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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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