Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
Help high school students analyze how Doris Lessing used figurative language (simile), alliteration, descriptive language, and characterization to develop a compelling narrative and a mature, emotionally intelligent protagonist in “Through the Tunnel.” Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions. Through such discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key is included.
Conveniently measure general reading comprehension and hold students accountable for the entirety of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing with this bundle of five quizzes. Answer keys are included. All assessments are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The news Leonato receives
Beatrice’s relation to Leonato
Claudio’s romantic interest
Don Pedro’s offer to Claudio
Hero’s relation to Leonato
Don John’s relation to Don Pedro
Conrade’s interactions with Don John
The quality Don John values most
Borachio’s discovery and the method by which he made it
The cause of Don John’s bitterness toward Don Pedro
Why Leonato teases Beatrice
Beatrice’s dance partner
Beatrice’s treatment of her dance partner
Borachio and Don John’s deception
Benedick’s self-reflection
Don Pedro’s promise to find Beatrice a husband
Hero’s chambermaid
The nature of Borachio’s interaction with Margaret
A plan to misrepresent Hero
Benedick’s assumptions about his future
Balthasar’s actions
The deception of Benedick
Benedick’s promise to love Beatrice
Hero and Margaret’s trickery
The effect of Hero and Margaret’s trickery
Hero and Margaret’s criticism of Beatrice
Benedick’s character transformation
Benedick’s request to speak to Leonato privately
Don Pedro and Claudio’s agreement should Hero be proven unfaithful
Claudio’s comparison of Benedick and Beatrice to two bears
The identity of the magistrate
The characterization of the magistrate
Borachio’s drunken bragging
The identities of two arrested characters
Claudio’s behavior at the wedding
Hero’s reaction to Claudio’s insults
Don John’s statements on the significance of Hero’s reaction
Leonato’s feelings toward his daughter
Friar Francis’ feelings toward Hero
Friar Francis’ suggested course of action
Beatrice’s dramatic request of Benedick
Dogberry’s terrible interrogation
Sexton’s task
Conrade’s insults toward Dogberry
Antonio’s attempts to calm Leonato
Leonato’s decision to seek revenge
Leonato’s change of heart
Claudio’s feelings about dueling against Benedick
Don John’s decision to flee
Claudio’s rekindled affection toward Hero
Leonato’s demands of Don Pedro and Claudio
Ursula’s news
Benedick’s request of Friar Francis
News that disrupts the wedding
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on the science fiction short story “The Fog Horn” by Ray Bradbury. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging in this exercise, students will…
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
Help students engage in analysis of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers with this set of close reading worksheets delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Passages from chapters 1, 5, 10, 14, and 21 are featured. Answer keys are included.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Identify textual evidence in support of claims
Discern what given passages reflect about the protagonist’s modes of thinking
Make logical inferences about characters’ psychological states based on actions
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices
Determine the functions of given passages
Analyze a situation to discern what is both positive and negative in terms of its outcome
Explore character motivations
Explain how dramatic irony is present in a given passage
Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
Examine how complex characters behave and interact
Discern tone in context
Write with clarity and precision
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle of plot-based quizzes covering the entirety of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. The assessments may double as guided reading worksheets to facilitate active engagement with the novel. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
By taking these quizzes, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Perry’s home city
Perry’s hopes and dreams
Perry’s motivations for serving in the military
Perry’s physical limitations
Rumors concerning the war
Peewee’s erratic behavior
Perry’s relation to Kenny
Why Peewee likes being in the military
Jenkins’ motivations for serving in the military
Why Lt. Carroll refers to Jenkins as an “angel warrior”
The veteran soldiers’ perception of Lt. Carroll
The reason for a mission to a Vietnamese village
The purpose of Earlene’s letter to Peewee
Lt. Carroll’s request of Perry
Perry’s loyalty to his squad
Lobel’s mindset at he is on patrol
Perry’s stated reason for being a soldier
The reason Perry does not participate in the killing of an adversary
Perry’s mindset as he looks at the corpse of the adversary
Captain Stewart’s lies
Perry’s physical condition
The reason for a fistfight between two characters
Why Peewee asks Perry to write a letter to Earlene
A major mistake by another squad
Lt. Carroll’s generosity
Perry’s request of Brew
Monaco’s reckless behavior
The purpose of a visit to a Vietnamese village
Brunner’s behavior while in the Vietnamese village
Johnson’s defense of Perry
What Peewee wants to buy while in the Vietnamese village
The content of a letter Lobel receives
Kenny’s personal goals as outlined in his letter to Perry
Peewee’s emotional state as he interacts with Red Cross representatives
The location where the squad will wait to ambush enemy forces
The death of a character following a conflict
Who is tasked with notifying the dead character’s family
Perry’s declining of an offer from Stewart
Perry’s learning of how Vietnamese forces treat hostages
Lobel’s extreme guilt
The author of a letter sent to Peewee
A lengthy discussion on draft-dodging
The rumor circulating about the war
An incident that jeopardizes the squad’s safety
Who accepts responsibility for the aforementioned incident
The reason for a group vote
The main purpose of the American soldiers’ mission to ambush Vietnamese forces
Perry’s brush with death
How Peewee is affected by events
The ARVN
Jamal’s role
Tam Ky
Why Gearhart does not order his men to fire upon enemy forces
Simpson’s feelings toward Captain Stewart
Perry’s physical condition
