Writer, Teacher, Accountability Coach
Showing respect for Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, or anyone for that matter, should not be about politics. It should be about acknowledging her (or anyone’s) accomplishments, contributions to society, and unwavering human kindness. When news broke last Friday that Justice Ginsburg had passed at the age of 87, my heart sank. Of …
I had planned on blogging about something else this week. But then a conversation with one of the teenagers brought this phrase to mind: “Some teachers are bad.” Of course, when I think of that phrase, I hear it (in my head) in Cate Blanchett’s voice from Hanna – just how she says the line, …
In a continuing effort to stop censoring myself, I’m about to go on a rant of sorts. So, before I do that, I feel the need to offer a disclaimer and toot my own horn a bit. Disclaimer/Own-Horn-Tooting: I love teaching. I really do. I wouldn’t keep accepting course assignments each semester if I didn’t …
As a writing teacher, it’s probably sacrilege for me to say I’ve got to stop thinking about audience. After all, I teach my students that they must consider audience when they’re working on writing projects; it’s one of the “big 3” of rhetorical context: topic, purpose, and audience. An imagined reader is even considered a …
Author’s note: I wrote the following essay as a part of a class I’m taking on feedback and assessment in online writing courses. However, I decided to share it here on the blog since many of my readers are writers and/or teachers. Enjoy! A team of distinguished writing professors and education researchers conducted a national …
I had intended on blogging this week about our Captain Marvel viewing from the weekend. But then yesterday happened. Even though I’m an adjunct rather than full-time faculty, there’s this annual teaching/writing conference that I like to go to, whenever I can get grant money to cover my registration, that is. It’s the Conference on …
If you remember that song, sorry for the earworm. If you aren’t familiar with it, well here you go: But, honestly, it’s a bit of a red herring. This post should probably really be called Things That Make Me Go GRRR, 😠, or 😤. Or Things That Make Me Wish I’d Packed My Angry Eyes …
#iwillpunchthefirstpersonwhosaysillmissthis “I will punch the first person who says I’ll miss this.†I saw that hashtag on a Facebook post yesterday and literally laughed out loud. The poster, you may have guessed, was a mom at her wit’s end. She’d taken to Facebook to vent about what we all face as moms – the constant …
I’ve been really struggling this week with what to post. Basically, I’m censoring myself because a lot of what I want to talk about isn’t pretty. I’m talking toxic people, unsettling world events, and other such depressing stuff. So, until I have something more cheerful to share or am ready to stop biting my own …
#nofilter I’m sure you’ve seen this hashtag, right? It’s commonly used on social media, accompanying what the poster is claiming to be an untouched, unedited photograph. Sometimes the photo is of a beautiful sunset, or of someone being him/herself. I don’t know for sure – and didn’t even try to look this up – but …
This past Sunday I was talking to a friend at church. It started out as a normal conversation about the funny things our kids do/say and how we know we’re so blessed but we’re also so tired. I have this thing I do, without realizing at the time that I’m doing it – all my …
If you’re even a semi-regular follower of this not-so-regular blog, then you know that I published a book a few years back. That book offered 5 rules, in a bit of a tongue-and-cheek sort of way, for being a good mom. The 5 rules: Rule #1: Don’t beat yourself up (even when you’re certain you …
It’s fun, easy, and doesn’t require any special supplies – seriously, just grab some paper, a pen/pencil, and any old envelope. Stash that envelope in a safe place (and one you’ll remember later). Then wait for the hilarity to ensue. On December 31, 2013, we’d been in the car for hours that felt like days. …
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Book Birthday 2018 Swag Bag Giveaway celebrating the 1st birthday (or 1-year anniversary of the publication of my book, How to Be a Good Mom (Or at Least Not an Epic Failure). The winner, selected at random through Rafflecopter, is … a Rafflecopter giveaway Kathy wins a paperback …
♩ Happy Birthday ♩ It’s my birthday month! Well, my book’s birthday (i.e., anniversary of its publication). And I want to give YOU a present! How to Be a Good Mom (Or at Least Not an Epic Failure) was published on June 16, 2017. I know I talk about this book a lot but that’s because, …