
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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How to Start Talking About Greek Mythology with Middle School Students? Begin with BIG QUESTIONS
Read more: How to Start Talking About Greek Mythology with Middle School Students? Begin with BIG QUESTIONSIgnite your middle schoolers’ curiosity by turning their biggest questions into gateways for exploring Greek mythology. Transform myths into powerful tools for curiosity and critical thinking in your classroom!
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Starting the School Year with Adventure: 3 Quotes to Inspire Your 6th Graders (and Yourself)
Read more: Starting the School Year with Adventure: 3 Quotes to Inspire Your 6th Graders (and Yourself)Starting middle school feels like stepping into a grand adventure — full of new faces, challenges, and discoveries. In this post, explore inspiring quotes from The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter that invite 6th graders (and their teachers!) to embrace the year with wonder, courage, and connection.
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The Sacrifice of Iphigenia: Between Faith and Superstition
Read more: The Sacrifice of Iphigenia: Between Faith and SuperstitionExploring the myth of Iphigenia through Homer and Lucretius reveals contrasting views on religion—as sacred duty or dangerous superstition—inviting us to question the true role of faith in human justice and sacrifice.
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Teaching the Iliad with the Proem: How One Word Holds a World
Read more: Teaching the Iliad with the Proem: How One Word Holds a WorldDiscover a fresh approach to teaching Homer’s Iliad by starting with its powerful opening word: menis (wrath). This article explores how focusing on this key term unlocks the poem’s central themes and engages students in deep literary analysis.
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Turn Up the Volume, Turn On the School Year: Starting 6th Grade with School of Rock
Read more: Turn Up the Volume, Turn On the School Year: Starting 6th Grade with School of RockStarting middle school can feel overwhelming, but the right story helps students feel empowered and ready to grow. This post shows how School of Rock sets the tone for a confident, collaborative classroom with fun themes and activities.
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October Sky Movie Lesson to Inspire Students at the Start of the School Year
Read more: October Sky Movie Lesson to Inspire Students at the Start of the School YearWhat if the school year began with a story of dreams, failure, and quiet courage? October Sky invites students to reflect on ambition, learning, and the mentors who help us grow—making it a powerful and inspiring way to launch the year in middle and high school.
- Back to School (3)
- Books That Shape Teachers (1)
- C.S. Lewis (4)
- C.S. Lewis – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (4)
- C.S. Lewis – The Magician's Nephew (3)
- Classroom Management (1)
- East of Eden (2)
- Educational Movie Activities (4)
- H. Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird (3)
- Homer's The Iliad (5)
- J.R.R. Tolkien – The Hobbit (6)
- Mythology (5)
- Reading suggestions (6)
- Social Emotional Learning (1)
- Teaching suggestions (11)
