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, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the short story “The Good Deed” by Pearl S. Buck, a piece of realistic fiction that highlights different cultural perspectives on marriage and family dynamics. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis 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.
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Articulate Lili’s internal conflict
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, aposiopesis, symbolism, and more
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
For many high school readers, realistic and multicultural fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “The Good Deed” by Pearl S. Buck is a realistic short story that exposes high school readers to different cultural perspectives on marriage and family dynamics. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English teachers will help students extend beyond basic reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing quality and rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, aposiopesis, antonomasia, and more
Analyze how complex characters think, behave, and interact
Make logical inferences based on characterization details provided by the author
Articulate the symbolic value of a particular object
Evaluate whether young Mr. Pan exhibits rational or irrational behaviors when handling emotionally intense situations
Identify examples of old Mrs. Pan’s culture shock
Choose the best synonym to replace a word as it is used in the story
Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore the intended effect of the author’s phrasing
Articulate Lili’s internal conflict
Discern the greater significance of a seemingly insignificant detail
Choose a statement with which a character is most likely to agree
Isolate details that suggest a favorable outcome
Examine old Mrs. Pan’s transformation into a dynamic character
Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and support the development of critical thinking skills with this bundle of resources for teaching Lord of the Flies by William Golding (chapter 2). A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and 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 in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with this resource, students will:
Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters interact and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices zoomorphism and metaphor
Discern the tone of a given passage in context
Discern the significance of the boys’ allusions to adventure fiction
Discern the significance of the group’s not bringing the conch shell to the mountain
Analyze a character’s behavior to infer what is revealed about his mindset
Analyze the author’s craft to articulate how Golding achieves a particular effect
Identify relevant textual evidence in support of claims regarding Jack’s defiant nature and Piggy’s leadership potential
Write with clarity and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Alice Walker’s short story “Everyday Use.” 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 a zip file as editable Word Documents and printable PDFs.
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Discern the intended effects of the author’s narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Examine how point of view shapes the readers’ understanding of Dee’s character
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including but not limited to dialect, syncope, and malapropism
Contrast how two characters perceive the concept of heritage
Support claims and inferences with relevant textual evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literature
For many high school readers, realistic fiction is a genre that maximizes relatability and engagement with literature. “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker is a story about self-image, generational clashes, cultural conflicts, and more. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English teachers will help students extend beyond basic reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing quality and rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze the narrator’s sense of self-image
Explore the author’s use of language to convey a sense of realism
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including but not limited to dialect, syncope, and malapropism
Contrast how two characters perceive the concept of heritage
Analyze why the narrator takes offense to another character’s actions and evaluate whether her reaction is justified
Examine how point of view shapes the readers’ understanding of Dee’s character
Apply objectivity in order to infer a character’s true motivations
Articulate the greater significance of a given detail (Maggie’s smile)
Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
For many high school readers, realistic fiction is a genre that maximizes relatability and engagement with literature. “The Lie” by Kurt Vonnegut is a story about rejection, family pressures, and the unintended and unexpected consequences of one’s actions. With this bundle of high school resources covering “The Lie,” English teachers will save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, 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 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 reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and support the development of critical thinking skills with this bundle of resources for teaching Lord of the Flies by William Golding (chapter 1). A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and 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 in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these resources, students will:
Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters interact and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including personification, simile, and onomatopoeia
Analyze the author’s craft to articulate the intended effect of language and imagery
Infer what is foreshadowed by a given detail using reasoned thinking
Determine the most appropriate synonym for a given word in context
Contrast Simon with his peers in the context of a given passage
Conduct brief research on the mythological figure Triton and compare him to Ralph
