Building Book Love

There are very few short stories where English teachers get to go all out on their love of color symbolism, but “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe provides the perfect excuse to do so! Poe supplies the colors in this spooky short story, but it’s up to his readers to decipher their meaning. Every hue tells a story in this haunting tale, so get ready to go absolutely wild with these Masque of the Red Death activities! They will up the engagement and help students see the dark side of the rainbow (insert maniacal laugh, MUAHAHAHA). Hook Students with a Red Death Vibe Set the mood before you even say a word. When students walk into your classroom, have a creepy ... Read More about Color Symbolism: The Masque of the Red Death Activities

If you have been tasked with teaching 11th grade American literature, you are either a baddie entrusted to do the course justice or you’ve ticked someone off in the scheduling department. I jest, but the American literature curriculum is challenging in more ways than one. First, the American literature canon itself is full of some of the most rigorous texts your students will ever read. And on top of that, you have to navigate American history topics with extreme care and nuance. It’s a lot. But it can also be a lot of fun in a rewarding kind of way. It takes a talented teacher to turn some of the driest texts into compelling reads. It takes a thoughtful teacher to consider all the ... Read More about Teaching American Literature: Course Outline, Introduction, & Lesson Plans

I’ve never met a school supply I didn’t love. Pre-sharpened pencils, all the heart eyes. A fresh box of crayons, let me sniff. Crisp new notebooks, gimme. My bank account starts to panic when I walk down a back to school aisle, but the truth is, you only need a few select ELA school supplies to enhance learning in your English class.  Here are 5 essential ELA school supplies backed by science:  ELA School Supply 1: Crayons  Crayons:  If I had to teach with only one school supply, it would be crayons. This might seem strange coming from a former high school English teacher, but there’s just SO much you can do with a box of crayons. Starting on day one, ... Read More about 5 Essential ELA School Supplies Backed By Science

The World on the Turtle’s Back” is often the first text in your American Literature class, so I always felt pressure to make a great first impression and do this Iroquois creation story justice. To me, this meant “The World on the Turtle’s Back” lesson plan ideas that will set a respectful tone for new perspectives, scaffold activities to give students a confident start, and add a creative element to encourage imagination! Here are some lesson plan ideas to start you off on the right foot when teaching “The World on the Turtle’s Back!” Set the Foundation by Introducing a Creation Story (I Do):  Hook students with a quick Hindu creation story video. Much like ... Read More about The World on the Turtle’s Back Lesson Plan Ideas