Reading
Why Annotation Is Important for Literacy
Annotation is about making reading an active process, not just creating a busy, colorful page.
Reading
Helping At-Risk Students Read Rigorous Texts
Challenging texts don’t have to be out of reach for struggling readers. Discover practical ways to give students the support they need without lowering expectations.
Reading
3 Important Frameworks Behind the Science of Reading
Take a look at the science of reading and explore three core concepts behind this approach to reading instruction.
Literature
10 Successful Literature Pairings: Modern Books and Classic Works
Pairing modern books with classic works helps you bridge the gap between required reading that’s not always fun and fun reading that’s not always required.
Vocabulary
Teaching Domain-Specific Words
Finding domain-specific vocabulary for your students doesn’t have to mean digging through textbooks for the perfect word list.
Reading
Print Isn’t Nostalgia: It’s a Pedagogical Choice
Choosing physical text isn’t a rejection of technology but, rather, a deliberate decision to focus on the cognitive behaviors we want students to practice.
Free Library
Free Back-to-School Resources at Prestwick House
Get ready for the new school year with free resources for ELA teachers, including printables, a syllabus template, a diagnostic assessment, and more.
Reading
5 Types of Informational Text Structures
Knowing the components of these 5 text structures is essential for students reading and analyzing informational texts.
Literature
Short Stories to Pair with the Novels You Teach
Pairing a short story with a novel is an easy way to help students explore themes, compare characters, and make deeper literary connections—all without adding weeks to your curriculum.
Teaching Tips
How to Teach Acting to Teenagers
In this guest post by Samantha Marsden, discover four proven ways to enhance any acting class for children and teens, plus find two practical exercises you can do in your own classroom.
Teaching Tips
How to Run a Book Club in the Classroom
The book club format encourages student choice and engagement while meeting key academic standards for teaching literature.
Vocabulary
Get to the Root of the Reading Problem: Growing Your Vocabulary
Helping elementary and middle-school students become stronger readers begins with roots-based vocabulary study!
Reading
Why Great Reading Instruction Still Happens Between the Lines
Technology has transformed the way students access information, but some reading skills can’t be rushed.
Literature
Why There’s Never Been a Better Time to Teach The Odyssey
If renewed attention encourages even one more student to pick up Homer’s epic with genuine curiosity, that’s a win for literature teachers everywhere.
Vocabulary
Repetition Isn’t Remediation: Why Students Need to See Words and Ideas Again
Research consistently shows that repetition isn’t evidence that your instruction has failed; it’s actually one of the primary ways learning becomes permanent.
Literature
25 American Literary Classics Every High School Student Should Read
With timeless stories, memorable characters, and relatable themes, these novels and plays continue to capture the imaginations of teachers and students alike.
Vocabulary
4 Things Vocabulary Instruction Does (and Doesn’t Do) for Literacy
What can vocabulary instruction realistically accomplish, and what can’t it do on its own?
Vocabulary
4 Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary Program
When it comes to vocabulary, finding new ways to engage your students can be a challenge. Here are four ways to spruce up your current vocabulary program.
Literature
How to Prepare to Teach a Book for the First Time
Are you teaching a new book next year? Get tips on building a great literature unit here!
Teaching Tips
Icebreakers: They Don’t Have to Be Cringey
What if there was a way to dive right into ELA skills and make students aware of your expectations, all while helping them get to know their classmates?
Literature
10 Summer Book Recommendations Your Students Will Actually Want to Read
Whether your students love heartfelt coming-of-age stories, contemporary fiction, or page-turning drama, these books offer a wide range of summer reading fun.
Reading
3 Reasons Why Students Should Still Read Physical Books
Reading books helps students develop stronger language, cognitive, and critical thinking skills. But how does it help, and why are paperback books still important?
Vocabulary
Teaching Vocabulary in Context
Drawing vocabulary from what your students read—literature, news articles, and more—is a great way to ensure they retain these words for life.
Reading
3 Ways Learning Word Roots Raises Reading Skills
See how understanding Latin and Greek roots can help students gain the confidence to tackle complex texts.
How to Teach Guides
How to Teach Hamnet
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell is a compelling choice for bringing historical fiction into the modern classroom.
Vocabulary
3 Vocabulary Programs Compared: Which One Is Right for You?
Looking for the best vocabulary program for middle or high school students? We compare Vocabulary Workshop, Vocabu-Lit, and Vocabulary Power Plus, breaking down their pros, cons, and effectiveness in building strong reading skills.
Teaching Tips
Promoting a Growth Mindset in the Classroom
Discover new ways to foster a growth mindset and how this kind of thinking can positively impact students who are struggling in the ELA classroom.
Literature
Choose Your Own Adventure: Using a Classroom Library to Complement Your Curriculum
A classroom library can give students the freedom to read what interests them. But how can you add individualized reading to your already packed schedule?
Literature
7 Approaches to Teaching Shakespeare in Today’s Classroom
Discover some of the best approaches teachers are using to help their students learn to love Shakespeare.
Teaching Tips
How to Build a High School Book List
Looking to build up your high school book list? Read this post for some tips on choosing the right books!
Teaching Tips
6 Ways to Improve Next Year’s ELA Curriculum
Discover six ways to evaluate your current ELA curriculum’s strengths and weaknesses in anticipation of a new school year.
