Author: Catherine Duncan
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Teaching Middle Schoolers to Write Essays (a Journey in Caffeine and Patience)
Yes, the letter “I” is capitalized when it stands alone… If you’ve ever tried to teach a middle schooler how to write an essay, you know it’s not just about thesis statements and topic sentences—it’s about survival. It’s guiding students who think “because I said so” is valid evidence and believe their five-paragraph paper should…
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July: The Sunday of Summer for Teachers
Ah, July. That magical midpoint in the rollercoaster we call “summer break.” For teachers, it’s a weird, wonderful month. One part recovery, one part denial, one part wondering what kind of “summer mom” are you going to be, one part creeping sense of responsibility that keeps whispering, “You should probably open that email.” But for…
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Thirty-Nine Is Coming In Hot …
Looking Back, Leaning Forward So here I am… on the edge of 39. Not quite 40. Not really clinging to 30. Just kind of floating in that limbo where you still say things like “back in the day” and forget you are the day. Turning 39 is weird. It’s like being the last page of…
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What’s Love Got To Do With It?
I Found My Husband at 30—and It Was Right on Time I didn’t meet my husband in high school. Or college. Or at some magical post-grad event where everyone’s drinks matched their personalities and their futures were perfectly mapped out. Nope. I found him at 30. Right at the moment I stopped frantically searching and…
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Streetside Brewery: We Make Beer Here
Why Streetside Brewery Deserves a Spot on Your Cincinnati Bucket List If you’re in Cincinnati and haven’t been to Streetside Brewery, go ahead and add it to your calendar right now. Seriously—I’ll wait. Tucked into Columbia Tusculum like a hidden gem with really good beer (like really good beer) and even better vibes, Streetside is…
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Life in the Shell: What Rowing Taught Me About Grit, Grace, and Teamwork
Not many people grow up saying, “I want to be a rower.” It’s not exactly a mainstream sport—there are no Friday night lights, no bleachers full of fans, no highlight reels playing on ESPN. But those of us who’ve done it? We know it’s one of the toughest, most unique, and strangely beautiful sports out…
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Reading “The Anxious Generation”
A Wake-Up Call for the Smartphone Era I recently read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. As a parent, educator, and part-time chaos coordinator of three kids under ten, this book felt less like a light read and more like a neon sign blinking, “PAY ATTENTION.” It’s…
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From Lake Effect to Skyline Chili
Growing Up in Erie, PA…..because it’s okay to love Erie I’m 38 now, living in Cincinnati with three kids, a career, and a to-do list that never ends. But every once in a while—usually when it snows or I smell lake water or overhear people talk about their love and obsession with Skyline Chili (in…
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Surviving (and Thriving) in the Middle
Let’s discuss the elephant in the room…the classroom that is: Let’s get one thing straight: teaching middle school is not for the faint of heart. You are entering a world where deodorant is optional, emotions are unpredictable, and sarcasm is practically a second language. But if you can laugh through the chaos and learn to…
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The Last Little Love: Raising Our Youngest Boy
They say you just know when it’s your last baby. And they’re right. There’s something different about the way you soak in the little things—sticky cheeks, sleepy snuggles, the way they mispronounce “pajamas.” When you know they’re your last, everything feels softer. Slower. Sweeter. Our youngest, at two and a half, is the final piece…
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Coffee ☕️ Crayons 🖍️ and Curriculum 📝 