The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe has everything an ELA teacher could ask for — it's short, spooky, and full of sensory details. As a psychological thriller girly, I may be a little biased, but I truly believe this story is one of the best ways to hook even your most reluctant readers. Between the narrator's unraveling, the buildup of that maddening heartbeat, and Poe's genius use of imagery, ... Read More about Imagery Analysis: The Tell Tale Heart Activities

It feels wrong to say that I've ever found joy in making high school students cry, but when it comes to teaching Of Mice and Men, that's the truth. Though I'm always tearing up too, there's a certain amount of pride that comes from seeing their faces turn to understanding at the end and knowing you've assigned a book they will never forget. It's one of those books that will never leave them, ... Read More about Of Mice and Men Unit Plan Activities and Teaching Ideas

Some of the most powerful learning happens when students have a real audience and a real purpose — and few subjects deliver that more naturally than journalism. In this collaborative post, teachers are sharing their best ideas for teaching journalism in high school. From podcasts to projects, there's something here for every kind of journalism student! Play Podcasts to Teach Journalism in ... Read More about Ideas for Teaching Journalism in High School

One of the great ironies in life is that teachers have lots of time to travel but limited funds to do so. But as you’ll see in this post, when you start using flexibility as your currency, a whole new world opens up for more teacher travel (literally).  This post contains affiliate links; I may earn a commission if you apply through these links.   I recently booked a business class ... Read More about Teacher Travel: Flexibility is your Currency 

Teaching classic American literature becomes a lot more engaging when you find an angle that makes it relative to modern high schoolers. When I was researching teaching Frederick Douglass, the perfect way to frame my lesson plan came into focus. Did you know that Frederick Douglass was the most photographed man in the 19th century? Do you know who else breaks records for selfies? ... Read More about Teaching “The Battle with Mr. Covey” by Frederick Douglass

When I was growing up, I thought my teachers were rich because they got to travel. They would spend their summers going to national parks, the beach, or even to other countries. As a little girl whose family vacations usually looked like a day trip to Dollywood, their travels sparked some serious wanderlust in me. Don’t get me wrong– Dolly Parton is my hero and my parents made my childhood so ... Read More about Unhinged Things I’ve Done to Travel as a Teacher