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Inquiring Mind of the English Teacher Kind

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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.

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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.
Summer of My German Soldier Quiz Bundle with Answer Keys
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Summer of My German Soldier Quiz Bundle with Answer Keys

3 Resources
Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure reading comprehension with this bundle of printable quizzes covering the entirety of Bette Greene’s historical fiction novel Summer of My German Soldier. Multiple choice versions and short answer alternatives are provided in addition to answer keys. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats. With these resources, middle and high school students will demonstrate general knowledge of characters, setting, historical context, and plot.
Summer of My German Soldier Chapters 13-21 Quiz
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Summer of My German Soldier Chapters 13-21 Quiz

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Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure reading comprehension with this set of quizzes on chapters 13 through 21 of Bette Greene’s Summer of My German Soldier. A multiple choice version and short answer alternative are provided in addition to an answer key. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these resources, middle and high school students will demonstrate general knowledge of characters, setting, historical context, and plot.
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers Close Reading Worksheet (Chapter 2)
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Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers Close Reading Worksheet (Chapter 2)

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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 2 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 knowledge of the Vietnam War’s outcome emotionally influences the reader Describe tone in context Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Isolate an example of figurative language Conduct brief research to identify parallels between the narrator and the author James Baldwin Decide what the primary function of the excerpt is Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
"The Loophole of Retreat" by Harriet Jacobs Close Reading Analysis Questions
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"The Loophole of Retreat" by Harriet Jacobs Close Reading Analysis Questions

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Incorporate narrative nonfiction into the English Language Arts classroom and help high school students practice their close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions covering an excerpt titled “Loophole of Retreat” from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs. This text addresses an enslaved woman’s paradoxically empowering decision to hide from her master in a confined space. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. Additionally, a bonus PowerPoint providing more context on the author’s background is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Summarize key details from the text Use context to make logical inferences about the author’s beliefs Explore the symbolism attached to an object (the gimlet) Apply knowledge of various literary devices including invective, metaphor, paradox, and more Examine nuances in words with similar meanings in order to choose the most appropriate synonym for a given term Make logical inferences about the author’s intent based on stylistic choices Discern the tone of a given passage Support claims and ideas with relevant textual details Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Close Reading of a Persuasive Speech by Sojourner Truth
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Close Reading of a Persuasive Speech by Sojourner Truth

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Incorporate more nonfiction into the English Language Arts classroom and help high school students practice their close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions covering a persuasive speech delivered by Sojourner Truth. Given to the Convention of the American Equal Rights Association in 1867, the historically significant speech argues in favor of suffrage for Black women and encourages Black women to speak up for their rights in order to achieve a more just society. An answer key and copy of the public domain speech are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Articulate the function of the speech Identify what the text states explicitly about Truth’s feelings toward slavery, Truth’s desires for all women, Truth’s reason for living a long life, and Truth’s reasoning for why men should fight alongside women for their rights Explore cause-and-effect relationships Explore Truth’s personal motivations Analyze stylistic elements of Truth’s speech and evaluate its effectiveness Make and defend logical inferences about the audience’s reception to the speech Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah and Sierra Leone – Research Project
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A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah and Sierra Leone – Research Project

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Help students better understand the historical context of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah and facilitate the process of researching topics related to Sierra Leone with this low-prep, standards-based resource. Students will choose from thirty relevant subjects—the deposing of Siaka Stevens’ government, the Revolutionary United Front, illegal diamond mining, the West Side Boys, and All People’s Congress 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 text 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
The Handmaid's Tale Research Project on Women's History and Human Rights
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The Handmaid's Tale Research Project on Women's History and Human Rights

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The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood lends itself to compelling research opportunities for high school students. This low-prep, standards-based project has students investigate topics related to women’s history and human rights around the world: from America (the Fourteenth Amendment, Equal Pay Act, Equal Rights Amendment, etc.) to Canada (the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, etc.), from the Middle East (Benazir Bhutto, the Taliban’s treatment of women, the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, etc.) to Mexico (Laureana Wright de Kleinhans, First Feminist Congress of the Yucatan, etc.). Thirty-nine topics are addressed. Supporting materials—including a detailed scoring rubric—are 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 text 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
"Old Man at the Bridge" by Ernest Hemingway Quiz and Answer Key (Short Story)
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"Old Man at the Bridge" by Ernest Hemingway Quiz and Answer Key (Short Story)

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Evaluate general reading comprehension and align English Language Arts and World History curricula with this plot-based quiz covering Ernest Hemingway’s short story “Old Man at the Bridge,” a piece of historical fiction addressing the Spanish Civil War. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. 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 narrator’s role Weather conditions A relevant holiday The old man’s age The old man’s home city The reason the old man is the last person to leave the city The old man’s personal background The old man’s health condition The old man’s perspective on cats And more
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 10 Close Reading Worksheet
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 10 Close Reading Worksheet

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Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 10 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Explore the symbolism associated with killing mockingbirds
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 17 Close Reading Worksheet
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 17 Close Reading Worksheet

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Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, hyperbole, and allusion Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 16 Close Reading Worksheet
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 16 Close Reading Worksheet

