SUBSCRIBE FOR ONLY $16.99!

It’s Alive! Teaching with Horror Stories in the Classroom

Advertisement

By Janel Sullivan

A challenge I face as an English teacher is not just providing my students with the skills they need to be active readers, but also finding ways to get them excited about reading.

Throughout my years of teaching, I’ve discovered that students are often more eager to read and discuss horror stories than other material. The genre naturally provokes excitement and a sense of morbid curiosity; even students who hate horror are still curious about what happens at the end. And, as an added bonus, scary stories can also teach critical life lessons and help kids learn to confront their fears.

When I was little, I was afraid of everything. I feared someone breaking into my house, the house burning down, snakes, monsters, the neighbor’s dog, and most importantly, the dark. I remember standing at the bottom of the stairs when the light went out in the hallway, too terrified to go up into the darkness. 

“If you’re too scared, I guess that means you’ve been watching too much Scooby-Doo,” my dad would remark, and the implication that I’d be cut off from my beloved TV show was enough to send me sprinting up to my bedroom.

In present day, I was recently reminiscing with another teacher about Saturday morning cartoons, and of course ScoobyDoo came up. “I bet Velma was your favourite,” he said. “You’re kind of like her.”

I did always aspire to be Velma, but she was not my favourite. It was Shaggy. Why? Because Shaggy, along with his faithful pal Scooby-Doo, was scared. Despite this, he would always follow through, help his friends, and solve the mystery anyways. Shaggy had been my childhood role model in learning to overcome fear, and although my real love of horror didn’t start until I was in college, I like to think he helped kick-start my interest in the genre.

Teaching in China

In 2013 I took a leap and moved to Shanghai to teach English at a bilingual school. A few months in, I remember telling a friend back home, “It’s like I’m playing a card game without a full deck.” 

I prided myself on my pop culture references. I was young and had never had any problems connecting with my students back home. But in Shanghai, none of my students even knew Scooby-Doo. They did love Marvel movies, but I didn’t know any of the heroes’ names in Mandarin. On top of that, I quickly realized the students were so afraid of being wrong that they would hesitate to answer questions. Needless to say, it was difficult to connect with them. Something had to change.

Subscribe to Keep Reading

🔑 You’re one step away from unlocking premium content.
Subscribe now for just $15.99/year and get full access!
If you’re already subscribed, please .
Avatar photo

Janel Sullivan is a caffeine-addict American living and teaching in Singapore. She has a morbid curiosity for things that go bump in the night and likes writing with really nice pens.

Education News

Talking Educational Equity with Bush Fellow Marvis Kilgore

A dedicated teacher and educational equity strategist, Marvis Kilgore is passionate about increasing Black male representation in teaching. In our conversation, he shares his vision for transforming education.

Student Sleep Health Week Highlights the Powerful Connection Between Sleep and Well-Being

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is hosting its sixth annual Student Sleep Health Week from September 15–19, bringing together families, educators, and community groups to highlight the importance of healthy sleep for students of all ages.

Supporting the Next Generation of AI-Native Learners

The question is no longer should students use AI, but rather: What skills do we equip students with to prepare them for a future where AI is a part of their life?

New Book Offers the First Comprehensive History of Sex Ed in America

Sex ed in schools is about much more than just health. It’s about reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender equity—and it matters now more than ever.

Join Our Newsletter

Join now for a chance to win 1 of 2 $25 Indigo e-gift cards this month!

Janel Sullivan
Janel Sullivan
Janel Sullivan is a caffeine-addict American living and teaching in Singapore. She has a morbid curiosity for things that go bump in the night and likes writing with really nice pens.

Advertisement

Read More

The Value of Accessing Professional Development in Your First Years of Teaching

After my first week of being in a long-term occasional role, it became very clear to me that learning about being in the classroom is not the same as actually being in the classroom.

Talking Educational Equity with Bush Fellow Marvis Kilgore

A dedicated teacher and educational equity strategist, Marvis Kilgore is passionate about increasing Black male representation in teaching. In our conversation, he shares his vision for transforming education.

Student Sleep Health Week Highlights the Powerful Connection Between Sleep and Well-Being

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is hosting its sixth annual Student Sleep Health Week from September 15–19, bringing together families, educators, and community groups to highlight the importance of healthy sleep for students of all ages.

Supporting the Next Generation of AI-Native Learners

The question is no longer should students use AI, but rather: What skills do we equip students with to prepare them for a future where AI is a part of their life?

Break the Ice: The Ultimate Back-to-School Toolkit

Here are six simple icebreaker activities, as recommended by K–12 educators, that are sure to help make this back-to-school season your best one yet.

How to Tame a Chaotic School Cafeteria: 7 Tips for Managing Lunchroom Behavior

Let’s face it—most staff don’t willingly volunteer for cafeteria duty. But with a few thoughtful tweaks, lunch doesn’t have to be the noisiest, most dreaded 30 minutes of the day.
la aplicación de shein para ganar dinero es confiable | caliente mx sport | jubilee casino | casino fiesta | ruleta de comprensión lectora pdf | codere cerca de mi | danna paola ruleta | casino royal yak culiacan sinaloa | big bola iniciar sesion | casinos online confiables | 888 casino bono sin deposito | play city antara | mexbet | ruleta en linea | ideas ganar dinero | juegos de apuestas en linea | ganar dinero suscribiendote a youtube | casinos online en mexico | slot casino gratis | palace station hotel and casino | incanto casino | flamingo las vegas hotel & casino | como ganar dinero en paypal viendo publicidad | ganar dinero en poker online | solaz casino chihuahua | jackpot maquinas tragamonedas | codere mexico | spin casino contact number | el casino | calientesports mx liga mx | casino ryaga | casino en linea | como se apuesta en caliente | casino fun | slot machine free gratis | deposito bonanza | excalibur hotel & casino | casinocaliente com mx | dubai palace casino cancún | juegos de mesa mexicanos | crypto casino | hard rock hotel & casino punta cana | casino infantil bambi | casino villa de acuña | juegos tradicionales de mexico | bet casino | big bola casino metepec | best casino online canada | arne slot | casinos en linea con bonos sin deposito | casino el capricho | en calientemx | juegos de casinos gratis ruleta | casino caliente tijuana | slot jackpot | codere mexico | como ganar dinero con las acciones | tragamonedas casino | ruleta de casino | slot traduccion | fondos de pantalla de ronaldinho | dubai palace casino cancún | strendus app |