PRESTO PLANS BLOG

If you are teaching “The Chaser” by John Collier, you might be looking for strategies and tips for analyzing this love-inspired story. I wanted to share my best tips for helping you guide your students through all elements of this classic tale! At first glance, this short story seems quite light-hearted, but there is more to this […]

I love choosing novels for middle school ELA that encourage students to explore themes they might relate to in their own lives. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, originally published in 1962, is one of those rare books that genuinely stands the test of time. I really enjoy teaching A Wrinkle in Time because […]

Teaching students how to identify, analyze, and evaluate the use of figurative language in texts can help them grow as readers, as well as writers. But when it comes to the actual challenge of how to teach figurative language, it can be tricky to know where to begin! That’s why I’ve come up with a […]

Where I live, winter can sometimes feel long. Don’t get me wrong – I love a lot of things about wintertime! But chilly temperatures, dark mornings and evenings, and heavy snowfall can have a chilling effect on the energy in a classroom. You might be looking for a lesson for middle school ELA that can […]

There are hundreds of short stories to read at Christmas with ELA students of all ages, but middle schoolers can be an especially tricky group in the run-up to the holidays. They are too old for Santa, but deep down, they’re still kids at heart!  In my experience, even the most skeptical middle schoolers appreciate […]

I’ve got a soft spot for any holiday that involves a big meal and a decadent dessert, so Thanksgiving ranks up there as one of my favorite times of the year! However, when it comes to incorporating this holiday into the ELA classroom, it can initially seem challenging to find a meaningful Thanksgiving lesson for […]

One thing I absolutely love about using novel studies in middle school ELA is using the power of fiction to help students develop a stronger sense of empathy. After all, novels give the reader a chance to see through a character’s eyes and gain a greater understanding of their experiences. With this in mind, I […]