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Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 16 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and hyperbole Consider the greater significance of the kids’ being seated in the balcony Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
To Kill a Mockingbird Chs. 16-18 Quiz & Close Reading Bundle
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chs. 16-18 Quiz & Close Reading Bundle

5 Resources
Save time and maintain rigor with these printable resources supporting reading comprehension and analysis of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (chapters 16-18). General comprehension quizzes are included, as are more rigorous close reading activities. These materials may be used to facilitate differentiated instruction in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. 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 will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of the complete literary works, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel. By engaging in these exercises, students will: Draw logical inferences about Scout’s dynamic nature in context Draw logical inferences about Aunt Alexandra’s concerns for her family’s reputation Apply knowledge of figurative language to the text, identifying the most logical interpretation of a metaphorical phrase Apply knowledge of hyperbole to the text Identify what Aunt Alexandra states explicitly about being a “disgrace to the family” Identify what Maudie Atkinson states explicitly about why she refuses to attend the trial Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations Analyze the significance of the kids’ placement on the balcony Analyze the characterization of Jem and Scout to discern the most accurate statement about their internal states Analyze the author’s craft with emphasis on the intended effect of metaphorical language (comparing Bob to “a red little rooster”) Analyze the interactions between Atticus and Mayella to draw logical inferences about Mayella’s personal history Analyze Bob Ewell’s nonverbal communication to draw logical inferences about his intent Analyze Atticus Finch’s language to draw a logical inference about his intent Isolate false statements from factual ones Write with clarity, logic, and precision
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 18 Close Reading Worksheet
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 18 Close Reading Worksheet

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Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 18 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Consider the tone of a particular section of text Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Explore cause-and-effect relationships
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 4 Close Reading Worksheet
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 4 Close Reading Worksheet

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Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 4 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Determine the greater significance of a given detail Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, personification, allusion, and situational irony Explore cause-and-effect relationships
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 6 Close Reading Worksheet
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 6 Close Reading Worksheet

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Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 6 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, 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 greater significance of a given detail Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile, dialect, and dramatic irony
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 2 Close Reading Worksheet
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 2 Close Reading Worksheet

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Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 2 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the greater significance of a given detail Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Reflect on Miss Caroline’s relationship to the town of Maycomb
To Kill a Mockingbird Chs. 19-20 Quiz & Close Reading Bundle
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chs. 19-20 Quiz & Close Reading Bundle

4 Resources
Save time and maintain rigor with these printable resources supporting reading comprehension and analysis of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (chapters 19-20). General comprehension quizzes are included, as are rigorous close reading and vocabulary reinforcement activities. These materials may be used to facilitate differentiated instruction in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. 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 will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of the complete literary works, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel. By engaging in these exercises, students will: Explore character motivations and modes of thinking Articulate why Tom Robinson hesitates to answer Mr. Gilmer’s question Analyze Mr. Gilmer’s language to discern its racial implications Define complex words in context Verify interpretations of language using reference materials such as a dictionary or thesaurus Examine plot developments from a historical perspective Analyze the author’s application of indirect characterization Explore the community’s influence on Scout’s way of thinking about the trial Articulate why Dill relates to Tom Identify and explain an example of situational irony Discern the function of a given passage Identify the object of Atticus’s pity in context Analyze the author’s phrasing in a cultural context (the “rigid and time-honored code of our society”) Analyze how the author’s phrasing contributes to the characterization of Mayella Identify the object of Atticus’s scrutiny in context Identify what the text states explicitly about Atticus’s beliefs pertaining to U.S. courts
To Kill a Mockingbird Chs. 21-23 Quiz & Close Reading Bundle
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chs. 21-23 Quiz & Close Reading Bundle

5 Resources
Save time and maintain rigor with these printable resources supporting reading comprehension and analysis of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (chapters 21-23). General comprehension quizzes are included, as are more rigorous close reading activities. These materials may be used to facilitate differentiated instruction in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. 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 will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of the complete literary works, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel. By engaging in these exercises, students will: Demonstrate understanding of Atticus’s feelings about his children attending the trial Analyze Jem’s remarks to Atticus to discern his youthful ignorance of systematic racism Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations Analyze Reverend Sykes’ remarks to Jem in order to infer his motivations Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Analyze the importance of Reverend Sykes’ instructions to Scout following the trial’s conclusion Consider the thematic significance of the interaction between Jem and Maudie Atkinson (a belief that there is hope for positive change in the American justice system, although that change will probably happen slowly) Analyze Scout’s dialogue to make a logical inference about Atticus’s parenting Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor Identify textual evidence in support of the claim that Jem is a dynamic character Explore the internal conflict that exists within Jem Connect a portion of a given passage to the content of a previous chapter Analyze how complex characters interact
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 25 Close Reading Worksheet
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 25 Close Reading Worksheet

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Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 25 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore the greater significance of a given detail Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Make an informed prediction about Bob Ewell’s behavior Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 24 Close Reading Worksheet
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To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 24 Close Reading Worksheet

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Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 24 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Discern the tone of a given passage Explore cause-and-effect relationships Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile and situational irony Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction