The textbook I used early in my career encouraged students to think of characterization in a binary way — either it was direct or indirect. The definitions went something like this: Direct characterization is a literary technique in which a narrator or another character explicitly describes a character’s traits, qualities, or personality. Instead of allowing … Continue Reading
This past weekend I participated in a group of three dozen educators, researchers, curriculum and learning specialists, and digital program leaders to draft a framework for AI in the English classroom. To say that this was time well spent – for me personally and for the work NCTE is doing – is an understatement. I … Continue Reading
SUSAN BARBER Not taking work home has become a hard fast rule for me, but this was not always the case. I spent years carrying essays on field trips to my house, my children’s sporting events and arts performances, after school events, faculty meetings – you get the idea. The bag of essays was an … Continue Reading
After sharing what Brian and I are thinking about going into 2026, we put out an all call for teachers in the MuchAdo community to share what’s on their mind. As usual, we are inspired and challenged to hear from you. Thanks to everyone who shared. Here are some of your responses: I agree with … Continue Reading
SUSAN BARBER I remember when ChatGPT broke on TikTok in late 2022 and feared how this would play out in classrooms. My concerns were validated when over 50 students suddenly used the work “evocative” in their first online essays in January of 2023. Since then, AI has continued to evolve, students have become adept at … Continue Reading
I quit tracking my books on GoodReads a couple of years ago because it became cumbersome and took joy out of my reading life. Instead, I’ve been compiling an end of the year reading list primarily recalled through pictures on my phone. I’m sure I’ve missed a few but this is most of what I … Continue Reading
Teaching older novels has become quite the intimidating thing. After all, last November, The Atlantic declared that even elite college students aren’t reading, and if those kids can’t read whole novels, what hope is there for high school English teachers? I have found a way to teach an 18th-century novel without losing my students to … Continue Reading
Apologies for any redundancy from previous posts, but one of the most common worries, concerns, and fears of new teachers (I serve as my school’s lead new teacher mentor) and from participants in my summer Lit and Lang APSIs is managing essay grading: how can I grade all of these essays, provide feedback, and still … Continue Reading
NCTE: the English teacher’s Disneyworld. Truly. My non-teaching friends are always amazed that 8,000 teachers of English gather yearly to discuss practices, learn from each other, and be inspired, but this happens yearly the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. After sitting out last year, I was eager to return and was fortunate enough to have a … Continue Reading
“that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
