Among the questions in the teaching groups that I follow on social media, I often see requests for an essay or short work to tie in with either Beowulf or Grendel. I want to share a short essay that analyzes Grendel by John Gardner, which many high school teachers are tasked with teaching. In her…
All posts in October 2022
Friday Fishtales
In this section of my blog, I will share pictures, memories, and messages that involve family, fishing, and fun, all of which are themes in my middle-grade novel. I plan to create a new post two Fridays per month, or more if I am so inspired. I hope you enjoy the posts, and please share…
Langston Hughes & coming of age theme
The essay “Salvation,” by Langston Hughes, is a quick, heartwarming essay that pairs nicely with a coming-of-age theme. When I use this essay in my college writing class, we discuss how Hughes captured a moment in his life that lasted only a few hours, yet it meant so much to him. When students have to…
It’s called fishing, not catching
I posed a question to one of the fishing groups I follow on Facebook about fishing with children, the stories adults tell them about ‘the one that got away,’ and the memories made. One gentleman shared a memory of fishing with his grandfather. With his permission, I’ve copied it here. Please go to the Care…
