TEA4TEACHER

Short stories give students the chance to step briefly but deeply into someone else’s shoes. In just a few pages, they can witness unfamiliar struggles, question assumptions, and test their own values against those of the characters.

In a media-saturated world, students must be able to interpret, evaluate, and challenge the messages they encounter daily. Film study units offer a dynamic, engaging way to teach these skills while supporting traditional literacy objectives. They help students become informed consumers of media, critical thinkers, and effective communicators. Most importantly, film allows students to see stories—and themselves—in new ways, deepening engagement and understanding.

Adolescence is a time when students begin to grapple with ethical questions: What does loyalty mean? How do you know when to stand up for something? What does justice look like? Literature gives them models for exploring these dilemmas, but creative writing allows them to test those ideas themselves.