Ms. Hines’ high school English and Drama

03/20/2026

Today my 10th and 11th graders learned prepositions by making and flying paper airplanes.

03/20/2026

Today one of my ELL students surprised me and wrote my name in his native language and it made me super happy!

02/14/2026

When your students do things to let you know you’ve made an impact…. 🥰

My kiddos are AMAZING! From the gifts, candy, the most amazing card ever, and the posts, all the way to the sweet words, hugs, and most amazing smiles I get to see daily. I have had the pleasure of teaching some of the “sweetest little idiots” in the world! There is a whole story behind that phrase. One in which I explain that an idiot is someone who is not making smart choices, is acting foolish, or not acting in a sensible way. I explain that everyone, even adults, do foolish things now and then and it’s ok. Being an idiot is normal behavior and that behavior helps us learn. Because of that, my rule is to “Be kind. We’re all idiots”

It takes a village and I’m glad to be a small part of theirs. Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs you can have. Don’t get me wrong, it’s trying at times but I wouldn’t want to do anything else. Kids of all ages need positive adults in their lives. People in their corner wanting them to do well in everything and pushing them to do better than what they believe they’re capable of. People that, even when the kids have bad days, see the good and the potential each of them have. People who aren’t perfect and aren’t afraid to admit it.

If I don’t teach them anything else, I want to teach them compassion and understanding. The world is a diverse place, full of different opinions on everything. We don’t have to always agree but we don’t need to put others down because of it. We need to understand that there are multiple ways to look at things, a plethora of different people, and a multitude of opinions that, without facts to back them up, hold no weight and are not worth arguing about.

I am no where near perfect, nor do I pretend to be. I definitely don’t know everything and encourage my students to call me out when I misspell things, give incorrect information, or anything else they notice. I also encourage them to open their mouths and ask questions because if they don’t understand, there is probably someone else who also is struggling but is too scared to say anything. I want them to ask questions, learn to understand, have opinions, and not just take everythng at face value. They need to find their own place in the world and they can’t do that by just accepting things because someone tells them to.

My students know their voices are heard in my room. They know we can have conversations and share opinions, but whatever their opinions are, they MUST support them with facts. I tell them all the time, “if you can back it up, no one can tell you that you’re wrong. They can disagree with you but they cannot tell you that you’re wrong.”

I don’t teach math so the answers aren’t always predetermined. The words “I don’t know” don’t work. You have to have a reason and if you don’t, do aome research and find one. If you can’t back up your stance, then you are fighting a battle that Is not worth fighting. You are unarmed, “outmanned, outnumbered, outplanned” (Thank you Lin-Manuel Miranda) I tell them to keep opinions they cant defend to themselves. Unless they can support their stance fully with facts- that cannot be denied- their argument is a moot point.

Teaching them how to voice their thoughts and opinions, in a way that doesn’t create chaos or conflict, is not an easy task, but we’re getting there. As a society, we’ve forgotten how to communicate effectively and without hate. In my classroom, “we’re all idiots” and we’re figuring it out together. Number one rule: “Be kind”.

We’re about to start a unit in which students will have to write a lot more than they’re probably used to. (No chromebooks for this part so no spell check or grammarly😁) I have boxes of unused cards (thank you, birthday, etc…) if you own a business, are a nursing home or medical rehabilitation center, and would like to receive a card or cards, let me know!! We will also be needing sponsors for our brand new theatre department!

My students need practice writing and communicating with businesses and we need sponsors to help us put on a show.
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02/03/2026

Last week my English classes started doing grammar and sentence structure escape rooms. I have been teaching for 19 years and have never seen high school English be so competitive!

01/22/2026

Sometimes, your students know exactly what to say at exactly the right time.

“Heyyy chicken butt!! I know this is going to be weird coming out of absolutely nowhere, but I just want to really thank you from the bottom of my heart for really helping me, but also getting me through my sophomore year! Honestly without you as my teacher, I don’t think I would’ve made it to this day of finally becoming the “sweet 16”, or as far as I came! God knows I would be lying if I said that you haven’t helped me through so much. You are the most caring teacher that I’ve ever met (imo), but you are not the type of teacher that just doesn’t care about mental health or anything. Personally, I see you as my second mom, not just a teacher, but also as an advocate. You are the most coolest, best, sweetest, funniest, and most importantly; the most “bomb.com” teacher to ever step foot on this Earth, and I will forever thank you for helping me get through what I needed to get through, and not just helping me; but others as well. (This message will be long, but bear with me!)

You’re that type of teacher that I can just talk to about anything, it’s like you just understand. Even when I came into Open House for school, before I stepped inside I specifically told my mom that I didn’t “want to come back to this place” and when I came to your class, you seem to be the most energetic teacher, and I told my mom in front of you (in which you busted out laughing) 🤣 that I was going to “definitely like you” as my teacher, and sure enough, my gut was correct. For some reason I always thought all teachers only cared about doing their job, and just getting their money, and just go on about their lives; but you showed a different perspective on that, and again, I know this message is long and I apologize, but you have really impacted my life since November, so as forever said, thank you for just being there, I also started to notice how much I talk the most is only in your class, but that’s because that’s the only class I feel comfortable in to talk, or even breathe.

So really, thank you for taking me out of my comfort zone, I have learned so many things in your class that I should’ve learned a long time ago, and actually having a teacher who cares will forever be a reason as to why students would want to wake up every morning and actually want to get out of bed, and to them, and I, your classes are the best classes out of the day at school. Thank you Ms. Hines for saving my life, and I love you!! 💗”

12/23/2025

When a former student sends you a message like this at midnight on Christmas break…. It reminds you of your “why” and also makes you super proud of them!!

This is one of my former theatre babies that I met when she was a timid little freshman and on the verge of panic attack in th hallway. She was looking for her class and didnt know where to go. Luckily (for me) she was looking for MY classroom. From the moment she stepped through my door, she knew she was going to be ok. It was almost that same moment, I knew she was something special. She popped way out of that little anxious/scared/timid shell and became a ball of personality quickly. 🤣 She quickly claimed her permanent spot on the rug and, I believe, never sat in her desk again. She’s a senior now and has come to me during the highs and lows over the last 4 years. She has come a long way and I’m so proud of her!

This is why teachers do what we do. This is what makes us want to keep going. These kids become like an extended part of our family. Relationships are important. Students are more than an assigned seat, more than a test grade, more than just a kid. In a few years, they’ll leave high school and become part of the “real world”. Our job doesnt end when they’re no longer our students. In some cases, that’s actually when it begins: when we become more than just a teacher. We’ve become a mentor, an advisor, another adult (sometimes the only adult) that continues to believe in them even when they dont believe in themselves. Sometimes all it takes is the right person, in the right place, at the right time, to make all the difference. Or in this case, it was the right teacher, in the right hallway, helping a timid student (who felt overwhelmed, scared, and unnoticed), by offering them guidance and place to feel safe and finally feel “seen”.

She will never understand how much this meant to me. ❤️

I hid her name so don’t call her out in the comments if you know who she is unless SHE comments and says it’s ok. She knows I’m posting this.

12/16/2025

Working the basketball game tonight

11/23/2025

11/20/2025

Today, I took my 10th grade Adv English students to UNA to watch a performance of Hamlet. It was FANTASTIC!!!

10/01/2025

Homecoming door is almost done!!