This blog is shaped by a clear conviction: the materials we choose for our students matter deeply. A few years ago, I made a deliberate decision: my teaching would be guided by depth and meaning. Every text, story, and film I propose is the result of a personal and thoughtful choice, selected from books and films I have personally read, studied, loved, and found significant, profound, and enduring. And here we are!
Here you will find my most meaningful teaching resources for middle and high school classrooms. These include lesson ideas, character analysis activities, thematic discussions, classroom strategies, teaching suggestions, and educational movie activities. All are designed to help students engage with high-quality material. Analysis becomes discovery, and stories become encounters. They are not chosen simply because they fit a syllabus; they are rich in beauty, depth, and human insight, and worthy of attentive reading, discussion, and reflection.
Whether we explore epic poetry, modern fiction, fantasy worlds, foundational myths, or significant films, the goal is the same: helping students engage with meaningful literature, read and watch attentively, think deeply, and grow intellectually and morally. Students deserve what is most beautiful, most challenging, and most significant in storytelling.
Latest Posts
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Cathy Ames and the Mystery of Evil: Understanding One of Literature’s Most Unsettling Characters
Read more: Cathy Ames and the Mystery of Evil: Understanding One of Literature’s Most Unsettling CharactersCathy Ames does not invite easy interpretations. In East of Eden, she stands as one of Steinbeck’s most unsettling creations—resisting explanation while quietly reshaping the novel’s moral landscape. This reflection explores her role as a figure of evil, illusion, and moral tension, offering educators a space to engage with one of literature’s most challenging characters.
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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Allegory: Understanding C.S. Lewis’s Intent
Read more: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Allegory: Understanding C.S. Lewis’s IntentExplore whether The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a true allegory or a rich imaginative supposal by C.S. Lewis, and learn how this distinction can deepen students’ understanding of Aslan and the novel’s themes of redemption, sacrifice, and moral growth.
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The Magician’s Nephew and the Bible: An Intertextual Comparison
Read more: The Magician’s Nephew and the Bible: An Intertextual ComparisonWhen I read The Magician’s Nephew with my students, they almost always notice echoes of the biblical creation story — and they’re right. In this article, I explore how these parallels — from Aslan’s song to Digory’s moral choices — can spark rich classroom discussions and invite reflection on literature, faith, and responsibility.
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The Magician’s Nephew Prequel: Written Later, Set First — Publication Order vs Chronological Order in Narnia
C.S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis – The Magician’s Nephew, Middle School ELARead more: The Magician’s Nephew Prequel: Written Later, Set First — Publication Order vs Chronological Order in NarniaIn The Magician’s Nephew, C. S. Lewis crafted Narnia’s origins — yet the novel was not written first. Does this have implications for teaching the series? Absolutely. This article explores The Magician’s Nephew’s role as a Narnia prequel and why the difference between publication and chronological order matters in the classroom.
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When History Needs a Story: Why Imperium Is a great Historical Fiction About Cicero for Students
Read more: When History Needs a Story: Why Imperium Is a great Historical Fiction About Cicero for StudentsCicero comes alive in the streets and Forum of ancient Rome—his speeches, ambitions, and moral challenges unfolding in real time. In Robert Harris’ Imperium, students encounter the drama, tension, and intrigue of the Roman Republic in a way that captivates even those usually reluctant to read novels.
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What Makes a Character Relatable to Middle School Students?
C.S. Lewis – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis – The Magician’s Nephew, H. Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird, Homer – The Iliad, J.R.R. Tolkien – The Hobbit, Middle School ELARead more: What Makes a Character Relatable to Middle School Students?Why do some literary characters stay with students long after the last page is turned? This article explores vulnerability, inner conflict, and personal growth as key elements that help middle school readers connect deeply with stories across classic and modern literature.
- Back to School (3)
- Books That Shape Teachers (1)
- C.S. Lewis (9)
- C.S. Lewis – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (6)
- C.S. Lewis – The Magician's Nephew (7)
- Classroom Management (1)
- Educational Movie Activities (4)
- H. Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird (4)
- High School ELA (1)
- Homer – The Iliad (5)
- J. Steinbeck – East of Eden (3)
- J.R.R. Tolkien – The Hobbit (6)
- Middle School ELA (11)
- Mythology (5)
- Reading suggestions (6)
- Social Emotional Learning (2)
- Teaching suggestions (11)