Fall 2025/Spring 2026

4/30/2026

Olivia Pierce

4/30/2026 06:49:43 pm

Thank you for featuring our 3rd-grade class in this newsletter! It was a wonderful experience having one of my professors visit us. The kids loved the opportunity to learn from someone who inspires their teacher every day. Looking forward to more exciting learning adventures in the future!

Dr Walter

5/3/2026 06:15:45 am

Olivia, Students like you are why teachers like me exist. The fact that you are now serving our profession, as well as our country, makes me prouder than you can realize. Thank you for inviting me to your classroom. I hope you invite me to visit again next year!

Zaratta Ingram

5/1/2026 12:18:19 pm

I truly enjoyed reading this newsletter because it was informative, well organized, and uplifting. It was great to learn about the accomplishments, activities, and updates shared throughout the publication. I especially appreciated the positive tone and the way the newsletter highlighted leadership, education, and community involvement. Overall, it was an engaging read that reflected dedication and professionalism.

Dr Walter

5/3/2026 06:19:08 am

Zaratta, Thank you for the kind words and for recognizing our efforts to encourage and support teachers. The English Pub is a labor of love. We're glad it shows.

Bobby

5/1/2026 01:52:08 pm

I genuinely enjoy reading all of the conference reports. I went to my first one this year. reading and relating to other’s experiences truly makes me feel better about my experience. Nerves played a huge roll that day and knowing I was not alone gives me confidence to try and do another one!

Dr Walter

5/3/2026 06:10:39 am

Bobby, That day in Arkadelphia was an epic success. I'm so pleased to hear you say you want to present at other conferences. As you do, you can contribute to future Conference Reports. Maybe some of the cfps we announce will be of interest. If you hear of other opportunities, let us know.

Kersean Hollis

5/3/2026 02:41:27 am

The travel course sounds interesting. I'll be busy during the summer, but I wish I could go.

Dr Walter

5/3/2026 06:01:59 am

Kersean, I hope to teach a similar class next summer. Get your passport and save some money. If you stay in touch with me, we can work together to design next year's itinerary to include your interests.

Travis Lund

5/4/2026 12:00:00 pm

The article on having a hobby as an emotional release and not a side hustle was a good reminder for me. I just work and study and don't take any personal time for any hobbies even though I have told myself I should. That's a goal of mine this summer..

Mr Grover Welch

5/5/2026 09:59:28 am

Thanks for letting me know you appreciated the writing. Writing is often one of my hobbies and I make time for them. It has greatly affected my joy.

Greg Slayton

5/13/2026 09:10:52 am

I enjoyed Grover's contribution to this edition. There are several places in it where I heard John Ruskin urging him to write a sentence.

Grover Welch

5/17/2026 12:30:43 pm

Thanks Greg,
I appreciate the comparison.

John Kyle Day,Ph.D.

5/14/2026 07:51:57 am

Dr. Walter is an excellent editor and model colleague. The English Pub is truly one of the best newsletters produced today in academe.

Dr Walter

5/17/2026 12:22:54 pm

Kyle, You are a gentleman and a scholar. Thank you for this praise. We are very proud of our little effort to support literacy instruction.

Carson Chan

9/7/2026 07:57:15 pm

Carson Chan

Dr. Walter

English 10203-01

7 September 2026

I read Merrie Bruce's piece on page 55-58 and was enlightened to what some students have to endure in their everyday lives. I'm no stranger to living intrernational, being here at UAM from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. But my culture shock is trumped by Merrie's unique experience. It is quite interesting to hear firsthand from an American English Language Arts teacher about her experiences in war riddled Middle-Eastern countries. I can only imagine the tension and constant stress in fear of missile attacks for her and students in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It makes me consider how fortunate I am to be in my current position. I don't have to worry about my safety or armed conflict while living and getting my education. This article has made me put more value on what it means to live in America although I'm not a citizen. I am thankful I have the opportunity to pursue my athletic and academic career with my worst worries being homework assignments and baseball practice, rather than war and terror attacks.

