"Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window."
--William Faulkner
Educate. Elevate. Express.
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
Perhaps the most memorable coda of all American Literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s haunting words echo many students’ educational experiences. Despite their best efforts, many learners admit defeat in the face of fierce academic currents. For many, all that’s needed is a bit of guidance. That’s where I come in, helping students find their strengths, address their weaknesses, and confidently navigate life’s shifting currents rather than rowing into them.
The name Broken Pencil Project is a tribute to the many pencils that met their demise due to my childhood academic frustrations. My early challenges with writing became my greatest asset, informing every aspect of my instruction. In this way, students receive support and instruction from someone who has walked the same path.
Do any of these questions sound familiar? If so, I can help.
What should my college essay be about; I haven’t done anything special?
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Why do we read Shakespeare? Why can’t we watch the play?
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What exactly should I be writing in my annotations?
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What exactly should I be writing in my annotations?
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How can I ask my teacher for help; he scares me?
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What does my teacher mean when she asks for a deeper explanation of a citation?
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How do teachers know what a symbol represents? Can’t they just make anything up?
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How am I supposed to write an interesting discussion question for such a boring book?
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Should I take an AP next year?
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How do I right a conclusion?
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What should my college essay be about; I haven’t done anything special? 〰️ Why do we read Shakespeare? Why can’t we watch the play? 〰️ What exactly should I be writing in my annotations? 〰️ What exactly should I be writing in my annotations? 〰️ How can I ask my teacher for help; he scares me? 〰️ What does my teacher mean when she asks for a deeper explanation of a citation? 〰️ How do teachers know what a symbol represents? Can’t they just make anything up? 〰️ How am I supposed to write an interesting discussion question for such a boring book? 〰️ Should I take an AP next year? 〰️ How do I right a conclusion? 〰️
Need a refresher? Some new literary insights? Relevant book recommendations?
"No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader."
--Robert Frost