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 go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 4, scene 2, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the significance of given details
Discern the intended effects of Shakespeare’s choices in terms of characterization
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, allusion, dramatic irony
Isolate the best evidence in support of a claim
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 5, scene 1, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore nuances in words with similar meanings
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, hyperbole, situational irony, personification, metaphor, allusion, and oxymoron
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 4, scene 1, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the tone of dialogue in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including paradox and situational irony
Isolate the best evidence in support of claims
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 5 of William Shakespeare’s Othello. The plot-based assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Additionally, a short answer worksheet is provided for re-assessment purposes. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Iago’s concern that Roderigo could expose him
Iago’s irrational jealousy of Cassio
Cassio’s injury
Fatal wounds
The arrest of Bianca
Othello’s verbal exchange with Desdemona
The subsequent killing
Emilia’s news
The brief revival of a character
The ensuing stabbings, one fatal
Othello’s subsequent perception of himself
The fatal flaw of the hero
Measure reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s Othello (Act 5) with this bundle, which includes a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading worksheets. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
Students will:
Articulate what the text says explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity and precision
Cite specific, relevant textual evidence in support of a claim or idea
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, situational irony, caesura, allusion, epiphany, assonance, and double denotation
Articulate character motivations
Discern the best description of Roderigo’s characterization
Analyze and articulate how the setting contributes to a sense of uncertainty
Articulate how dialogue contributes to the development of suspense
Analyze character interactions
Define complex words or phrases in context
Articulate what Othello’s dialogue reflects about his psychological state
Articulate how Othello rationalizes his decision to murder Desdemona
Articulate how Desdemona is different from a candle, according to Othello
Analyze the text to discern how Othello demonstrates some degree of mercy on Desdemona
Verify interpretations using reference materials including a dictionary or thesaurus
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this set of plot-based quizzes covering the entirety of William Shakespeare’s Othello. These assessments may double as guided reading handouts to facilitate active reading experiences. Answer keys are provided. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Roderigo’s affections for Desdemona
Iago’s fury toward Othello
Brabantio
The Turks’ plan to attack Cyprus
Othello and Desdemona’s relationship
Desdemona’s internal conflict
Othello’s departure
Desdemona’s arrangement to stay with Iago
Brabantio’s warning to Othello
Iago’s manipulation of Roderigo
The end of the war with the Turks
Iago’s emphasis on Cassio’s friendliness toward Desdemona
Cassio’s weakness
Iago’s taking advantage of Cassio’s weakness
The consequences of Cassio’s actions
Othello’s ironic perspective on Iago’s character
Cassio seeking advice from one he considers his closest friend
Iago’s next manipulative move involving Desdemona
Cassio’s verbal exchange with Desdemona
Iago encouraging Othello’s suspicions toward Desdemona
Desdemona’s requests for Othello to forgive Cassio
Othello’s insistence that Iago tell him everything he knows
Iago’s underhanded behaviors and statements
Othello’s statements on marital trust and jealousy
The retrieval of Desdemona’s handkerchief
Othello’s mounting suspicions
Othello’s ultimatum to Iago
Desdemona’s frustrations
Othello’s rage-fueled trance
Iago’s conspiracy to make Othello think Cassio loves Desdemona
Iago’s barbarous suggestion regarding Desdemona’s fate
The letter from Venice
Lodovico’s witnessing Othello’s abusive behavior
Emilia’s verbal exchange with Othello
Othello’s confrontation with Desdemona
Desdemona turning to Iago for help
Roderigo’s frustration with Iago
The arrangement Iago makes for Roderigo
Desdemona’s foreshadowing fear
Iago’s concern that Roderigo could expose him
Iago’s irrational jealousy of Cassio
Cassio’s injury
Fatal wounds
The arrest of Bianca
Othello’s verbal exchange with Desdemona
The subsequent killing
Emilia’s news
The brief revival of a character
The ensuing stabbings, one fatal
Othello’s subsequent perception of himself
The fatal flaw of the hero
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s Othello. The plot-based assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The end of the war with the Turks
Iago’s emphasis on Cassio’s friendliness toward Desdemona
Cassio’s weakness
Iago’s taking advantage of Cassio’s weakness
The consequences of Cassio’s actions
Othello’s ironic perspective on Iago’s character
Cassio seeking advice from one he considers his closest friend
Iago’s next manipulative move involving Desdemona
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello (Act 2) with this bundle that features a quiz and close reading activities. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
By engaging in these exercises, students will:
Discern the intended meaning of various complex words and phrases
Analyze actions and statements to discern character motivations
Discern the tone of a passage
Analyze the author’s craft, demonstrating knowledge of how Shakespeare’s language shapes the audience’s perception of Iago
Apply knowledge of various literary devices to the text including metaphor, simile, situational irony, and more
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language
Locate textual evidence in support of claims
Write with clarity and precision
With this summative test covering the entirety of Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, English teachers will evaluate students’ reading comprehension, essay writing skills, and ability to analyze key aspects of plot. Included are the following: an answer key, standards-based writing rubric, and test prep study guide. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge of primary and secondary characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that take place throughout the novel
Evaluate substantive quotations for deeper meaning
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, allusion, assonance, euphemism, foreshadowing, hyperbole, idiom, metaphor, simile, slang, and verbal irony
Respond to an essay prompt about the influence of family on Holden’s world views
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words/phrases as they are used in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Explore nuances in words with similar meanings
Describe tone in context
Consider the greater significance of given details
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration and situational irony
Conduct brief research on mythological and historical subjects
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 4, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Choose the most appropriate synonym for a given word
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including synecdoche, antithesis, aphorism, and allusion
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 5, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of figurative language in context
Determine the functions of the scene
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including double denotation
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words/phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Determine the primary function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony
Conduct brief research on Bethlem Royal Hospital
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words/phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on hyperbole
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 2, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the meaning of complex words and figurative language in context
Determine the function of a given passage
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare Gloucester and Lear
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, metaphor, assonance, and personification
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Cat and Mouse in Partnership,” a cautionary story about manipulative and predatory behavior. The brevity of the narrative also helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Circumstances under which the cat and mouse decide to live together
Preparations for the winter
The hiding place of provisions
The cat’s deceptive behavior
The mouse’s suspicion of the cat
The fate of the mouse
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Wolf and the Fox,” a cautionary story about the consequences of impulsiveness. The brevity of the narrative also helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The reason the fox is subservient to the wolf
The demands the wolf makes of the fox
The fox’s assessment of the wolf’s behavior
The consequences of the wolf’s actions
The resolution
And more
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “Grandmother,” a narrative centering on themes of appreciating the elderly and the fleeting nature of physical life. The brevity of the narrative helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the supporting activity maintains rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the text (estimated Lexile range of 1000-1100) are included. Materials are delivered in 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 completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Describe the tone of the complete text
Discern the intended effects of figurative language and other narrative techniques
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, sibilance, irony, symbolism, imagery, metaphor, and more
Explore themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of critical thinking skills, and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Raven,” which centers on the themes of persistence and resilience. A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, the public domain short story, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in 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
Discern the function of a given excerpt
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, hyperbole, pun, paradox, symbolism, and more
Explore relevant themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fairy tale fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering the Grimm’s fairy tale “The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle,” a narrative addressing the values of hard work and devotion. The brevity of the short story helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the activity upholds rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the text are included. Materials are delivered in 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 completing the close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a given word
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Discern the intended effect of narrative techniques in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of several literary devices including alliteration, assonance, hyperbole, euphemism, oxymoron, hypophora, personification, paradox, and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fairy tale fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision