• Resources
    • #reThinkELA Chats
    • #Oklaed Chats
    • My Personal Newsletter
    • About Me
    • How To Follow
    • OAS for ELA
    • Teachers
    • Parents
    • Students
    • ORA Presentation
    • OWP Presentation
  • Podcast
    • How To Be Our Podcast Guest
  • Shop
  • Customer Area
  • Partners
  • Contributors
  • Contact
    • Media

reThink ELA

Secondary English Language Arts Resources

  • Pedagogy
  • RTE News
  • Technology
  • Education Analysis
  • EduNews
  • Twitter Challenge
You are here: Home / Pedagogy / 40 Excellent Short Stories For Middle School

40 Excellent Short Stories For Middle School

May 13, 2014 by Michelle Waters 102 Comments

40 short stories Middle school is a funny place. Students can be mature and insightful one minute, obtuse and petulant the next. Yet even the most resistant scholar will enjoy a good story. The 40 stories below are sometimes surprising, other times hair-raising. They are all guaranteed to raise questions and instigate discussions in your classroom that can lead to meaningful dialogues about what really matters in the lives of your students.

Need a short story fast? Engage your middle school (or high school!) students with these 40 short stories! Click To Tweet 

  1. All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury | Short Story Unit | Short Story Unit on TpT
  2. Amigo Brothers by Piri Thomas
  3. The Scholarship Jacket by Marta Salinas
  4. Icarus and Daedalus by Josephine  Preston Peabody
  5. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys
  6. Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
  7. Raymond’s Run by Toni Cade Bambara
  8. Rules of the Game by Amy Tan
  9. The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs
  10. To Build a Fire by Jack London (includes audio and text)
  11. The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry
  12. Seventh Grade by Gary Soto
  13. A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury
  14. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe (includes audio and text)
  15. The Lady or the Tiger? by Frank Stockton
  16. There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury
  17. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
  18. Hearts and Hands by O. Henry
  19. Mother and Daughter by Gary Soto
  20. The Rocking Horse Winner by D. H. Lawrence
  21. Miss Awful by Arthur Cavenaugh
  22. Charles by Shirley Jackson
  23. The Moustache by Robert Cormier
  24. Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne
  25. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka* (This is a longer work appropriate for students who can complete some of the reading at home.)
  26. The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
  27. The Two Brothers by Leo Tolstoy
  28. The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe
  29. The Sniper by Liam O’Flaherty
  30. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce
  31. The Veldt by Ray Bradbury
  32. Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving
  33. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
  34. The Third Wish by Joan Aiken
  35. The Landlady by Roald Dahl
  36. The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov
  37. Rikki Tikki Tavi by Rudyard Kipling
  38. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
  39. Thank you, Ma’am by Langston Hughes
  40. Names/Nombres by Julia Alvarez

BONUS!

  1. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry | Assessment Activity & Creative Writing Project | Assessment Activity & Creative Writing Project on TpT
  2. The Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson | Assessment Activity & Writing Project | Assessment Activity & Writing Project on TpT
  3. The Masque of the Red by Death by Edgar Allan Poe* | Assessment Activity | Assessment Activity on TpT | Audio
  4. The Landlady by Roald Dahl | Assessment Activity | Assessment Activity on TpT | Audio
  5. The Stone by Lloyd Alexander
  6. 2 B R 0 2 B by Kurt Vonnegut | Audio Recording

Copyright notice: These stories are published on sites other than reThinkELA.com and NO copyrighted stories are excerpted or quoted in RTE-created materials. Some stories are in the public domain (not copyrighted), or are excerpts of larger works, while others are not. In some cases, teachers may print a class set for their own classroom usage, but there are exceptions. Please check with your district regarding its policies and licenses for reproducing printed copies. Generally speaking, you may ask students to download their own copies (outside of the one you download for your own use) to their devices for their own educational studies.

Michelle Waters

I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher, a University of Oklahoma graduate student, and a NBPTS candidate. I am constantly seeking ways to amplify my students’ voices and choices.

Filed Under: Pedagogy Tagged With: short stories

The Danger of a Single StoryEncourage Students to Overcome Stereotypes through Personal Narratives

Do you need an interactive, student-centered project that will encourage empathy, resisting stereotypes, social justice awareness and group collaboration? Go beyond just reading dusty tomes written by dead people and regurgitating boring details. Delve into a TED Talk, a related poem, and follow them up with highly engaging student discussions.
Learn More...

