Winter is upon us, and with the chill in the air comes inevitable sick days and unexpected absences. For English teachers, the prospect of scrambling to create sub plans at the last minute can make being sick even more miserable. But that’s about to change because a group of us ELA educators want to pamper you this season! In this collaborative post, we are gifting you some easy, effective and ... Read More about ELA Emergency Sub Plans for Middle School and High School English
English Teacher Gift Guides
Whether you're celebrating a colleague, honoring a teacher who shaped your love for stories, or simply treating yourself (because you deserve it!), here’s your ultimate gift guide. Below, you'll find a curated selection of gifts inspired by book love and timeless classics. You’ll also see resources on sale that give you the best gift of all–TIME. This post contains affiliate links. Thank ... Read More about English Teacher Gift Guides
Hamlet Activities: Introduction, Lessons, and Teaching Ideas
I have an English teacher's confession: I avoided teaching Hamlet forever. Though many consider Hamlet to be Shakespeare’s greatest play, I had a preconceived notion that I (and my students) would hate it. I thought it lacked the action-packed drama of Macbeth and the iconic scenes of Romeo and Juliet. And I was wrong. It has all that plus so much more! With your guidance and these meaningful and ... Read More about Hamlet Activities: Introduction, Lessons, and Teaching Ideas
5 Activities for Teaching The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury
I’ve always loved teaching “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury. It’s one of those unicorn short stories that is accessible enough for striving readers yet advanced enough for in-depth analysis. It makes students think and applies directly to their everyday lives. Set in a dystopian future, “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury prompts us to face a society addicted to screens and explore what happens to ... Read More about 5 Activities for Teaching The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury
Horror Short Story: Teaching The Pit and the Pendulum by Poe
Horror short stories have a unique way of capturing the dark side of our imaginations, and few do it better than Edgar Allan Poe. If you're an English teacher who delights in disturbing teenagers for a living, then you’ll love teaching “The Pit and the Pendulum!” ;) This gripping short story is full of suspense, rigor, and terror, making it the perfect mentor text to explore the horror ... Read More about Horror Short Story: Teaching The Pit and the Pendulum by Poe
Gothic Literature Short Story: Teaching The Oval Portrait by Poe
Needing a super short story to model for an ELA PD session, I stumbled upon Poe’s shortest short story, “The Oval Portrait.” Though I’m a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe, I had never read this Gothic gem before and was delighted by how much analysis English teachers can squeeze out of only two pages (one double-sided copy!). Whether you need a fitting Gothic literature short story, a quick ... Read More about Gothic Literature Short Story: Teaching The Oval Portrait by Poe