I read Maus for the first time nearly 20 years ago. It was required reading for my adolescent literature class, one of the many English classes I took for my undergraduate education program. My professor hoped that we would value using a graphic novel in the English classroom. So I flew through Volume 1 and […]
Sarah Styf
Sarah Styf is a 19-year high school English teacher. She lives in the Indianapolis area with her husband and two children. She is passionate about literacy, education reform, and increasing civic engagement.
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Research Paper Alternatives That Will Still Increase Research Skills
I love teaching research writing. No seriously, I do. Look, I know that for a lot of teachers, the mere suggestion of teaching any kind of research writing triggers a whole host of bad memories. Piles of notecards, copies of multiple articles, large encyclopedias open to a single page with tiny print, hours spent trying […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Literacy Matters and We Need to Start Acting Like It
The aha moment hit me nearly two months too late. For weeks, I had been working with one of our SPED teachers to figure out how to get students to turn in their work. After years of effectively managing my classes through meaningful work with clear deadlines, I was overwhelmed by the number of student […]
Posted inCOVID
We Don’t Want Schools Shut Down, But We Can’t Solve the COVID Pandemic
I’m writing this while sitting up in bed, trying to rest and relax 48 hours after a positive COVID test. Yes, I was vaccinated. Yes, I was boosted. Yes, I wore a mask while out in public most of the time. And no, I probably didn’t get it during the first day of school. Considering […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
We Should Seek to Make Our Schools Communities, Not Substitute Families
“Our school is just like a family.” Nearly every teacher has heard that phrase spoken at interviews or meetings, the comparison of the collective body of faculty, staff, and students to a close-knit family unit. While it is a common sentiment in small schools, I’ve heard plenty of teachers discuss how even their larger schools […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
The “Great Resignation” Is Hurting Teacher Diversity and That Matters More Than You Think
My first teaching job was at a very small private school, where I was the only English teacher for all four grades. I made very little money, our health insurance was threatened by financial woes, and I was severely overworked. I almost left teaching after my third year and I have been forever grateful for […]
Posted inOpinion
During COVID We Ignored These Dress Code Trends, Let’s Ditch Them Now
When teachers and students got sent home in March 2020, one of the many school norms suddenly ignored was the dress code for students and teachers alike. My own children used to normally wearing, khakis and polo shirts, suddenly lounged in athletic shorts and t-shirts as they sat in front of computers, completed homework, and […]