Social Justice Writing ProjectAmplify Student Voices Through Narrative and Argumentative Writing Projects

Looking for an interactive project that will foster student empathy, encourage activism, and build group collaboration skills as part of a writing project? Delve into highly-engaging spoken-word poetry, music videos, TED Talks, and an essay written by young author Jordan Womack. This unit contains everything you need to guide students through reading and viewing modern literature covering social justice topics, responding to daily essential questions, planning and writing a culminating essay, video, presentation, or children’s book that encourages students to tell their stories and take a stand for others.
Learn More...

Comments

  1. ann says

    October 1, 2014 at 9:42 am

    Man, oh, man…I don’t usually use capitals in the comments section, but I’m going to mind my p’s and q’s in the presence of an English teacher with a short story list this awesome. Much obliged.

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      October 1, 2014 at 9:23 pm

      Thank you very much, Ann. I’m glad to be of help.

      Reply
      • Katherine says

        August 2, 2017 at 8:29 pm

        Hey, I have a book report that I have to do. i have to pick a short story and fill out a sheet. It asks for, setting, pov, characters, conflict, climax, resolution, theme. Which story from the list would be the easiest and most fun?

        Reply
    • Meng Moua says

      February 4, 2015 at 1:16 pm

      I liked the stories because they are just cool! 🙂 My classmates are choosing stories from here to read in our book club! 😀

      Reply
      • Arjun says

        January 10, 2016 at 9:47 am

        Wow that’s great

        Reply
      • Jesse says

        August 22, 2016 at 3:17 pm

        I am a fellow English teacher and I greatly appreciate this litany of excellent short stories. Cheers!

        Reply
        • carla says

          March 2, 2017 at 2:29 pm

          yes

          Reply
        • ATHISH says

          April 6, 2017 at 7:05 pm

          SUPER

          Reply
    • Sonakshi Sharma says

      February 28, 2017 at 4:59 pm

      Same here!

      Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    November 10, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Can you suggest any short stories that have characters clearly acting on their beliefs or values?

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      November 10, 2014 at 11:03 am

      Hi Jennifer! I think “Raymond’s Run” and “Thank you, Ma’am” will both fit the bill. Have you considered those stories before?

      Reply
      • Adriana Wiggins says

        February 11, 2015 at 11:15 am

        Where are all the fairy tales?

        Reply
        • Mrs. Waters says

          February 13, 2015 at 9:04 am

          I am working on an article with a list of fairy tales and resources. If you’re following this blog, then you’ll receive an update whenever I publish new content.

          Reply
          • tawana says

            January 6, 2016 at 6:47 am

            kay

  3. Brandon Huizing says

    January 4, 2015 at 2:43 pm

    All Summer In A Day, is an amazing book! I suggest it to everyone!

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      January 4, 2015 at 3:22 pm

      Thank you, Brandon!

      Reply
    • maggie says

      August 12, 2016 at 10:37 am

      it’s amazing!

      Reply
  4. Miss. Unicorn says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    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. My teacher isn’t being very clear on what we need to do, as “there are no expectations or boundaries”.

    -Your grade will be determined by your display of “growth mindset” characteristics throughout the process and by the timeliness of your submission.
    -All genres of writing will be accepted; however, only narrative, informational, and argumentative pieces can be considered for the district writing contest.
    -You are allowed to submit up to three (3) original works; however, only one will be expected.

    This is all she told us. Maybe if you have any writing topic ideas for a argumentative, informal piece? I’m not a fan of narrative, it make me feel self centered.

    Thank you so much.

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      February 1, 2015 at 9:46 pm

      Scroll through this list of writing prompts, particularly the persuasive ones. Perhaps something here will inspire you. If that doesn’t work, go to Debate.org and look for topics that are of interest to you.

      Reply
      • Miss. Unicorn says

        February 2, 2015 at 7:41 am

        THanks!

        Reply
        • Cookie says

          September 17, 2015 at 2:15 pm

          I would like to read a great book have any suggestions?

          Reply
          • Mrs. Waters says

            September 18, 2015 at 6:27 pm

            Oh wow! There are so many great books to read, it’s hard to suggest just one. What genre of books do you like? Perhaps then I can recommend one that my students enjoy.

