Category Archives: teaching

Annotations Galore!

Posted on January 14, 2019 by forstegrupp

Once upon a time, I took so many notes and underlined so much in my textbooks that when I got done, the books looked like a very neat second-grader had been let loose with colored pencils. My old college edition … Continue reading →

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What happens with Shakespeare collides with the real world?

Posted on February 15, 2017 by forstegrupp

The new semester started two weeks ago. The eleventh grade began Hamlet. They always face Shakespeare with trepidation: the language, the syntax, the allusions, the vague pronouns, the metaphors, the similes. It all gets so overwhelming. But this year something … Continue reading →

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Leading in this age

Posted on February 7, 2017 by forstegrupp

Just a few minutes ago, I learned that Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Secretary of Education by the Senate. The vote was entirely by party lines, although two brave GOP senators joined the Democrats. Pence had to cast his vote … Continue reading →

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Remember Gratitude

Posted on November 18, 2016 by forstegrupp

This gratitude wreath was made by my advisory yesterday. It was not my idea. I stole it from a gracious, creative, sharing colleague. I need to keep all these things in mind these days.

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When Literature Offers Hope against the Times

Posted on November 16, 2016 by forstegrupp

Since last Tuesday, I have treated the classroom as my safe zone. For a short while, I focus on the girls in front of me and what they need to learn. But sometimes the literature addresses our times in most … Continue reading →

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Who is the astrologer in “Tebaldo”?

Posted on November 1, 2016 by forstegrupp

For the second year, I am teaching a senior elective in fairy tales. Recently, we read Giovan Francesco Straparola’s story “Tebaldo” (1550 CE). Like many fairy tales, this one begins with an intact nuclear family and everything is fine until … Continue reading →

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Anticipation for what they will say about Song of Solomon

Posted on May 11, 2016 by forstegrupp

In a few hours, my class of juniors will troop into class for our discussion of the last chapters of Morrison’s novel Song of Solomon. This was not a book I was at all eager to teach because of the … Continue reading →

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Repeating Myself – AGH!

Posted on April 29, 2016 by forstegrupp

Good teaching requires a certain amount of repetition. But it makes me crazy when a student asks a question, I answer, and then another student asks the same question. There are moments when that repeated question comes that another student … Continue reading →

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Mr. Rochester Really Riles Them Up!

Posted on October 29, 2015 by forstegrupp

As they left, one student said she would like to have a class-wide debate (meaning the entire class of 2017) but would be afraid of the violence that would ensue because other students have such strong opinions. Continue reading →

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When professional development does not meet expectations

Posted on August 5, 2015 by forstegrupp

On Monday and Tuesday, I spent time with a sizable number of fellow educators at an “Institute” which turned out to be a great disappointment. Life is full of disappointments so the question is always how to make the best … Continue reading →

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