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The same year I started teaching, a beloved English teacher of mine retired. She told me that four decades in the classroom went so fast. My grandmother said the same about forty years of marriage, and how she wished she had written more down.

As I embarked on a rather unexpected English/Language Arts career, I began blogging about my new teaching experiences. I became hELArious Lizzy. My Hubster, and eventually our two children Spartacus and Little Miss, are along for this wonderful adventure that I share in these pages. Thank you for joining me on this journey of teaching, motherhood, wife-ry, Lutheranism, and everything in between!

This current version of this website is a work in progress; keep checking back as I add more and build my internet life!

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Grading Gaffs: The Cows

Funny things high schoolers write to try to get an A

Vlog: Down and Dirty with the Mayflower Compact

Earlier this fall, I assigned my students a paper I knew they would struggle with, because there wasn’t a “right” way to write it. Student LOVE to ask, “What do you want me to write?” And I LOVE to respond, “I don’t care as long as you defend it.” Still, I knew I would get the same six questions eighteen…
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First Week Routines

Year seven of teaching is upon me! New student orientation day is Wednesday, and all students roll in Thursday. This is, I think, my busiest year yet. But the closer I get to a room filled with fascinating developing adolescents, the more excited I get to impart to them the wisdom of my years (I am turning 30 next year,…
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What to do after a car accident

Life101 Adulting Series Let’s assume you didn’t read my 3 tips for winter driving post, and you slid into another car on your way to work this morning. What should you do if you’re in a fender bender? Lucky for you I’ve been in several car accidents — none of which were my fault!! — so I can give you…
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How to Drive in the Winter: 3 Quick Tips

Life101 Adulting Series We had our first major snowfall this past week in Indiana, and my high school students, like every other driver on the road, freaked out. Because driving in the winter can be scary, and maybe something will go wrong. How should you drive in slippery conditions? Winter Drive Tip One: Just Drive SLOWER I know you’re running…
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Life Hacks: Debunked

Life101 Adulting Series The “life hack” is a fairly new term to describe a fairly old idea: how to live life more efficiently. It usually is applied to clever tricks that make you think, “Why didn’t I think of that?” The life hack has spawned countless blog posts and click bait promising you ways to use things you already own…
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More life lessons

Advent with a 4-year-old

Last week we enjoyed that most precious of Advent preparation events, the preschool Christmas program. 4-year-old Spartacus was thrilled to play Joseph. It was everything a children’s Christmas program should be: adorable, disorganized in spite of all the preparation, technical difficulties, and children waving and picking their noses. During “This Little Light of Mine,” Joseph disappeared briefly, having misplaced his…
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Best Christmas Gift for Everyone

Last year, Spartacus received a Christmas present that got put away with the decorations. It got pulled from the basement this past weekend as we put up our first *live* tree, and Spartacus has rediscovered this toy. And we have discovered it is the Greatest Christmas Present Ever For Anyone. WHAT IS IT, you ask? Indoor snowballs. Indoor snowballs, you…
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Little Ones to Him Belong

Intercom Devotion Earlier this week I was rocking my daughter, who is almost two, to sleep before bed. I sang her the simple hymn, “Jesus Loves Me,” which is one of her favorites. She has some speech delays, but she knows some sign language, and she loves this song because she can sign the refrain, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.” As…
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