  5. Helen B says

    February 4, 2015 at 1:18 am

    Thanks so much for this wonderful collection !! What a time saver 🙂

    Reply
  6. Stephanie Wells says

    February 4, 2015 at 9:58 am

    Thank you so much for the links! This is an excellent compilation.

    Reply
  7. Sophie says

    February 9, 2015 at 7:54 am

    Have you ever read “Priscilla and the Wimps” by Richard Peck? It’s a great story and would make a great addition to your (already amazing) list!

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      February 13, 2015 at 9:26 am

      Sophie,

      No, I have not read that story yet, but I’ll have to check it out. Thank you!

      Reply
  8. Sara says

    February 25, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Hi Mrs. Walters,
    I’m currently student teaching and I was wondering if you could help me. I love your list that you have provided. I have used some of these short stories with my students. I’m reviewing Lit Analysis with students again before the PAARC exams in a few weeks. 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. What two texts would you recommend for students to use to address, theme, tone, POV, or characterization? I need some inspiration. This will be part of a Thinking Skill Drill unit, which asks students to think critically about how they will answer the prompt, create thesis statements, find evidence, etc, they will not be assessed on actually writing the paper itself. HELP!
    I was thinking of “Raymund’s Run” for one text, since I have not used that in this class yet.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      February 25, 2015 at 10:14 am

      THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

      Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      February 26, 2015 at 10:00 am

      I think “Raymond’s Run” is an excellent choice! Also, I’ve added another story, which I found on an ACT sample question site: 2 B R 0 2 B by Kurt Vonnegut, which I recommend as well. You can view the ACT sample questions that go along with the story on the this practice site or peruse the speaking and writing prompts in this file.

      Reply
  9. Elizabeth Ann Speed says

    March 23, 2015 at 10:20 am

    Ms. Waters
    I want to say thank you so much for putting so much hard work and effort into making this page so useful for everybody. 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! It makes putting together my lesson plans so much easier as I work with special needs students and I do not always have good materials for them so your materials here are a huge help! I do appreciate your hard work here as I know that you are probably already taxed with too much work.

    Elizabeth

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:46 am

      Thank you so much for your kind words, Elizabeth! I’m glad to have been able to help you.

      Reply
    • Sarah says

      April 11, 2015 at 10:23 pm

      I agree with Elizabeth 1000%!!!!! Thank you Mrs. Waters for taking the time to put this list together, saving so many of us across the interwebs both time and stress. I am a freelance tutor in New York City who teaches several subjects, and I recently began working with a literature/writing student. She loves to read but has not been exposed to many classic works of literature. She also particularly loves to write short stories. Tracking down a variety of tried and true short stories seemed like a no brainer for our first few sessions, but I had no idea where to find them quickly. Lo and behold I stumbled upon your site and this fantastic list. It has been invaluable in terms of my lesson planning, and frankly, these stories are always worth re-reading for students of any age. I might just stay up for the next few hours reading all of them!! So very glad I’ve found your page, and I know my students will be too. Your passion for teaching and your empathy for and understanding of human nature are all extremely evident. THANK YOU!

      Reply
      • Mrs. Waters says

        April 11, 2015 at 11:13 pm

        Thank you, Sarah! I really needed to hear these words this week.

        Reply
      • ama says

        May 11, 2015 at 4:49 pm

        so sweet

        Reply
  10. Adam Swaggington says

    March 31, 2015 at 11:50 am

    I have to write a character analysis on “The Sniper,” and with there being two different snipers in the story, and the title being “The Sniper” I would like to know if I should address the main sniper the story is about by anything other than just the main sniper.
    Thanks, Adam Swaggington

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      March 31, 2015 at 12:19 pm

      If your teacher didn’t tell you which sniper to analyze, then I’d just pick the character that you prefer to write about. The Republican sniper is the protagonist while the other sniper is the antagonist, so that might make a difference to you.

      Reply
  11. Ama says

    May 7, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    Thank you very much! This helped a lot!!!!

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      May 7, 2015 at 5:10 pm

      Glad to hear it, Ama!

      Reply
      • ama says

        May 11, 2015 at 3:30 pm

        I been meaning to ask you a question if you don’t mind?

        Reply
        • Mrs. Waters says

          May 11, 2015 at 3:47 pm

          If you have a question unrelated to this topic, you’re welcome to ask via my Contact Page.

