Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
10 Haunting Poems to Teach This Halloween (That Aren’t Just The Raven)
Looking for haunting Halloween poems to teach this October? Discover 10 wonderfully eerie poems that go beyond The Raven, featuring Gothic classics, ghostly encounters, sinister witches and dark romantic tales. From Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson to Christina Rossetti and Walter de la Mare, these poems are perfect for bringing mystery and suspense into the classroom. Each poem includes an engaging introduction, suggested age range and imaginative teaching activities to encourage close reading, literary analysis and creative writing. Whether you're planning a Halloween poetry lesson or exploring Gothic literature, you'll find plenty of spooky inspiration to captivate your students.
20 Great Texts to Teach at Christmas (or during Winter)
Looking for meaningful texts to teach in December? These 20 Christmas and winter-themed classics — from short stories and poems to films and podcasts — offer rich discussion, creative writing opportunities, and seasonal engagement without sacrificing academic depth.
10 Dystopian Texts to Teach Beyond 1984 (Classroom Ideas & Creative Writing)
Every time dystopian fiction comes up in the classroom, 1984 takes centre stage. And for good reason — it’s chilling, essential, and one of those texts I’ll always defend teaching. But Orwell isn’t the whole story. Dystopia is also about fear, climate collapse, isolation, memory, love, and the choices people make when systems fall apart. This post shares ten powerful texts that go beyond Orwell, each with themes, classroom ideas, and creative writing extensions you can use straight away.
7 Free English Classroom Resources I Actually Use (And Still Love)
Seven free English teaching resources I’ve actually used in real classrooms. From creative writing prompts to post-reading tasks, these are my go-to freebies that still hold up, and they’re all ready to download.
How to Teach English Language Skills Using Literature Texts (Free Prompts Included)
Combine language and literature in a meaningful way with chapter-by-chapter creative writing prompts. This post explores how you can build writing skills while deepening students’ understanding of the texts you teach - plus, you’ll find lots of free resources to download and try right away.