It Never Gets Old
The new semester begins, and I enter the room to greet a fresh group of students. The magnificent people sitting there fill me with wonder
January 9, 2012
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Live With Flair
(my daily blog)
Talking to Penn State Students about the Scandal
Campus feels heavy, quiet, and ashamed. What a strange contrast to the beauty and warmth of this fall day in Happy Valley. It’s as if
November 8, 2011
What Our Elementary School Principal Calls Herself
Our elementary school principal manages extraordinary tasks like learning the first and last names of all 495 students in the school. That’s nearly 500 students.
September 12, 2011
What College Freshmen Said They’d Keep Forever
After our project on how advertisers persuade us to purchase a whole array of non-essential items, I ask my students to name one thing they’ll
September 9, 2011
Doing What You Love
Today I remember a conversation I had with my husband years ago. We were talking about careers and our future. We asked this question: “What
August 6, 2011
A Turning Point Statement
During the summer of 1994, a friend told me she thought I had the spiritual gift of encouragement. She posted a little note by my
April 14, 2011
A Very Important Person
Today in my class, we discuss dignity. What gives a person worth? Why do we esteem other people (and ourselves)? It is because of what
March 16, 2011
Next Time, Try This
I’m sitting next to a stack of essays, coffee in one hand, pen in the other. As I read, I celebrate great writing with enthusiastic
February 15, 2011
My Top Ten Name Game Questions
If I were to write a book called, “How to Teach with Flair,” I’d have an entire chapter on the power of name games. Before
February 8, 2011
A Great Verb for a Mission Statement
Today, I ask students to tell me what they will devote themselves to in their future careers. In two sentences, they tell me 1) what
January 14, 2011