College of the Canyons English Department

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_ways_to_teach_critical_thinking_in_challenging_times?utm_source=website&utm_medium=calendar&utm_campaign=2026_03_happiness_calendar

Five Ways to Teach Critical Thinking in Challenging Times Even when certain words or topics are prohibited by the state, educators can still cultivate students’ motivation and skills to recognize, analyze, and challenge injustice.

🦋 Take African-American Lit this spring! 📚✊🏽

This spring we are proud to be offering English 270 on the Valencia campus! Intro to African-American Literature starts on February 9 and will dive into historic and contemporary Black authors’ voices and artists to realize their importance and relevance right now.

Enroll in this exciting course today to read the brilliant words of Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and tons more under the guidance of Prof. Josh Rideaux. Let us know if you have any questions!

👇🏼 COURSE DETAILS: 👇🏼

English 270, section 91244, MW, 3:30-4:50, LTLC 144 on Valencia campus

English departments for democracy!

Can Literature Help Save Democracy? A recent book argues that reading fiction and non-fiction can promote relational, cognitive, and emotional qualities that would improve democratic dialogue.

Congrats on another semester under our belts! May your coffee be strong and your grading be swift.

How Writing Helps You Face Everyday Challenges Learn how writing can trigger a shift your brain that reflects resilience, which can in turn help you face everyday challenges.

Erin and Alexa’s icebreaker at our department retreat yesterday inspired me! I’m going to use it with my students, but here’s the extra twist I thought I’d share in case it appeals to anybody else:

When you're taking attendance and having everyone introduce themselves on the first day of class, ask each student to share their "walk up" song. (Alternatively, you can have them include this info on an introductory index card that you collect.) Then, preferably unbeknownst to them, write down each song so you can make a hype up playlist for your class. A few minutes before the start of each class, as students are making their way in, choose one of the songs to play. It'll not only (1) hype up at least one student - and probably others and (2) show that you pay attention and care about them as people, but (3) the end of the song will condition students to settle down because it's time to get down to business.

Who else is in!?

Having trouble finding English 101 or English 103 classes for the fall? We have plenty of open classes - the course numbers have just changed!

ENGL-101 is now called ENGL-C1000.

ENGL-103 is now called ENGL-C1001.

Let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you in the fall! 💙💛✍🏼