Creative English Teacher

The Fun They Had I wanted to take a minute to share a quick lesson that went really well in my classroom. Every year I tend to do the same thing on the first day of school—go over the syllabus and play a game based on my classroom rules. This year, however, I decided to add another element to the first day of my sophomore English course. Several months ago, I was flipping through an old textbook, and I discovered a short story I had never read before. (By the way, old textbooks are a treasure trove of teaching ideas, and...

The Odyssey is an unqualified hit, and the man responsible for this stunning tour de force has been toasted far and wide. Critics have even suggested that it surpasses its creator's previous effort in popularity—a claim that once seemed unthinkable—and may ultimately be remembered as his defining masterpiece! Oh, and apparently there’s a movie, too. I'm not here to review Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey (2026). Whether it's brilliant, disappointing, or somewhere in between isn't really the point. Here's what I do know: The Odyssey—Homer's epic poem, that is—will almost certainly enjoy another surge in popularity. Every major adaptation of a beloved work reminds people...

Every year when I reach “Theseus and the Minotaur” in my Greek mythology heroes unit, I can almost predict the reaction: “Oh, imagine that. Another hero fighting another monster.” Fair enough—after three weeks of one hero after another, even a classic myth can feel cliché. That’s why I started asking myself: How can I make this story feel fresh again? The answer led me down two different creative pathways—each a unique take on how students experience story structure and point of view.

Seasonal Spookiness Chilly breezes, fallen leaves, pumpkins—these are the signs of fall. Another staple of the season is the spookiness of Halloween. If you’re like me and enjoy incorporating a little seasonal spookiness into your class curriculum, here are eight ways to do so: Crowded Cemetery In this whole class game, students build a spooky cemetery and fill it to the brim with tombstones, black cats, jack-o-lanterns, bats, spiderwebs, and, of course, ghosts. But they must build wisely! The more crowded their cemetery grows, the more important every decision becomes. Some items only score points in certain arrangements or by touching other items. Design your cemetery...

By resisting A.I. and its influence on your students’ communication skills, you are doing your part to protect the future of the human voice. Here's how you do it!