Meredith Bruce

9/10/2026 10:30:49 pm

Hi Carson Chan, I am back Stateside from Abu Dhabi and although I love being home (VA) to see family and friends, I do love working in the Middle East. My work in ELA is often promoting literacy in ways to make it authentic. The war not withstanding, comes with its own basket full of stressors, and requires pulling from online sources in countries that do not utilize public libraries. One also has to be extra mindful as an Expat of local and regional cultural differences when scrounging up high interest, yet scaffolded readability texts.

I appreciated your perspective of what a privilege it is to have grown up and been educated in the US. I got my degree from UAM 44 short years ago. I knew that graduating from University was such an impactful life altering event, but do not ever thought I’d spend 50% of my educational career working and living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates during both peacetimes and during military conflicts. It has been uniquely empowering to normalize education and conversations about writing structure while the UAE/US forces protected us during active bombing. One realizes quickly that reading out loud helps to quiet the anxieties provoked by air raid sirens and the sonic concussive blasts from intercept missiles of children and teens. Because my take away is that worry - be it from work assignments or baseball practice or fear of escalation of the conflicts from across the Arabian Sea- isn’t sustainable. Helping students keep to normal routines, even in war, makes education something predictable and even fun!
So glad you commented. Hope your year goes brilliantly.

April Jackson

9/7/2026 11:42:57 pm

One section of this newsletter that stood out to me was the emphasis on supporting literacy through collaboration among educators. It highlights the importance of teachers sharing ideas, classroom strategies, and resources. As a future educator, and a person who developed a love of reading and writing while in school, I also appreciate that the newsletter encourages teachers to celebrate student success and foster a love of reading and writing both inside and outside the classroom.

Kevon Conway

9/8/2026 09:09:03 am

I love to see that you are teaching a travel summer class in Literary History and Historical Geography. I will be busy this summer with football, I wish I could travel with you.

Grant Johnson

9/8/2026 09:56:38 am

I really enjoyed reading through the Conference Reports. It was cool to see all the students from the University of Monticello, and it was neat to see a report from our friend Hunter. That made the report feel more relatable and closer to home. In the reports themselves, we saw how important it was for students to develop skills that they can carry with them into real life, while also making great memories and having fun.

Kylee Gordon

9/8/2026 10:24:40 am

I really enjoyed reading this newsletter, especially the one by Grover Welch. I like how he said, "There's a kind of tired that sleep doesn't fix."

Grover L Welch link

9/11/2026 09:07:59 am

Kylee,
I am rocking that tired right now. Know it is all worth the effort, but take some of that time for you.
G

Katiyanna Blankenship

9/8/2026 10:29:40 am

I read Emma Winchester's elevator pitch on Jude the obscure. I thought the points she made were very intriguing and made me more interested in the novel. I feel like education is a very important heartfelt message and could totally see myself reading this novel!

Emma Winchester

9/11/2026 11:27:18 am

Katiyanna, I agree! Education is incredibly important and plays an integral part in Jude's story. I do hope you give Jude the Obscure a chance, as it is an amazing novel.

Kyra

9/8/2026 11:03:00 am

I read Boatemaa Nsiah Conference report on Resilience as. moderator between Adversity Childhood experiences. The report speaks up on how childhood experiences. This relates to me because I believe childhood mental health is very important and could be more studied, so someone as young as her speaking up for something she deems as important(as I do also) can go such a long way for the readers at that conference and the people. She does not stop at the fact childhood experiences affect you, but about how resilience can change you. That was my favourite part because at the end of the day you have a choice to let your past define you or you make a change. It was really encouraging to read just that little piece of information.

Aiden Cilladi

9/8/2026 07:34:02 pm

Mr. Newlin says, "Change sometimes hurts, but without change there is no progress." I don't think he could hit it on the nail any better. My change has been transferring to UAM from my previous school that I loved and had grown many friendships there. I was worried about transferring and questioned if this is the right move. I'm starting to learn that me transferring has helped me to grow more and more everyday as a person. Change can be hard, but it's about what you make out of it, and trusting the lord has a plan for you.

Nick Newlin link

9/11/2026 11:54:52 am

Thanks for your comment Aiden.

