"All this happened, more or less."

A Man Called Ove reminds me of the protagonist in Disney Pixar’s Up , if only that cantankerous old man had been trying to kill himself throughout the story. Ove, pronounced ooh-vuh , cannot let injustices – like choosing a BMW over a Saab – go unchallenged. He lashes out at those who lack what, in his mind, amounts to common sense and decency.  Much to Ove’s dismay, every time he methodically plans to do himself in, he is interrupted by oblivious neighbors. As we journey with Ove through his life via a sequence of flashbacks, we are reminded that no one becomes so sullen without facing adversity and experiencing loss. Through Ove’s recollections of his wife, we learn that Ove’s capacity for love is boundless. Descriptions of how she curled her fingers into his palm made me wonder what little habits I have that my husband notices, and I became more mindful of the special mannerisms he has. I would only recommend this book to mature readers. Though ...

Last year, I blogged about the importance of teaching students “ how  to think – not  what  to think” in a post titled “ Teaching in a Heated Political Climate .” I still firmly believe that students should be taught to analyze rhetoric, obtain news from multiple and varied sources, and most importantly to know  why  they think what they think. I want them to understand media and political biases and also to understand their own. I want them to realize when they are being manipulated. Knowledge and literacy = power. I still perceive my role as one of facilitator, as mediator, and quite often as devil’s advocate as a means for evoking thoughtful dialogue, debate, and mutual understanding. In my previous post, I posed these questions: How can I satisfy any of those roles if I am working toward a specific political agenda?  How many parents want their kids’ teachers telling them which candidate they should vote for? And then the election rhetoric we...

I wrote this at the end of the school-year while my students were writing. Can you tell I was stressed? Teachers will understand the "interruption fatigue" of which I write here: “Background Noise” by Amber Counts Someone’s nose whistles As another clicks the push-button on his pen. The air conditioner kicks on in a powerful hum: Gale-force winds in miniature To take the place of fresh air Blast from the depths of dusty vents. A tone, followed by an announcement: “Pardon this interruption, teachers…” A cell phone goes off, and another – This one on silent, but its vibration just as loud. I try to recall what point I wanted to make, But the door creaks open. An aide walks in with a note. The girl quietly snoring And drooling on her desk Doesn’t notice. All other eyes are on me As I assess the note And thank the aide for his interruption.