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.
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (Act 2) with this bundle that features a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading activities. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Discern what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Identify a variety of functions this scene serves
Analyze character statements and behaviors to draw logical inferences about character development and motivations
Analyze complex vocabulary and phrasing in context to determine meaning and intended effect
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text with emphasis on situational irony
Compare and contrast two characters
Articulate ideas with clarity and precision
Defend a claim with textual evidence
Analyze the factors contributing to Hamlet’s internal conflict (the contradictory nature of religious values coupled with codes of honor)
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 4 of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, two close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Materials in this bundle may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources 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
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Discern the tone of dialogue in context
Discern the intended effect of narrative techniques
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Articulate the internal conflicts of two characters (Beatrice and Benedick)
Contrast two characters (Borachio and Conrade)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including pun, hyperbole, oxymoron, allusion, metaphor, malapropism, imagery, and more
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night (Act 4) with this bundle featuring a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading activities. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Apply knowledge of dramatic irony, situational irony, and paradox
Determine the significance of Feste’s participation in the newest plot to make a fool out of Malvolio
Consider the intent of character actions
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Analyze the author’s craft to determine how the audience is supposed to feel as a result of character development
Explore the psychological state of Toby in the context of the scene
Apply knowledge of allusion
Identify an excerpt from the scene that features an example of oxymoron
Identify an excerpt in the scene that conveys Feste’s confidence
Write with clarity and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 5 of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Determine the meanings of unfamiliar and archaic words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and dramatic techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and symbolic imagery
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. A plot-based quiz, three close reading worksheets, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast two characters (Cassius and Casca)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbaton, metaphor, pun, simile, and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, three close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Materials in this bundle may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources 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 intended effect of figurative language as it is used in the text
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Explore the symbolism of an oyster in the context of Benedick’s mindset
Contrast two characters (Beatrice and Hero)
Contrast aspects of scene one with aspects of scene two
Determine the function of an interaction between characters (Don John and Claudio)
Discern tone in context
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, oxymoron, invective, pun, metaphor, situational irony, dramatic irony, and more
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, three close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Materials in this bundle may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources 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 detail
Discern the function of a given scene
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare characters (Beatrice and Benedick; Don John and Benedick)
Discern tone in context
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, pun, hyperbole, juxtaposition, allusion, metaphor, dramatic irony, and more
Explore the symbolism associated with a given detail
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 3 of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. A plot-based quiz, three close reading worksheets, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the functions of given excerpts
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast the speeches of Brutus and Antony with emphasis on content, language, rhetorical skills, and audience engagement
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, hubris, alliteration, personification, foreshadowing, and irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 4 of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. A plot-based quiz, three close reading worksheets, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the functions of given excerpts
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast two characters (Antony and Brutus)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, personification, foreshadowing, dramatic irony, and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
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
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello (Act 1) 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 the phrase “Come, sir, I am for you” for meaning and synthesize the meaning with knowledge of Iago’s characterization
Analyze actions and statements to discern character motivations, such as why Brabantio thinks Othello is a thief
Isolate true statements about plot from false statements
Locate textual evidence in support of claims about supernatural activity and Brabantio’s prejudiced mentality
Annotate text to make student engagement visible
Paraphrase and modernize dialogue
Discern the tone of a given passage
Write with clarity and precision
Measure reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s Othello (Act 3) with this bundle, which includes a plot-based quiz and four 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.
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 given passage
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, verbal irony, metaphor, and more
Locate textual evidence in support of claims
Write with clarity and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: two multiple choice quizzes on characters and plot, covering Act 1 and its preceding induction respectively; two close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft; and answer keys for everything. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging in these exercises, 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
Isolate details that represent the best textual evidence in support of claims
Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, hyperbole, sibilance, onomatopoeia, assonance, metaphor, simile, verbal irony, and dramatic irony
Determine the functions of given excerpts
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Measure reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s Othello (Act 4) with this bundle, which includes a plot-based quiz and four 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.
