Estelle Erasmus

Estelle Erasmus, journalist and CALA instructor, recently published an article in The New York Times, “Singing My Dad Back to Me.”
A beautiful narrative of Erasmus and her father — who lost much of his memory to Alzheimer’s disease — she recalls the childhood opera lessons that fed both, her love for music and an immeasurable bond with Dad. Now, as the Covid-19 pandemic keeps her from visiting her father, Erasmus’ fear of him forgetting her is overcome every time she sings Dad’s favorite song...

In her article, Safe Sex Education and the LGBTQ Teen: What Parents Need to Know, writer and CALA instructor, Estelle Erasmus states, “Parents of LGBTQ teens have difficulty discussing dating, sex and sex education with their kids (and may avoid the subject) according to a new study by Northwestern University. Why? Parents often don’t have any context for it, besides cis heterosexual sex.
But that shouldn’t stop them from talking to their teens.’Parents play an important role in helping their...

CALA writing instructor Estelle Erasmus recently wrote about her teaching process in WIRED — and it’s far from what you’d expect.
In her article for the magazine, Erasmus talks about her journalism class for high school students — conducted virtually through the NYU SPS High School Academy — and what steps she takes to make sure Gen Z is paying her attention. Some of her strategies include, but are not limited: Kahoot, virtual field trips and scavenger hunts.
“I had to step up my game to keep...

I wrote a five-minute-memoir for Writer's Digest

Estelle Erasmus
Culture
02.09.2021 08:00 AM
How to Keep Kids Engaged in School—With Games
Teaching my high school class remotely hasn't been easy. But it has taught me a lot about how to use interactive tools to keep their attention.
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I teach a journalism class at NYU to high school students via Zoom.
When I first set up my course, I planned on offering short lectures and discussions on various editorial elements (the structure of an article, using credible resources...

If there’s one thing that brings people together now, it’s old shows, old songs, and drinking Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice to a 1977 hit.
I have a habit that I don’t want to break. Every night, long after my husband is not-so-gently snoring next to me, I turn on the TV and laugh at the antics of Monica, Chandler, Joey, Ross, and Rachel on Friends—must-see TV from two decades ago. Even though I’ve probably seen each episode a hundred times, it seems to be the only move that gets me to slee...

As Alzheimer’s disease lowers its veil over my father, one of the few ways to penetrate through his fog is music. Luckily, he prepared for that decades ago by encouraging my love of singing. As a child, I was classically trained as an opera singer. My career took me in the direction of words rather than music, so these days I sing just for friends and family, which has turned out to be surprisingly useful in connecting with my father.
Until recently my octogenarian parents, who liv...

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The other day my 11-year-old told me how “bored” she is. I get it. School just ended and her beloved sleep-away camp has been canceled.

Joe Biden Debuts Education Plan, Then Touts It to Teachers’ Union
Mr. Biden promoted the plan, the first policy of his campaign, at a town-hall event with the American Federation of Teachers in Houston on Tuesday.

Most college students have been stuck at home with the rest of us. Even with much of the country reopening in phases, most colleges are taking a wait and see approach, with many forgoing in person classes altogether and opting to continue education with remote learning.
So some go-to-choices college kids used to do to make ends meet or get a little extra spending money from (ride sharing driver, tour guide, event planning) aren’t feasible in this new normal. What’s an enterprising young perso...

I teach my writing students for New York University that you should never give up when it comes to getting an editor’s attention. If you want to be a freelance writer, a good pitch letter with a great spin on a topic, timely element, newsy connection or unusual personal experience is a great first step toward getting that assignment.
I asked several writers for their recommendations as you ask yourself these key questions that will take you through the pitching and submission process.
Have Yo...

I’m a big believer in getting paid for what you are worth, and negotiating for it whether you are doing it in a job, a side hustle or a freelance gig.
You can negotiate your rates, better terms for assignments, better contracts and rates, rights, payment and more authority in any process.
As a writing coach, I teach my students it’s important when dealing with editors to ask “do you have any wiggle room to go higher?” You never know. Sometimes, the answer is yes. I’ve gotten as much as $50 mo...

William Dameron is the author of his 2019 debut memoir: The Lie: A Memoir of Two Marriages, Catfishing & Coming Out, named A New York Times Editor’s Choice, and One of the Best LGBTAQ Memoirs of 2019 by The Advocate Magazine.
For Bill, writing is a highly successful side hustle: he can boast bylines in The New York Times NYT , The Boston Globe, Salon, and The Huffington Post. In his day job, he is an IT Director for a global economic consulting firm, where he educates users on the perils of s...

The summer my daughter turned five, I noticed that she came on strong with new friends. She followed them around, sometimes reaching out for her pals' hands, then becoming upset if they pulled away. After one such incident, I hugged my frustrated little one.
"Listen, honey, " I said. "Not everyone will like you. And that's ok."
"Don't grab her hand again," I said. "Just tell her, 'it's fine,' then walk away."
After a few role-playing sessions where we took turns being the rejecting friend, my...