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 the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Old Rinkrank.” Alternatively, the assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The terms of marrying a princess
What the mountain is made of
Why the princess travels to the mountain
The misfortune of the princess
Old Rinkrank’s antagonistic traits
The means by which Old Rinkrank reaches the top of the mountain
A peculiar nickname for the princess
The princess’ resistance to Old Rinkrank
A distinguishing physical characteristic of Old Rinkrank
How Old Rinkrank is trapped
Old Rinkrank’s fate
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning duties with this plot-based, multiple choice quiz covering the short story “A Journey” by Edith Wharton. A short answer option is also provided for re-assessment purposes. Alternatively, these resources may serve as guided reading handouts to foster active reading habits. Answer keys are included. All materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The protagonist’s former occupation
The effect marriage had on the protagonist’s life perspective
The husband’s deteriorating health
A doctor’s recommendation for treating the husband’s condition
The reason for the protagonist’s strong dislike of Colorado
The protagonists regrets, worries, and resentments
The passengers’ reactions to the husband’s illness
The protagonist’s reaction to her husband’s death
The protagonist’s dream
The definition of psychological fiction
Interpreting metaphorical language
Save time, measure general reading comprehension, and promote active engagement with this set of printable quizzes on Roald Dahl’s short story titled “Beware of the Dog.” Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, these two resources—a multiple choice version and alternate short answer option—make it easier to quickly and efficiently gather data on student recall and reading habits. Answer keys are provided.
By completing these assessments, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The protagonist’s name
The pilot’s physical condition
The reason the pilot is uncertain of his location
The doctor’s stated outlook for the pilot’s long-term health
The alleged location of the hospital in which the pilot is treated
Reasons the pilot grows skeptical of his healthcare providers
The significance of the water quality
The pilot’s view out of his window
A revelation concerning the medical professionals
The pilot’s interaction with an officer
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions about Shakespeare’s Othello. Focusing on Act 3, scene 3, 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. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Analyze what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the meaning of complex words and phrases in context
Analyze how complex characters interact
Explore character motivations
Demonstrate knowledge of multiple literary devices including dramatic irony, verbal irony, situational irony, and metaphor
Make logical inferences in context
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and valid reasoning
Write with clarity and precision
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello. With a focus on Act 2, scene 3, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing academic rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents.
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 completing this exercise, students will:
Discern the meaning of complex words and phrases in context
Analyze the author’s craft, with emphasis on the effect of archaic vocabulary
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of figurative language
Make logical inferences in context
For many middle and high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes is a short story involving socioeconomic struggles, social pressures, the importance of second chances, and the power of empathy and forgiveness. This multiple choice quiz covering “Thank You, Ma’am” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
An attempt to steal something
The intended victim’s reaction
“Turned loose”
The washing of a character’s face
Roger’s question
Mrs. Jones’s kind offer
A reason for the act
Roger’s desire for Mrs. Jones to trust him
The resolution
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering the short story “The Owl” by the Brothers Grimm, a cautionary tale about how fear affects human behavior. The brevity of the narrative and the nature of the learning targets help teachers fill awkward gaps in schedules without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key and copy of the fairy tale are 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 as well as implicitly
Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare the actions of the owl with those of the humans
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, situational irony, symbolism, and more
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this worksheet composed of challenging questions to complement “The Wife’s Story” by Ursula K. Le Guin. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this resource helps teachers save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key is included. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Apply knowledge of anaphora to the text
Articulate how anaphora contributes to the narrator’s characterization
Analyze the narrator’s statements to infer details about her husband
Discern meaning in less familiar words and phrases, taking into consideration the context of the passage
Analyze an excerpt to discern tone in context
Analyze an excerpt to discern and articulate the narrator’s internal conflict
Apply knowledge of simile to the text
Articulate the significance of the narrator’s “grief howl”
Analyze character statements and actions to discern and articulate character motivations
Analyze the term “blessed dark” to discern and articulate what it conveys about the narrator’s mindset
Cite and explain textual details that evoke a sense of sympathy within readers
Revisit the text to identify details that foreshadow the major revelation near the story’s conclusion
Analyze the author’s craft to explain how language contributes to the major revelation near the story’s conclusion
Write with clarity and precision
This PowerPoint was designed to facilitate classroom discussion and promote reading comprehension of W.W. Jacobs’ short story “The Monkey’s Paw.” The following elements are included in the presentation:
Initiating questions to help students make personal connections and increase student interest in the text.
An emphasis on relevant literary terminology, including suspense, mood, setting, and foreshadowing. Relevant textual details support these literary devices.
Several analytical questions about characters, motivations, situational irony, and theme. Concise, potential student replies are also included.
