With Honors

This week, on a very special episode of With Honors and A Deadman's Books ... Two teachers. One timeless novel. And a live studio audience of thirty-six teenagers who may or may not be paying attention (but definitely are). Mr. Crockett and Mr. Haston join forces in a once-in-a-century classroom crossover celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby . Part podcast masterclass, part litera...

Testing season is upon us, and things are getting hectic around here, but that’s not stopping the students from rolling out some of the best episodes yet. In this teaser, I wanted to give a heads up to what’s coming to With Honors as we wind down the school year and rev up the podcast. First up? A major crossover event: our next full episode features a live, in-class recording with Mr. Drew Haston...

Get ready to turn the volume up! Liv and Tori have a lot to say (and play) in this episode of With Honors . From their favorite study tunes to the songs they swear belong on a Great Gatsby playlist, these two bring energy, insight, and more than a few strong opinions. They talk through how music shapes their focus during classwork, why certain lyrics feel tailor-made for Gatsby’s world, and how pe...

This week on With Honors , Amberlynn and Katie take the mic for a patient, and at times delightfully unexpected, exploration of symbolism in literature. Starting again with Remarkably Bright Creatures , they unpack the deeper meanings behind characters like Tova and Marcellus and explore how age can be a symbolic season of life. From there, the discussion takes a darker turn into Edgar Allan Poe’s...

In this episode of With Honors , Halle, Maddie, and Riley dive into Shelby Van Pelt’s 2020 novel Remarkably Bright Creatures , the summer read that kicked off their journey into Honors English. They share their reactions to the novel’s remarkable characters, discuss how it compares to other bright works from the class, and reflect on the themes that stuck with these creatures. Along the way, they...

In this episode of With Honors , Rhaleigh, Addison, and Taegan open up about the unique challenges of being students balancing Honors English with basketball season. Taegan shares what it's like to juggle intense practices, games, and coursework, while Rhaleigh and Addison reflect on their roles as managers supporting the team while managing school, work, and home responsibilities. The girls get r...

In this episode of With Honors , Wyatt and Zane join the quest to face down the ultimate literary beast: the dragon. Armed with our knowledge of symbolism, our pop culture expertise, and our love for all things fantasy, we charge headfirst into the legends to unravel why these creatures have captivated us for centuries. From the fire-breathing terrors of Western myths to the wise, celestial beings...

In this episode of With Honors , sophs Kylie and Hayley break down their top 10 tips for approaching Honors 10 English. From the reality of Crockett's "half-sheet-of-paper" quizzes to the best strategies for reading and annotating novels outside of class, they share what they’ve learned along the way. Kylie discusses her perspective on balancing classwork against procrastination, while Hayley offe...

In this episode of With Honors , "Words in Motion," sophomores Mary and Kara explore the art of poetry and how tools like TPCASTT can transform the way we read and analyze verse. As they walk through the TPCASTT process step by step, they discuss how tone, imagery, and structure shape meaning. They also reminisce about previous classes and why poetry isn’t as intimidating as it first seems. Mary s...

In this episode of With Honors , sophomores Larissa and Wesley dive into Frieda McFadden’s thriller The Housemaid and the unsettling ways it plays with perception and deception. As they discuss the danger of judging a book by its cover—both literally and figuratively—they reflect on how first impressions can be misleading, not just in literature but in life. Wesley shares how his initial assumptio...

In this first episode of With Honors , sophs Mary and Kaylee sit down to reflect on the meaning of birthdays, not just as celebrations but as symbols of fresh starts and second chances. Mary shares why her birthday feels especially significant and how it ties into the lessons she’s learned this year. Kaylee opens up about her regret of staying quiet during Socratic seminars, while Mary wishes she...