State testing. Field trips. Weird last-minute assembly schedules that turn your day upside down. No matter how well a teacher…
curriculum plan
19 Works of Art to Help Teens Think
Fine art can help students develop analysis skills in quick, small doses. Ideally, those skills will transfer to literary analysis…
A Short Story You Should Know
I’m about 100 years late to the party, but I just discovered Katherine Mansfield’s “The Doll’s House” and need to…
Advice for a 6th Grade Writing Teacher
Today’s post is a question I received via email yesterday from a first-year teacher about to take on a summer…
Teaching Theme with Rock, Paper, Scissors
In order to grow more comfortable and confident when discussing theme, students need lots of practice. Early in the year,…
How to Read a Painting
Literary analysis is tough. • “Explain how the author uses setting to establish the mood of this short story.”• “Determine…
Five Classroom Essentials
I know, I know, it’s only the beginning of August, but it really is time to start thinking about the…
Free Writing Prompts & Inspiration
You want to add more current event materials to your classes, but you definitely don’t have the time to dig…
Weird lesson idea for English teachers
Learn what my messed up teeth (and a great podcast episode) taught me about why I judge other people and…
MLA 9th Edition vs. 8th Edition
The research citation experts over at the M.L.A. just released their 2021 edition of the handbook. Do you know the…