Like many English T.A.s, I teach two sections of first-year composition courses each semester at U of H. I also work with Writers in the Schools (WITS), a program in Houston that is committed to teaching writing to elementary, middle and high school students. My schools this year are Condit Elementary School and Golfcrest Elementary School, where I work with third and fourth grade students. Through these students' stories, I stepped into worlds made of clouds and chalk where an icicle can lead to a frozen planet, or where clouds are made of cotton candy. This academic year (2000-2001), I will periodically showcase selections of WITS student work on this page, so do come back and visit from time to time and experience the world of children's writing for yourself.
From October 1997-February 1998, I was also one of the Menil Writers for WITS. This meant that every Thursday I took a small group of students through the Menil art collection on Sul Ross street. We took a "writing tour," where we not only experienced the art, but wrote stories, poems, skits, or lists of ideas based on the paintings and sculptures we saw.
Finally, another important fact about me, really the most important fact, is that I am a Christian. Although I'm now a member of Clear Lake Presbyterian Church, I was raised Baptist and have attended various churches across many denominations. I say this not to proselytize, but to let you know that much of what I do, think, and write about is a reflection of the Christian perspective, or that I at least want it to be.
One last thing! I am the mother of three cats, Brandy, age nine, Tito, age two, and Cougie, who is still a kitten. They are drooling, purring, meowing, furry messes, and you can go to my "cats" page to see pictures of them. They are all basically wonderful cats, except when they decide I must get up to feed them at 5:30 a.m. . .
