Today, I was kindly and undramatically shot down by a literary agent while attending a writing conference in Boston. Surrounded by literally hundreds of teachers and writers from around the world in the swanky Park Plaza hotel ballroom, I momentarily felt a “what the hell am I doing here” kind of moment, the one where… Continue reading What We Learn From Rejection
Friends sometimes ask what is the best way to appreciate a teacher. But requiring or encouraging society to thank a teacher is a little like forcing your child to apologize when he or she isn’t ready to say “sorry.” Ideally, as teachers, we would love for our students to understand that our work at school… Continue reading #thankateacher From One Teacher to Another: May You Always Feel Appreciated
As a 23 year old teacher long ago, in a school district far from here, accused by a local minister of “raping” a young man of his innocence, we imagine the worst. We imagine a teacher who has sent inappropriate photos or messages to a student she is responsible for professionally. What we don’t imagine… Continue reading The Time a Parent Accused Me, a Teacher, of “Raping” with Reading
This might be my new favorite picture of Greta and Geoff, not because he is standing at my Uncle Gordon’s standing bar– or because she is wearing her turtle fur neck-up as a hat–or because her hair, after 5.5 years of life is finally long enough to wear not one but two French braids, but… Continue reading Kissing 2016 Goodbye
Dear Ellen and Portia, I hope this letter reaches you–somehow–some way– before Christmas. Last year this time, we debated about sending a copy of my book, True North, to you via Santa at the North Pole; however, my five year old said, “Mom, if you want this to go to Ellen, just send it to her… Continue reading My Christmas Letter to #EllenDeGeneres
November is National Novel Writing Month– who knew? So, I find it apropos that this month is the one year anniversary of True North having arrived on my doorstep in ACTUAL book form courtesy of our fabulous UPS man, Ted Russell, and AuthorHouse Publishing. Four times of year, I receive a report from their marketing… Continue reading My Gift for You Today: Non-Election- Related Light Reading
I killed a mouse this morning. In a trap, mind you, not with my bare hands. The worst part is that I’ve been hunting mice for weeks unsuccessfully. Not yet 6 AM, I picked up the white trap splattered with what appeared to be dried chocolate milk, next to the garbage can, wondering aloud to… Continue reading Of Mice and Men and Morning Duty
I use #hashtag technology sparingly, mostly because I find reading them really annoying as an English teacher. However, I’ve fully embraced three so far in my life as a marketing blogger; they include #endpianoviolence, #WeAreAllSportsFans, and now this one #YesToGirls, a recent push by the Malala Fund (www.malala.org) to remind presidents and prime ministers everywhere… Continue reading #YesToGirls: September 11, Fifteen Years Later
Let’s talk about this picture. I’m honored, truly, to have been brought along to college in any way, shape, or form. But then to be placed lovingly and respectfully next to a book about Obama and a leather bound journal TO WRITE IN with some newly sharpened old school, hard core pencils is just plain… Continue reading A New School Year: the Trouble and Triumph of Transition
Abraham Lincoln once penned a note to the world regarding his young son beginning school: “Teach him, gently, World, but don’t coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.” I am grateful to have had the Merrimack Youth Association, travel soccer leagues, and truly incredible coaches from recreation straight through college. But… Continue reading In Honor of Great Coaches…
Heather Ehrman Krill 