This teaching blog is shaped by a clear conviction: the books and stories we choose for our students matter deeply. Every text, story, and film I write about is the result of a personal and thoughtful choice — selected from what I have personally read, studied, loved, and found significant, profound, and enduring.
Here you will find reflections, analyses, and ideas for middle and high school classrooms. 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 students deserve what is most beautiful, most challenging, and most significant in storytelling. This teaching blog is where that search begins.
Latest Posts
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Using Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief in the Classroom – A Mythology-Based Approach
Read more: Using Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief in the Classroom – A Mythology-Based ApproachWhat if your next mythology lesson felt more like a movie night? Discover Percy Jackson activities that bring ancient gods, heroic quests, and Greek myths to life through The Lightning Thief film—complete with ready-to-go prompts and classroom ideas your students will love.
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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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- Books That Shape Teachers (2)
- Character Analysis (4)
- Classical Literature (6)
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- Creative Writing (1)
- Educational Movie Activities (5)
- High School (18)
- Middle School (29)
- Novel Study (16)
- Reading suggestions (7)
- Social Emotional Learning (4)
- Teaching suggestions (10)