My "Secret Life of Walter Mitty" lesson plans were a big hit. The world's greatest teachers came from throughout the world to congratulate me. Then I dusted off some point of view lesson plans I borrowed from the guy who'd … [Read more...]
Short Stories for Teaching Imagery Lesson Plans
June 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment
After teaching students about characterization and point of view, I felt pretty good about myself, so good in fact, that I commissioned the pottery teacher to create an action sculpture of me in the center of my … [Read more...]
“The Raven” Lesson Plans: Symbolism in “The Raven”
April 1, 2016 By Leave a Comment
My colleague just told me that April was National Poetry month. I thought she was playing an April Fool's joke on me, so I took a swing at her. She blocked the punch, jabbed me in the throat with a paper clip, whacked me on … [Read more...]
Collaborative Learning Activity for Busy Teachers
March 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment
I had the day planned out. Give my write a multiple choice quiz test review assignment and sit in the front of the room and grade papers. Then I heard the new administrator was prowling the halls looking for teachers to … [Read more...]
“Pit and the Pendulum” Lesson Plan with Photo Analysis Worksheet
February 24, 2016 By Leave a Comment
I hate the term worksheet. It's not the term, actually. It's the connotation. According to search engine data, however, it's not uncommon for individuals to search for a photo analysis worksheet, so that's what I'm calling … [Read more...]
Edgar Allan Poe Poems for Teaching Sound Devices: “The Raven,” “The Bells,” and “Anabel Lee” Audio Book and Quick Lesson Plan
February 22, 2016 By Leave a Comment
You don't need to feel guilty if all you do is grab this handout for teaching sound devices in poetry and move onto something else.That being said, I think you might benefit from these audio/video clips of Edgar Allan Poe … [Read more...]
Teaching Edgar Allan Poe Poems: A 4-Step Lesson Plan for Annabel Lee
February 11, 2016 By Leave a Comment
For the most wild, yet most homely blog post which I am about to type, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not --and … [Read more...]
How Many of These 7 Suspense Short Stories Do You Teach?
February 8, 2016 By Leave a Comment
I was feeling pretty good about myself after having taught some great short stories with examples of foreshadowing. So good, in fact, that I took down all the pictures of the teachers of the year since 1993 that were hanging … [Read more...]
Halloween Short Stories not by Edgar Allan Poe
October 26, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I got this letter from a former student not long ago. Dear Former TeacherYou may not remember me, but I was in your class many years ago. It was Halloween. I hated Halloween. But then you came up with awesome lesson … [Read more...]
Conflict in Literature: 7 Great Short Story Upsets
October 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment
In honor of the Rhinos 2-0 upset victory in the parks and rec U10 soccer league, I bring you the seven greatest upsets in literature.Before we get to our list of the greatest short story upsets of all time, I want to make … [Read more...]
