Classroom News
-
This Summer 2026, more than a few of my students are writing about Beehive Hairdos, Knee-High Go-Go Boots, and Hippie-Style Bell-Bottom Pants. That’s because we are reading a sixties novel and developing sixties research papers. The sixties were a time of change. The Civil Rights Movement created forward progress in diminishing racial injustice. The Beatles inspired…
-
Saludos desde Border Field State Park in San Diego. I can say this because this guy looks like he is surfing just to the north of the famous border wall that divides Mexico and California. The twelve-foot fence extends about 300 feet into the sea (to prevent people from swimming over). It’s made of metal shafts…
-
Upon our return from Memorial Day, I will ask my students to take their Mexico City research to another level. This semester we read a 350-page historical novel based on the Life, Love, Art, and Death of Frida Kahlo. Every student in the class submitted an extensive research paper comparing what we read about Frida…
-
Frida displayed a pattern in her life to rebel against Anything, Anyone, Anywhere. In The Secret Book of Frida Kahlo, Frida not only rebelled against people she didn’t like, but she also rebelled against friends and family close to her. Clare Booth Luce was a friend. Chapter 18 begins with Clare’s bone-chilling scream at the sight…
-
This week, I reread one of my favorite novels from one of my favorite writers: The Cry of the Owl by Patricia Highsmith. I spent much of 2025 picking novels off my shelves here in Mexicali. My goal was to read 50 novels in 50 weeks. I’m glad I did. They all seemed to be…
-
For me, Frida’s personal story will forever be an inspiration. Unfortunately, I haven’t studied art to sufficiently recognize the genius of her painting, but in reading her story, I’m drawn to her strength and courage to live each day to the fullest. She lived a life on her terms. This semester, my students and I will…
-
This spring I hope to incite Fridamania in a few of my classes. It is for this reason: many of my past students have (happily) chosen to base their research papers on the strength, courage, and creative genius of Frida Kahlo. IT WORKS. In her life and her art, they all seem to find something…
-
In my Spring 2026 classes we will examine how images can make a visual argument. We are reading a fictional novel about Frida Kahlo that will lead us to a Mexico City research paper. My students will begin their semester writing journey by preparing a critical analysis of a visual image, advertisement or poster that relates…
-
I’ve asked my students to share their MVP ( Most Valuable Part) of their Reading and Soundtrack Selection from their Fall Semester 2025. They will need to think back to the authors, short stories, and poems we have read. Here is the cool part: There is no right or wrong position in a student’s vote…
-
SUMMER WAS FUN – FALL WILL BE A BLAST! This summer in ENGLISH 1000 we went to NEW YORK CITY – Come On! – In what other class doyou ever have the opportunity to do THAT? To supplement our PARADISE TRAVEL novel-reading experience, I asked each of my students to choose a JUICY…