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Ms. Katie Storms
email: katiestorms@claytonschools.net
follow me on Twitter @Ms. Storms“We are cultivating citizens, humanitarians, change makers. We are contributing to critical, curious thinking. We are advocating for kindness and empathy. We create better worlds by making ourselves better. We advocate for wrapping yourself in layers of joy and playfulness, in the capacity to reflect honesty and make change when [we] see [ourselves] acting in biased or inflexible ways...We know that the revolution for a better world begins with [our] classroom.” --Christine Hertz and Kristine Mraz.
When I’m not reading, writing, or teaching, you can find me watercolor painting and handlettering, running the roads in my neighborhood, listening to vinyl records with my husband, hiking out West in the mountains, or singing lullabies with my daughters. And maybe visiting too many local bookstores and drinking too much local coffee. Before moving to St. Louis, I lived in Kansas City, Missouri—I even worked for the Kansas City Royals for eight years when I was a teenager. I studied English at Truman State University: my BA is in English, and my MA is in Secondary English Education. I currently reside in St. Louis with my husband, Johnny Vines, and my daughters, Penelope Belle and Della Irene. I teach College Prep English I and AP Language and Composition at Clayton High School in St.Louis.What I'm currently reading and recommending:
Nonfiction: You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie, Just Kids by Patti Smith, Walden on Wheels by Ken Ilgunas, Missoula by Jon Krakauer, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coasts, We Should All BeFeminists by Chimanda Ngozi Adiche, Rosewater and OrangeBlossoms by Maureen Abood, and Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rainke(essays and poems).
Fiction: Olio by Tyehimba Jess, LaRose by Louise Erdirch, The Leavers by Lisa Ko, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, East of Eden by John Steinbek, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell, Claire of the Sealight by Edwidge Danticat, State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche...my list can go on forever, and I am always asking friends for new titles.
Poetry Collections: The Book of Men Poems by Dorianne Laux, Dear Darkness by Kevin Young, Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, Picnic, Lightening by Billy Collins, All of Us by Raymond Carver.
I also sponsor our literary/arts magazine, the WORKS. Please click here to learn more or to submit your writing and art.Course Overviews:
College Prep English One Course Overview
I always look forward to conversations with students and parents. Please email mail me, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
