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.
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Leslie Marmon Silko’s short story titled “The Man to Send Rain Clouds.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
Character relationships
Actions consistent with a ritual
Character motivations
A complication associated with burial
The priest’s reluctance
Resolution
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Clever Gretel.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the short story. An answer key and copy of the text are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Objects that intensify Gretel’s self-esteem
Gretel’s tendencies while she cooks
Gretel’s preparations for cooking
Gretel’s belief on what constitutes a sin
The purpose for Gretel’s visits to the cellar
The problem that exists when the master returns
What the master does with a knife
How Gretel gets herself out of an awkward situation
The resolution
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Frog King.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the short story. An answer key and copy of the text are provided. All materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The cause of the princess’ sadness
The frog’s negotiations with the princess
The princess’ betrayal of the frog
The princess’ reaction to the frog’s sudden appearance
The king’s response to his daughter’s explanation of events
The frog’s conduct in the castle
The princess’ reaction to the frog’s conduct
The reason for the prince’s transformation into a frog
The personal wellness of Faithful Henry
The cause of cracking noises
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe. The quiz may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate more active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The narrator’s appreciation of analytical power
Where the narrator had visited
General character details about Dupin
The narrator and Dupin’s shared appreciation for literature
The narrator’s general perception of Dupin
A quick development in the friendship between Dupin and the narrator
The narrator’s fondness for moodiness and isolation
A peculiar quality Dupin seems to have
The details of a newspaper article
The identities of two homicide victims
General character details about Le Bon
Dupin’s conclusions regarding the homicide
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 classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Raven,” which centers on themes of persistence and resilience. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story 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
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “Rules of the Game” by Amy Tan. The resource may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
The protagonist’s perception of herself
Frustrations the protagonist faces in life
A Christmas gift
The mother’s reaction to the Christmas gift
Waverly’s internal and external conflicts
How characters influence one another
Qualities of the art of invisible strength
The effects of success on the protagonist’s daily life
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “Priscilla and the Wimps” by Richard Peck. The resource may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Point of view
The identity of the main antagonist
The name of the group of bullies
How the narrator deals with the school’s bullies
The physical characteristics of Priscilla Roseberry
The nature of the relationship between Priscilla and Melvin
The narrator’s reason for why gang members don’t need names
The interaction between Priscilla and Monk
The reason Monk’s ego seems bruised
The reason for a week-long cancellation of school
An inference to be drawn from the resolution
Help high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on the short story titled “The Leap” by Louise Erdrich. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Analyze what the narrator’s dialogue reveals about her feelings toward her mother
Explore character motivations
Isolate an example of figurative language from among several sentences in the text
Discern the intended effect of a given phrase (“one with the constant dark now”)
Articulate how the author incorporates a plot twist
Determine the function of a given paragraph
Identify several narrative techniques used by the author to convey liveliness and urgency
Determine what a character’s actions reveal about her psychological state
Make logical inferences about the author’s beliefs based on the context of the story
Articulate why the author chose “The Leap” as the title
Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
Exercise rational thought
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter, a piece of psychological fiction that complements high school units involving modernist literature and the narrative technique known as stream of consciousness. This resource may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with literature. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The characterization of George
Setting
The joys and pleasures in life
Granny Weatherall’s religious affiliation
Granny Weatherall’s perspective on dying
Granny Weatherall’s perspective on how women fulfill their lives
The contents of a box in the attic
Granny Weatherall’s message for George
The purpose of Father Connolly’s visit
Granny Weatherall’s eagerness to see someone
The resolution
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Katherine Anne Porter’s short story “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” a piece of psychological fiction that complements literature units involving modernist literature and the narrative technique known as stream of consciousness. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. 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 completing this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the narrative’s point of view and setting
Determine the intended effects of the author’s narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational 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 and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Lie” by Kurt Vonnegut. The resource may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The Remenzels’ socioeconomic circumstances
Mrs. Remenzel’s suggestions for her son’s dorm room
Dr. Remenzel’s general disposition
The name of the school to which Eli is taken
The general history of the school
Eli’s disposition on the drive to the school
The parents’ inference based on Eli’s behavior
The identity of Tom Hilyer
The playing out of an awkward situation
Mrs. Remenzel’s confession
Dr. Remenzel’s surprising behavior
The resolution
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Kurt Vonnegut’s short story titled “The Lie.” An answer key is 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 completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore character motivations
Make logical inferences about a character’s values and beliefs
Explain how point of view shapes the reader’s understanding of plot
Articulate how one character serves as a foil to another
State two significant conflicts in the story
Defend the claim that Mrs. Remenzel is a good mother despite her shortcomings
Explore the similarities between the protagonist and his father
Generate a relevant theme that relates to the idea of embarrassment
Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this set of quizzes on Life As We Knew It, a dystopian young adult novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer, with emphasis on chapters five through seven. A multiple choice assessment is provided, as well as a subjective version. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important details:
Miranda’s perspective on her mother’s increasing worry
Ms. Nesbitt’s treat to the family
Megan’s alarming charity
Mom’s ironic response to fliers requesting help for the needy
Peter’s health advice to the family
Miranda’s stubborn response to health advice
Dan’s backstory
Miranda recalling a “perfect” day
Miranda and Ms. Nesbitt’s discovery at the elementary school
The reason Mom is outraged at Miranda
Jonny’s dreams
New natural disasters
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering the induction of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, 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
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 2 of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 4 of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 5 of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
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
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 2, 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
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 such as metaphor and anaphora
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Conduct brief research on the Roman goddess Diana and articulate the similarities between her and Katharina
Evaluate Baptista’s attitude toward arranged marriage and articulate how it is both morally sound and unsound
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students explore how Gabriel Garcia Marquez used literary devices such as hyperbole, personification, simile, metaphor, and imagery to develop a compelling short story: “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World.” Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions in which students evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims. An answer key is included.
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this plot-based quiz covering Mark Twain’s tall tale “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” also known as “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog” and “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Alternatively, this set of questions may serve as a guided reading document to foster active reading habits. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of:
Setting
The reason for the narrator’s frustration
The speaking style of Simon Wheeler
Characterization of Jim Smiley
Characterization of Daniel Webster
Characterization of Andrew Jackson
Simon Wheeler’s compulsive gambling
The reason Wheeler hands off his box to the stranger
The stranger’s trickery
The resolution