Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
The Best Netflix Shows and Films to Use in the Secondary Classroom
Streaming doesn’t have to mean “switching off.” Netflix is packed with series and films that open up rich discussions in the secondary English classroom — from dystopian cautionary tales like Black Mirror to tender coming-of-age stories like Heartstopper. Used thoughtfully, these titles can spark debate, connect literature to students’ lives, and bring themes like identity, grief, and power into focus. This guide rounds up some of the best options, with classroom pairings, creative activities, and cross-curricular links to help you use screen time as a powerful teaching tool.
The Back-to-School Writing Task That Helps Me Understand Every Student
One simple writing task. That’s all it takes to start building real relationships with your students. Here’s the first-week activity I always use to understand who’s in front of me, and why it works year after year.
Why Macbeth Is the Only Shakespeare Play I’ll Never Get Sick Of
I’ve taught Macbeth more times than I can count, and somehow, I still look forward to it. There’s just something about the witches, the guilt, the madness. In this post, I’m sharing why Macbeth is the one Shakespeare play I’ll never get sick of—plus some of my favourite creative writing tasks and classroom stories along the way.
What Writing Taught Me About My Own Emotions (And How It Can Help Students Too)
Writing has always helped me untangle what’s going on in my own head, and it can do the same for students. In this post, I’m sharing how I teach personal narrative early in the year, why it’s linked to SEL, and how writing has helped me understand myself better.
7 Surprisingly Creative Ways English Teachers Can Use AI (That Don’t Involve Marking Essays)
Most AI-in-education advice focuses on grading and admin. But in the English classroom, that’s not always the issue that needs to be solved. This post shares 7 genuinely creative ways to use AI that support writing, analysis, differentiation, and reading, all designed to save time without losing your voice as a teacher.
What I Tell My Students During Exam Season (When They're Anxious, Fed Up, or Just Done)
It’s exam season, and students are feeling everything - nerves, bravado, burnout. In this post, I’m sharing what I tell mine before and after the paper, including the one phrase I never say, and the exam story I retell every year. If you’re teaching through GCSEs right now, this one’s for you.