The nature of Perry’s injuries
Judy’s role
What happens to Brew
What Perry sends Kenny
The squad’s suspicions about Dongan
Dongan’s trick to make enemy forces vulnerable to attack
A booby-trapped child
Perry’s observations before shooting an enemy soldier
Dongan’s death
The reason for burning American soldiers’ bodies
The incident involving a jet
Monaco’s hallucinations
The reason Gearhart hands Perry a letter
What Gearhart hands Walowick
Why Perry feels distressed when writing to Kenny
Brunner’s new role
Qualities Perry and Peewee share in common
How Perry and Peewee are separated from their peers
Where Perry and Peewee spend a night
The Viet Cong fighters’ trap
Perry’s concerns for his physical condition
An update on Judy Duncan
Characters who are sent home
Challenge middle and high school students to push beyond basic reading comprehension and exercise close reading analysis skills while engaging with The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin. Given the objective nature of the multiple choice questions, each close reading activity is rigorous enough for students to find deeper meaning in the novel, yet convenient enough for teachers to quickly and efficiently gather data on their students’ textual analysis skills. Seven close reading worksheets are provided, as well as answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
These resources may be used to facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these materials for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By the end of the novel, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words as they are used in a given passage
Select the best synonyms for given words as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Discern tone in context
Explore how characters think, behave, and interact
Compare and contrast characters
Examine how setting influences character development
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing, personification, simile, epiphany, understatement, symbolism, situational irony, and dramatic irony
Apply knowledge of various sound devices including sibilance and assonance
Locate relevant textual details in support of the claim that Ulysses was the only crew member with the ability to think critically in the face of danger
Explore themes that are reinforced in a given passage
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Mythological fiction is a genre that appeals to the imaginations of many middle and high school students. The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin is a modern retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, written in a manner that is easier to process—even for struggling readers. With this bundle of multiple choice quizzes, English teachers will be able to evaluate students’ general text comprehension, hold learners accountable for completing assigned readings, and eliminate at-home assessment planning without sacrificing quality in the classroom. Answer keys are provided, and all materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By taking these assessments, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
A bribe (inciting incident)
An oath agreed to by Helen’s suitors
The Trojan War
The wooden horse
An attack on the Island of the Ciconians
Ulysses’ efforts to save his men from subsequent attack
The tossing away of treasures
Morpheus
A characterization of the Lotus Eaters
Ulysses’ efforts to remove his men from the influence of Lotusland
The dangers of Polyphemus
Ulysses efforts to save himself and his men
The eventual escape
A flaw in Ulysses’ character
Polyphemus’s plea to his father
Aeolus and a gift
Another mistake Ulysses makes before arriving home
Aeolus’s response to Ulysses’ mistake
Incidents on Cannibal Beach
A surprising discovery on Circe’s island
Circe’s background
Circe’s powers
Ulysses’ unexpected help from a Greek god
Ulysses and Circe’s arrangement
The men’s general feelings toward remaining on the island
Circe’s offer to Ulysses, which is refused
A revelation concerning the Land of the Dead
Ulysses’ decision to leave the island
The death of Elpenor
The importance of the white bird
The sacrificing of goats
The appearance of ghosts
Ulysses’ new-found knowledge of what has transpired at home
Strategies Ulysses must employ to successfully return home
Protection against the Sirens
Scylla and Charybdis
The Isle of the Sun Titan
A warning not to harm the golden cattle
30 days and nights of wind
Efforts to scrounge for food
Eurylochus and his lie to Ulysses
Ulysses means of survival
Calypso’s magic
Calypso’s comments about Penelope
Penelope’s weaving and her attempts to delay a major decision
Hermes’ arrival and its foreshadowing
Calypso’s sadness
Calypso’s help
Poseidon’s anger at Ulysses
The characterization of Ino
The characterization of Nausicaa
Nausicaa’s dream
Nausicaa’s encounter with Ulysses
The oracle’s warning
The men’s conspiracy against Ulysses
Nausicaa’s trick
King Alcinous’s generosity
Ulysses’ return to Ithaca
Eumaeus’ loyalty
Ulysses’ new-found knowledge upon returning home
The suitors vs. Telemachus
The concealing of an identity
Argo’s reaction to Ulysses’ return
The antagonistic nature of Eurymachus
An archery contest
Penelope’s agreement to marry the victor
Bloody conflict
The resolution
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and develop close reading analysis skills while they engage with The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin. Highlighting a significant passage from chapter sixteen (“The Return”), this resource features a line of rigorous questioning to promote active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for 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 this close reading activity, students will:
Discern the statement that best reflects Eumaeus’s feelings toward the beggar
Define complex words in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Discern what Eumaeus’s comments about the suitors imply about them
Compare two complex characters (Athene and Ulysses)
Analyze the author’s craft
Discern the author’s intent
Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany
Explore themes that are reinforced in the given passage
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and develop close reading analysis skills while they engage with The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin. Highlighting a significant passage from chapter fifteen (“Nausicaa”), this resource features a line of rigorous questioning to promote active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for 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 this resource, students will:
