Category Archives: Uncategorized

27 November 2021 2021 put all of us on the defensive. Trying to navigate trauma — a pandemic, violence, racism, careers, and, of course, personal letdowns. On January 14th, Bob O’Connor left our world.  When I paid tribute to my … Continue reading →

A few years ago, I realized that there were a lot of issues inside my classroom that could be managed if I just asked — or, even better, if my students asked. Time wasted and off-task can be minimized if … Continue reading →

Etiquette and Ethics with Vaccinations I read Kwame Anthony Appiah’s column for The New York Times addressing ethical questions for ordinary folks each week. I have questions about etiquette and ethics regarding Covid vaccinations. Yesterday, on the 3rd of July, … Continue reading →

Gray kitty. You blew into the neighborhood behind REI 15 years ago. Jennifer told me about you. Her neighbors “adopted you.” When I met you, I saw that their idea of adoption was leaving the garage door open a few … Continue reading →

‘Disturbing’ lack of Holocaust knowledge in US popped up on my Facebook feed the other day. . I re-posted noting, “this is why we must continue to teach books like Night.” A mom, a friend, and a tremendous advocate of … Continue reading →

As a fourth-year teacher teaching fourth graders, I was not prepared for the lockdown drills that followed the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999. My pint-sized principal, Mrs. Ure in Orem, Utah, assured me that if someone came into … Continue reading →

When I choose my nail polish, I buy it because of the name, not the color. I own colors like “I’m not Really a Waitress,” “Do You Lilac It,” and, even “Exotic Birds Don’t Tweet,” not because they look good … Continue reading →

We Can Do Hard Things In the beginning, I joked. I called it CORONA-cation. Years ago, we had SWINE-cation with the Swine Flu. The day Superintendent Timothy put Park City School District under quarantine, my principal and I drove to … Continue reading →