Tips and ideas for teaching high school ELA

Blog Posts Tag: ELA lesson plans

British Literature

Satire Lessons: Engaging Ideas for Teaching “A Modest Proposal”

Satire has long been the go-to vehicle for criticism and mockery. Whether it’s a scathing report on a political event or a good-natured parody, satire is all around us – in TV, movies, print. One of the most famous works of satire is Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”, with its

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image of American flag; text reads Teaching Early American Literature
American Literature

4 Text Sets for Teaching Early American Literature

When it comes to teaching focused English classes (like American or British lit), there are typically two camps of thought – teaching chronologically and teaching thematically. For many teachers, district/state mandated curriculum = teaching chronologically. And as a result, the first unit is usually early America. But. Let’s face it.

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clip art of two farm workers; text reads Activities for teaching Of Mice and Men
American Literature

8 Engaging Activities for Teaching Of Mice and Men

When most teachers are planning their “American Dream” unit, they turn to one of two novels – The Great Gatsby or Of Mice and Men. Both novels are relatively short; Gatsby has around 180 pages, OMAM has just over 100. Both contain beautiful language that’s perfect for author’s craft analysis.

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image of open book; text reads 4 Activities for Teaching Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
American Literature

4 Activities for Teaching Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

If you’ve ever taught an American literature course, chances are you’ve taught Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God – either as part of an Early America unit or in conjunction with The Crucible.   Let’s be honest.  Teaching Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God can feel intimidating—for

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picture of Canterbury Tales book; text reads 5 activities to engage your students when teaching The Canterbury Tales
British Literature

5 Activities to Engage Your Students When Teaching The Canterbury Tales

Like Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales is often a staple in British Literature classrooms. However, it can be difficult for students to understand. The archaic language and the sheer length provide roadblocks.  Teaching The Canterbury Tales can sometimes feel like a chore – just another box on the Brit Lit canon checklist.  Teaching

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