Author Archives: Katy

Writing for a Cause: adolescent activism

bother listI had the privilege of leading a workshop at the Kellogg Hubbard Library a few weeks ago. Because I teach 6th grade, I have a deep affection for the spirit and heart of middle grade students. I happen to know that this age students has a fierce passion for social justice. They just need some support and direction. This is why I feel so strongly about service learning and helping these students channel their energy into something good. It’s why I wrote Change the World with Service Learning and it’s why I led this workshop.

I started with having students list their “bothers.”  What is wrong with the world? What do you want to change? What makes you mad, keeps you up? Here’s what we came up with:

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Needy (a poem dedicated to all mamas of babies and toddlers)

07-10-21_kbp_232This poem is dedicated to all the moms of babies and toddlers who are in the thick of motherhood. Finding that you are losing yourself a bit. Struggling to be everything you need to be. Sleepless, overwhelmed, with too much to do and not enough hands. You are not alone. You are enough.

relentless neediness
constant noise
a perpetual state
of get this
get that
watch this
not that
do this
mommy, now!
I need
I want
I’m hungry
I didn’t want THAT!
I feel a lifetime
of never being enough
creeping in

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Education Week Teacher: Teachers Stay Because They Made a Choice to Serve

Education Week Teacher imageI was happy to have the opportunity to answer a question for the Education Week Teacher blog. It was: Why do some teachers stay at difficult to staff schools? What are the rewards? What do these long term teachers learn about specific communities & learning that benefit their students?

Three educators from across the country, in different educational environments were asked this same question. This post shares our answers. It was my honor to share insight from and with my fellow educators on this topic.