#SoL20: School Game Night

One of my favorite non-academic aspects of the school I teach at is an event known as Game night. Game nights are hosted by our librarian (who is also a personal friend of mine) along with the student president of her library club, VHS Crew. Game nights have brought me nothing but joy because […]

#SoL20: A Test of Distance

Two Writing Teachers have opened up their Slice of Life challenge at the midway point and I almost missed the deadline to join at the halfway point as well! Luckily, I am slowly building into my writing routine to check out the blog on Tuesday so I managed to catch it. As you may have […]

A Belief in Language

When I was 13 I believed I would go to Hell for cursing. My first memory of using foul language was about that same time. I was goofing off at a friend’s sleepover with several other girls and one of them body slammed me while I was attempting to hide under some pillows. I remember […]

Honeysuckle Memory

They say that memory is tied to smell and I can think of no example better than every year when I am slammed in the face with the scent of honeysuckle. It usually occurs during the transition from spring to summer. That time of year is always a strong reminder of the days I spent at […]

Blogging with Students

I love starting new projects, new ideas, and then inevitably they seem to fizzle out as I lack accountability or just lose interest in the project. That’s what happened to this blog.

Failure: It’s Sometimes an Option

While I may not have been posting here, I have at least been writing with my students. So much so that I have a backlog of entries I would like to share in this space, starting with the piece I just finished using classification and division writing. Students started these in-progress writing pieces yesterday and […]

Trying New Things, Failing New Things

It’s first period. I have posted everyone’s name along the wall and watch as they find their spot to hang their latest writing: Where I’m From inspired narrative vignettes. Actually, I don’t watch. My own recently composed piece about getting Icees during the summer with my Papa is posted too. I’m in the circle with […]

It Didn’t Happen

I feel like this entry is going to be a bit rushed. It is already 10 pm, I just finished meal prepping for the week, and I still have to shower! I wanted to get so much more accomplished this weekend, but it didn’t happen. And that’s okay. That is another aspect of myself I […]

Teachers Reporting for Duty

Here it is, my first week after setting the goal of blogging every weekend for myself and I nearly broke it already! Yes, I am already coming up with excuses and procrastinating and all that other nonsense we warn our students about falling prey to in life. However, as I am sure many of […]

Once I Was Seven Years Old…

Greetings and Salutations! Welcome to my new blog. My name is Erica Johnson. Over the course of this past summer (2018) I joined 24 other amazing English teachers at an Institute in Washington, D.C. at the Folger Shakespeare Library. This Institute, called Teaching Shakespeare, changed my life in so many ways. Most of these ways […]