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.
10 Personal Reading Rules We Should Let Students Break
We tell students to read for pleasure — then load them up with rules that would put most adults off books too. Sit at a desk. Finish what you start. Only read “serious” texts. In this post, I share the 10 reading rules I think we should let students break, from rereading favourites to abandoning books that don’t fit. When reading feels personal, comfortable, and choice-driven, students don’t just read more — they actually enjoy it.
Why Silent Debates Might Be the Best Thing I Ever Did in an English Classroom
Looking for a way to boost engagement, build argument skills, and get every student involved in discussion, even the shy ones? Silent debates might just be your new favourite tool. In this post, I break down how I use them in my English classroom (both in-person and online), why they work so well, and how you can start using them right away. Includes tips, examples, and free resources for texts like Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, and more.
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.
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.
Velvet Shadows and Candlelight: Why Darkness Belongs in the Classroom
Why are teens drawn to dystopias, gothic settings, and grief-soaked poetry? The answer might be simpler than you think. In this post, we explore how darker stories offer emotional depth, powerful writing opportunities, and space for healing inside the classroom.
10 Big Themes to Teach in Literature (That Students Actually Care About)
Tired of trying to make students care about literature? Start with themes that actually mean something to them. These ten big ideas - from identity and injustice to grief and resilience - are the ones students really connect with. Plus, I’ve included text suggestions and creative ways to teach each one.
Why I Swapped Traditional Discussion Questions for Roll-the-Dice Boards - And Never Looked Back
Tired of classroom discussions that fall flat? I was too - until I swapped traditional comprehension questions for a simple roll-the-dice game that completely transformed the way my students talk about literature. These boards turn discussion into something engaging, student-led, and genuinely thought-provoking. Here’s how I use them, why they work, and how you can try them in your classroom too.