For many middle and high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes is a short story involving socioeconomic struggles, social pressures, the importance of second chances, and the power of empathy and forgiveness. Included in this bundle are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading questions; a craft analysis activity; the public domain narrative; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging in this exercise, students will… Discern what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly Articulate character motivations Analyze how a character’s behaviors reveal their life principles Apply knowledge of metaphor to the text Analyze the author’s choice of words conveys subtle meaning Analyze how complex characters interact Explore Roger’s emotional and psychological state Cite textual evidence in support of inferences and claims Write with clarity and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering W. W. Jacobs’ short story “The Monkey’s Paw.” Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading questions, a craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, a word search, a crossword puzzle, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices Explore the role of setting in terms of developing characterization Examine how the tone of the narrative shifts as the plot develops Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Analyze how Mr. and Mrs. White’s marriage is affected by grief Identify specific details that contribute to the vampiric characterization of Mrs. White Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, situational irony, and euphemism Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Promote active engagement with fiction, support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school, and evaluate general reading comprehension with this bundle of resources for teaching the science fiction short story “The Fog Horn” by Ray Bradbury. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a rigorous close reading worksheet, a craft analysis activity, and answer keys. By engaging with these materials, students will perform the following tasks: Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly Identify several examples of personification and/or anthropomorphism in the narrative Identify several textual details that contribute to a sense of isolation Discern the intended meaning of figurative language Discern the function of a given excerpt Apply knowledge of sonic literary devices including consonance and assonance Analyze the author’s craft Identify stylistic changes in a given excerpt Articulate the intended effect of stylistic changes in a given excerpt Analyze relationships between complex characters Articulate how a given detail is an example of foreshadowing Make logical inferences about character motivations Cite textual evidence in support of inferences and claims Write with clarity and precision Develop a greater understanding of how Ray Bradbury used descriptive language, characterization, setting, and various literary devices to establish an eerie mood that is consistent with the supernatural fiction and science fiction genres.

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file as Word Documents and PDFs. This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the tone of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on foreshadowing Determine the author’s intent, as well as its effect on readers Support claims and inferences with relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the short story, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Articulate conventions of the fairy tale genre Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including anthropomorphism, symbolism, foreshadowing, and more Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about coming-of-age fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Promote active engagement with fiction, support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school, and evaluate general reading comprehension with this bundle of resources for teaching the Gothic short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading questions, a craft analysis activity, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze the nature of character relationships and interactions Examine grammatically correct structure Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text Identify the best evidence of foreshadowing in a given passage Apply knowledge of various literary devices including verbal irony Make logical inferences about the protagonist’s mindset and motivations Identify relevant textual evidence in support of a claim or idea

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of activities for teaching the short story “The Outsider” by H.P. Lovecraft. A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Read for literal comprehension Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Determine the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Determine the function of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, hyperbole, personification, situational irony, symbolism, and more Consider themes in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate reading comprehension, encourage critical thinking, prepare for unexpected absences, and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this bundle of materials for teaching the Gothic short story “The Oval Portrait” by Edgar Allan Poe. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application exercise, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare two characters Conduct brief research into Poe’s personal life to explain autobiographical parallels between the author and the plot of the text Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, assonance, metaphor, simile, and more Support claims and inferences with sound logic and relevant evidence Write about Gothic fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the short story, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the function of a given excerpt Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, pleonasm, dramatic irony, and more Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about coming-of-age fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “Hop Frog.” Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a set of rigorous close reading questions, a craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with these activities, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text Explore nuances in words with similar meanings Discern the intended effects of the author’s language and narrative techniques Consider the greater significance of given details Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, and symbolism Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Frog King” (also called “Iron Heinrich” and “Iron Henry”). A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis handout, vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the short story, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Explore the conventions of fairy tale literature Determine the narrative’s inciting incident Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, dramatic irony, and situational irony Consider themes in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Cinderella” (Lexile Measure estimate of 1000-1100). A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the short story, emergency substitute lesson plans and supporting materials, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the tone of a particular passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, juxtaposition, symbolism, dramatic irony, and more Conduct research online in order to answer questions related to culture and history Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about coming-of-age fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature