#TLC: Reading Endurance Depends on Student Voices

July 17, 2026

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

#TLC: Dramatic Reading in the English Classroom

July 15, 2026

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

#TLC: 3 Practices That Help Students Build Meaning

July 1, 2026

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

Book Review: HOW TO BE A RENAISSANCE WOMAN by Jill Burke

June 28, 2026

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

Book Review: THE BOLEYN SECRET by Alison Weir

June 7, 2026

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

Book Review: JANE THE QUENE by Janet Wertman

May 10, 2026

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

#TLC: Grace, Patience, and Authenticity

April 29, 2026

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

New Release: Every Place on the Map Is Disabled

January 26, 2026

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