by Amy Paturel | Jul 7, 2020 | Uncategorized
You might have heard the platitude “those who can’t do, teach.” Obviously, I don’t agree with that theory. I’m a teacher. Plus, I have several friends and acquaintances who defy that logic. And yet, I also recognize that teaching makes...
by Amy Paturel | Jun 2, 2020 | Uncategorized
Writing a memoir or personal essay is complicated, especially when that writing shines a light on our poor choices. We’ve all made mistakes. But not all of us choose to open ourselves up (and risk potential backlash) by publishing a confessional essay. Since...
by Beth Kaiser | Apr 30, 2020 | Uncategorized
Like many families, my testosterone-heavy crew has turned to nostalgic forms of entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re riding bikes, playing chess, creating “flip art,” and yes, puzzling over puzzles. I love puzzles! I like the trial and...
by Amy Paturel | Mar 23, 2020 | Uncategorized
What a rough start to the year, eh?! With clueless leaders becoming more adept at fabricating truth (widespread COVID19 testing, anyone?), I figured I should turn off the news and focus on where I fall short in my writing. Right now, it appears to be my memory. The...
by Amy Paturel | Jan 10, 2020 | Uncategorized
In grief, trauma, and loss, remember to home in on the good stuff. If you’ve taken my classes or followed my blog posts about essay writing, you’ve probably heard me talk about James Pennebaker. His writing exercises make an appearance in almost every...
by Amy Paturel | Dec 17, 2019 | Uncategorized
Ever since my children were little, I have had an aversion to the whole Santa tradition. It’s not that I want to rob my children of the magic that is Santa. I just have a hard time lying to them. Several years ago, one of my students wrote a humor piece...
