PRESTO PLANS BLOG

In my experience, nothing hooks a class of reluctant teenage readers more effectively than a compelling science fiction story. Classic texts, written in the 1950s during the “Golden Age” of science fiction, still hold a lot of appeal for younger readers! This is why I love teaching short stories like “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury […]

Short stories are one of my favorite ways to help middle and high school students strengthen their reading comprehension skills. Because students can experience an entire story in a relatively short amount of time, they’re perfect for exploring skills like figurative language, analyzing dialogue and dialect, and understanding characters. One short story I love teaching […]

Looking for a middle school novel study that holds your students’ attention? Teaching Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick is a great choice in middle school – especially if you have a handful of reluctant readers in your group. Written with young teenage readers in mind, Freak the Mighty is a compelling story of an […]

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about teaching Shakespeare’s plays in high school English Language Arts, you’re not alone. It can be hard to know where to start when teaching a classic text like Julius Caesar – especially to 21st-century teenagers!  The good news is that teaching Shakespeare doesn’t have to be an intimidating experience. Many elements […]

If you’re wondering where to start when it comes to teaching William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, don’t worry! I’ve been there. Teaching one of Shakespeare’s most complex dramas can feel overwhelming at first. However, in my experience, once students gain confidence with Shakespeare’s language, they can often make fresh and insightful connections to Hamlet. After all, this […]

Teaching William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet can feel like a big task, especially when you want students to engage in creative, purposeful activities to help them comprehend the story.  Luckily, this classic play is full of themes teens recognize – from love and loyalty to conflict, and impulsive choices. In my experience, once they get […]

Between the unfamiliar language, dense plots, and the pressure to “get it right,” teaching Shakespeare to high school students can feel intimidating at first. Believe me, I’ve been there! But here’s the secret…you don’t need to be a Shakespeare expert to teach his work well. In my experience, a collection of creative introductory lessons can […]