All Posts


We Need to Talk About Summer Reading
There’s an old quote that the world is a book, and those who don’t travel read only one page. I quite agree, but I have my own little...
Jun 21, 20201 min read


Andreas: The Man in the Walls (A True Story?)
I wanted to be in her bed, but I ended up in her walls instead. 6-foot thick monstrosities built to withstand the most fortified...
Jun 9, 20205 min read


Karen and the Weed: A Vocabulary-Boosting Short Story
“On my count, and…go.” Clad entirely in black, from her headband to her yoga pants, Karen scrabbled over the fence into her neighbors’...
Jun 8, 20204 min read


One Curriculum Change All Schools Should Be Considering
In the last episode of the Vocabbett podcast, I suggested that a more autonomous trend might emerge in education in a post-COVID-19...
Jun 6, 20202 min read


How Schools Can (And Should!) Be Changing in the Fall
With summer finally upon us, it’s only natural that people have begun to ask what school will look like when (if?) we return in the fall....
Jun 2, 20201 min read


The Ghosts of Google Earth: A Vocabulary-Boosting Short Story
All the chattering souls gathered at 5 Manderly Place to discuss the most pressing matters of the century. The address was an old one in...
May 30, 20204 min read


Is the SAT a Thing of the Past?
Hello, and happy Thursday! Amid the rest of the news in the world lately (and heaven knows there’s been plenty!), you might not have seen...
May 26, 20201 min read


The Time Traveling Teacher: A Vocabulary-Boosting Short Story
I didn’t want to be a teacher. Not really.
But I’m not tall enough to be an actress, and my parents said I’d never make any money as a...
May 24, 20204 min read


The 'Pitch' Perfect Crime: A Vocabulary-Boosting Short Story
Fat Amy sneezed.
Her fellow Bellas, singers from the premiere a cappella group at Barden University, shied back in a way they hadn’t...
May 19, 20202 min read


5 Ways to Instantly Sound Smarter, Part 5!
We made it! Episode 18 of the Vocabbett podcast contains the final installment of our “5 Ways to Instantly Sound Smarter”...
May 17, 20202 min read


5 Ways to Instantly Sound Smarter, Part 4
Back when I was teaching English, I used to describe grammar like this: Imagine that instead of a writer or speaker, you’re a painter. In...
May 12, 20202 min read


5 Ways to Instantly Sound Smarter, Part 3
I'm going to give you a few sentences, and I want you to see if you can spot the error: “There’s so many things I have to do today.”...
May 10, 20201 min read


5 Ways to Instantly Sound Smarter, Part 2
For years, I meandered blithely through life thinking that “less” and “fewer” meant the same thing. For the sake of convenience, I used...
May 6, 20201 min read


5 Ways to Instantly Sound Smarter + Mrs. Abbett's Embarrassing Story
I am SO excited about this podcast because it kicks off a mini-series called “5 Ways to Instantly Sound Smarter.” In it, we’re going over...
May 4, 20201 min read


All Cows Go to Heaven: A Vocabulary-Boosting Short Story
“Morty!” I whispered.
“What is it?”
“A cow!”
“A cow?” my husband replied. “But we’re in heaven.”
“Heaven’s front yard, at least...
Apr 28, 20202 min read


Brilliant Insults...Literally
Episode 12 of the Vocabbett podcast shares brilliant insults from across television and literature. And when I say “brilliant,” I mean...
Apr 28, 20202 min read


How to Avoid This School Closure Mistake
When the spate of school closures began as a result of COVID-19, many people (myself included!) thought the closures wouldn't last more...
Apr 22, 20202 min read


Boudicea's Bounty: A Vocabulary-Boosting Short Story
“Please don’t call me that,” I said gently.
“But it’s your name!” my lab partner expostulated.
There was no denying the validity of...
Apr 20, 20207 min read


Are These Songs Sneakily Sabotaging Your Grammar?'
I know what you’re thinking. “Isn’t EVERY song sneakily sabotaging my grammar? How could you even narrow it down?” Here’s the deal: I...
Apr 19, 20202 min read


Casting Call: Author Seeking New Villain
“My name is Hannibal Lecter, and I…”
“Pass.”
Caroline politely shuffled the papers on her desk, giving the villain a moment to collect his..
Apr 16, 20204 min read
