Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood... To understand humility as more than a theoretical concept, to be dethroned, struggle in a wilderness, to cry out for God's strong arm, to not feel like the beautiful one, the popular one, to …
Author: GriffithsKL
Timothy McVeigh & I Agree on One Thing
My favorite poem was basically written by the one-legged pirate, Long John Silver. What's worse, my favorite poem was also the favorite of Timothy McVeigh, infamous building-bomber-baby-killer, who went so far as to quote it just before leaving this world by lethal injection in June, 2001. I remember thinking that McVeigh was about to meet …
Low Budget Cards: A Valentine Tradition
Every year as long as I can remember, Bob has made Valentine's cards. Using only crayons and a pen, he creates these hilarious, memorable, unique expressions of his love. His cards are one-of-a-kind works of art that make us laugh or cry or both. He calls them "Low Budget Cards," and he even has …
Nothing’s More Fun Than Doing The Assignments I Give My Students
The Assignment: A 10 line iambic pentameter conceit poem. His Favorite Pair of Jeans He once compared me to a pair of jeans, Velveteen-threadbare, torn, and faded jeans. We were as close as clothing then, denim Dressed and pressed against each other. Thirteen Years my best friend. So best he could forget The holes, the …
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Your Attention, Please.
Villain, Victim, Victor: the three ways I can see myself in my quest for attention. As a victim I get consolation; as a villain, condemnation; and as a victor, congratulations. Which of those strokes I predominantly seek will dig ruts for the wheels of my life. Admittedly, this idea came to me when I was …
The Gift of a Thought
I woke up this morning and felt like staying in bed, where I could cuddle with that bit of holiday angst that took up residence in the pit of my stomach. Confession: under my covers is the safest place even at 42 years old. I worried about getting the sickness that's going around and all the …
How To Be An Idiot This Thanksgiving
Pass me the sweet potatoes... and the Black Friday Ad. The talk this Thanksgiving is whether or not to shop the Black Friday specials, which have slithered into Thursday, and onto our Thanksgiving table. Passions run high on both sides of the turkey. Some folks can't pass up a deal and will gladly sacrifice dinner …
The Hardest 5000 Words Assignment I’ve Given Yet…
I know this because it's 5:25 PM and only half of my students have posted their work. I've received several emails about how difficult this assignment is, as well as some flat-out I'm-not-doing-this communications. I get it. Some prompts are harder than others. But the ones who did the assignment-- who did what I asked-- …
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A 5000 Words Writing Assignment I Gave My Students
The assignment for my high school students: Be someone famous and create a diary entry from that person's point of view. Robin Williams' suicide is heavy on my heart. How could a man who brings so much laughter to the world kill himself? They say he left behind a daughter, grown. Her name is Zelda. Zelda, …
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From Your Mom: A Letter to Homeschool Students
Before we embark on another homeschool year, I want to clear up a couple of misunderstandings we had last year. Truth is, some school days I felt like a gladiator. You probably did too. Let's start fresh, and agree on the following... shall we? 1. Mom is not the enemy. Most homeschool students unconsciously operate …
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KL Griffiths 