In kindergarten, I spelled words into ribbons.

That is, I practiced each spelling word written on my stack of index cards until I had mastered it and my teacher put the card into a small box; when all the word-cards from my list were in the box, she smiled and invited m...

When it feels as though the sky is falling, and I know my two hands are not enough to catch, lift, hold the whole thing up, I am tempted to throw my hands up in the air—so sometimes I read this poem and ask myself, well, what little bird can I lift today?

If I can stop...

 “Whether or not you find your own way, you're bound to find some way. If you happen to find my way, please return it, as it was lost years ago. I imagine by now it's quite rusty.” 

― Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

When MFA students visit my advisor offic...

I along with many others have been thinking about educators and parents who may be grappling with and navigating very big, confusing, tough feelings, and questions from children about the election. (Regardless of where your own vote or community's politics are.) I woul...

Got to get back on the horse...

Said that to myself last week when I went on a writing-reboot retreat and again as I contemplated creating this blog after a long hiatus. I'd heard that phrase long before I ever got on a horse and I when I first fell of an actual horse (...

I enjoyed this recent article from School Library Journal about teachers using picture books with middle and high-school students to support English language learners, as companions to the classics, and to create a community of readers. I've always thought (biased as I...

The Blog scares me. Having one I mean. A Blog always has to have Something Special & Smart To Say. A Blog devours time. A Blog needs to be taken Out. There. Often. A Blog might typo in public. A Blog is supposed to Represent. A Blog might get into trouble and have tec...