There’s been a growing number of teachers looking for recent works to infuse in their ELA courses. While there’s safety in teaching older works with established lessons available, there’s something demoralizing about a student saying, “I’ve already read that,” before you even start a book. Here’s a ...
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Byronic Heroes, Then and Now
If one were to look up the definition of a Byronic hero, it would be defined as a complex literary archetype characterized by a distinctive set of traits that set them apart from conventional heroes.But if someone were to ask me to define it, I’d say it’s an intriguing character that toes the line ...
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Yes, you can get students excited to study nonfiction!
When the Common Core first released its standards, I was resistant to the requirements for informational texts. Until that point, nonfiction seemed to be confined to textbooks and newspapers. Even after most schools adapted the Common Core standards, I resisted informational texts. Eventually, I ...
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A Letter to My Readers: A Statement on AI
Have you ever thought about the role of artificial intelligence in education? It's a topic that's been gaining traction in recent years, with AI technology being used in various aspects of the curriculum. But with its increasing use, there are growing concerns about the potential dangers it poses, ...
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My Year in Books: 2023
2023 was a year of lots of reading in my world! According to Goodreads, I read 46 books and over 16,000 pages this year. Here's a rundown of my favorite titles, hot takes, and reading suggestions!This post contains affiliate links which can earn me a small commission. I only use affiliate links for ...
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Ditching the Test: Alternatives to a Final Exam
I don’t know how finals work at your school, but I'm required to give some kind of final at the end of each semester. This final counts as 10% of the students’ semester grade. In the past, I’ve given many cumulative exams. To me, that made the most sense: it’s a semester final, so why not give a ...
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