloggers and tweeters out there. As a teacher, she is passionate and cutting-edge. As a feminist, she is ardent and intuitive. Her support has meant the world to me, and just being able to… Read more ›
An article from WBEZ today states that teachers are feeling ‘beat down’ as the school year starts. As students prepare to begin another school year, their teachers are hopping mad. They’re facing layoffs and deep budget cuts and many say… Read more ›
Yesterday, I gushed about Matt Damon. Today, I saw his entire speech at the Save Our Schools rally, and I love him even more. Here’s the text of the speech from the Washington Post for your reading pleasure: I flew… Read more ›
Thank you, Matt Damon. I always knew I liked you. I would like to see some context to this video, though. From the clip we get, it seems like both the reporter and the cameraman are staunchly conservative people who… Read more ›
Today, I’m over at Gender Across Borders talking about going back to school and back to teaching feminism. It is officially August. Which means it is officially time to start thinking about going back to school. As a teacher, it… Read more ›
Tim and I spent some time at his grandfather’s birthday party this weekend. It was really fun to see all of his extended family, especially his 8-year-old cousin, Katie. She is awesome, and if I ever have a daughter, I… Read more ›
Last night was Penny’s first obedience class. We signed her (and us) up for obedience classes at the local Petsmart even though she’s already a really, REALLY good dog. I used to think obedience classes were only for dogs who… Read more ›
Since I’m out of town for the weekend and won’t have time to write brilliant articles, I’m posting three Link Love editions – Feminism, Education, and Marriage. These are composed of links to articles and websites that I’ve perused, wanted… Read more ›
I put out a call on Twitter today for a topic to write about. My buddy, @EKSwitaj, suggested I write about “dealing with the shift from the highly structured school year to the more flexible days of summer,” which I… Read more ›
“Will you miss us?” At the end of every year, this is the question on the tip of all the students’ tongues. They want to know if you’ll miss them, if you’ll think about them over the summer, if you’ll… Read more ›
Today’s guest post comes from Mandy Van Deven. Mandy is a progressive activist, co-author of Hey, Shorty!: A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Schools and on the Streets and editor The Scholar & Feminist Online’s “Polyphonic Feminisms: Acting… Read more ›
Today is the National Day of Silence during which students who choose to do so will remain silent all day to draw attention to anti-LGBTQ name calling, harassment, bullying, and violence in schools. Today, many of my own high school… Read more ›
Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart by Nina Simons My rating: 4 of 5 stars A review copy of this book has been on my desk since the end of December, and I feel terrible that I’m… Read more ›
I had the good fortune to attend and present at the Connections Conference last week. The awesome thing about presenting at conferences like these is that my registration fee is paid and I get to attend all sorts of great… Read more ›