I’m excited to share my interview with Voices from the Field, Elana Gordon’s Substack dedicated to educators and evidence-based strategies. Elana was one of the hosts for the Teaching That Succeeds conference. In my interview, I discussed how I engage students with poetry, Shakespeare, and novel studies. Read it here. I’ve been impressed with Substack’s … More My interview with Voices from the Field
As a blind woman, I live most of my life by ear. While I have some usable vision, it is inconsistent and unreliable. The sounds of my world make more sense, giving clearer information. So building poetry from my personal soundscape is not a far stretch. But for those who can readily see – or those … More Poets Need to Listen
Recent trends in education have moved away from studying complete novels or plays. Instead, the curriculum may offer two scenes from Romeo and Juliet or one chapter from The Scarlet Letter and invite students to analyze key literary elements. This excerpt practice takes literary works out of context and fails to build reading endurance. Students … More #TLC: Reading Endurance Depends on Student Voices
I’m a working poet ready to endlessly discuss poetry. I keep a big pink binder in my classroom with hundreds of poems photocopied for student use. Students can flip through and choose poems that speak to them. I love listening to them react aloud as they glance over poems — “Whoa, what’s that mean?” or … More #TLC: Understand a Poem in 6 Real Steps
In the past six years, I have taught all varieties of high school English — including AP, Dual Enrollment, creative writing, and journalism. While some may find the college-prep classes prestigious and appealing, I enjoy the standard grade-level Englishes because they allow me to move slowly and deliberately through plays and novels. In upcoming posts in … More #TLC: Dramatic Reading in the English Classroom
A teacher’s work never stops. Some of us may get summers off, but how are we spending our time? Attending professional developments, planning for the next year, sorting through our classroom supplies. My brain is always buzzing with ways to improve my craft. I decided to attend the Teaching That Succeeds Virtual Symposium. And I … More #TLC: 3 Practices That Help Students Build Meaning
Professor Jill Burke’s How to Be A Renaissance Woman: The Untold Story of Beauty and Female Creativity (Pegasus Books, 2024)is an extraordinary confluence of Renaissance culture, women’s history, and cosmetic history. Jill Burke tracks Renaissance beauty standards, cosmetic trends, and their cultural influences. Burke collects historical, literary, and artistic sources to create a fascinating exploration. … More Book Review: HOW TO BE A RENAISSANCE WOMAN by Jill Burke
I’m excited to announce that Finishing Line Press is publishing my newest poetry collection! At Every Stage I’ve Been is coming out in October 2026. The Cover I’m especially proud of the cover, which I designed with my friend and colleague, Lee A. Sloan. I wanted this book to look very different from Neoteny. The … More Announcing My New Book!
Alison Weir’s The Boleyn Secret is hot off the presses — and fresh out of the recording studios. This latest installment of Tudor historical fiction was released in May 2026. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Rosalyn Landor, who has been an exceptional performer of Weir’s Six Queens series, The King’s Pleasure, and The … More Book Review: THE BOLEYN SECRET by Alison Weir
As a lover of history, I appreciate the precise details and human experience that create the historical novel. Historical fiction can be rife with purple prose, blatant inaccuracies, and needless eroticism. But when it is done well, a historical novel makes characters come to life, building empathy and perspective. The latest stop on my medieval … More Book Review: JANE THE QUENE by Janet Wertman
As educators, we are often asked for a teaching philosophy or teaching statement. Here’s mine: I am inspired by the power of clear communication. Whether it’s the precise description of scientific data or the luxurious reflection promised by poetry, language helps us understand our world and imagine a better one. I want students to learn … More #TLC: Grace, Patience, and Authenticity
The Winter 2025-2026 issue of Wordgathering is here! And it contains some lovely work by talented writers and artists! The issue features a joyful and enthusiastic opening letter by our Editor-in-Chief, Diane R. Wiener; she extols the issue’s contents and heralds upcoming ventures. I’m excited that my poem “The one with the dog” makes its … More New Poem in Wordgathering!
Today I received an early copy of Every Place on the Map Is Disabled: Poems and Essays. This new anthology from Northwestern University Press features three of my poems and one of my essays — alongside the extraordinary work of contemporary disabled poets. I recognize many of my co-authors — like Jill Khoury, Eli Clare, and … More New Release: Every Place on the Map Is Disabled
I attended and presented at Tudorcon for the first time this weekend! I chose the “Tudorcon from home” option which allowed me to view all the talks on Zoom, participate in live Q&As, and present my talk digitally. I was impressed with the accessibility measures taken by the conference organizers. All sessions were recorded, and … More My talk at Tudorcon 2025!
On the Blink 