          Reply
  12. Leela says

    May 11, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    This is an amazing resource! Thank you truly from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work you have put into collecting these stories.

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      May 11, 2015 at 9:30 pm

      You’re welcome! I’m glad this resource helped you!

      Reply
  13. charlie says

    May 12, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    this website is really cool and it helps a lot 🙂

    Reply
  14. Shuuya Rehto says

    June 1, 2015 at 7:21 am

    Thanks a lot.

    Reply
  15. Khadijah says

    June 24, 2015 at 7:11 pm

    Thanks a lot for these. I am looking forward to reading them myself! I’m hoping they’ll be useful for my students.

    Reply
  16. Lisa Bush says

    June 26, 2015 at 10:47 am

    Thanks so much for this fantastic list. Several of these I have taught in Grade 8 and 9; they are spectacular! Do you recommend any stories specifically for grade 7 (based on reading level, etc.)

    Many thanks!!

    Reply
  17. Stephanie Sanchez says

    October 19, 2015 at 10:37 am

    What non-fiction short stories would you recommend for middle school children?

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      October 19, 2015 at 5:57 pm

      I like to either find articles at NewsELA.com, or let the kinds find articles on their own that they like on the site. Other sources of non-fiction include The Learning Network at The New York Times.

      Reply
  18. Darcy says

    October 26, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    Does anyone know a short story about a granddaughter going through the woods on a full moon night to get a doctor/medicine for her ailing grandmother… and she turns into a hart deer?

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      November 1, 2015 at 12:12 pm

      I’m sorry. I have not heard of this short story. Do you know any more details that you can share? If not, try posting the description on this Goodreads forum or follow this advice.

      Reply
  19. Beth Ann Barth says

    November 1, 2015 at 4:56 am

    I am looking for a short historical fiction selection to read to my middle school students who are completing a Historical Fiction Unit. Are any of your selections here in that genre?

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      November 1, 2015 at 12:09 pm

      Generally speaking, historical fiction is written by contemporary authors who craft a story set in the past. While the majority of these stories are set in our past, the authors created settings that were contemporary to them at that time. If you’re wanting a story by a current author who is intentionally creating a historical setting, check out this Pinterest board. Most of the listings are of books, but some of them may be relatively short.

      Reply
  20. Pranav says

    November 4, 2015 at 6:34 am

    Can you tell me about a story which I can act — a story of around 3 minutes?

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      November 4, 2015 at 8:28 am

      I recommend you choose one of the short stories above, and then choose your favorite scene, or a very dramatic scene to act out. You might write a one-minute part for a narrator to fill in some background to setup the scene, then write the dialogue and stage directions for two or three actors who will convey the action of the scene. The narrator can then fill in the rest of the story in a minute or less.

      Reply
  21. Lisa says

    November 14, 2015 at 6:15 pm

    I absolutely love “All Summer In a Day” and “Rules of the Game”!
    I definitely recommend both. 🙂

    Reply
  22. bob says

    November 16, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    I was wondering if any of these shot stories included challenging vocab for ninth graders.

    Thanks,

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      November 16, 2015 at 9:08 pm

      The Fall of the House of Usher, The Landlady, and The Most Dangerous Game all have vocabulary that would be challenging to 9th graders, as well.

      Reply
      • bob says

        November 16, 2015 at 9:09 pm

        Thank you so much! 🙂

        Reply
        • Mrs. Waters says

          November 16, 2015 at 9:23 pm

          You’re welcome! I’m glad I could help.

          Reply
  23. David says

    November 23, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    Mrs Waters

    I am trying to recall a short story which I read in high school (early 70s). At the end of the story some boys are climbing through a window with hunting rifles.

    Do you recall this story?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      November 23, 2015 at 10:54 pm

      Hi David!

      I’m afraid I don’t recall that story, as I was only in kindergarten in the late 70s. (Thank you for making me feel young!) That said, you might be able to use one or more of these book finder resources to find the short story you remember. Good luck!

      Reply
    • Joan says

      January 17, 2017 at 1:01 pm

      Is it “The Most Dangerous Game”?

      Reply
      • Cole Johnson says

        February 28, 2017 at 10:53 am

        yes it is the most dangerous game

        Reply
  24. khadija says

    December 7, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    What should I do, because this story do not read in my computer and I desperately need her

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      December 7, 2015 at 5:12 pm

      Which story are you referring to?

