Mizzou. Kenya. Japan. Paris. Mexico. Baghdad. Syria. Beirut. Sinai. Nigeria. Yale. If you’ve recently turned on the news or opened a newspaper, you’ve likely heard or read a story on the above countries and countless others. In one week, nearly 600 people were killed due to terrorist attacks—and those are just the ones covered by the media. So, who decides what makes front page… Continue reading Kermit Says: Make Time
Tag: bravery
Kermit Says: Lean In
From race and sexuality to class and religion and everything in between, it can be really challenging to push yourself to have these difficult, mature, respectful conversations. For many, these topics are heavy, emotionally charged, and deeply personal. Of course it makes sense to steer clear of such conversations, and quite frankly, it’s the easy… Continue reading Kermit Says: Lean In
Kermit Says: Be About It!
Nigerian girls missing, Ebola ravaging West African countries, ISIS terrorizing innocent civilians, Bubonic plague spreading throughout Madagascar, and hundreds of thousands of people losing the battle against social justice every. single. day. There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and I oftentimes feel angry, sad, confused, powerless, and just plain tired. Tired… Continue reading Kermit Says: Be About It!
Kermit Says: Be Brave
Everybody’s been there/Everybody’s been stared down by the enemy/Fallen for the fear/And done some disappearing,/Bow down to the mighty/Don’t run, just stop holding your tongue. (“Brave” by Sara Bareilles) I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath/Scared to rock the boat and make a mess/So I sat quietly, agreed politely/I guess that I… Continue reading Kermit Says: Be Brave
Kermit Says: Be Eager
As a teacher, I have a number of daily responsibilities: to ensure my students have the fundamentals of reading, writing, analysis, and critical thinking; to guarantee their mental, emotional, and physical safety at all times; and to broaden their horizons. While these are essential aspects of my job, they are not at the core; they… Continue reading Kermit Says: Be Eager
Kermit Says: Be Radiant
The other day, I was sitting in the car blasting my music--what's new--when suddenly Rihanna's song, "Shine Bright Like a Diamond," came on. Now, ordinarily this moment wouldn't stand out to me, but for some reason this Rihanna song in particular did. I found myself closing my eyes, snapping my fingers, bobbing my head--the typical… Continue reading Kermit Says: Be Radiant
Kermit Says: Be Bold
As an English teacher, I’ve written this post with the idea of being interactive because, like in my classroom, this is not about me—this is about you. So, if I ask you a question, just give me what you’ve got, okay? What does it mean to be brave? Now think about this next question: who… Continue reading Kermit Says: Be Bold
Kermit Says... 