Yes, change sometimes demands courage
but often that challenge leads to progress and new and exciting discoveries.

We get stuck in habits of thinking and acting,
and change makes us adopt new habits and forge new pathways in our brains. And we keep learning!
Nick Newlin
30-Minute Shakespeare

Hannah Hubbard

9/8/2026 09:30:11 pm

I read the Quiet Work of Staying by Grover Welch. I greatly appreciated his take on having hobbies and being intentional about incorporating rest into your everyday life. Yes, I completely agree that teachers desperately need this, but I also believe that it applies to everyone. I admire the simplicity in which he stressed the necessity of doing something for you and only you. As a busy student athlete, I often forget how desperately I need to do something other than schoolwork and my sport. This article helped me put things back into perspective. Thank you.

Grover L Welch link

9/11/2026 09:03:15 am

Thank you for your comments Hannah. I think as an athlete and busy student it is most important for you to prioritize time for you. Quiet time reading a book beside a lake, is good for anyone.
G

Railey Greenwood

9/9/2026 06:13:21 pm

I really appreciated Ms. Bruce’s outlook on being bored with a job, and always being curious to learn. In my opinion, you never stop learning, and you never know what you don’t know. Overall, the news article was very well articulated and organized.

Meredith Bruce

9/10/2026 10:39:03 pm

What a nice comment, Rainey Greenwood. I am still working-and am NEVER bored. I plan on going back to Abu Dhabi after the Winter Break, but will work remotely from 12:30am-5:30am five days a week. Yuck on those hours!! Plus, I am looking to be part of a directed program to offer tutoring to Elementary and Middle School students to provide them with safe places after school for low income families. Which is great, as I don’t think I am well suited for retirement.

I hope everyone is as lucky as I am to have found a true avocation in my vocation!

Allyson Rosa

9/9/2026 07:11:16 pm

I really enjoyed reading "The Queit Work of Staying". I really appericated that reminder to keep pushing as through difficult times as resilence is more than that but that is also about recharing as well. With the message about protecting your hobbies instead of turning everything into work all the time was not only powerful to educators but I feel definitely powerful and can impact me as well.

Grover L Welch link

9/11/2026 09:06:33 am

Allyson, I think that teaching today is remarkably sterile. You hear so much about the Science of Reading, Science of teaching, but so little about the other side of the phrase. The Art and Science of teaching is just that Art. We have to be artisans in the classroom, we need to experiment, engage, and ideate. So please take that impact you felt and turn into a hobby that will undoubtedly have an effect on your classroom.
G

Madison Carter

9/11/2026 10:11:40 am

I really enjoyed " flow and conflences in a conference In Cairo, Illinois". I wanted to ask if you took anymore pictures and loved how you interpreted your research with actually going to see the history and culture of Cairo, Illinois. Are the Mississippi River and Ohio River a constant thing that people talk about ?

Chance Eifling

9/11/2026 12:58:05 pm

I read "Jude the Obscure: An Elevator Pitch in Resilience" by Emma Winchester. Jude's resilience is inspiring. Hearing about someone's resistance in the face of overwhelming adversity is beautiful. Jude reminds us that the destination is not all there is. Despite fruitless efforts, Jude still remains hopeful.

Emma Winchester

9/14/2026 09:09:38 am

Chance, I agree! To follow a character's journey through thick and thin is an incredibly rewarding experience, even if it ends in tragedy. I hope you'll give the novel a chance one day, as I believe you'll really enjoy it.

Kailee sims

9/12/2026 08:18:44 pm

I really enjoyed reading this newsletter, especially the focus on resilience. I like how it connects the challenges teachers face with the importance of helping students grow and keep going. It was a very encouraging and meaningful article to read.

Leah Ward

9/13/2026 08:59:46 pm

I thought this was really interesting. I like how the 30 minute Shakespeare program makes Shakespeare’s plays seem less intimidating and more fun for students. The way they use activities and performances to teach the plays seems like a good way to help students understand and enjoy Shakespeare instead of just reading it and having trouble trying to understand it.

Thoughts from the hearts and minds of teachers

Fall 2025/Spring 2026

Leave a Reply.

Archives

Other Blogs