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
If you’ve ever taught Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown,” you know it’s one of those stories that instantly sparks deep discussion. Students are quick to pick up on the eerie tone and unsettling atmosphere. BUT, it’s easy for them to get lost in the symbolism and miss the bigger picture. That’s where this resource comes … Continue reading How to Teach Young Goodman Brown: A Thematic Approach to Fear, Doubt, and Reality
Bring adventure to your secondary ELA classroom with engaging activities for The Hobbit! Explore creative ideas for teaching this classic—hero’s journey lessons, character growth projects, and ready-to-use close reading resources. Read the blog post for details and classroom-ready materials that make Tolkien’s world come alive! Continue reading Engaging Classroom Activities for Teaching The Hobbit
Struggling to get students engaged with classic texts? Inquiry-based learning might be the game-changer your classroom needs. In my latest blog post, I walk through how to build a powerful ELA unit around essential questions that spark curiosity, deepen thinking, and drive real-world connections. From selecting texts to designing scaffolded activities and assessments, this post offers practical steps—and ready-to-use resources—for making inquiry work in any high school English classroom. Read the full post here 👇 Continue reading Building Inquiry-Based Units in High School English: A Step-by-Step Teacher’s Guide
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is hands down one of my all-time favorite plays. The love stories, the shenanigans of Puck, all of the jokes at Bottom’s expense, the hilariously terrible play within the play…. All of it is just perfection. Because I love it so much, it’s no wonder that I also love to bring … Continue reading Unlocking the Magic of Love and Moonlight: Creative Ways to Teach A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Comic books are more than just entertainment—they’re the first truly American literary genre. With roots deeply embedded in American history and culture, these stories of heroes and antiheroes have helped generations process complex social issues, identity, justice, and change. If you’ve never explored comics in your classroom, you’re missing out on one of the most … Continue reading Why Teaching Comic Books Belongs in High School English
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”
Vampires are one of the most ancient and widely known mythical creatures. They have been a staple in many cultures around the world. The oldest recorded vampire myth of from a Babylonian prayer describes demons that devour flesh and suck blood, emphasizing the vampire’s origins as a symbol of primal fear. “Spirits that minish the … Continue reading Fear and Desire in Dracula: Teaching Stoker’s Dracula Through Inquiry
Teaching Transcendentalism is often a challenge for high school English teachers. Its abstract ideals and 19th-century language can feel inaccessible to students, leaving many to wonder how these ideas connect to their lives. However, when taught thematically, Transcendentalism comes alive! And our students can explore its core principles—self-reliance, nature, individuality, and civil disobedience—in meaningful and … Continue reading Teaching Transcendentalism Thematically: A Fresh Approach for Your High School English Class
Vampires are one of the most ancient and widely known mythical creatures, present in many cultures around the world. The oldest recorded vampire myth of from a Babylonian prayer describes demons that devour flesh and suck blood, emphasizing the vampire’s origins as a symbol of primal fear. “Spirits that minish the land, of great strength… … Continue reading Vampires Through Time: Fear, Desire, and the Shadow Self
Around the World With Mrs. C 