Best Short Stories for Middle Schoolers, As Chosen by Teachers Short stories are a perfect teaching tool for middle schoolers. Because they require less time to read, they’re an easy way to expose your students to new authors and genres. Also, between stylistic intricacies and plot twists, short stories hook readers and hold middle schoolers’ attention like nothing else. We’ve compiled this list of short stories that are great for teaching middle schoolers. Best Short Stories for Middle Schoolers 1. “The minute I walked in and the Big Bozo introduced us, I got sick to my stomach. Why I love this: Morrison’s stated goal in this short story, which begins in an orphanage, was to remove “all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial.” 2. “‘Does this safari guarantee I come back alive?’” “‘We guarantee nothing,’” said the official, ‘except the dinosaurs.’” Why I love this: It’s rich with descriptive language and fast-paced, dialogue-heavy action. 3. 4. Why I love this: Even though O. 5. 6. 7.
Past and Present NBGS Books (Notable Books for a Global Society) - CL/R SIG (Children's Literature and Reading - Special Interest Group) Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. New York: David Fickling, 2006. Campoy, F. Diakite, Penda. Draper, Sharon. Freedman, Russell. Greenfield, Eloise. Hobb, Will. Holm, Jennifer L. Hopkinson, Deborah. Kessler, Cristina. Kroll, Virginia. Lee-Tai, Amy. McCormick, Patricia. McCutcheon, John. McKissack, Patricia. Myers, Walter Dean. Raven, Margeret. Rubin, Susan Goldman. with Ela Weissberger. Shoveller, Herb. Tingle, Tom. Winthrop, Elizabeth. Weatherford, Carol Boston. Weatherford, Carol Boston. Zalben, Jane B. Zusak, Markus. Selection Committee - NBGS 2007Nancy Hadaway, Chair, University of Texas at Arlington April Bedford, Co-Chair, University of New Orleans, LA Jo Ann Brewer, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA Cyndi Giorgis, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, NV Belinda Louie, University of Washington at Tacoma, WA Janelle Mathis, University of North Texas, Denton, TX Mary Napoli, Penn State, Harrisburg, PA Deborah L.
20 Terrifying Two-Sentence Horror Stories. I Didn't Think It Was Possible Until #5... When The Hair On My Neck Stood Up March 5, 2014 Ever since I was a little kid I've loved sharing ghost stories around a campfire which is probably why I love watching horror movies. And every single time I finish watching one, well, a good one... Someone on Reddit asked the question, "What is the best horror story you can come up with in two sentences?" Photo Credit: BHF Photography 1. 2. 3.Growing up with cats and dogs, I got used to the sounds of scratching at my door while I slept. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Enjoy sleeping with the lights on tonight... Please consider making a donation to Sunny Skyz and help our mission to make the world a better place. March 5, 2014 Ever since I was a little kid I've loved sharing ghost stories around a campfire which is probably why I love watching horror movies. Someone on Reddit asked the question, "What is the best horror story you can come up with in two sentences?" Photo Credit: BHF Photography 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Reading Rants "Death by Scrabble" "Death by Scrabble" by Charlie Fish Lesson Plan Text of the story. "Death by Scrabble" Text of the story. Adobe Reader required. "Death by Scrabble" Text of the story and 5 learning activities with emphasis on vocabulary and analysis. "Death by Scrabble" by Charlie Fish Lesson Plan This lesson plan focuses on a theme of cheating explored through the short story "Death by Scrabble," a brief creative writing activity, and a YouTube video (5:22) on cheating in high school. "Death by Scrabble" Prereading with practice making predictions. Reading Circle — "Death by Scrabble" Activities here include discussion questions and vocabulary practice.
Teen Services Underground – Minding the Gap Short Stories at East of the Web A game of Scrabble has serious consequences. - Length: 4 pages - Age Rating: PG - Genre: Crime, Humor A semi-barbaric king devises a semi-barabaric (but entirely fair) method of criminal trial involving two doors, a beautiful lady and a very hungry tiger. - Length: 7 pages - Genre: Fiction, Humor ‘Bloody hell!’ - Genre: Humor Looking round he saw an old woman dragging a bucket across the floor and holding a mop. - Length: 3 pages Henry pours more coal onto the hearth as a gust of wind rattles through the cracked window frame. - Length: 14 pages - Genre: Horror ulissa Ye relished all the comfortable little routines and quietude defining her part-time job at The Bookery, downtown’s last small, locally-owned bookstore. - Length: 8 pages - Age Rating: U The forest looked ethereal in the light from the moon overhead. - Length: 15 pages - Age Rating: 18 Corporal Earnest Goodheart is crouched in a ditch on the edge of an orchard between Dunkirk and De Panne. - Genre: Fiction - Length: 20 pages
YALSA Book and Media Awards and Lists for Libraries *YALSA has launched the new Teen Book Finder Database, which is a one-stop shop for finding selected lists and award winners. Users can search this free resource by award, list name, year, author, genre and more, as well as print customizable lists. This new resource will replace the individual award and list web pages currently on YALSA’s site that are not searchable and that are organized only by year. Awards & Seals | Selected Lists I Teen Book Finder app & database I Committee Contacts | Additional Resources While these books and media have been selected for teens from 12 to 18 years of age, the award-winning titles and the titles on YALSA's selected lists span a broad range of reading and maturity levels. Book Awards & Seals Learn more about each award below and read speeches from winners. Purchase seals for award winners, honor books, and nominees. Selected Book & Media Lists Learn more about YALSA's Book and Media Lists, including: View Past Lists (that are currently inactive)
Short Stories for ESL students Everybody knows reading is good for language learners, but what do you do with students who aren’t ready for full length books? Try short stories. Here are 4 fun quick reads that work well with intermediate+ students. Short Stories in the ESL Class How can teachers maximize the value of short stories? ESL Conversation Class This pair work activity combines reading, speaking and listening skills. Choose two stories. Next class, pair up students with different stories. Encourage students to offer their own views about the story. did they like it, or not (with reasons)describe the parts that were particularly interestingengage with the story by asking questions about the characters and their motivations (e.g. ESL Writing Class Short stories can be used as models. Here’s a noticing activity. summarize the character, plot and settinganalyze the text according to the 6+1 writing traits Why bother with the 6+1 writing traits? Short Stories 1. Is Scrabble a dangerous game? 2. 3. 4.