Monthly Archives: July, 2010
On the One Hand; On the Other Hand
Plus: Project Runway is back! Minus: All the judges seemed hyper-bitchy in this first episode. We’ll see. Plus: We have a lot of fun things planned for the summer ends–a short beach trip, a movie night at our local football stadium, a pre-season football game, Rock the Bells including Lauryn Hill, which I’m so excited …
Poetry Cage Match
When much of the world is dreaming about college basketball next spring, my students and I will be engaged in a very different kind of frenzy: Poetry March Madness, courtesy of NCTE and the wonderful teachers on the EC Ning! While not even I am enough of a planner to be entirely mapping out my …
Letter-Writing Challenge
I’ve told you before that my favorite punctuation mark is the lovely interrobang, and I believe I’ve done some good work in spreading my love throughout the world, proclaiming it to the Internet, select students, and my classmates at the revolutionary grammar workshop I went to last summer. But now a chance has arisen to …
Nine Years, Nine Accomplishments
How do you measure accomplishment or prowess in a job like teaching, with constantly evolving challenges and a new cast of students each September? Though I’ve finished three years at my school now, I’ve actually been teaching for nine years, and I think I’ve come a bit closer to the answer, after reading Tammy’s entry …
Update: Gatsby Facebook
What post has gotten the most views and comments on my blog and continues to be a traffic-generator over 15 months later? Definitely my post on the Gatsby Facebook project, which is one of the reasons I started posting more about teaching, and also shows the incredible interest teachers have in teaching with technology and …
Nine Ways Blogging Has Made Me A Better Writer
Since the school year ended, I’ve really been enjoying having the mental space and energy to get back to writing. I’ve also been working my way through this workbook on better blogging, not so that I can be the next Dooce or anything, but just as a fun challenge. Per that program, this is my …
The Ark
This is the Maryland Ark, a ship we saw in St. Mary’s City, part of our day of adventures in the Living History sites. The original played a part in the founding of the state, and we really enjoyed our family historical adventure.
Tell Me Something Good
Thanks to everyone for participating in my little two-part Q&A experiment! I got some great questions both here and on Facebook, and while I was away, it was nice to have scheduled posts pop up and still interact with you all. I took my girls to Southern Maryland for a week to visit grandparents and …
Q&A, Part Two
Ask me anything, and I will answer. Go!
Q&A, Part One
I’m trying this as an experiment with being more creative in my approach here, but also because it just seemed fun, and it is summer, after all! Here’s what you do, all in one comment: First, fill in the blank: “Jackie, what is your favorite _______?” I will reply to every comment you leave. Go!

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