PRESTO PLANS BLOG

If you want to spark meaningful discussions with your middle or high school students, teaching “The Leap” by Louise Erdrich is a great choice. Originally published in Harper’s magazine in 1990, “The Leap” is told through a series of recollections about the narrator’s mother, Anna Avalon, who is a former trapeze artist in a travelling […]

If you’re looking for a short text to encourage your middle school readers to consider a new perspective, teaching “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers is rewarding and worthwhile. This short story provides students with an opportunity to explore a number of different themes, including the value of family. Set during the […]

In my personal reading, I really enjoy trying to pinpoint what motivates literary characters. To me, figuring out what makes complex characters “tick” feels a little bit like solving a puzzle. This is one of the reasons I love teaching characterization to middle or high school students! Drawing their attention to the various ways that […]

If you’re looking for a short text to challenge your middle school readers, why not try teaching “The Open Window” by Saki? This short story provides a great opportunity for students to develop their vocabulary and to explore the concept of satire.  Set in rural England, “The Open Window” begins with a seemingly light-hearted exchange […]

Teaching The Diary of a Young Girl, written by 13-year-old Anne Frank during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands, can be a powerful and moving experience for middle school ELA students. This classic nonfiction text provides students with an accessible, first-hand account of struggle, resilience, frailty, sacrifice, and the impact of global events on ordinary […]

Looking for new ideas to teach essay writing in middle or high school ELA? English teachers know that the basic five-paragraph essay is the backbone of all academic writing. But that’s not the only reason why essay writing matters! Students can apply the skills involved in writing an essay, such as communicating clearly, introducing ideas, […]

There are so many things to love about teaching middle school. Middle schoolers are old enough to work independently – at least some of the time! Plus, it’s great to watch students in middle school starting to come into “their own” – developing their own hobbies, interests, and goals for the future. However, there’s a […]