In his TED presentation, Jacob Collier conducts an orchestra through a song they don’t know and haven’t rehearsed. He builds each part systematically, telling the musicians the notes and techniques to use. Collier revises and affirms as the sections come together. He teaches a few lines, allows the orchestra to play, then moves on. It’s … More Why the Best Teachers Are Actually Conductors
We often think about disabilities in isolation — as if someone won’t share limitations with a person possessing a different diagnosis. But the most interesting thinking comes from putting different ways of living in conversation. These discussions unearth common ground and help us build a more inclusive world. Conversation propels imagination, and imagination builds solutions. This … More Where Do We Thrive? A Teacher’s Theory
Tracy Borman is a formidable Tudor historian and a purposeful writer. I’ve read many of her nonfiction books, including Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I, The Private Lives of the Tudors, and Crown & Sceptre. Borman’s work is consistently engaging, lively, and well-researched. The House of Boleyn is Borman’s latest historical novel, and it was released … More Book Review: THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN by Tracy Borman
My second poetry collection, At Every Stage I’ve Been, is coming out in October 2026. Through Friday August 14, you can still get the pre-order discount! Pre-orders during this time help the book’s print run and publicity, as well as my author royalties. The Poems Here’s the synopsis: In her second poetry collection, Emily K. … More Last Week to Pre-Order My Book with Discount!
For the past few years, I have embarked on an independent study of medieval and Renaissance Europe. I’ve read 30+ books and enrolled in several digital courses. I’ve attended live video discussions with historians and participated virtually in a Tudor conference. I’ve just finished Dr. Lacey Bonar Hull’s 16-week course, Women in Late Medieval England. … More Course Review: Women in Late Medieval England
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
On the Blink 