Hey guys,
I've began work on my Unit Plan and, so far, it's been an eye-opening experience. I hadn't realized how much work it was to lesson plan! There's so much involved. You have to find texts and figure out how you want to use them and what about them is worth teaching. Granted, it will probably be an easier task once we have curriculum and those dreaded "big green binders" to work around. In the meantime, though, we're left to our own devices.
Which is what brings me here. I'm one of those certifiable ones who would voluntarily like to teach middle school, so that's where I'm gearing this lesson. My unit is on short stories and I'm having trouble finding enough material, other than my main texts, that are both age appropriate and academic enough for the lessons I want to include. Does anyone know of somewhere I can go to find possible sources? Do any of you happen to know any lower-level short stories that I could look into? I feel like I've exhausted all of my own resources and I'm stuck as to where I can go from here. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Good luck with your own planning. And trust me, it's not nearly as terrifying as it may seem. :)
I am not sure what genre you are looking for. This would be sci-fi. Neil Gaimmon does short stories and is really fun to read. I would also recommend taking a quick run over to the Elizabethtown library. They have an amazing young adult fiction section. I will ask my daughters and see if they have any ideas, too. If you have a specific genre you are thinking about, please let me know and I will see if I can help.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading this one in 8th grade and thinking it was totally weird and awesome: Rain, Rain Go Away by Isaac Asimov. It's definitely on the darker side.
ReplyDeletehttp://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/writersmodel/pdf/W_P0902.pdf
And go middle school! :)
Have you checked through "The Best American Short Stories" series? They usually have a great selection of stories that can be adapted for multiple age groups.
ReplyDeleteI have "The Best American Sports Writing" (2009). Some of these stories might help to captivate those middle school boys who always seem so reluctant to reading! I'll bring it to class and you can decide if you want it or not.
- I'm with you in the MS boat!!!
Blake