by Dana VanderLugt | Aug 22, 2019 | On faith, On living, On teaching
Full disclosure: I woke up feeling overwhelmed today, fixating way too much on hustling and keeping up the illusion of holding it all together. Then The Twelve blog posted a darn essay I wrote (just a few days ago) about breathing, laughing, and taking refuge in...
by Dana VanderLugt | Jan 23, 2019 | On living, On teaching, On Writing
This past fall, on a beautiful, sunny Saturday, I attended a writing workshop with my college poetry professor, Jack Ridl. We were cozied into a small church hall and given permission to dig into our memories and free write and start pieces that maybe we’d...
by Dana VanderLugt | Nov 4, 2018 | On living, On Reading, On teaching
In November, many people post pictures to express the things for which they’re most thankful. Because I love talking about books, because I think words matter that much, because I think stories have the power to transform and challenge us, I’m going to post a book a...
by Dana VanderLugt | Aug 14, 2018 | On living, On parenting, On teaching
I remember the exact moment of fifth grade — sitting in my desk, watching my teacher explaining a spelling game — when I promised myself that if I ever became a teacher, I would not forget what it felt like to be a student. But I do it all the time. Our desks and...
by Dana VanderLugt | Apr 25, 2018 | On living, On parenting, On teaching
Hands down my favorite moments as a teacher are those of authentic engagement — that rare intersection of attention, curiosity, interest, and passion. Every lesson plan, every strategy, every procedure is an attempt to mix a potion that will help...
by Dana VanderLugt | Jan 18, 2018 | On faith, On living, On parenting, On teaching, On Writing
inˈten(t)SH(ə)n(ə)l/ adjective: done on purpose; deliberate. Synonyms: calculated, conscious, intended, purposeful I talk to my writing students about audience all the time — “Know your audience,” I tell them, “Your tone, your style, your voice...