An English teacher who is passionate about PBL and diverse world literature.
The Paper Menagerie is a beautiful (and heartbreaking) blend of Magical Realism, cultural identity, language, and the complicated love between parents and children. Students connect with it immediately, and it opens the door to meaningful conversations about heritage, belonging, and the ways we see ourselves. Continue reading Teaching The Paper Menagerie: Magical Realism in the ELA Classroom
My favorite time of the year is just around the corner! In this post, you’ll find a mix of literature, mythology, writing prompts, and creative classroom activities to help your students get into the spooky spirit while keeping the rigor high. Continue reading The Ultimate Guide on Spooky Season Stories & Writing Activities for Middle and High School ELA
In high school English classrooms, we teach students to question the world around them—its texts, its trends, its traditions. So why not help them question the fairy tales they grew up with? These aren’t just bedtime stories; they’re blueprints. They shape how students think about love, power, beauty, and even their own identities. In today’s post, we’ll look at how we can do this with the tale of Snow White! Continue reading Analyzing Snow White in High School Through the Gender and Archetypal Lenses
Short stories are a staple in every ELA classroom. They are a wonderful way to have the full class instruction with smaller, but still impactful texts. However, I love to introduce my students to different genres of short stories. Today I am sharing about two Magical Realism short stories my students and I love. Magical … Continue reading 3 Magical Realism Short Stories To Teach in High School
What makes us who we are? Is it our memories, our experiences, or something deeper? These are the questions at the heart of “1,000-Year-Old Ghosts“ by Laura Chow Reeve, a beautifully written short story that blends magical realism with deeply human themes of identity, memory, and family. If you’re looking for a text that will … Continue reading Exploring Memory, Identity, and Literary Analysis with the Short Story “1,000-Year-Old Ghosts”
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” follows the story of Ichabod Crane, a lanky and superstitious schoolteacher, who arrives in the quaint village of Sleepy Hollow. He becomes enamored with the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel and vies for her hand against the brawny Brom Bones. One spooky night, as Ichabod is riding home, he encounters the … Continue reading Teaching The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Dark Romanticism and Creative Projects
“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe is a haunting tale that high school students LOVE! It follows the narrator as he visits his childhood friend, Roderick Usher. He finds Roderick in his decaying family home. The story unfolds with an ever-growing sense of gloom and dread. It reflects the deteriorating … Continue reading The Fall of the House of Usher: 6 Engaging Activities for High School Students
Gothic literature is always a win with high school students. We are often drawn to the strange and macabre things in life. The eerie settings, mysterious characters, and dark themes captivate our imaginations, pulling us into worlds where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. These stories not only entertain. They also provide rich … Continue reading Gothic Literature and Writing Activities for High School English
A few weeks ago I shared some of my favorite podcasts to use in high school English. I even made this guide of 17 that myself and other English teachers love! Of course, this will be an ever-growing suggestion as we discover more podcasts every day. In today’s post, I wanted to share one that was not … Continue reading 4 Short Stories You Should Check Out On LeVar Burton Reads
Around the World With Mrs. C 