Revitalizing Literary Engagement: Innovative Approaches to Teaching Willa Cather in High School English Classes

Authors

Sarah Hoyt, McCook High SchoolFollow
Phu Vu, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow

Author Biographies

Sarah Hoyt earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2024. She currently teaches English and yearbook at McCook High School in Nebraska. Outside the classroom, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband Paul, their son, Samuel, and daughters Beth, Erica, and Grace.

Phu Vu is a researcher in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney

Abstract

This study explores methods to enhance student engagement and interest in high school English literature classes, focusing on the analysis of Willa Cather's novels. It addresses the challenge of motivating students to engage deeply with full-length novels, crucial for cultural and literary education. Employing a qualitative approach and triangulated data sources, the study reveals significant improvements in student engagement, comprehension, and literary analysis. Additionally, students demonstrated a heightened ability to connect with the themes and characters in the prose.

Recommended Citation

Hoyt, Sarah and Vu, Phu (2025) "Revitalizing Literary Engagement: Innovative Approaches to Teaching Willa Cather in High School English Classes," Language Arts Journal of Michigan: Vol. 39: Iss. 1, Article 21.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.9707/2168-149X.2460

Publication Date

8-2025