Identify the purpose of a particular paragraph
Discern the best explanation of the dominant conflict in the context of the passage
Identify character motivations
Discern the best description of Alcinous’s character
Identify the tone of Arete’s dialogue
Discern the intent of Arete’s dialogue
Analyze the symbolism of snakes in the context of Nausicaa’s dream
Apply knowledge of literary devices including assonance
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and develop close reading analysis skills while they engage with The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin. Highlighting a significant passage from chapter thirteen (“Calypso”), this resource features a line of rigorous questioning to promote active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for 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 this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Compare characters
Apply knowledge of literary devices including assonance and understatement
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and develop close reading analysis skills while they engage with The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin. Highlighting a significant passage from chapter eight (“The Land of the Dead”), this resource features a line of rigorous questioning to promote active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for 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 this close reading activity, students will:
Discern which given excerpt best achieves the goal of creating a supernatural atmosphere
Apply knowledge of literary devices including irony and sibilance
Discern the most logical interpretation of the author’s intent
Explore character motivations and modes of thinking
Discern the most logical inference regarding Ulysses’ feelings toward the gods
Analyze the author’s word choices to better understand how they influence meaning
Isolate a false statement about plot from correct statements
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and develop close reading analysis skills while they engage with The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin. Highlighting a significant passage from chapter seven (“Circe”), this resource features a line of rigorous questioning to promote active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Discern the reason for Ulysses’ reluctance in terms of advancing toward the castle
Apply knowledge of literary concepts including internal conflict and personification
Discern the significance of the white deer’s appearance
Define complex words and phrases in the context of a passage
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Determine which given adjective is most suitable to Ulysses in context
Explore the setting’s influence on Ulysses’ psychological state
Discern a logical inference in context
Isolate a false statement about plot from correct statements
Help middle and high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and develop close reading analysis skills while they engage with The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin. This set of rigorous questions covers chapters four through six (“The Cyclops’ Cave,” “Keeper of the Winds,” and “Cannibal Beach”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words as they are used in a given passage
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, dramatic irony, and simile
Apply knowledge of sound devices including sibilance
Locate relevant textual details in support of the claim that Ulysses was the only crew member with the ability to think critically in the face of danger
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact with one another
Select the most appropriate synonym for a word as it is used in the novel
Isolate a true statement about plot from a set of false statements
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a meaningful excerpt from chapter 21 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of the given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare the content of Perry’s most recent letter to Kenny to his previous letters
Apply knowledge of literary devices
Choose relevant textual evidence in support of a claim
Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a meaningful excerpt from chapter 14 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of the given excerpt
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Choose relevant textual evidence in support of a claim
Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a meaningful excerpt from chapter 10 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on alliteration
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering two meaningful excerpts from chapter 5 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Evaluate the positive and negative aspects of a particular situation
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on dramatic irony, personification, and simile
Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a meaningful excerpt from chapter 1 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Isolate an example of figurative language
Select textual evidence in support of a claim
Decide what the primary function of the excerpt is
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering chapters 20, 21, 22, and 23 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the novel. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Monaco’s hallucinations
The reason Gearhart hands Perry a letter
What Gearhart hands Walowick
Why Perry feels distressed when writing to Kenny
Brunner’s new role
Qualities Perry and Peewee share in common
How Perry and Peewee are separated from their peers
Where Perry and Peewee spend a night
The Viet Cong fighters’ trap
Perry’s concerns for his physical condition
An update on Judy Duncan
Characters who are sent home
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the novel. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The nature of Perry’s injuries
Judy’s role
What happens to Brew
What Perry sends Kenny
The squad’s suspicions about Dongan
Dongan’s trick to make enemy forces vulnerable to attack
A booby-trapped child
Perry’s observations before shooting an enemy soldier
Dongan’s death
The reason for burning American soldiers’ bodies
The incident involving a jet