Across grade levels 6–12, literacy classrooms often drift toward compliance, over-scaffolding, and formulaic responses. What if we redesigned the year around curiosity and joy instead? 

Literary study should expand students’ humanity—not shrink into plot worksheets. In this session, teachers will design literary units that center empathy, interpretation, and intellectual play. Participants will craft essential questions that spark conversation, build complex literary text sets, and design writing pathways that move beyond formulaic responses. Through book clubs, discussion structures, and creative response options, teachers will create classroom environments where students engage deeply with character, theme, craft, and meaning. This session focuses on designing literary instruction that sustains wonder while strengthening analytical thinking.