December 2011
8 posts
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Apply for the National Writing Project Summer... →
I did the Northern Virginia Writing Project Summer Institute in 2010 (and that’s my summer in the photo- so much love.) There are sites all around the country. Consider applying- even if you aren’t an English teacher. They’re accepting applications right now for teachers from all grade levels and content areas. Before I even knew what NWP was all about, several other teachers at...
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The Power of Discussion
I’m so filled with love and respect right now for the 80+ students who came to our school’s first “round-table discussion” and stayed until 6:00 having a philosophical debate. It was probably one of the most powerful moments I’ve had this year as a teacher. About a month ago, two of the history teachers came by my classroom and said they wanted me to be involved in a...
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Heartwarming & Heartbreaking
I got this card on Friday from one of my favorite former students. I taught her last year in 11 Honors, and I just wrote her college recommendations: “Dear Ms. T, I just want to thank you for writing my recommendations. I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to help me out. I knew immediately that I would want you to write my recommendations because I was able to develop...
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Ms. T's Favorite Passage in All of Literature
I could teach The Great Gatsby forever and ever. And the last page? Come on. I get shivers every time I read it. I read the last passage to my kids on Thursday and told them simply to listen to the language. Who cares if there are some tough words, some abstract arguments— just listen: “…Gradually, I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors’...
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Teacher Problems
My face always hurts when my students give presentations, because I’m smiling so much so they don’t feel nervous.
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“Most of the writers I know are weird hybrids. There’s a strong streak of...”
– David Foster Wallace 