poetry
I’m Afraid
Lately I’ve been trying to incorporate more poetry into my blog. Here’s the latest….
What Teachers Make
I can’t imagine that there is anyone in America who hasn’t seen Taylor Mali’s video rant.
But just in case, here it is again. In a different version….
Contemplating Quitting The Classroom
I have been thinking that this will be my last semester in the classroom. It’s been a hard year for a variety of reasons, but I have been thinking I just am not connecting with my students the way I used to. Part of it may be that I am getting older. I have somehow become an “old-fashioned teacher” who doesn’t show movies, rely on Smart Boards or Power Point presentations. In other words, I have always been able to “be my own show,” create my own bells and whistles, and that was enough. I was enough.
This year is different. I feel… old….
My Annual Birthday Poem: A Terribly Self-Indulgent, Truly Narcissistic Post
Today is my birthday. I’m um… a year older than I was last year. ;-)…
How I Fell in Love with Words
Through my youthful correspondence with a boy, I fell in love. With words. In person, I am often left feeling like I did not say the right thing. But when writing, I have time to be careful, to ponder, to find a new way to say something old. I learned how, in English, multi-syllabic words have a way of softening the impact of language, how they can show compassion, tenderness and tranquility. Conversely, I learned that single-syllable words could show rigidity, honesty, toughness, relentlessness. I saw how words could invoke anger, sadness, lust, and joy….
Words To My Students Whom I Adore
springtime classes, originally uploaded by Wolfram Burner. People generally remember a favorite teacher, but what they may not realize is that we…