      Reply
  25. Richard says

    January 8, 2016 at 9:45 am

    This cool!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  26. Ashley Farrer says

    February 23, 2016 at 11:59 am

    Hi Mrs. Waters,

    It’s been so difficult to find a good list of short stories. I am working with two black students from a lower socioeconomic neighborhood on their literacy. I’m finding one of the students has anger issues that are often directed towards authority and the system, in addition to racial issues. I would like to share with him some texts (particularly short stories) that involve social justice and diversity. Hopefully this will be relatable and will be an outlet for him. I pulled “Thank You Ma’am” for this goal Would you recommend anything else?

    Reply
  27. Ms Anderson says

    March 1, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    A great list but you have to include Three Skeleton Key! A favorite of my 7th graders for over a decade!

    Reply
  28. jane says

    March 1, 2016 at 3:22 pm

    hi, I wanted to read the Third Wish, it seems very cool but it says that the “subscription has expired” why is that?

    Reply
  29. Roidzy says

    March 16, 2016 at 8:17 pm

    Me to but it comes up with 404 error

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      March 20, 2016 at 12:26 am

      I have updated the link to one a PDF file that still exists. You should be able to download the story now.

      Thank you!

      Reply
  30. Tilly Cooper says

    April 3, 2016 at 10:30 am

    Hi i was wondering if u did any short short stories because i need to do a review for one for school however i don’t want to use a longish one, Thank you.

    Reply
    • Mrs. Waters says

      April 3, 2016 at 9:31 pm

      Hi Tilly! I’m not currently writing any short stories, but there are some shorter ones on my list, or in the comments. Thank you!

      Reply
  31. Deborah Calhoun-bowman says

    April 12, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    Thank you so much for “Rule of the game.”

    Reply
  32. Mikayla Butler - Cook says

    April 21, 2016 at 8:49 pm

    These stories are amazing!!!

    Reply
  33. Meaza W.Michael says

    May 26, 2016 at 7:27 am

    These are very great books I have ever had. Thank you Mrs. Waters

    Reply
  34. AYUSH says

    June 5, 2016 at 10:33 pm

    Very nice stories. Especially for doing hw and projects. I want to say thanks to whoever has made this site.Very helping………..

    Reply
  35. Hosai says

    July 5, 2016 at 1:41 pm

    Thank you for the wonderful collection of short stories. It has truly been helpful in persuading my students to read

    Reply
  36. Josh says

    July 11, 2016 at 10:44 am

    Fall of the House of Usher? For middle schoolers? I can see most of these being used at that level, but my AP Lit kids have had a hard time with Usher – it’s definitely too advanced for 7th graders.

    Reply
    • Joan says

      January 17, 2017 at 1:03 pm

      I agree that “Fall of the House of Usher” is for older students.

      Reply
      • Jaliyah O'Bannon says

        May 11, 2017 at 1:00 pm

        I have no favorite book yet

        Reply
        • Mrs. Waters says

          May 13, 2017 at 10:01 am

          Keep looking! Think about the books you liked the most, and see if you can find others similar in genre, or written by the same author. If that doesn’t work, start sampling other books. Check with your friends and see what books they are reading, and what they recommend to you. Also, think about what movies you like and find books in the same genre. For example, if you like action movies, you might like books in the same genre.

          I had a student this year who thought he’d like sports books because he loves playing sports. But he doesn’t like them. Instead, he prefers science fiction books. So, just keep looking!

          Reply
  37. maggie says

    August 12, 2016 at 10:37 am

    wow these stories are really great, i do remember reading a few of them. Do you know any of the stories that have some sort of mythical/magical battle, by any chance?

    Reply
  38. Roanna says

    September 14, 2016 at 2:41 pm

    Your list is amazing! I’ve had my students read some of the ones you reccommend here, and they’re as excited as I am when finishing them. Would you have any short story suggestions for High Schoolers? I have such a hard time since I go through a lot of authors with eighth graders!

    Reply
  39. Emily Gibson says

    October 10, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    Is there a specific story that shows growth or change within a character from beginning to end?? Thanks.

    Reply
  40. Brianna Carson says

    December 9, 2016 at 12:35 pm

    I like the story The black Cat.

