Romeo & Juliet: The Teacher Diaries
What *do* teachers feel when facing William Shakespeare, tales of family feud, breathless kissing scenes—all in front of a class of teens who are keeping their heads down (and threatening to fall asleep or plot their next prank in the process)?
We may never know what our own 8th or 9th grade teachers felt. But, on this count, educator Callie Feyen has done us a favor. She has written 'The Teacher Diaries: Romeo & Juliet.'
It begins with a kiss. Then, page by
page, it reveals her generous, hopeful, and humorous heart.
For teachers everywhere, this is a beautiful book to help them remember why they teach. For those of us who just love to get the juicy details of what someone in a challenging position *really* thinks, this book will satisfy (and sometimes make us laugh, or cry).
***Bonus classroom activities included.
“I’ve never read a book like this before, and I’ve never read writing like this before. Callie digs into her own memories of being a teenager to write about teaching eighth grade. The lens she uses is Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, itself a story about teens, and the three stories—hers, R&J’s, and her students’ swirl around each other, interacting and informing each other, and giving us insight into all three.” — Jessica Kantrowitz (Amazon Review)
Twirl: My Life With Stories, Writing & Clothes
What story do you want to walk around in? What compass do you need for your journey? To author Callie Feyen, clothes have always been part of finding and making her personal story. They’ve been a guide and an invitation. Whatever your personal style, Feyen’s multi-layered
coming of age tale—which masterfully weaves timeless stories, writing, and clothes—will make you laugh, catch your breath, even cry. Then she’ll inspire you to decide who you want to be… and go for it. Try. You can always pick a new outfit—and find a new way, over time.
“Feyen puts words to feelings and memories that are difficult to articulate, being so deeply rooted in long-held ideas about identity as it relates to purpose and definitions of success. As a mom, writer, and student in pursuit of a career change, I really related to Twirl’s (brilliant) extended metaphor of clothing-as-story-as-identity. Feyen takes a playful yet profound look at her relationship with clothes and stories, and in doing so invites the reader to consider how they, in turn, can find the courage to step into new chapters of their lives, and new ways of being.” — Melissa P. (Amazon Review)