PRESTO PLANS BLOG

In my experience, there are two groups of ELA teachers in the world: those who love middle school novel study units, and those who don’t! Novel studies can be incredibly powerful tools in middle school ELA. They create a shared culture and common language around a specific text, and students can explore themes and connections […]

If you’re looking for Halloween teaching ideas for middle school ELA, you can’t go wrong with a spooky short story or drama! I love to incorporate seasonal elements into my lesson designs whenever I can, and Halloween is no exception! In my experience, middle schoolers love holidays just as much as their younger counterparts in […]

Do you find teaching poetry in middle school intimidating? I totally get it! I think there’s a real misconception among students that poetry is hard to relate to. For teachers, teaching poetry can sometimes feel like fighting an uphill battle, especially if you don’t identify as a “poetry person” yourself! I’ve got you covered. Teaching […]

Something I’ve always liked about middle and high school ELA is the freedom and flexibility to change things up, depending on the interests and learning styles of the students in your space. One of the simplest ways to do this is to use pop culture in the ELA classroom! A few twists and tweaks that […]

When it comes to our writing instruction, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the number of standards we need to cover over the course of the year. This is why the Paragraph of the Week Program is such a game-changer for the ELA classroom. It provides short and manageable daily tasks that help […]

The first few days of school are such an important time for teachers and their students in all grades, but I think it’s especially important to build a strong sense of classroom community for middle schoolers. Taking time to intentionally build strong relationships with students sets everyone up for success! If you’re looking to build […]

Let me share a teaching secret with you: I have never had a student resist the spell of Holes by Louis Sachar. This 1999 Newberry Medal-winning novel is one of those rare books that appeal to even the most reluctant readers, thanks to its interesting characters and creative, adventurous plot. Part fairy tale, part detective […]