Short stories are an essential tool for teaching middle school students. They are quick, action-packed, and full of drama, making them perfect for capturing students’ attention. Additionally, short stories require less time to read, making them an ideal way to introduce students to new authors and genres. Here is a list of short stories that are great for teaching middle schoolers, along with links to each story for easy access.
- Recitatif by Toni Morrison: This short story by Toni Morrison explores racial identity and is perfect for studying style and sparking conversations about race.
- Stone Animals by Kelly Link: A longer short story rich in stylistic and narrative elements, perfect for a multi-week study.
- Hearts and Hands by O. Henry: A classic O. Henry story that is quick, clear, and hits just right for middle school readers.
- The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen: A poetic fairy tale great for teaching theme, literary elements, and figurative language.
- The Diamond Necklace by Guy de Maupassant: A story that teaches character development and provides an opportunity to scaffold older texts for students.
- The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin: A perfect anchor text for discussion assignments.
- The Library of Babel by Jorge Luis Borges: A story of magical realism that can be used to teach about bending reality in literature.
- The Circuit by Francisco Jiménez: An ideal read-aloud for reflective writing or discussion.
- Daedalus and Icarus by Ferdinand Scmidt: A simple yet complex story about the dangers of overconfidence, great for introducing mythology to students.
- The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu: A subtle story perfect for uncovering elements of craft and practicing close reading in small groups.
- The Boastful Bamboo from Japanese Folk Stories and Fairy Tales: A tale that introduces Japanese folktales and explores storytelling across cultures.
- The Open Window by Saki (H.H. Munro): A great story for studying setting, theme, and characterization, or for a Halloween read-aloud.
- The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe: Poe’s personification of Death makes for a fantastic read with descriptive writing.
- The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry: A hilarious Old West story reminiscent of Home Alone that shows how older stories can still be entertaining.
- An Old Acquaintance by Leo Tolstoy: A chance to discuss how authors bring historical events into their work.
- Fixed Income by Sherman Alexie: A quick look at the generation gap, perfect for a read-aloud or studying characterization.
- The Wife’s Story by Ursula K. Le Guin: A story that slowly reveals the true nature of its characters, engaging students with its twists.
- First-Day Fly by Jason Reynolds: An adventurous reflection on youth by Jason Reynolds, rich in details and style.
- On the Sidewalk Bleeding by Evan Hunter: A story that hooks students with its intriguing structure and keeps them reading to uncover the character’s journey.
- The Bet by Anton Chekhov: A classic Chekhov story that raises ethical questions and challenges readers to think deeply about life and death.
These short stories offer a diverse range of themes, styles, and lessons for middle school students to explore and analyze. By incorporating these stories into the classroom, educators can engage students in meaningful discussions and help them develop critical thinking skills through literary analysis.
