How to Read Henry James — Not!When it comes reading Henry James, the public falls into two categories: People who admire his works, and those who consider his dense…Jul 28Jul 28
In San Francisco, adults are afraid to offend, while teens seem trained to be offended.After five years, I’m leaving San Francisco, having fulfilled my mission of helping my elderly parents at the end of their lives. As I…Jul 9, 2023Jul 9, 2023
Beware the Micro-aggressionWhen I first heard about micro-aggressions, I was puzzled. The definition made sense — indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination…Oct 21, 2022Oct 21, 2022
Novels vs. Short StoriesAs a teacher, I’m amazed at the number of students who think a short story is a shorter form of the novel. This misunderstanding is also…Oct 21, 2022Oct 21, 2022
Yes, don’t say trans — for nowIf you’ve ever stood in front of a vending machine, waiting for a five-year-old to choose between pretzels, a fruit chew, or Cheetos —…May 23, 2022May 23, 2022
Hate poetry? Here’s why some folks don’t.Every semester, I must convince two thirds of my high school students that poetry is worth reading. First, we cover the most common…Dec 5, 20202Dec 5, 20202
Baffled by short fiction? Read thisThe most common reaction among high school students at the end of a short story is, “Huh? I don’t get it!”Dec 4, 2020Dec 4, 2020
