What is gothic literature?
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 04, 2024 Those of you who have been following along with this blog for a while know that creepy short stories are definitely my jam. These stories…
Middle School
Favorite Science Fiction Short Stories
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 05, 2024 Welcome to the second post in my series on Science Fiction! In my previous post, I talked all about this engaging genre, and some tips…
Blog · English · Middle School
What is Science Fiction?
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 05, 2024 The science fiction genre is always a hit with my middle school learners. For centuries, humans have been fascinated by extraterrestrials, space travel, and alternate…
Blog · Elementary · English · Middle School
Building a high interest classroom library
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 05, 2024 As Language Arts teachers, we all know how important it is for students to have easy access to a well stocked classroom library. Sadly, far…
Blog · English · Middle School
Diverse Short Stories – Ideas and Activities
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated March 9, 2024 It is easy to get stuck in a rut of teaching the same short stories year after year. However, I think it is important to…
Blog · English · Middle School
Short Stories for Black History Month
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated December 18, 2024 I firmly advocate for a diversified curriculum that amplifies authors representing diverse gender, racial, and cultural backgrounds. It is so important to incorporate a wide…