Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
20 Best Texts to Teach in January: Fresh Starts, New Beginnings, and Smart Classroom Momentum
January is one of the most important — and underestimated — teaching months of the year. After the break, students don’t need noise or novelty; they need texts that rebuild focus, invite reflection, and spark meaningful discussion. This curated list of 20 novels, short stories, poems, films, and podcasts offers flexible, high-impact texts that work across ages and formats, helping you reset classroom momentum without overloading your planning.
31 Daily Writing Prompts for January: Ever After
A 31-day collection of fairytale retellings inspired by myths and folklore from around the world. These prompts move beyond “happily ever after” to explore power, consequence, and the stories left untold — perfect for classrooms, creative writing lessons, or anyone rediscovering their love of storytelling.
10 Best Christmas Poems to Teach (And How to Teach Them)
Christmas in the classroom is always a balancing act. You want something seasonal to capture the spirit of December, but it still needs the depth to justify lesson time. Poetry is the perfect answer. From Christina Rossetti’s wintry devotion to T. S. Eliot’s existential Nativity, these ten poems offer rich imagery, layered themes, and plenty of scope for creative writing.
Why I Still Teach Of Mice and Men in 2025
It’s been taught a thousand times, and for good reason. This novella still silences a room, sparks debate, and gets students thinking deeply about morality, loneliness, and power. In this post, I share how I teach it, the moments that always hit hardest, and why it’s still one of the most powerful texts in my classroom.