“Spunk” by Zora Neale Hurston is a short story marked by the hubris of a self-assured man who has an affair with a meeker man’s wife—a decision that leads to his demise. 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 a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing the close reading activity, students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the narrative’s point of view
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Analyze the author’s word choices to articulate how they contribute to character development
Select the least logical inference about characterization from among several options
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hubris, juxtaposition, foil, metaphor, epiphany, and situational irony
Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Owl” by the Brothers Grimm, a cautionary tale about how fear affects human behavior. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the fairy tale are included. 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 owl’s fear
The location of the owl
The man-servant’s assessment of the owl
The master’s reaction to his man-servant’s assessment
The master’s request of the community
A soldier’s request
The comparison of the soldier to St. George
A suggestion for how to spend tax money
The means by which the owl dies
For many reluctant readers, science fiction helps to maximize student engagement. “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut is a satirical, cautionary short story about governmental efforts to enforce equality on all citizens. This close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking—while eliminating take-home assessment planning responsibilities. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing the close reading activity, students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the narrative’s point of view
Isolate an example of figurative language from among several options
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Define complex words as they are used in the text
Use context clues to infer the author’s intent
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, paradox, oxymoron, simile, onomatopoeia, situational irony, and dramatic irony
Explore theme
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials
Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this plot-based quiz covering Pearl Buck’s short story “The Good Deed,” a piece of realistic fiction that highlights different cultural perspectives on marriage and family dynamics. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with literature. 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
Old Mrs. Pan’s abrupt relocation
Old Mrs. Pan’s emotional response to her new home
The cultural disparity between Old Mrs. Pan and her younger relatives
Young Mrs. Pan’s characterization
Arrangements with Lili Yang
The cultural values of Old Mrs. Pan
Old Mrs. Pan’s newfound zest for life
Lili’s age
Arranged marriage
The resolution
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello. With a focus on Act 1, scene 3, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents.
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.
More specifically, questions pertain to the following:
Analyzing text for tone.
Analyzing the text for meaning: discerning Othello’s self-described weakness.
Analyzing text for meaning: how long Othello has fought in wars.
Analyzing text for meaning: Othello’s willingness to disclose the truth of his courting of Desdemona.
Analyzing text for meaning: how Brabantio describes his daughter.
Analyzing text for meaning: the type of person Brabantio thinks would believe Othello’s claims.
Analyzing text for meaning: the devil’s role in the union, according to Brabantio.
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Featuring a brief passage about the Two Minutes Hate from Book 1, chapter 1, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing academic rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.
This resource may facilitate 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 this exercise, students will:
Determine and analyze the development of key ideas and themes, including the effects of mob mentality
Analyze how the author’s word choices add to the text’s complexity
Make logical inferences in the context of the text
Apply and articulate knowledge of literary devices and techniques including consonance, simile, and situational irony
Activate background knowledge on Nazi Germany’s treatment of the Jews and articulating historical parallels to the Two Minutes Hate
Write with logic, clarity, and precision
“Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin is an example of historical fiction that, when integrated into the English Language Arts classroom, complements American History curricula, as the plot precedes the Civil War and addresses the issue of how race and ethnicity affect one’s life experiences in the South. With this worksheet composed of challenging, text-dependent questions, teachers will help students extend beyond general reading comprehension, exercise close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters think, interact, and behave
Explore character motivations and intentions
Apply knowledge of literary devices including irony and foreshadowing
Analyze the author’s craft, determining how figurative language contributes to storytelling and character development
Articulate point of view
Make logical inferences about the psychological states of characters
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students analyze how Ursula K. Le Guin used characterization, description, imperfect grammar, foreshadowing, irony, simile, and redundancy to establish a tense and eerie tone in “The Wife’s Story.” This resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions. Through such discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key is included.
Promote active engagement with fiction and evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz on the science fiction short story “The Fog Horn” by Ray Bradbury. An answer key is included. All materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Point of view
Setting
McDunn’s thoughts on the ocean
A strange incident involving a million fish
The sound of the fog horn
The characters’ nickname for the ocean
The narrator’s thoughts on the sea creature
McDunn’s theory about the sea creature
An experiment involving the fog horn
The sea creature’s reaction to the experiment
The narrator’s life one year later
The lesson McDunn thinks the sea creature learned
The narrator’s feelings toward the sea creature
For many reluctant readers, science fiction helps to maximize student engagement. “Robot Dreams” by Isaac Asimov is a cautionary short story involving humanity’s commitment to developing artificial intelligence. This close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking—while eliminating take-home assessment planning responsibilities. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing the close reading activity, students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Define complex words as they are used in the text
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, pun, and personification
Analyze sentence structures with emphasis on the use of an appositive phrase
Analyze the author’s stylistic choice to capitalize common noun phrases
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials
Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Engage a variety of middle and high school students with the incorporation of Grimm’s fairy tales into the classroom. “The Queen Bee” by the Brothers Grimm is a short story about the importance of protecting the vulnerable and the positive effects of performing good deeds for others. With this plot-based quiz, teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. The brevity of the narrative also helps teachers fill awkward gaps in their teaching schedules. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The reason two older brothers left home
A distinguishing characteristic of the two older brothers
The physical appearance of the youngest brother
The nature of the youngest brother’s interactions with his older siblings
How the older brothers react to the sight of an ant hill
An observation at the lake
Strange observations outside the castle
The importance of three tablets
The reason the brothers venture into the woods
The identities of those who help the youngest brother complete his chores
The fate of the brothers