An English teacher who is passionate about PBL and diverse world literature.
Song of the Sea is a beautiful, award-winning, Irish animated film that your students are absolutely going to love! And you are going to appreciate how deep you can take ELA skills with it. Read the post to see why this absolutely belongs in your secondary ELA classroom! Continue reading Why Song of the Sea Belongs in Your ELA Classroom: Celtic Mythology, Symbolism, and a Powerful Mini Unit
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
“Are we ever going to read something happy?” If you are a secondary English teacher, I am positive you could retire now if you got a dime each time you’ve heard that question. While we all love the conflict and depth that comes with all the death, murder, and mayhem in the literature we are … Continue reading 8 Short Stories and Poems to Bring Joy to Your Classroom
The days leading up to Winter Break can feel like pure chaos. Between holiday excitement, special events, and the countdown to break, keeping students focused on learning feels nearly impossible. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “How do I keep my students reading and working when their minds are already on vacation?”—you’re in the right … Continue reading How to Keep Students Engaged Before Winter Break with a Magical ELA Escape Room
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
Discover how multimodal mini studies make teaching classics like The Odyssey, Beowulf, and Sir Gawain engaging and accessible for all learners. Continue reading A Multimodal Approach to Teaching Classics: Making Epics Engaging for Every Learner
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
Creative writing for upper elementary and middle school grades doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated! In this blog post, discover why creative writing is one of the most important skills your students can build and get ideas for easy, low-prep activities your students will love. Learn how mystery stories, seasonal prompts, and potion-making can transform your writing block. Click to read the full post and get inspired. Continue reading The Power of Creative Writing in Grades 4–6: Why It Matters and How to Make It Easy
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
Around the World With Mrs. C 