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 general reading comprehension and promote the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions to complement Act 4, scene 5, of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in 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 completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Articulate Petruchio’s contradictory behavior
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, metaphor, personification, and hyperbole
Cite textual evidence that contributes to the scene’s farcical tone
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and promote the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions to complement Act 4, scene 4, of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in 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 completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Articulate a character’s internal conflict
Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile and situational irony
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 4 of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot; five close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft and covering each scene respectively; and answer keys. 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 in these exercises, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Consider how a particular excerpt advances the plot
Examine the greater significance of a given detail
Discern the tone of given excerpts
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Determine the function of a particular character in the context of a scene
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, allusion, oxymoron, hyperbole, anaphora, consonance, callback, oxymoron, hyperbole, and situational irony
Express the function of a given excerpt
Conduct brief research on the four humours and articulate the findings
Analyze research findings to make a logical inference about Petruchio’s mindset
Support claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and promote the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions to complement Act 5, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in 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 completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including pun and metaphor
Identify textual evidence in support of a claim
Discern the tone of a character’s remarks
Help students better understand the historical context of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers and facilitate the process of researching topics related to the Vietnam War with this low-prep, standards-based resource. Students will choose from more than twenty relevant subjects—the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the Tet Offensive, the My Lai Massacre, Tinker vs. Des Moines, and Milton L. Olive III to name a few—and navigate credible sources with the goal of teaching others about their topic. A detailed scoring rubric is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Ultimately, students will perform the following tasks:
Articulate connections between a research topic and the assigned novel
Conduct research using available resources
Collect and classify reliable sources
Develop successful methods of recording information
Evaluate the credibility of nonfiction texts, taking into consideration readability, date, relevance, expertise, and bias
Apply conventions of MLA formatting
Correctly site resources to avoid plagiarism
Organize information in a cohesive manner, using a note-taking system that includes summary, paraphrasing, and quoted material
Analyze, synthesize, and integrate information, generating a thoughtfully comprehensive report, free of generalities and redundancies
Present information in a formal, coherent manner
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and promote the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions to complement Act 1, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in 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 completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Isolate details that represent the best textual evidence in support of claims
Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, hyperbole, and sibilance
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and promote the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions to complement Act 1, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in 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 completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consider how the effect of humor is achieved in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including onomatopoeia, assonance, metaphor, simile, verbal irony, and dramatic irony
Discern the function of a given excerpt
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle of quizzes covering the entirety of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Christopher Sly’s disruptive behavior
Christopher Sly’s eccentric behavior
A wealthy lord’s discovery
A wealthy lord’s deception
A wealthy lord’s perception of Christopher Sly
A visit from traveling performers
A reason to attend a comedy
Lucentio’s studies
Tranio’s role
Baptista’s terms for Bianca’s being married off
Gremio and Hortensio’s intentions
Katherine’s general demeanor
Baptista’s academic hopes for Bianca
Gremio’s perception of Katherine
Lucentio’s strategy for getting closer to Bianca
Petruchio’s reason for visiting
The quality Petruchio most values in a potential spouse
Lucentio’s disguise
Katherine’s treatment of Bianca
Bianca’s conformity to societal expectations of women
The true identities of disguised people
Katherine’s treatment of her supposed teachers
Baptista’s feelings toward Petruchio
Petruchio’s belief concerning how Katherine should behave
The standard by which Baptista will select Bianca’s husband
Baptista’s preference in terms of who should be Bianca’s husband
Tranio’s intentions at the end of the Act
Who first identifies himself to Bianca
Hortensio’s changing perspective on Bianca
Petruchio’s conduct on his wedding day
Katherine’s emotional reaction to Petruchio’s behavior
Gremio’s perceptions of Petruchio and Katherine
Petruchio’s defiance of custom
Petruchio’s perception of his wife
Bianca’s assessment of the relationship between Petruchio and Katherine
An accident involving a horse
Petruchio’s reaction to the accident
The reason for Petruchio’s frustration with his servants
The techniques by which Petruchio will try to tame his wife
Biondello’s willingness to participate in a charade
Background information about the merchant
Petruchio’s refusal to let Katherine do certain things
Hortensio’s admiration of Petruchio
Petruchio’s bizarre behavior
The fake Vincentio’s reaction to meeting the real Vincentio
The interactions between the real Vincentio and Biondello
Baptista and Vincentio’s forgiveness of their children
Petruchio’s getting Katherine to kiss him
Hortensio’s marriage
Tranio’s teasing of Petruchio
A bet among men
The content of Katherine’s major speech
This summative test covers William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By administering this assessment, teachers will evaluate students’ abilities to do the following:
Demonstrate knowledge of aspects of drama including relevant vocabulary and historical context
Demonstrate knowledge significant characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that transpire
Identify the context of meaningful quotations in the play
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the novel including hyperbole, metaphor, situational irony, dramatic irony, verbal irony, and more
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to evaluate tragic mistakes characters make
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 1, of Hamlet by William Shakespeare and emphasizing the protagonist’s internal conflict as expressed in his famous soliloquy: “To be, or not to be?” 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.
