Rachel’s Posts

In January 2022, the game Wordle took the internet by storm. Scores featuring boxes of yellow and green were plastered all over social media and became the talk at the water cooler: “how many guesses did it take you to get today’s Wordle?” “What is… Read more: Wordle in the Classroom

I’ve had glitter bottles in my classroom as long as I’ve had a classroom, but this year – after much expertise gleaned from years of practice – my bottles were so particularly beautiful that my students talked me into selling them. (Here’s a shameless plug… Read more: White Saviorism… and How to Avoid it

Resources that sound progressive and anti-racist might be white supremacy in disguise, so anti-racist educators need to be careful. Here are some red flags to pay attention to. 

Have you ever said a word over and over and over and noticed how quickly it loses its meaning? If not, try it – just pick the closest object on your left, and repeat the word thirty or forty times and pay attention to how… Read more: Villainizing the term “Woke”

 “When the architects of our great republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as… Read more: Is “Systemic Racism” Real?

Today, I saw my husband have a panic attack. On our way home from the gym, we decided to check an errand off our list with a trip to the ATM. We needed to bop home for Dido’s wallet, but luckily it was on the… Read more: Panic Attack

I’m sorry this post is delayed – February 2020 felt rather normal, but by March, the world was falling apart and the truth is that I lost a lot of my drive to write. However, with the recent incidents bringing racism into the forefront again… Read more: Black History Month: Reflections and Recommendations

For New Years, I think it’s important to reflect because – for the first time ever! – I actually achieved two of my resolutions. This post will be about the first. I made working out a part of my life. My husband of ten years… Read more: Reflections on Resolutions: Getting Fit

I found myself with a lonely day: my roommates were tired, my husband traveling, Stephanie already back at school. I embraced this – after a weekend cruise that involved crowds, a cramped cabin, and constant stimulation, a day to chill was welcome. So I googled:… Read more: Horror Movie Marathon

So, my bestie, Steph, talked me into participating in a writing contest, which I hadn’t done since college. It was a fun endeavor, though, more like improv comedy than short-story writing. The premise is simple: on a designated Friday night, you receive a prompt that… Read more: Writing Contest: Three… two…. one….!

In contrast to Hailey, whose white fragility worsens throughout the book, Starr’s boyfriend, Chris, is provides a dynamic look at the “white ally.” He comes from a wealthy family, goes to a private school, but he’s enamored with black culture and dates one of the… Read more: Part 3: White Fragility in The Hate U Give: The White Ally

This post will examine Hailey, one of Starr’s friends who displays racially problematic behavior throughout the book and demonstrates white fragility clearly. In one moment in the story, the teenagers observe a basketball game and joke about their “food babies” after a hefty lunch of… Read more: Part 2: White Fragility in The Hate U Give: The Racist Joke

Walking selfie!  This summer, I made a commitment to walking 3-4 miles a day for fitness. I live in a house with four other people who all do Crossfit, but that’s not really my speed. (It’s not only hard as hell, but it’s also a… Read more: Part 1: White Fragility in The Hate U Give

Hello and welcome! This blog will be about many things – from traveling the world to a warm bowl of mac’n’cheese on the couch, in yoga pants, watching Netflix. We are writers, teachers, foodies…   But the core of this blog is truly the friendship… Read more: About the Authors!

So here we are, back in Jordan! What began as a business connection with the princess of Jordan blossomed into a friendship and – blow my mind, omg – we ended up invited to a royal wedding! We arrived in capital city Amman at 5am,… Read more: Royal Wedding: Dinner Party

Jordan! In the wake of Hurricane Irma, my husband, Dido, and I lit off on an adventure to the Middle East for the first time. Dido is a mindfulness trainer – he travels all over, teaching teachers about neuroscience, how to meditate, and use positivity… Read more: Adventures in Jordan: Baptism Site and Dead Sea