This weekend, I was featured on the Facebook page of a group that recognizes local teachers who go above and beyond for their students. It was a huge honor and a lovely surprise, and I'll admit that I teared up more than once at the kind things my principal, my co-workers, and the parents of … Continue reading My Own Slughorn and Snape
Foul Ball
Last night I sat in the stands at a baseball game. The air smelled of cut grass, dirt, and french fries. The air rang with the tinny tings of baseballs meeting bats, parents cheering for their kids, and children laughing. A chilly breeze blew around us as the sun set and lights buzzed overhead as … Continue reading Foul Ball
Review – Gris
Today I'm stepping a bit out of my comfort zone to talk about one of my favorite forms of art. I don't fancy myself a pro at video games the way that I feel I'm qualified to review books. (Because, I mean, how hard is it to pretend to know everything about books, right?) Cinematic … Continue reading Review – Gris
Review – What Could Go Wrong? by Brett Grayson
Friday night I came home from school, immediately changed into my pajamas, poured a mug of tea (I’ve been trying to consume less coffee these days) and curled up in my bed with a book. I’ve had very few Friday evenings lately that I could just curl up with a book and ignore the world, … Continue reading Review – What Could Go Wrong? by Brett Grayson
Memory 2 – First Days of School
I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to them once I’d gotten past the “Hi, my name is…” portion of the day. I wasn’t sure how I was going to tell them that I was going to be their teacher, that I had been chosen to replace their beloved strings teacher. I didn’t … Continue reading Memory 2 – First Days of School
Memory – 1000 Paper Cranes
Two years ago today, I edited the last sentence of the first book I wrote, 1000 Paper Cranes. As I shut the cover of my manuscript, a tear rolled down my cheek. It was like saying goodbye to an old friend, shutting that cover for the last time. I had spent two years writing about … Continue reading Memory – 1000 Paper Cranes
How to Write a Memoir
In my classes right now, we are studying memoirs and William Zinsser's commentary on writing memoirs. In his essay, "How to Write a Memoir," Zinsser offers some advice. The four big tenets that we've focused on in my class are: 1. Be Yourself 2. Speak Freely 3. Tell Your Truth 4. Think Small He also … Continue reading How to Write a Memoir
Review – How to Experience Death for Beginners by Jessica Branton
So many updates in the Pluckyverse, I don't even know where to begin. The semester started off crazy with me taking on way more responsibilities than I could manage and somehow getting them done. What that meant, though, was my reading life suffered and my blogging life became nearly nonexistent. But I am back and … Continue reading Review – How to Experience Death for Beginners by Jessica Branton
A Full-time Job
There is so much about being a teacher that I never realized before I became one myself. I never realized that being a teacher meant weekend emails and texts, PTA meetings, painting classrooms. I didn't understand what it meant to design the perfect zone for students to feel like they belonged; I didn't realize that it meant more than placing your tables in exactly the right place.
A Look Back and a Look Ahead
Happy 2019, readers! We may be war torn, scarred, battered, and bruised, but we somehow made it through 2018 mostly intact. It was a rough year, y'all. I don't know about you, but my 2018 was filled with only highs and lows. It didn't feel like I had that many average days. As I type … Continue reading A Look Back and a Look Ahead