    Reply
  41. KavyG says

    December 12, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    You have done a wonderful job with this post!!
    Are any of these stories based on historical events? I am on the search for short stories that are based on topics such as the Renaissance, Reformation, Silk Road – anything between the time periods of 7th century to 1750. Any help would be awesome!! Thank you!

    Reply
  42. Roxanne Childers says

    January 10, 2017 at 12:41 pm

    I loved a short story I read back in the mid 70’s. I believe the title was “Nancy” about a little girl who sneaks out of the house when her family is napping and runs into a family from the wrong side of the tracks. She spends the afternoon with them having all kinds of adventures until her aunt or mother finds her, scolds her, and brings her home. I have had no luck finding this story anywhere!

    Reply
  43. John says

    January 20, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    A brilliant resource. Thank you for assembling a great list of short stories AND giving access to them. A great time-saver.

    Reply
  44. sara says

    February 16, 2017 at 1:29 pm

    All the stories are great, and they help me a lot to improve my language.

    Reply
  45. Cole Johnson says

    February 28, 2017 at 10:49 am

    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. has improved so much!!!

    Reply
  46. Sonakshi Sharma says

    February 28, 2017 at 4:57 pm

    I like just have to say this… thank you! Your stories are great! I improved so much in reading! I’m in 5th grade and my friends are too. We had to pick a story to read and picked one of your stories. This is how much I love your stories! Thank you again! Have a great day!

    Love,
    Admirer

    Reply
  47. jlynn says

    March 3, 2017 at 10:08 am

    i am a student and i really find these short stories very intesting and confurting i love them

    Reply
  48. sohaib says

    March 4, 2017 at 12:38 am

    I am a student in year 6 and with these stories,……………
    I am lost for words
    Incredibly incredible
    Awesomely awesome
    Greatly great
    Fantastically fantastic

    Reply
  49. Ms. Carrie Lincoln says

    March 22, 2017 at 7:57 pm

    Hi there,
    Thank you so much for helping me pick out a short story for my class. They loved the short story Amigo Brothers so much. Just wanted to say thank you. I am hoping that after this story we can read another one. My class is very skilled and talented, they are almost done with the book, and it has only been a week. they are the smartest kids in the world. thank you again.

    Reply
  50. Lauren says

    March 28, 2017 at 1:07 pm

    Hello!

    English teacher from across the globe, here. Just wanted to say thanks for putting together this awesome resource! It’s been a real boon, and I wanted to let you know that after all these years, it’s still appreciated!

    Reply
  51. jennybyrne says

    May 23, 2017 at 11:00 am

    I’m a substitute teacher and lists like this are pure gold for me. Thank you for putting an engaging resource at my fingertips!

    Reply
  52. Sanaya says

    June 19, 2017 at 2:35 am

    Well Mrs waters all I have been doing is rummaging through the prompts and stories since I opened up this site actually my teacher told me that she wanted us to write some short stories but she doesn’t want them to be narrative and this what I figured out from her expressions ?
    This site is fabulous but I’m now a bit confused so could you please suggest me some good prompts to begin my story with because I have to submit these stories to her by tomorrow
    Thanks

    Reply
  53. Monica says

    June 19, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    Hi, I am a mom trying to help my children better their reading comprehension. I came upon your site and love the 40 selections you have here. My question is , do you happen to have any guided questions that I can follow to ask my children to make sure they are understanding what they are reading? Any help would be greatly appreciated and welcomed. I am feeling desperate trying to help them. Thank you.

    Reply
  54. JESTEN says

    January 30, 2018 at 12:18 pm

    Beautiful stories. Thanks a lot!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Full-Text Short Stories and More | Teachers Pondering says:
    November 7, 2014 at 9:15 pm

    […] 40 Excellent Short Stories for Middle School http://www.mrswatersenglish.com/2014/05/40-excellent-short-stories-for-middle-school/ […]

    Reply
  2. 40 Excellent Short Stories For Middle School | S.O.A.R. Tutoring & Advocacy says:
    March 31, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    […] Having trouble finding short stories for your middle schooler? Check out this list! 40 Excellent Short Stories For Middle School. […]

    Reply

Collaborate Cancel reply

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Social Justice Writing Project

Amplify Your Student's Voices Through Personal Narratives
3+ Week Unit


Learn More...

