Better Storytelling: Conflict Obstacles
A story has to have the substance that reflects life. It’s more than having a bunch of events happen; those events have to have a conflict to drive it.
What’s the Difference Between Theme & Motif?
I get it–it’s easier. But, that doesn’t mean it should be done. It kills me when my high school freshmen mix up motifs and themes. Thinking they’re interchangeable, it makes it almost impossible to get them to understand how very different they are. It’s frustrating for me. Motifs are everywhere in life; we need to […]
Essential Literary Elements for Better Storytelling: Character
There are 350+ literary elements, depending on how you define it. When telling a good story, you only need to focus on conflict, context, and character.
How to Student 359: What Class Grades Actually Mean
This post includes affiliate links that will lead you to other websites that I do not own. Read the full disclosure here. What started as a way to measure student mastery became a way to compete and beat ourselves up. But, why is that? Why do grades have to represent our failures rather than our chances […]
How to Student 223: How to Do Better in Class
This post includes affiliate links that will lead you to other websites that I do not own. Read the full disclosure here. I was an honors kid growing up. Not gifted, but honors. I found there was a difference between the two, though many schools put them together. Gifted kids are born with the smarts; […]