Insights, inspirations, and general curiosities related to books, films, and shows. Some posts include lesson and resource content available in The Planning Room (for educators), The Lit & Lens Society (for independent teens), or H&L Film Studies (for film enthusiasts) memberships. Access these resources when you're signed in, and you can find them at the end of the post (before the comments).
Indigenous American
I've been in a reading slump for a good six months now, but I recently subbed for a class that was reading The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline, and after reading for the class, I then blasted through the rest of the book in two days. Tommy Orange
Edgar Allan Poe
I love Gothic literature. Something about it. The monsters as metaphor. The rich, dense language that forces me to slow down. The layers of figurative language that overlap imagery, weaving it into extended metaphor, accentuating with sound devices, and all of it coming together to suggest theme. What ELA teacher
Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie is the ideal film to teach this spooky season. Light, but many opportunities for rigorous analytical work.
Coraline
Coraline shows kids learning bravery amid odd adults. Use these passages and guiding questions to explore safety, risk, and coming of age.
Coraline
Close reading for figurative language, symbolism, foreshadowing, mood, and tone in chapter 1 of Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Free resource for Halloween high school ELA teaching.
Coraline
Best frames for Film Analysis in Coraline. Free template to request ShotDeck funding from admin, too!
Coraline
Shots to analyze in Act 3 of Coraline. Contrast/map development from Act 1, 2, and 3.
Coraline
Film frames to analyze or compare/contrast from Coraline Act 2. Film Analysis, Film Studies & ELA.
Coraline
Best shots for film analysis of Coraline.
The Planning Room
Start Film Studies with Film-Related Bingo, Box Office Trivia, and the Self/Us/Now Community Building Activities. Free Week 1–2 pacing guide.
9th Grade ELA
My students used to breeze through short stories just so they could move on. Then I introduced BJ Novak’s bizarre, hilarious short stories—and suddenly, they were asking to read more. That’s when I realized the most accessible texts can also spark the deepest thinking. Why Start With
Film Studies
Analyzing 3 shots and other film analysis practice moments in Opus.