More specifically, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Discern the intended effect of Shakespearean language in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 2, scene 1, of Hamlet 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.
More specifically, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Discern the intended effect of Shakespearean language in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast two characters
Determine the function of the scene
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
This summative test covers A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By administering this assessment, teachers will evaluate students’ abilities to do the following:
Demonstrate knowledge significant figures in a nonfiction text
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events throughout the memoir
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to explore the concept of perseverance in the context of the memoir
Support claims made in an academic essay with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Measure general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering chapters 15 and 16 of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. A firsthand account of the author’s experiences as a child soldier during the Sierra Leone Civil War, this book is an excellent choice for teachers who want to incorporate more autobiographical nonfiction into their English and/or history classes. In addition to an answer key, an short answer quiz option is provided for re-assessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The psychological effects of war on Ishmael
The names of significant entities mentioned in the text
Difficulties in rehabbing figures in the text
Specific acts of insubordination and violence
Ishmael’s medical needs
The collective motivation for attending school
Ishmael’s nickname and its origin
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this multiple choice quiz covering chapters 6 and 7 of A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck. In addition to an answer key, an alternate short answer option is provided for re-assessment purposes. Materials are delivered in a zip file as Word Documents and PDFs. Questions pertain to the following details:
Aunt Matty’s distinguishing skill
The reason for Aunt Matty’s frustration with Rob
Rob’s reaction to the suggestion that he needs a tutor
Aunt Matty’s religious affiliation
Rob’s reaction to Aunt Matty’s religious affiliation
Rob’s observations, including sights and unsettling sounds
Rob’s plan to keep Pinky safe
The nature of a conversation between Rob and Haven
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this multiple choice quiz covering chapters 8 and 9 of A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck. In addition to an answer key, an alternate short answer option is provided for re-assessment purposes. Materials are delivered as Word Documents and PDFs. Questions pertain to the following details:
Rob waking from his sleep
A visit from Mrs. Hillman
A visit to the cemetery
Sebring’s intentions
Letty Phillips tragic history
Haven’s reaction to Sebring’s apology
Speculation about Widow Bascom
Rob’s scar
Moving flowerpots
Mr. Tanner’s offer to Rob
Haven’s response to Mr. Tanner’s offer
“The Challenge” by Gary Soto is a coming-of-age short story highlighting the importance of authenticity and unconditional acceptance of others for who they are. This close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing the close reading activity, students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of figurative language in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile, metaphor, slang, situational irony, and more
Determine the tone of a given passage
Navigate nuances in words with similar meanings
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual details
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials
Measure general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering chapters 17 through 21 of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. A firsthand account of the author’s experiences as a child soldier during the Sierra Leone Civil War, this book is an excellent choice for teachers who want to incorporate more autobiographical nonfiction into their English and/or history classes. In addition to an answer key, an short answer quiz option is provided for re-assessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The helpful nature of numerous figures in the text
Ishmael’s recollection of having life-threatening injuries and his reaction
Mambu’s tragic circumstances
The United Nations Conference in New York City
Ishmael’s difficulty in acquiring a passport and Visa
Complications affecting the civilian government
Ishmael’s escape
And more
Measure general reading comprehension with this quiz bundle covering A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. A firsthand account of the author’s experiences as a child soldier during the Sierra Leone Civil War, this book is an excellent choice for teachers who want to incorporate more autobiographical nonfiction into their English and/or history classes. In addition to answer keys, alternate quiz options are provided for re-assessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By taking these assessments, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Recent political changes in Sierra Leone
General descriptions of setting
Background details concerning key figures in the text
Shared experiences among key figures in the text
Medical concerns among key figures in the text
Major entities associated with conflict, such as the Revolutionary United Front
Violent events
Consequences of war
Coping strategies among key figures in the text
Difficulties in rehabbing figures in the text
The collective motivation for the boys’ attending school
Complications affecting the civilian government
Ishmael’s escape
And more
Measure general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz on chapters 10 through 14 of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. A firsthand account of the author’s experiences as a child soldier during the Sierra Leone Civil War, this book is an excellent choice for teachers who want to incorporate more autobiographical nonfiction into their English and/or history classes. In addition to an answer key, an short answer quiz option is provided for re-assessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Acts of kindness
Significant realizations among key figures in the text
Coping strategies among key figures in the text
Ominous occurrences
Medical concerns among key figures in the text
Updates on family members
General descriptions of setting
The collective motivation to join the military
Violent events
The effects of war on key figures in the text
And more
Measure general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering chapters one through nine of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. A firsthand account of the author’s experiences as a child soldier during the Sierra Leone Civil War, this book is an excellent choice for teachers who want to incorporate more autobiographical nonfiction into their English and/or history classes. In addition to an answer key, an short answer quiz option is provided for re-assessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Recent political changes in Sierra Leone
Background details concerning key figures in the text
Shared experiences among key figures in the text
Major entities associated with conflict, such as the Revolutionary United Front
Consequences of war
And more