Essays

On Books and Writing

Contemplating weirdness, border consciousness and creative disruptions: How Fernando A. Flores tackles writing about the Borderlands and keeping the creative process flowing

I was on an impromptu road trip in the Marfa, Texas area when I received an email asking if anyone would be interested in interviewing the Katherine Anne Porter House’s last writer for the 2023 season, Fernando A. Flores. I was in a small town coffee shop that also doubled as a bookstore/art gallery after an inexplicable detour to the South Texas/Mexico border just outside of Big Bend National Park. This is where I’d come upon an old walking bridge called La Linda International Bridge and found out that it used to join the two countries unmonitored until its closure in 1997 and was used to transport fluorspar or fluorite across the borders.

Reading and Writing Poetry Improves Student Learning

April is National Poetry Month and Proximity Learning is thrilled to share its love of poetry with both educators and students. There are so many innovative ways teachers can share the joys, benefits, and connections poetry allows in the online classroom or in the brick-and-mortar classroom with their students.

In April 1996, the Academy of American Poets initiated the first-ever National Poetry Month. Many people, especially students, get intimidated when they think of poetry - but there’s not

The Last Cuentista: The Lifesaving Art of Storytelling | Porter House Review

Note from the Editor:

Translated into Spanish by Deana Cardona, Spanish Copy Editing by Devora Barrera González

Para ver la versión en Español de esta revisión, desplácese hacia abajo por favor.


“Habia una vez,” . . . in a galaxy far far away, Petra Peña awakens after humanity’s last chance of survival has been launched into space by the Pleiades Corp to find she is the only survivor with memories of Earth. In The Last Cuentista, author Donna Barba Higuera builds a world which relies upon

Porter House Reads: Halloween Edition | Porter House Review

Abra: I love how this poem encompasses the season and the different ways we honor or circumvent the memories of those who have passed. As the veil seems to become thinner and there’s a chill in the air we invite the visions and images of death (which we typically try to avoid) into our homes as decor, our wardrobes as masquerade, and our collective consciousness as both entertainment and observance as we embrace the shadowy side.

The cacophony of celebration and overindulgence juxtaposed with t

On Education

Teaching About Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Celebrated on the anniversary of the order issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas - deriving its name from combining "June" and "nineteenth". Although the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed two years earlier, slaves as far south as Galveston, Texas did not know they were freed and were forced to work.

I had s

Supportive Classroom Form Student Durable Skills - Proximity Learning

Building durable skills in supportive classrooms - Why is it important?

Formerly known as “soft skills” and “hard skills” - upskilling programs have moved towards new identifiers to explain the types of skills employers are looking for in modern job markets. These skills are now identified as durable (formerly soft) or perishable (formerly hard) skills.

Durable skills include a combination of how a person uses what they know in life and in the workplace. Skills like critical thinking, communic

Students Take Active Role In Women’s History - Proximity Learning

Las Mariposas and the struggle for Human Rights: The Mirabal Sisters

Passionate teachers, whether they are in the K-12 brick-and-mortar education setting, online classroom or in the school of life, are what really make the difference when it comes to social advocacy and especially Women’s Rights and Human Rights Issues. That’s why we are so proud to have educators who not only teach about diversity and women’s rights like Meredith DeSalva-Gaffney, but also advocate for students to find their ow

Supporting Teacher Mental Health - Proximity Learning

It’s no secret the last few years in education have been rough. After a grueling pandemic, perpetual teacher shortages, health mandates and safety issues in schools – it’s no surprise that our teachers are struggling with mental health and burning out.

In the article, America’s Teachers are facing a Mental Health Crisis, too Sari Beth Rosenberg, a writer for Parents and an educator herself, states, “A study from Rand Corp. researchers from early 2021 found that 27 percent of teachers have exper

Teaching Women’s History - Proximity Learning

National Women’s History Month traces its roots back to when garment workers from New York City factories staged a protest over inhumane working conditions and low wages on March 8, 1857. Despite violent attacks on protesters, the movement continued. It successfully led to the creation of the first women’s union.

According to Steph Solis of Yes! Magazine, in 1908 as 15,000 women (mostly young European immigrants) marched in New York City for shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights, and an

Educator Appreciation During Black History Month - Proximity Learning

Mrs. Dion Lucas became an educator to teach the future leaders of America.


If there’s a day she doesn’t tell her husband, “I’m off to teach the future leaders of America…” before logging on to teach, he will remind her by asking, “Isn’t this school day missing something?!”


While Mrs. Lucas has been in the teaching profession since 2004 both in-person and virtually - it is apparent as soon as Mrs. Lucas starts talking that I am in the Zoom presence of a very passionate educator. She is not

Black History Month Educator Appreciation - Proximity Learning

When she is not teaching Dana McDaniel loves trying new recipes in her kitchen and giving herself “self-prescribed” plant therapy gardening and outdoor time.


Although she is a mathematics teacher, Ms. McDaniel uses the power of words to inspire, motivate, and connect with her virtual students.


Quotes like, “If you cannot do great things, do small things in great ways,” by Napolean Hill and, “The worst thing about a MISTAKE is being afraid to make one,” are displayed on the digital backgr

Summer School Prevents Summer Slide - Proximity Learning

Although the Spring semester has just begun, and most of us are still sipping hot cocoa and shoveling driveways full of snow this time of year, it’s never too early to start planning for summer school. There are multiple reasons for districts and administrators to consider using a virtual summer school program to keep their students engaged and learning throughout the year. Finding a program that caters to the needs of students, teachers, and districts is the key.

Summer is an excellent time fo

On Music

Mala Nota makes the grade at their Flamingo Cantina show on March 7, 2020

Mala Nota kept it lively and fun last weekend at Flamingo Cantina and ushered in the beginning of Daylight Savings time with their upbeat big banda sound. The contemporary Latin rock band based out of Austin, Texas brought fans out onto the dance floor as soon as they took the stage.

What started out as a sparsely filled room earlier in the evening suddenly began to fill up with one of their most energetic anthems, “Sucia Ley”. A tune that really showcases Mala Nota’s socially conscious lyrics,

Get it, Mamis!

Light a candela de la virgen, then give thanks to all the feminine goddess energy for filling these Mamis with the voz bilingual and giving them musical talents tambien!

This psych surfer punk rock band consists of these CHINGONAS: Nicole Licea (bass), Lisa Hernandez (drums), and Ash Hicks (guitar) and have been gigging both locally in Austin and nationally since forming back in 2015. Their EP – Espíritu, features vocals and lyrics by Naomi Caballero, and you can hear varying cultural influence

New Releases: Chicano Batman – Invisible People comes out May 1, 2020

Did you need a psych-soul funky groove to get stuck on this lazy Sunday? I sure did!

The city of Austin’s recent announcement to cancel the mega-festival SXSW 2020 has a lot of people on edge and others – relieved. I was actually feeling really bummed and down about it until I realized maybe this SXSW will be a throwback to what the festival used to be and represent. While I understand the huge economic impact the cancellation will make, there will still be music and there will still be fans th