Ira Glass is the host of WBEZ Chicago's public radio show This American Life, which uses interviews and real-life stories to examine different topics each week. On October 28, 2011, This American Life spoke with a mixture of middle school students about their experiences as adolescents.

Skill Focus:

In this lesson, you’ll practice identifying an author’s central idea and how they support it. Identifying an author’s central idea means paying attention to the evidence and reasons they give for their idea. As you read, take note of details that present the thoughts and concerns of the interviewed students, and what those reveal about middle school and adolescence.