Notes from the Inkpot

Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.

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A stack of five closed books on a wooden table, with an open book nearby, and a blurred plant in the background, captioned 'The Literature Library'.
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Ekphrastic Writing for the Classroom: Art, Photo & Science Prompts for English Teachers
For Teachers, Writing Prompts, Poetry, For Writers, Genres Ink & Insights . For Teachers, Writing Prompts, Poetry, For Writers, Genres Ink & Insights .

Ekphrastic Writing for the Classroom: Art, Photo & Science Prompts for English Teachers

This comprehensive guide to ekphrastic writing in the classroom brings together image-based writing prompts using art, photography, sculpture, science imagery, and AI-generated visuals. Designed for secondary English teachers, the post includes practical ways to use ekphrasis across poetry, prose, monologue, and creative nonfiction, alongside adaptable classroom activities and cross-curricular ideas. Whether you’re planning a poetry unit, setting low-prep bell-ringers, or encouraging close observation and voice-driven writing, these ekphrastic writing prompts for students support inference, imagery, and creative confidence. With clear guidance, differentiated approaches, and links to ongoing writing resources, this post is built for real classroom use.

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Roll-the-Dice Discussion Boards for Literature | A Student-Led Alternative to Traditional Questions
For Teachers, Teaching Strategies Ink & Insights . For Teachers, Teaching Strategies Ink & Insights .

Roll-the-Dice Discussion Boards for Literature | A Student-Led Alternative to Traditional Questions

Traditional literature discussion questions don’t always work. Too often, the same few students dominate while others stay silent or disengaged. Roll-the-Dice Discussion Boards offer a student-led, gamified alternative that transforms classroom discussion into something more inclusive, thoughtful, and genuinely engaging. In this post, I explain why I swapped traditional discussion questions for roll-the-dice boards, how they work in real KS3–KS5 classrooms, and why they lead to deeper interpretation across poetry, novels, short stories, and Shakespeare. You’ll find practical classroom tips, teacher feedback, free examples to try, and ideas for building confident, meaningful literary discussion.

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