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Creative English Teacher — American Literature

5 Reasons to Teach the Salem Witch Trials

American Literature Five Reasons To Teach Series

5 Reasons to Teach the Salem Witch Trials

The weather is cooling down, the leaves are changing colors–it’s the perfect time to harness this Halloween vibe and study one of history’s most haunting episodes:  The Salem Witch Trials. As an English teacher, I combine this with The Crucible for a double dose of toil and trouble for my students. I find the combo of real-life events and the fictional play to be a powerful teaching tool. That being said, here are five reasons to teach the Salem Witch Trials: The Salem Witch Trials are an example of real-life horror. I remember, as a youngster, when I first learned...

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Five Reasons to Teach "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and Other Short Stories by Washington Irving

American Literature Five Reasons To Teach Series Short Stories

Five Reasons to Teach "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and Other Short Stories by Washington Irving

When the leaves start to change and the weather gets a bit cooler, that means it’s almost time for my go-to Halloween story:  Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” In the lineup of American authors, I feel like Irving gets short shrift. Sure, his stories aren’t super deep, but they’re fun, which should count for something! They are also some of the first works that can be considered distinctly American. Before I get too far ahead of myself, here are five reasons to teach the short stories of Washington Irving. Washington Irving was America’s first celebrity writer. In the...

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Five Ways to Spice Up American Literature

American Literature Teaching Ideas

Five Ways to Spice Up American Literature

I get it. Sometimes literature surveys can be boring, but they don’t have to be! 

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Ten Reasons for Teaching Moby Dick

American Literature Five Reasons To Teach Series

Ten Reasons for Teaching Moby Dick

Most people probably wouldn’t equate Moby Dick with fun, but it’s honestly my favorite work to teach. Here are ten reasons why.

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Five Reasons for Teaching Early American Literature

American Literature Five Reasons To Teach Series

Five Reasons for Teaching Early American Literature

Teaching Early American Literature isn’t easy. Native American literature covers many different tribal traditions and customs, so where do you start? Even those who deeply respect the Puritans, probably can’t categorize their writings as “fun.” And the more you learn about the first explorers here in America, the more you seem to dislike them. So why not just skip America’s early years? Aren’t they just our country’s awkward transition time? Well, not exactly.

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