Bread and Butter and Sharp Knives and ISTEP

Mamacita says: I used to cook and make butter with my students.  I am reminded of those days whenever I run into former students from that class. A while back, I ran into one of those former middle school student … Continue reading

Grammar is a Language Art

Mamacita says: I will have to say that if I were on that jury, I, too, would consider that statement to be one of admission of guilt. Parse that statement and the double negative would, as in math, create a … Continue reading

April is Poetry Month: William Ernest Henley

William Ernest Henley Invictus Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor … Continue reading

The Queen's We *

Mamacita says:  It’s Labor Day and I don’t feel like laboring, so I’m re-running this semi-pornographic post from Valentine’s Day, 2006. As an English teacher, I’ve spent my entire career talking about various grammatical forms, including one we call the … Continue reading

Ten Things Tuesday

Mamacita says: 1.  My sourdough starter is over twenty years old.  The bread is delicious.  Whenever I use it – and it’s been a while; the starter is currently residing in the freezer – I think about pioneer families, with … Continue reading