Free writing checklists and rubrics are waiting for you!

Join My Newsletter

Snapchat 1448143922 e1514776888497 220x300

Are you ready to reThink your ELA teaching practices? Join us for news, strategies, and free resources.

Success! Now check your email to access your downloads.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Customer Login



Signup Here
Lost Password

Making A Difference

Thank you so much for helping me and teaching at Little Axe! You are a kind helpful person and I would not know how to write a great story if you didn’t take your own time to help me. Thanks! 6th Grade StudentLittle Axe Middle School
Josh Flores I can’t thank you enough for your optimism via blogging! I’d love to see more reflective blogging happen by fellow educators. Josh FloresDirector of Secondary English Language Arts Oklahoma State Department of EducationOklahoma City, OK
Just wanted to thank you for your site. Your 40 Stories List has been not only a huge help but has turned my students and me onto some great lit. Your influence knows no boundaries. THANK YOU! Mike ClarkenElementary TeacherPalmer Way GATE AcademySan Diego, CA
Jennifer Williams

I was only able to do the first week because of the time constraints in my alternative school; however, the students enjoyed that first week. Their favorite part seemed to be Jordan’s blog–I heard them talking to each other about it.

Jennifer WilliamsELA teacherOklahoma City

I have to tell you I’ve been using your website for two years now. I teach emotionally disturbed middle school students and anything I take from your site is an automatic hit. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas! You have no idea how grateful I am for your site. My kids are so hard to motivate and your material does the job!!!

Maria CaprettaMiddle School TeacherDistrict 75Staten Island, New York

This is easily one of the best purchases I have made on Teacher’s Pay Teachers. I am a Gifted and Talented resource teacher for Elementary students and I cannot tell you how hard it is to find ELA units that are interesting and challenging to my 4th/5th grade groups! A lot of them griped when the story started, but really dug into half way in. I used this as an opening Unit for the year and we are combining it with a project to develop an anti-bullying program for our school. The articles and vi… Read more

The Classroom Under the Stairs

I love your collection of short stories. Indeed a time saver. I have to choose three short stories for seventh, three for eighth and three for ninth. Which ones do you recommend for each level? I appreciate your orientation,

Just for you to know, I am from Panama (Central America) and I love your website!

Angie Cohen

Big shout to @watersenglish from NY! We came across your site while developing curriculum this week. Great resource for us! #oklaed — Frank Adamo (@fadamo23)

Frank Adamo
Sunny Williams These are great. I haven’t read all of them but will. My students love science fiction, but I don’t. Having a list to pull from is very helpful. Sunny WilliamsMiddle School Language Arts TeacherDickerson Middle SchoolMarietta, GA
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support you provide people like us. Truly and intensely grateful.
Joyeeta Mukherjee

The Mission

Advocating for the growth and education of our nation's students. And chocolate. Read More…

Your Views

  • Michelle Waters on reThink ELA #003: Interview with Aaron Blackwelder
  • Michelle Waters on reThink ELA #005: Interview with Scott Bayer
  • Timi Meyer on reThink ELA #005: Interview with Scott Bayer
  • Michelle Waters on A Plethora Of Writing Examples For Middle School (& High School)
  • Meg on A Plethora Of Writing Examples For Middle School (& High School)

More Resources

Connect Via Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Archive

Tweets

My Tweets

Top Posts

  • 40 Excellent Short Stories For Middle School
  • A Plethora Of Writing Examples For Middle School (& High School)
  • Essays Every High School Student Should Read
  • Teaching Inferences With Commercials
  • 13 Best TED Talks For High School Students
  • 8 Science Fiction Short Stories For Middle School
  • Going To College? Best Tips For A Successful Freshman Year From College Students And Professors
  • 28 Expository Writing Prompts for Middle School
  • 13 Narrative Writing Prompts For Secondary Students
  • 21 Scary Halloween Short Stories For Middle School

Tags

Blog Awards journalism educational politics student motivation NBCT Grammar professional development #oklaed Education Policy high-stakes testing short stories scary short stories Value Added Model Twitter Chat writing Education Reform Online PLC Reflective Teacher OSAT poetry VAM testimonials lesson planning Podcast Oklahoma Academic Standards
Legal · Copyright © 2018 reThink ELA LLC · Web Design by Michelle Waters · WordPress · Log in