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 given passage
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, alliteration, sibilance, personification, foreshadowing, and paradox
Compare two characters
Articulate the significance of a particular statement
Locate textual evidence in support of claims
Analyze what dialogue reveals about a character’s psychological state
Consider how the imagery of a willow tree is relevant to the content of Desdemona’s song
Make logical inferences from the point of view of a particular character
Write with clarity and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 5 of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a quiz on characters and plot, three close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Materials in this bundle may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these activities, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, personification, simile, onomatopoeia, and oxymoron
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 4 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, three close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern apparent contradictions in dialogue
Define complex words and phrases in context
Explain the intended effect of figurative language in context
Discern tone in context
Determine the function of a given scene
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast the characters of Lady Macduff and Lady Macbeth
Compare and contrast the murders of Lady Macduff and her son to previous homicides
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as simile, paradox, invective, hyperbole, situational irony, and more
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 4 of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. A plot-based quiz, two close reading worksheets (one per scene), a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Determine the meanings of unfamiliar and archaic words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and dramatic techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on dramatic irony, situational irony, and symbolism
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Reduce teacher workload and measure reading comprehension with this bundle of printable quizzes covering the entirety of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and PDF formats.
This bundle of 5 assessments measures general comprehension and holds students accountable for the assigned reading of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Each multiple choice quiz is delivered as an editable Word Document. Answer keys for each quiz are included.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The purpose of a chorus
A character known as a peace-maker
The reason for street-fighting in Verona
Prince Escalus’s declaration
Romeo’s cause for sadness
Lord Capulet’s attitude toward marrying off Juliet
Benvolio’s encouragement (to Romeo)
Juliet’s attitude toward marriage
Mercutio’s treatment of Romeo
A foreshadowing fear
Tybalt’s temperament
Lord Capulet’s reaction to Romeo’s presence at the party
The revelation of Juliet’s true identity
Juliet’s beauty and Romeo’s metaphor
The rejection of one’s name
Romeo’s great fear, expressed during the balcony scene
Juliet’s concerns over acting too hastily
Friar Laurence’s specialty
Friar Laurence’s beliefs and philosophies
Friar Laurence’s thoughts regarding the union of Romeo & Juliet
Tybalt’s letter
Offensive comments toward the Nurse
The Nurse’s news for Romeo
Friar Laurence’s assessment of Romeo & Juliet’s love
Mercutio’s reason for fighting Tybalt
Romeo’s ill-fated attempt to stop the fight
Romeo’s reason for leaving Verona
Juliet’s criticisms of the Nurse
The Nurse’s confusing news
Juliet’s conflicting emotions toward her husband
Friar Laurence’s perspective on the Prince’s punishment
Romeo’s erratic behavior
Lord Capulet’s arrangement with Paris
Mantua
A character who plans to have Romeo killed
A threat of being disowned
The Nurse’s advice to Juliet
Juliet’s foreshadowing comments
Paris’s perspective on Lord Capulet’s motivations
Juliet’s confession to Paris
Paris’s lack of awareness about Lord Capulet’s threat
Juliet’s confession to Friar Laurence
Friar Laurence’s plan
Juliet’s request for her father’s forgiveness
Lord Capulet’s attitude toward Friar Laurence
A terrible thought
An alarming discovery
A shift in Lord Capulet’s emotions
Friar John’s task
The reason Friar John cannot complete his task
Balthasar’s significance
Balthasar’s lack of awareness
A visit to the apothecary
A conflict between Romeo and Paris in the churchyard
Romeo’s suicide
Juliet’s suicide
Friar Laurence’s emotional reaction
The resolution
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 5 of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, four close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of figurative language in context
Verify the meanings of challenging words using reference materials
Demonstrate knowledge of historical context
Discern tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast characters
Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, metaphor, simile, anaphora, allusion, hyperbole, situational irony, and more
Explore themes in context
Discern the functions of characters and scenes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision