Advanced English Class
When I first started teaching high school English in a wealthy, high-achieving public school district, I was surprised by how often students would argue over a single point on an assignment. At first, I chalked it up to academic perfectionism or entitlement. But one day, a colleague explained that students
9th Grade ELA
Learn how to write a clear, compelling analytical thesis statement for high school or IB English class. This guide breaks down sentence frames, provides real examples, and shows how to level up your thinking.
9th Grade ELA
“Why can’t I get above a B on my English essays?” I hear this question all the time from students—and I understand their frustration. They want to do well. They’re smart. They read the book. But when it comes time to write about literature, something’s not
Analytical Writing
Help students analyze theme and character growth in Into the Spider-Verse with this scaffolded film analysis activity. Includes thesis + outline worksheets.
UnlockingLiteraryAnalysis-series
Essay Writing
When I was a senior in high school, I hated the college essay. I was angered by the very idea of it -- how was I supposed to describe myself in 500 words or less? How was someone going to get to know me in 500 words? It wasn'