I realize the irony in posting this on social media, but the news this past week has made me realize just how much I've come to despise the type of person I become on social media.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/i-let-life...
Yes, some use "moderate" as an excuse to never take a strong position on anything.
But for those of us who take strong positions on many different issues that do not pass any kind of ideological purity test, the messy middle is where we find ourselves.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/sitting-in...
Can't we just be happy for Taylor and Travis and everyone else who wants to get married?
Because I believe marriage still matters.
open.substack.com/pub/sarahsty...
Going back is not available to us.
It’s time for us to start planning for how to move forward, and bring people along with us.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/were-never...
We need diverse ideas and people at the table. We need to renovate our systems to make that diversity possible. And we need to stop purity testing because no one can be fully satisfied.
How do we get there? I’ve got some thoughts.
open.substack.com/pub/sarahsty...
I reflect on our cultural obsession with stuff and my desire to do better.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/im-done-wi...
This week, I reflect on our transition to living in a small town instead of a large city.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/a-city-gir...
Like with many issues, this requires a nuanced conversation that people on both sides of the debate aren’t willing to have because we aren’t willing to have the most important conversation of all: What is the purpose of education?
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/how-school...
I believe we need to learn ABOUT religion in public schools to better understand our neighbors and also literary allusions, but religious instruction of all kinds should be left at home.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/im-a-chris...
This is seriously one of my favorite writing assignments I’ve created. If you are looking for a way to teach both narrative and argument and help students understand what it means to establish their credibility as writers, this is the unit for you.
styfteachesenglish.substack.com/p/teaching-a...
Do you know anyone who is looking for ideas for teaching Holocaust studies this fall? Here is my whole unit plan.
styfteachesenglish.substack.com/p/teaching-t...
Have you checked out my blog? Here is what you'll find if you subscribe.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/let-me-rei...
“Boys will be boys” doesn’t have to be an excuse for bad behavior. It can also be all the best parts of parenting boys who will become men.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/when-boys-...
Five pages into the book Abundance and this quote: “And yet, the story of America in the twenty-first century is the story of chosen scarcities. Recognizing that these scarcities are chosen—that we could choose otherwise—is thrilling. Confronting the reasons we choose otherwise is maddening.”
With three weeks until I’m back in the classroom, I’m working on getting my lesson plans written out for other teachers.
If you know any English teachers who are new to the classroom or who need help, share with them!
styfteachesenglish.substack.com/p/teaching-d...
Bookshop dot org is doing free shipping this week to counter Prime Days and I’m here for it.
You can purchase my books here.
bookshop.org/lists/my-boo...
I started this series a couple of years ago to explore what I learned as a Midwesterner living in Texas. I hope this will give some people a better understanding of a state that has far more influence on the rest of the country than most people realize.
sarahstyf.substack.com/s/midwestern...
I'm not giving up on it.
My 4th of July thoughts for 2025.
open.substack.com/pub/sarahsty...
We loved our trip on the Bourbon Trail, but there are lessons beyond how bourbon is made and tasting all of the varieties.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/final-thou...
Like many, I’m processing, and sometimes that processing is messy.
But here we are.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/isnt-every...
It was so cool!
Here is our last day on the trail. Reflections in the trail coming on Friday.
open.substack.com/pub/sarahsty...
I don’t want everyone to agree with me all the time. That is boring.
But I do want to know that my faith and humanity are not being questioned. And I don’t want the words that come out of my loved ones’ mouths to make me question their humanity either.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/i-just-wan...
When I was protesting in Indy last month, it was SO encouraging to have people driving by, honking in support. Let people know you are with them in spirit, even if you cannot stand with them for hours outdoors.
I really want to participate in the protests this Saturday, but I will be in Kansas for my grandfather’s 95th birthday celebration. If you are like me, and you don’t feel you can attend a protest, here is a suggestion.
Do a supportive drive-by.
Yes, there are a lot of important things that I need to write about right now, but I have to have fun too.
This is our second day on the Bourbon Trail, this time in downtown Louisville.
open.substack.com/pub/sarahsty...
I’m a couple of hours later than normal, but here is the first day of our explorations of the Bourbon Trail. Enjoy!
open.substack.com/pub/sarahsty...
I only got to do one live video while we were on our Bourbon Trail trip. These are my day-after reflections on our first day on the Bourbon Trail.
open.substack.com/pub/sarahsty...
How do I know that I have anxiety about getting to places in time this week?
I've had three bad dreams three days in a row that I was late for school.
My last day was last Friday 🤦🏼♀️
We’ve planned a summer vacation every summer for the last 9 years. This year we’re not and I was having a hard time with not planning one.
This is how I’m processing our family growing up.
sarahstyf.substack.com/p/the-summer...
