Storytelling. Fact and fiction. One word at a time.
Moments that make me realize I should make a bigger deal of the books I've published. Incident Number One In the staff room at school, two colleagues—part of our school’s mental health initiative for youth and staff—were chatting about which books to choose for a staff book club. I was filling my water bottle at... Continue Reading →
Near semester end a student told me she had an appointment and had to leave early. That was no problem. Later that afternoon she sent an email apologizing for mixing up the days. The next day in class she apologized again but was quite vague about where she had gone. Her lack of information made... Continue Reading →
I've been feeling restless. So, you know, that was my sign to make a list. Yeah---I'm the queen of lists. I love lists so much that I wrote a book about it. This is a shameless plug for my book (in case you didn't notice). Check it out here if you want. I'm not posting... Continue Reading →
The valedictorian I've seen over 30 graduations in my career---30 valedictorian speeches. Only a couple stuck. This is one of them. The usual It was time for the valedictorian speech. Ryder Wesson was introduced as a graduate, as a student with a 98.11 GPA, and as a member of the championship football team he played... Continue Reading →
Having written my memoir really gets me thinking about everyone else's story. No one is ordinary. And even if they are---it's in that day-to-day that stories are built, that the remarkable occurs. In the hall at work, I stopped to watch a teacher assemble a bulletin board. Another teacher stopped and another one---a small professional... Continue Reading →
The first part of this post was written at school. I finished all my duties: room cleaned, marks entered, boxes packed and ready for transport. I am being moved to a new school. Last-minute administrative duties are done. With this bit of free time, I thought why not work on the writing side of my... Continue Reading →
Excuses. Excuses. Excuses. I spent the last few days of the school year packing and moving and hauling and cleaning because I am being moved to a new school. I was spent. June is typically met with exhaustion, but let's add to that packing up a decade's worth of teaching tools and supplies and stuffing... Continue Reading →
People don't listen, they just wait for their turn to talk. Chuck Palahniuk That time it became obvious that people don't At the dentist, I had settled in for my bi-annual cleaning, right after summer holidays. The hygenist was clicking away at the keyboard. I could hear her but I couldn't see her because she... Continue Reading →
What kind of story would Munish tell? After the production of #34, at Regina's Globe Theatre, I stayed for the opening night party. I chatted with Munish, congratulating him on his success as the playwright and performer. He told me that when he started developing the idea for this story he was prompted by the... Continue Reading →
It's summertime! As a teacher, my life runs on cycles. Fall---start of school. Winter break. Semester change. Spring break. SUMMER! I look forward to each stage as they all move me forward. And well, truth be told, I don't know anything different as I've been in the cycle of education since I was five, which... Continue Reading →
Angie Counios 