Poetry contains the heights of human joy, the depths of our sorrows, and every shade in between, distilled into language so sincere, so lovingly chosen, that nothing compares to the power of being able to summon it to your lips at will.

My students have a stockpile of verses memorized, which allows them to draw insightful comparisons at the drop of a hat, effortlessly quote lines in their own writing and during discussion, and most importantly, venture into the world with a soul strengthened by some of the most beautiful words ever strung together by mankind.

Slow, horses, slow, As through the wood we go. We would count the stars in heaven, hear the grasses grow.

This series will focus on the meaning of classic poetry, why children should be exposed to it, and how to go about exposing them to it.

Candy does not motivate children to learn. Candy motivates children to want candy.

Generalizations can’t exist without examples.

Despite their fantasy, magic, and monsters, folktales teach children timeless lessons about the real world.

Anne of Green Gables is my favorite book of all time, and as a result, it is the book I find most challenging to teach.