Download the Curriculum for the novel Bleak: A Story of Bullying, Rage and Survival.

The Bleak curriculum is a free, academically rigorous and standards based literary and social emotional learning curriculum developed with educational professionals across multiple disciplines. The curriculum works to give students’ connections and safe places in their schools while engaging in rigorous literary analysis about the novel.

Curriculum Author

Benjamin Honeycutt - Middle School STEAM Teacher. Author of Bleak and the Bleak Curriculum

Benjamin Honeycutt
Middle School STEAM Teacher

Author of Bleak and Primary Author to the Bleak Curriculum

Scaffolds Developer

Nancy Godwin
Special Education Teacher

Scaffolds Coordinator and Consultant for the Curriculum

Standards Coordinator

Pearl Sonnenschein
School Programs Instructor

Author to Assignments 6 and 10 and Standards Coordinator for the Curriculum.

Bleak Curriculum Co-Authors

  • Natalie Chabot

    High School French Teacher

    Co-Author to Assignment 1: “This or That.”

  • Amber Hemingson

    Middle School ELA Teacher

    Co-Author to Assignment 8: “Student Led Legacy Projects.”

    Consultant for Assignments 1 , 2 and 4.

  • Kevin Honeycutt

    Educational Consultant

    Co-Author to Assignment 4: “Student Success Cards.”

  • Thomas McCartney

    High School ELA Teacher

    Co-Author to Assignment 8: “Student Led Legacy Projects.”

  • Shelby Miller

    High School Design and Tech Teacher

    Co-Author to Assignment 4: “Student Success Cards.”
    Designer of the Curriculum Cover.

Bleak Curriculum Consultants

  • Kelly Bradley

    Library Media Specialist

    Consultant on Assignment 1, “This or That”, and the “Student Led Painting Proposal” for Assignment 8.

  • Joshua Davidson

    Middle School Art Teacher

    Consultant on the “Student Led Painting Proposal” in Assignment 8.

  • Samantha Dellenbach

    High School ELA Teacher

    Consultant on Assignment 2: “Bleak Comprehension Guide” and Assignment 7: “Writing an Alternative Ending.”

    Piloted Teaching Bleak in the Classroom in 2021.

  • Lisa Hill

    Deputy Principal of Grafton High School

    Creator of the Pepper Feedback Peer Review Forms used in Assignments 3, 7 and 8.

  • Caleb Kettler

    Middle School P.E. Teacher

    Consultant on the “Team Project Proposals” for Assignment 8.

  • Jessica Stuart

    Middle & High School ELL Teacher

    Consultant on Assignment 8: “Student Legacy Projects” - Day 2.

  • Nicole Vergenz

    Middle School P.E. Teacher

    Consultant on the “Team Project Proposals” for Assignment 8.

  • Crystal Yakel-Kuntz

    High School Social Studies Teacher

    Consultant on the Assignment 8: “Student Legacy Projects” - Day 1.