Over the past year, my top viewed blog post has been this one, 7 favorite short stories for grades 9-10. I find this surprising, since most of the traffic to this blog is from AP Lit teachers. But it also tells me that many other teachers are looking for new and engaging short stories to use with ...
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Tips for Teaching Animal Farm to High School English Students
Teaching Animal Farm by George Orwell provides an excellent opportunity to discuss themes like power, corruption, propaganda, and societal dynamics. With American politics growing more contentious by the day, its also a timely opportunity to discuss power and corruption in American leadership. ...
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Tips for Teaching Frankenstein to High School English Students
One of my favorite books to read in high school was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which is probably why I enjoy teaching it so much. Whether you're teaching it as a stand-alone text or integrating it into a larger unit, here are some practical tips to make the novel engaging and meaningful for your ...
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My Year in Books: 2024
My theme for 2024 books is no theme. I wanted to read whatever interested me, old or new, adult or young adult. I often worry about reading the “right” books, but I spent this year reading whatever interests me. Check out my 2024 book overview to inspire your 2025 reading habits!
This post ...
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Bold Claims—What They Are and Why We Want Them
As anyone who teaches AP Lit or Lang knows, forming a strong claim is the backbone to a high-scoring essay. My Lit students are strong writers, but I’ve noticed that several of them start their essays weakly. They seem hesitant to take too strong of a stance on the text and, ultimately, write an ...
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9 Creative Writing Activities to Unlock Literary Analysis
I don’t teach a creative writing class anymore, but I write in my spare time. For me, it’s one act plays. When students ask me why I write plays, I tell them that I have many reasons for it, but ultimately it's good for my brain. I believe that creative writing improves writing, opens avenues in ...
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