Literature
Blast from the Past: How Teaching the Classics Can Fit in Your Modern Classroom
Discover some practical ways to scaffold a classic novel into your busy classroom while keeping your restless students invested.
Literature
15 Acclaimed Novels-In-Verse for Middle and High School Readers
Discover 15 exceptional novel-in-verse titles that, thanks to their poetic narrative structure, have the power to hook even the most reluctant reader.
Literature
Celebrate National Poetry Month with Us!
April is National Poetry Month, an annual event that highlights the importance of poets and poetry. Find free resources for this celebration at Prestwick House!
Company News
2025 Prestwick House Shakespeare Honors Program Award Winners
Join us in recognizing the first-ever winners of our Shakespeare Honors program.
Grammar & Writing
6 Fresh Ways to Make Student Research Projects Engaging and Effective
If you find that the research paper process has become dry, try these ideas to revitalize and modernize your research unit!
Vocabulary
Beyond the “Vocab Check” – Checking Understanding without Eating into Instruction Time
Discover some ways to quickly incorporate vocabulary practice without taking away too much time from your already packed lessons.
Literature
Celebrating 25 Female Authors for International Women's Day
To get into the spirit of International Women’s Day, let’s take a look at 25 of our favorite contemporary female authors!
Free Library
Free Grammar and Writing Resources Round-Up
Easily introduce key grammar and writing concepts to your students with these downloadable lesson plans and other resources, available now at the English Teacher’s Free Library.
Vocabulary
How Latin and Greek Roots Strengthen Reading Across Subjects
Discover how roots-based vocabulary instruction helps students tackle academic language across content areas—with classroom-ready strategies for ELA teachers.
Literature
Black History Month Through a Literary Lens: Powerful Books for Grades 6–12
Explore Black History Month through powerful historical novels that engage middle and high school students and spark meaningful classroom discussions.
Company News
Introducing the New Prestwick House Website
We’ve added some new features that will make shopping and ordering from us a breeze, whether you’re buying for entire districts or a single classroom.
Company News
Important Prestwick House Account Information
The Prestwick House website is getting a major update on February 2, 2026.
Literature
Why Should We Still Teach the Classics?
Discover how you can use classic literature to help today’s students better connect with the world around them.
Company News
Prestwick House 2025 Annual Holiday Closure
From December 24, 2025, to January 1, 2026, we will be closed as we celebrate our annual holiday break.
Vocabulary
5 Engaging Exercises for Vocabulary Practice
Short exercises are great for giving your students the repetition they need to help new words become part of their permanent vocabulary. Read this post to see five engaging vocabulary exercises you can work into your lesson plans!
Literature
10 New Books to Add to Your Classroom Library This Fall
Keep middle and high school students reading with 10 brand-new titles ideal for independent reading, book clubs, or classroom library collections.
Teaching Tips
How to Organize Your Classroom Library
Learn simple, effective ways to organize your classroom library and inspire your students to read. Plus, find curated book packs to expand your shelves at a discount!
Teaching Tips
AI Use in the ELA Classroom: Survey Results
With growing concerns about how artificial intelligence is affecting English language arts education, we wanted to hear directly from the teachers who face this issue every day.
Literature
10 Horror Books to Shock and Scare Students
Discover ten chilling horror books that will both shock and delight middle and high school students, classic and contemporary.
Free Library
Free ELA Halloween Teaching Resources
Something wicked this way comes at the English Teacher’s Free Library! Sink your fangs into our creepy free resources.
Literature
Quiz: Which Gothic Literature Character Are You?
Which Gothic literature character are you? Take our quiz to discover if your personality aligns with a brooding antihero, a haunted soul, or a fearless seeker of truth.
Grammar & Writing
10 Grammar Mistakes a Writer Should Never Make
Help your students avoid common grammar errors with this guide! See which common grammar mistakes can weaken writing, and learn how to fix them with confidence.
Vocabulary
The Top 10 Latin Root Words Your Students Need to Know
Strengthen your students’ vocabulary and literacy skills with these high-impact Latin root words and examples.
Literature
12 Engaging Books to Start the School Year Strong
Start the school year strong with 12 new, student-approved books that will get middle and high school students excited about reading. Perfect for classroom libraries and independent reading!
Literature
25 Non-lecture Reading Activities for Every Novel
25 hands-on reading activities to engage high school students with any book—from creative writing to debates, group work, and post-reading projects.
Vocabulary
The Top 10 Greek Root Words Your Students Need to Know
Knowing the meanings of these ten common Greek root words will help your students decode hundreds of new words!
Literature
12 Trendy Books to Keep Students Reading This Summer
Discover 12 new high-interest books just added to our Trending Literature collection, perfect for end-of-year reading, independent projects, or summer book lists. These bestselling titles are teen-approved and teacher-loved.
Teaching Tips
Quiz: What Kind of ELA Teacher Are You?
What's your ELA teacher type? Find out with this quick and easy personality quiz!
How to Teach Guides
How to Teach Educated
Educated, by Tara Westover, chronicles her unusual upbringing with her zealously religious family in rural Idaho. Although her parents isolate her and her siblings from society, her fight for knowledge leads her to college, exposing her to a more mainstream lifestyle—a stark contrast to her childhood. Although her experience