I teach ninth grade English, and William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is in the English I curriculum. I honestly love teaching this play. Most of the time, before it’s all over, my ninth graders don’t hate it too much either. I’ve taught this play several times now, and every time I do, I think about all the many things that people in today’s world can still learn from it. I'm convinced one of the main reasons we are still reading certain older texts is because people are still ...
The Changing of the Tides and the Steadfastness of the Shore
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8 I spent the past week at the beach. In fact, I’m writing this as I sit on the balcony of the condo, listening to the waves roll in. If you listen close enough, there is a deep roar that ebbs and flows, capped by the wash of waves as they arrive on the shore. Today there is a warning for riptides. There is so much to take in and appreciate at the beach. It’s awe-inspiring to think that our God ...
Politeness Versus Compassion
It’s possible that a person can be polite but not be compassionate. Some people can appear one way but be another entirely - which is a subject for a different day - but appropriate for this point. Furthermore, there is a sincere difference between being polite and being compassionate. Let’s start with a basic example. Say you’re walking in a building at the same moment another person is walking out. This polite person holds the door for you and smiles warmly as you walk inside but doesn’t ...
Why We Should Care About Compassion
When I started my blog, I didn’t know what shape I wanted it to take. Honestly, I still don’t. However, I did know this: I believe in the power, the need, and the importance of one’s voice. It matters. And as it turns out, I have a lot to say. (For more on this, see my first post - or subscribe the right of this page! ---->> ) What I have found since creating my blog is that I want my writing to have purpose. I like teaching, and I think my writing is evidence of this, too. It’s usually ...
The Art Prints You’ll Love + Memorial Day Weekend Deal
It Is Well With My Soul | art print | Look For the Flowers | art print | Watercolor Palm Print | art print | If you've seen Copper Paper Co.’s artwork, you know how amazing it is. If you haven't, I’m so glad you’re here! Copper Paper Co. will tell you that they’re all about sharing their art with light, purpose, and kindness, and let me say, those words are true! I can’t say enough good things about their beautiful work and meaningful messages depicted in their ...
Darling Round-Up
You may have noticed on my Links page that Darling Magazine has given me the opportunity to write articles for their blog. Darling is a beautiful publication filled with inspiring stories, motivational articles, creative features, and informational pieces. You can search articles under eight personas: Intellectual, Hostess, Dreamer, Confidant, Stylist, Explorer, Beautician, and Achiever. I decided to do a round-up of my recent articles so you could easily peruse through them in one spot. ...
The Magnificent Month of May
I almost didn’t write this because I know I can’t do this subject justice. No words can explain. My parents are my heroes. I should just start with that. They’re my heroes for more reasons than I’ll ever be able to tell you in one post. Or ten posts. Or a hundred. But I’m going to attempt to skim a small part of the surface here. The month of May is my mom’s favorite month, and it’s become mine, too. First, everything is green - trees, grass, fields, bushes - and it’s beautiful outside! I’m ...
What to Do When One Path Isn’t Wrong, But It Also Isn’t Right
Hand-lettering // Hope Hickman @sincerelyhope.designs I proctored a lot of tests this week at school. It’s interesting to watch the students as they finish. Some finish very quickly, which, as a teacher, my initial reaction is to question how much effort they really put into that test - but that’s a whole other issue. Then the ones who aren’t finished begin noticing the ones who are. Some of these students get concerned, and you can almost visibly see their thoughts. They’re done? I ...
From High School to Kindergarten, In That Order
I teach ninth grade English, and I don’t care what anybody says, the high school years can be brutal. Kids can be mean, and they all care way too much about what everybody else thinks. But these years are also precious because you’re only in high school once. (Thank goodness!) In what seems like a completely different world, my sister-in-law teaches kindergarten, and let me tell you, she does an amazing job. I cannot say enough about her as a person, but the same holds true as a teacher. I’ve ...