It’s a crisp fall morning. I drive my kids to school as usual. A clown is standing in front of the school directing traffic. She laughs and dances and mimes with the kids as they cross the street. It’s a very happy moment that makes the kids look forward to a day at school. On…
Category: Reading Practice
Why we like to scare ourselves
Way back in 1981, the extremely prolific horror writer Stephen King wrote an essay speculating about why Americans crave horror movies. He should know: he’s successfully terrified us with his books (many made into movies) for decades. Here’s King’s original essay (I warn you, even native English speakers have a hard time trying to follow…
I don’t drink coffee
The doctor keeps asking me if I drink coffee. Really, he seems obsessed with the idea. “How often?” he asks. “How many cups a day?” “I do not drink coffee,” I tell him again. “I don’t like the taste.” He is skeptical. He asks me if I’m sure. I’m starting to get irritated. I tell…
Crocodiles and teachers
This responded to the prompt: Use a little-known fact and tie it to something important. I used it to start a teacher evaluation. I recently read that crocodiles lay up to 60 eggs at a time and, unlike other reptiles, do not abandon them to fend for themselves. Once the mother hears the infant squeaking inside the…
Put a Sock in It
This is an editing response to this writing prompt: A clean sock is thrown into the dirty laundry. Write for 5 minutes without stopping. Edit later. Richard’s cozy nap on the edge of the bed was rudely interrupted when he found himself catapulted through the air. He wondered, as he flew, why these things…