To excite students, teach good writing–not writing that torments.
Monthly Archives: December 2012
Austen vs. Common Core State Standards
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Common Core State Standards, Education, Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey Comments closed
Gradgrind Takes Over English Classes
The new Common Core State Standards are pushing literature out of English classes.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Charles Dickens, Common Core State Standards, Education, Hard Times Comments closed
Kate’s Pregnancy: Return of the King
Fascination with Kate Middleton’s pregnancy may be tied in with the “return of the king” trope found in much British fiction.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged British monarchy, J. R. R. Tolkien, Kate Middleton, Lord of the Rings, Once and Future King, T. H. White Comments closed
I Carry You in Me Like an Embryo
Marge Piercy’s mother died during Hanukkah and the poet uses the season to reflect upon their contentious relationship.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "My Mother's Body", Family, Hanukkah, Marge Piercy, Mothers and Daughters, Spirituality Comments closed
NFL Rookie QBs and Mac the Knife
RGIII, Russell Wilson, and Andrew Luck are escape artists in the mode of Mac the Knife.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "I burn my candle at both ends", Andrew Luck, Beggar's Opera, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Football, Homer, Joel Chandler Harris, John Gay, NFL, Odyssey, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson, Sports Comments closed
Which Jane Austen Character Are You?
Find out what Jane Austen character you are with my class’s Jane Austen Personality Profile test.
A Solution to Nativity Scene Battles
The Christmas nativity scene is less Christian than devout Christians realize.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Christmas at the Courthouse", nativisty scenes, Scott Bates Comments closed
