Panic and a mob scene leave readers questioning who the real monsters are. Civil Peace | Chinua Achebe. Seems to work with laptops BUT not iPad. Greatly great I definitely recommend both. It also shows how easy it can be to mistake someone’s actions for kindness, opening up an important conversation about integrity and transparency. This story addresses the topics of prejudice and unfairness in a school setting, integrity, and grandparenting. A great short story can get our students thinking and making connections. HERE for Healthy Schools by Lysol has a mission to educate about healthy habits to help kids miss less school—so they are able to learn, grow, and thrive. These stories wander from suspenseful to humorous to surprising; often with a "twist ending" and drive home the concept of irony. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Copyright © 2020. Thank you Mrs. I’m glad to be of help. Thank you very much! Engage your middle school (or high school!) Anya Ow wrote this story inspired by her childhood in a grassy, wooded area of Singapore. Her husband sets the story in motion when he manages to acquire an invitation to a society party in a quest to make her happy. Read the story here:  The Scholarship Jacket, Martin feels embarrassed when his aging Sioux grandfather shows up at his family’s home unannounced. This is a wonderful story for middle school students because it addresses how people can deal with inevitable changes in life, such as when a loved one dies, through the lens of science fiction. Do you know what message you’d like to convey to your audience and who your audience is? Read short stories and poems by great African American authors! I have used many of these stories in the past and, without your page here, had to search high and low for just the story while here it is just waiting for us! I’m hoping they’ll be useful for my students. After a series of awkward run-ins with her, he attends his French class, where she is also enrolled. Our selection showcases the incredible variety of approaches and techniques that great writers have used to entertain us with the short story genre. You have successfully signed up for the free resource and teaching tips from Joy. The literature contained in this bundle is an anthology of African American Literature from Colonial Times to the 20th century.This bundle contains 12 different reading comprehension packets of short stories, book chapters, etc. While the majority of these stories are set in our past, the authors created settings that were contemporary to them at that time. Do you recommend any stories specifically for grade 7 (based on reading level, etc.). Secondary English Language Arts Resources. I am hoping that after this story we can read another one. Scroll through this list of writing prompts, particularly the persuasive ones. When I have no idea what to read, I find a bunch of free short stories online, save them onto the Pocket app, and read them as if I’ve compiled my own short story collection.Like a music playlist I create to match a mood, I create short story playlists to break a book slump, or to sample a bunch of different authors’ writing. Maybe 1984 or Les Misérables? Hi Jennifer! Read the story here:  The Treasure of Lemon Brown, This story centers around thirteen-year-old Terry and his father, who is suffering with post-traumatic stress syndrome from the Vietnam War. I realize today students are being brainwashed by phones (literally) and need literacy to save them. What non-fiction short stories would you recommend for middle school children? © 2018 Teaching ELA with Joy | Code + Coconut Template | Designed by. Thank you very much, Ann. Perhaps something here will inspire you. While it’s a bit immature for high school students, Gaiman’s tale might be too scary for elementary students. His father has become totally withdrawn, and very often his “eyes go away.” After he has a breakdown in public, Terry attempts to talk to him, and is surprised when his dad suddenly opens up about the killings he witnessed and the guilt that haunts him. His short story follows a young cartoonist living on the Spokane Indian Reservation. His stories often explore working class people and the interactions between humans and extreme environments. What genre of books do you like? What are your favorite short stories for middle schoolers? Sir Simon de Canterville has been happily haunting Canterbury Chase, frightening its inhabitants, for over three hundred years. It follows the experience of a family immigrating to New York City. Think back to your middle or high school English class and the books you read. Hi Anna! This is an amazing resource! For middle schoolers? This is an excellent compilation. Copyright notice: These stories are published on sites other than reThinkELA.com and NO copyrighted stories are excerpted or quoted in RTE-created materials. Thank you! Chapter Books with Diverse Main Characters, Guys Read Short Stories Invite Boys Into (a Different Kind of) Reading, MyFamilyBuilders Diverse Character Building Blocks, 60 Multicultural Children’s Picture Books with Diverse Main Characters, Big Fat Notebook: Study Guides for Middle School, Picture Book Stories Shape a Child’s Heart, Understanding characters, setting, and culture, Strategy instruction: inference synthesis, Empathy building and life lessons — what we can learn from each story. Their plan backfires when the boy, Johnny Dorset, becomes a total behavior problem that both men can’t handle. Reading this story first, then following up the next lesson with, Madame Mathilde Loisel is blessed with great beauty but little wealth. Thanks for reading! A favorite of my 7th graders for over a decade! Maybe if you have any writing topic ideas for a argumentative, informal piece? The title of this iconic story has become a catchphrase to describe a problem that has no solution. There are several witty lines in this brief story. I am in middle school in Iowa and my AM told me about this and now everyday in AM I read at least a story and my reading comp. Langston Hughes’ classic story begins with Roger trying to snatch a purse from … I feel that my students are strong with Lit Anal but I want to give them a practice test that is authentic and not from the PAARC study materials. To impress Teresa, Victor pretends to know French but has to use gibberish when responding to his teacher’s questions. Plus, students enjoy discussion around the conflicts and themes in short stories. I love your list that you have provided. The thought of tackling a thick novel can be overwhelming, especially toward the end of the school year when attention spans and patience for reading are often running short. I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher, a University of Oklahoma student working on my Master's of Education in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum with an concentration in English Education, and a NBPTS candidate. has improved so much!!! I am constantly seeking ways to amplify my students' voices and choices. This story is excellent for building empathy in your classroom and can tie into important conversations about cultural differences, immigration, acceptance and language barriers. I know this might be off topic, but I need help coming up with ideas for a writing piece I have to do for my English class. Thank you! wow these stories are really great, i do remember reading a few of them. For example, if you like action movies, you might like books in the same genre. Reading young adult books should be both fun and educational for students. So I’m a teacher and I find this web site amazing. Can any of these stories be printed for those students that do not have devices? Thanks a lot for these. There are so many great books to read, it’s hard to suggest just one. Are you ready to reThink your ELA teaching practices? At the same time, I can acquaint them with pertinent literary terms. Students can be mature and insightful one minute, obtuse and petulant the next. It has truly been helpful in persuading my students to read. I’m a substitute teacher and lists like this are pure gold for me. available for you online. Tutoring & Advocacy, Advocacy: When Students & Teachers Resist Learning About Racism, The Best Resources For Teaching Online During A COVID-19 School Closure. I agree that “Fall of the House of Usher” is for older students. Flying Lessons and Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh (of We Need Diverse Books) will be your new go-to book of short stories for middle school and high school.The writing is absolutely incredible with short stories meant for ages 8 – 12 written by amazing, award-winning, and diverse authors. If you’re wanting a story by a current author who is intentionally creating a historical setting, check out this Pinterest board. This is how much I love your stories! When a child asks for a bedtime story, what follows is a spooky and unexpected turn of events that keeps students entertained and turning the page. I enjoyed this story so much when I was a kid that I study it nearly every year with my French High School pupils. Thank you Mrs. Click to read about 40 Book Recommendations for Middle School Readers. I am so happy to have this wonderful site as a resource. I like just have to say this… thank you! Instead, he prefers science fiction books.