Remember when you were in high school, and your English teacher taught you the 5 Paragraph Essay? (I capitalize it because it’s like an entity, that 5 Paragraph Essay.) As I’ve progressed in my English teaching skills and pedagogy, I’ve learned that teaching that dreaded 5 Paragraph Essay can often become detrimental to student writing. … Read more
We’ve been snowed in, as luck would have it, since Saturday. I write this post on a Wednesday. In the time that we’ve been dealing with the snow and ice (yes, it’s NC so there’s generally ice involved), we’ve had multiple things happen: My work didn’t stop – I always have one more project or … Read more
Every season, I think to myself: this is my favorite season. But it really always comes back to one: fall. There’s just something about the leaves and the crisp air and fall gatherings that remind me of the joy of fall and why it’s truly my absolute favorite. My kids and husband love fall, too, … Read more
Never realized that there was actually a Cow Appreciation Day, but it’s real. I jokingly suggested it as a theme to my friends who like to write poetry together, and wouldn’t you know that some actually wanted to go with it. So, for fun, we decided to have two poetry link-ups and write about the … Read more
Every now and again, I try to stretch my poetic muscles. Back when I was a teenager absolutely filled with angst and romance and puppy love and sadness, the poems would flow onto the page with this beautiful imagery and figurative language. In these days of adulting, I don’t find it so easy. Ask me … Read more
My kids adore their father. Endlessly. It’s sort of a joke that the boys will quite literally deflate when they find out I’m the one to take them to bed. Daddy is just more fun and more laid back than me. While my feelings are moderately hurt when they show sheer disappointment in having to … Read more
All day I think of you. Warm and inviting. Soft in all the right places. Strong where I need you. Most beautiful specimen I’ve ever seen. Every day, you tempt me… Invite me back to your warmth. You don’t judge me. You never talk back. You fulfill my every dream. Alas, getting back to you … Read more
How long should my blog post be? I get asked this question a lot. I’d like to take credit for this awesome response, but this isn’t my analogy. Still the answer is the same: Your blog post should be like a skirt: long enough to cover the important parts but short enough to be interesting. … Read more
I enjoy writing poetry. Sometimes, I am serious. Sometimes, I’m silly. This month’s theme with my poetry writing buddies is Friends and Family. Let’s see what I can create. These months of confusion leading to understandings and revelations of things that I thought I knew and people I thought I understood. In pain and in … Read more
Dear 2016, Hey, girl. I hope you aren’t too hurt after what everyone is saying about you. There were some good times. There were some really ugly times. I just want you to know that, like me, I realize that you were growing. Becoming a better you. Figuring out all that life has to offer. … Read more