Ferndale UHS Teacher Uses Horror to Help Teens Learn to Love Reading

Ferndale UHS trainer makes use of horror to assist teenagers be taught to like studying

(Lilly Crossley, December 13, 2025)

Ferndale, MI – Amanda Goodson, a trainer at Ferndale College Excessive Faculty, has discovered a technique to make learning literature extra enjoyable for her college students.

She got here up with the thought of ​​instructing English primarily based solely on horror-related media. Her robust love for horror helped her kind this concept, and she or he introduced her concepts to the board.

“Horror is who I’m via and thru. I knew I may discover methods for college kids to be taught from it,” says Goodson.

She did some analysis on schools that had a horror class, and she or he took a few of their materials and performed with it to make it her personal. Her presentation to the board targeted on the human expertise and what it tells us about ourselves.

“Everybody laughs on the loopy lady who runs and falls when the monster chases her, however what does that educate us about how we reply to stress? What makes us suppose we will do higher? It teaches us actual life classes,” she defined.

The category combines these life classes with artistic writing and a private connection to the tales college students learn. “A whole lot of us, from once we have been little or no, have been uncovered to some form of scary story, and it gave us one thing, whether or not that was love or hate for the horror style. That spark is what’s essential to me,” Goodson stated.

That is her fourth yr instructing the category, and annually she finds new methods to maintain her college students engaged. She does have a lesson plan that she begins writing within the spring earlier than the brand new college yr, however as the autumn semester begins and she or he will get to know her college students’ pursuits, she’s going to tailor the dialog matters to what they take pleasure in most.

“In contrast to my English 11 class, the place I’ve to show AB and C, this class exhibits me that ‘oh, youngsters are extra enthusiastic about cults this yr, so let’s do a cult unit’ or ‘they’re not likely into ghosts, so let’s do one thing completely different,’” Goodson says.

There are numerous texts in thoughts in the case of learning sure matters, and college students are given a alternative of what they wish to learn. Presenting them with about 5 textual content choices will make it appear much less overwhelming, whereas additionally giving them the chance to decide on.

It’s straightforward for the category to change texts as a result of it’s doable to suppose critically about each bit of labor.

This horror literature class is an elective and consists of roughly 95% juniors and seniors. Everyone seems to be welcome to hitch the category, however Goodson tends to have a majority from upperclassmen as a result of they will match it into their schedule. College students should have consent types signed by dad and mom or guardians in the beginning of the semester resulting from content material warnings.

This lesson differs from the common English lesson as a result of, as Goodson sees it, it ‘entices’ the scholars into studying. “You’re compelled to come back to this college day by day, and a few days it may be tougher to get off the bed than others. Understanding that you will watch The Shining, for instance, makes them extra excited to come back to class,” she explains. “You are still doing the very same abilities in English, however you are doing it with materials that pursuits you.”

Whereas this class could also be a bit completely different, college students nonetheless do tasks, displays, and writing. They use essential pondering abilities, take part in group work, and have conversations about their interpretations of the fabric. The scholars additionally work along with different lessons in school. They collaborate with artwork lessons, creating illustrations for what they learn, and movie lessons, taking tales and translating them to the display.

“It teaches them nice abilities in a enjoyable manner,” Goodson stated, “and I might like to point out that extra.”

When requested about her favourite a part of the category, Goodson shared, “It exhibits the youngsters that you could be completely different and a bit bizarre, however you continue to have worth and also you personal that worth. Once you’re in highschool, you would possibly wish to slot in so badly and really feel like there is not any place for you, however possibly there’s and also you simply do not specific it.”

This lesson gives that form of expression that kids could also be in search of.

Along with conventional classroom work, college students additionally participated in different enjoyable actions, similar to dressing up for Halloween. Youngsters have been very enthusiastic about participating in a elaborate costume competitors and handing out sweets. “We’re at all times studying and developing with new concepts for issues, however once you have a look at one thing via a brand new lens or with extra depth, you actually be taught a lot extra. I would like folks to understand that there’s extra, a lot depth and a lot to be taught,” Goodson explains.

Her ardour has led to the success of this class, and it has created a brand new expertise for college kids to have enjoyable whereas studying essential English abilities.

Be taught extra about Ferndale faculties at https://www.ferndaleschools.org/

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