9th Grade ELA
Teaching Visual Literacy with Into the Spider-Verse (pt. 1)
Teach film analysis without a film degree! Use Into the Spider-Verse to build students’ visual literacy, critical thinking, and ELA writing skills.
9th Grade ELA
Make it to Summer Break with the Into the Spiderverse ELA Survival Pack
I’ve taught both freshmen and seniors, and when May hits, their energy couldn’t be more different. Seniors? Erratic but energized. They're leaning into the unstructured chaos of their final filmmaking projects, juggling AP tests, spring sports, and soaking in every last moment of high school. Freshmen?
9th Grade ELA
How I Craft Film Viewing Questions for High School English Class (Using Into the Spider-Verse as a Case Study)
When I introduce film into the ELA classroom, my goal is always the same: get students thinking deeply without pulling their eyes away from the screen. Thoughtfully crafted viewing questions help strike that balance: they anchor attention, spark discussion, and lay the groundwork for analysis that extends beyond the surface.
Moonlight
Moonlight Film Sequence Analysis Practice 2: Little & Kevin
COMING SOON: Shot by Shot film sequence analysis practice activity for the sequence of Little & Kevin and the boys playing in the field, in Moonlight.
Moonlight
Moonlight Opening Sequence SxS Analysis Practice
COMING SOON: Opening Sequence Film Analysis Practice for Barry Jenkins' film, Moonlight.
Mean Girls
Mean Girls Viewing Questions
A Pre-Reading or Companion Activity for The Lord of the Flies. Watch Mean Girls with the lens of evaluating leadership styles and personas, then compare against characters in Lord of the Flies.
Woman of the Hour
Woman of the Hour Teacher Tips
ELA Teacher Tips for teaching Woman of the Hour in the secondary ELA classroom. Great for gender studies, film studies, media literacy.
Woman of the Hour
The Horror of Patriarchy in Woman of the Hour
Insights and explorations, related events, texts, and themes, for Woman of the Hour.
Analysis
Opening Sequence Film Analysis Practice Activity with It Follows
Conduct a shot by shot breakdown of the first 4 minutes of It Follows to explore suspense, POV, and more.
Woman of the Hour
Woman of the Hour Viewing Questions
Viewing questions for Woman of the Hour, no film experience required. Engage students to think about feminist film theory, gender in Hollywood, and horror as a genre with these accessible film viewing questions.
Coraline
Coraline Opening Credit Sequence Analysis Practice
COMING SOON: Shot by Shot film sequence analysis practice with the opening credit sequence of Henry Selick's, Coraline.
Jordan Peele
Us Opening Sequence Viewing Questions
Viewing Questions for the first 15 minutes of Us. Explore character, notice suspense creation, and practice with symbols and allusion.