Just the other day I stumbled across a powerful piece on school shootings and how they’ve shaped (American) society emotionally, politically, spiritually, and in terms of our literature. The article, “When Change Doesn’t Happen: School Shootings and the Piles of Novels That Follow” by Maria Eliades brought forth some striking information and perspectives that I thought were necessary to discuss. Continue reading
As a secondary English teacher, mental health is a huge issue I’ve faced, both in and out of the classroom. I’ve also seen this in my personal life, with friends, siblings of friends, and people I’ve encountered who have battled depression and other mental illnesses.
These illnesses are disabling, their crippling, and they make a huge impact on the way we learn and approach the world.
That’s why awareness, understanding, and compassion are THE most important ways, as teachers, we can connect with our struggling students. Continue reading
Lesson Plan: The House on Mango Street
Grade Level: Sophomore English
Teacher: Marisa Donnelly
Topic: Home / Home Identity
Time: 45 minutes Continue reading
This is a unit plan I created for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. The plan is aimed for high school students, specifically 9th grade, but can be adapted for any secondary level. The Unit Plan includes a background/introduction to the topic and three main themes: Continue reading
