Mrs. Angela Hufnagel’s Honors English 9 is a much-loved class. Not only was the teacher, Mrs.Hufnagel, just recently awarded the Norwin Outstanding Educator by student-vote for the 2024-25 school year, but also because of the many creative opportunities that students are presented with in her class.
On the Norwin website the course description is as follows: “This course is designed to develop and to deepen analytical thinking skills through the study of literature. Skills and concepts are taught to inspire strategic and extended thinking. This is a course in application with emphasis on writing and discussion.The key pieces of literature to be studied are Animal Farm, To Kill a Mockingbird, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Odyssey and Romeo and Juliet.”
Students should, of course, expect to be pushed as in any Honors or AP class as the course rigor is elevated from English 9.
“I think when you get to the bottom line, they [students] should expect growth,” said Hufnagel. “That’s what they should expect from my point of view, growth, they will have the opportunity to become a better figure, a better communicator, a better reader. They should expect consistent work. They should expect some challenging assignments. They should expect a caring leader who also is unrelenting in her educational philosophy and they should expect to have to earn a lot.”
Each year, Spring comes, and with it, Romeo and Juliet. With a discussion of one of the greatest and most influential works of literature of all time, students are granted the opportunity to add to the story. Only their versions include a twist. Students are required to submit their continuation of Romeo and Juliet in the form of a puppet show.
“My favorite part of being in Honors English 9 is the overall environment of the class,” said Gianna Ulery, freshmen class Honors 9. “Everyone in the class is motivated to be the most successful student they can, but at the same time everyone is able to have fun.”
The Shakespeare Puppet is not the only project that requires some creativity from students. Throughout the year, students in Honors English 9 pursue and conquer a large variety of learning experiences. Any learning comes with challenges but with the motivation to overcome that challenge, the possibilities are endless.
Unique projects require a unique presentation! In some cases a puppet show and in others a walk around tour of presentations, including new ideas around every corner. When given the opportunity to explore creativity, learning becomes more than repetition and monotonous work sheets… it becomes fun.
“I really liked getting to work with my classmates and have the chance to be creative,” said Gianna Ulery. “It was a unique but fun project. Every group had creative opportunities, and every puppet show was diverse.
A puppet show may seem like a silly presentation but learning comes in many different forms and fashions. Sometimes a study guide and sometimes a production. Regardless of the method, learning is learning.
“I always invite students to help me sell honors English to the rising ninth graders and this year I had a group of students, that included a current student,” said Hufnagel. “He, when asked about the class, said it’s not a hard class but you have to be committed to the work and that kind of stuck with me. So the kind of student who should take honors English nine is the type of student who is committed to himself or herself in terms of seeking an education.”
