Articles written by J. Burney Sullivan

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About me - J. Burney Sullivan

In a phrase- a dilettante with no money! I been rich and poor, stupid and smart, arrogant and humbled, lived here and over yonder, taught school, practiced law, wrote this and that, sang opera, ate my vegetables, enjoyed both cats and dogs, almost died twice,

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Education > Homework & Testing How to help your child with writing: 4 of 39
As a writer and a high school English teacher, I would say the only skill more important than writing is reading. Here is my best advice on helping your kid with writing.1. Read to them from birth. Use pretty picture books when they are pre-literate. Read in different languages, if you can speak them. Just let them learn to l... More..
Education > Education (Other) Tips for dealing with a difficult teacher: 5 of 44
As a teacher, I can say for sure that some teachers should not be teaching. This is no surprise. Let's face it- there are parents who will never be good parents, either. But when your child becomes the victim of a bad teacher, it is up to the parent to do the right thing.First, how do you know your child's teacher is difficul... More..
Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) True gardening stories: My most amazing gardening experience: 15 of 62
Mr. Sneeze came to us one day in spring, when all the neighborhood stray kittens were born. He was a thin tuxedo cat with noticeable white whiskers, bright against his black face. His mother neglected him, and he developed a respiratory condition that had him sneezing quite often. He looked like a goner, to be honest. And yet... More..
Relationships & Family > Marital Conflicts How to know when it is time to go: 16 of 48
Psychologists say there are four big reasons marriages end: money, kids, in-laws, and sex. I bet you could end your marriage in another way, such as never listening to your spouse, but somehow all reasons seemed linked to these. Marriages can survive big trouble in any category, but the ultimate cause of failure is this: the ... More..
Education > Education (Other) Tips for fitting in with classmates: 14 of 28
As a high school teacher, I have noticed that the students who have the fewest problems fitting in are the ones who don't seem to care whether they fit in or not. It's ironic that kids treat you better if you don't care what they think, like Woody Allen's rule: "I wouldn't want to be a member of a club that would have me as a... More..
Pets & Animals > Animal Rights & Issues Animal cruelty and why eating them is wrong: 1 of 2
"Why are you a vegetarian?" This question usually comes when I am eating dinner in a restaurant with a friend, and the waiter has just brought him a big slab of steak. I'd really like to ask people, "Why are you still eating meat?" Here are the reasons people give for eating meat- and you've heard it all before:1. "I tried be... More..
Education > Education (Other) Fall 2007 school fashions to avoid: 8 of 12
"Shayla," I said, "you are an intelligent and nice girl. Why are you wearing a top that exposes so much of your chest?" As her teacher, it was my job to bring her attention to the fact that she was revealing eight (count 'em- 8) inches of cleavage above her skin-tight spandex top. Her mini skirt wasn't much better. Her answe... More..
Education > High School Humanities How to prepare a child for high school: 17 of 25
When James started showing up to my English class stoned on marijuana, it was time to call his mother. He smelled like marijuana, he had red bloodshot eyes and slept through class, he seemed alternately disoriented and belligerent. But surprise, surprise! When I got mom on the phone, I would have sworn she was stoned, too. Sh... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) Tips for packing books: 14 of 19
Unless you are Conan the Barbarian, you don't want to carry boxes of books. But if you insist on taking books with you when you move, then maybe these tips can help reduce your back strain.1. Get rid of half your books, first. OK, maybe not half, but take a good look and discover a truth: you will not be reading most of these... More..
Home & Garden > Buying & Selling Homes Simple tips for preparing your house for sale: 66 of 80
Buyers want to see a large, clean house that has been carefully maintained. They look for these qualities, and if they don't see them, they won't buy the house. Work with a realtor from the start, asking her to walk through the house with you while you take notes on a pad. She will point at the glaring and not-so-glaring prob... More..