Teaching Short Stories Strategies

The video provides a comprehensive guide on teaching short stories, emphasizing the importance of selecting stories that the teacher enjoys. It covers aligning stories with educational standards, planning a unit, and creating assignments. The instructor shares personal strategies for lesson planning, including using available resources and tools. The video concludes with a recap and offers additional resources for stress-free lesson planning.

What is the teacher's ultimate rule for teaching short stories?

• Only teach stories that are easy to understand.

• Only teach stories that are popular.

• Only teach stories that are part of the curriculum.

• Only teach stories that the teacher enjoys reading.

Why does the teacher believe students might find certain stories boring?

• Because they are too long.

• Because they are not part of the exam.

• Because the teacher found them boring in high school.

• Because they are not well-written.

What does the teacher suggest about choosing between the story and standards?

• It doesn't matter; any standard can be taught with any story.

• Always choose the standards first.

• Choose based on the students' preferences.

• Always choose the story first.

Which literary elements are specifically mentioned in the national standards?

• Setting, dialogue, theme, and conflict.

• Characterization, theme, point of view, and plot.

• Characterization, setting, dialogue, and plot.

• Theme, conflict, setting, and point of view.

Why did the teacher choose 'The Open Boat' for the unit?

• It's a new story that students haven't read.

• It's a story that is easy to understand.

• It's included in the textbook and has teaching ideas.

• It's a story that students requested.

How long is the short story unit planned to last?

• Three weeks

• Two weeks

• Five weeks

• Four weeks

What is a major component of naturalism that will be taught?

• Symbolism

• Dialogue

• Setting

• Character development

What is the teacher's approach to lesson planning?

• Plan during class.

• Plan while grading papers.

• Plan with no interruptions.

• Plan during meetings.

What is the first step in the teacher's method for teaching short stories?

• Determine the length of the unit

• Pick the story

• Create assignments

• Make copies of the materials

What resource is suggested for finding complete short story units?

• School's resource center

• Online teaching forums

• LA Common Core lesson plans

• National Library