January ELA Made Simple: A Winter-Themed Inquiry Unit Students Love

January can feel like the longest month of the school year. Students are coming back from break unfocused, routines need to be reestablished, and teachers are expected to jump right back into rigorous instruction—often with very little energy left in the tank. That’s exactly why I created my Time-Saver January Winter Inquiry Bundle: a flexible, … Continue reading January ELA Made Simple: A Winter-Themed Inquiry Unit Students Love

Why Song of the Sea Belongs in Your ELA Classroom: Celtic Mythology, Symbolism, and a Powerful Mini Unit

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

Unlocking the Magic of Love and Moonlight: Creative Ways to Teach A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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

3 Magical Realism Short Stories To Teach in High School

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

Fear and Desire in Dracula: Teaching Stoker’s Dracula Through Inquiry

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

Vampires Through Time: Fear, Desire, and the Shadow Self

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

A Multi-modal Approach to Teaching “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”

The Arthurian legends, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, is one of my all-time favorite stories! Sadly, I usually don’t have the time to read through the entire tale with students. Plus, the language can be a bit daunting for some of our 21st century learners. This is where I decided to use my 21st … Continue reading A Multi-modal Approach to Teaching “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”