Identify relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Write with clarity and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Imp of the Perverse” by Edgar Allan Poe, a piece of horror and psychological fiction that explores the impulse to do wrong for wrong’s sake alone. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative, which is especially fitting for the Halloween season, are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The principles of phrenology
The narrator’s assessment of phrenology
The narrator’s understanding of perverseness
The location from which the narrator shares his account
The means by which the narrator committed his crime
How the narrator learned of the murder method
The immediate results of the murder
How the narrator’s mind shifts over time
The narrator’s repeated motto
How the public comes to learn of the narrator’s crime
The narrator’s ponderings in the resolution
For many high school readers, horror and psychological fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a psychotic protagonist trying to rationalize his thinking, the senseless killing of an innocent man, dramatic irony, and more. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English teachers will help students extend beyond basic reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing quality and rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. 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 narrative techniques used to establish an unreliable narrator
Discern the function of a given passage
Explain how situational irony applies to a particular passage
Examine how complex characters think, behave, and interact
Compare and contrast characters
Determine the intended effect of figurative language as it is used in the text
Discern the tone of a given passage
Articulate the significance of the narrator’s chair placement
Identify an example of literary callback and state its significance
Infer the nature of the relationship between the narrator and his victim
Analyze a detail for symbolism and make logical inferences about the narrator’s subconscious motivations based on this analysis
Defend claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
For many high school readers, horror and psychological fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Sphinx” by Edgar Allan Poe features plot elements consistent with both genres: a cholera epidemic, social isolation, omens, fear of death, and more. With this bundle of high school resources covering “The Sphinx,” English teachers will save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; the public domain narrative; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine how complex characters think, behave, and interact
Explore character motivations
Define complex words as they are used in context
Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings
Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a given word without changing fundamental meaning
Paraphrase information
Make logical inferences based on context clues
Explain how a given detail (the fact that it was “an exceedingly warm day”) is an example of paradox
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including hyperbole
Identify several examples of the narrator’s self-awareness
Identify several examples of the narrator’s questionable judgment
Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, logic, and precision
For many high school readers, horror and psychological fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Sphinx” by Edgar Allan Poe features plot elements consistent with both genres: a cholera epidemic, social isolation, omens, fear of death, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Sphinx” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality 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 assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The nature of the epidemic
The location of the epidemic
The narrator’s current location
The length of time the narrator is away from home
The relationship of the narrator to his roommate
General character descriptions
The narrator’s beliefs concerning omens
The narrator’s obsessive tendencies
The narrator’s frightening observation
The reason the narrator was mistaken in his observation
The roommate’s evaluation of the narrator in the resolution
For many high school readers, horror and supernatural fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a Gothic mansion, psychological deterioration, heightened emotions, grim imagery, and more. With this bundle of high school resources covering “The Fall of the House of Usher,” English teachers will save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; the public domain narrative; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore dominant character traits and motivations
Examine how complex characters think, behave, and interact
Determine the greater significance of a given detail
Apply knowledge of various sound and literary devices including alliteration, personification, euphemism, foreshadowing, situational irony, hyperbole, epiphany, juxtaposition, and more
Articulate the intended effects of various sound devices, literary devices, and figurative expressions
Analyze Poe’s use of descriptive language to infer the author’s intent
Conduct brief research on Swiss painter Henry Fuseli to develop greater understanding of Poe’s allusion to him
Explore the connection between the plot of the short story and the content of the poem titled “The Haunted Palace”
Examine how the author successfully intensifies suspense in the context of a passage
Analyze the connotative significance of the narrator’s labeling Roderick a hypochondriac
Identify details that contribute to a dreamlike or nightmarish atmosphere
Discern the functions of particular details
Make logical inferences about the resolution
Defend claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
For many high school readers, horror and supernatural fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a Gothic mansion, psychological deterioration, heightened emotions, grim imagery, and more. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English teachers will help students extend beyond basic reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing quality and rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore dominant character traits and motivations
Examine how complex characters think, behave, and interact
Determine the greater significance of a given detail
Apply knowledge of various sound and literary devices including alliteration, personification, euphemism, foreshadowing, situational irony, hyperbole, epiphany, juxtaposition, and more
Articulate the intended effects of various sound devices, literary devices, and figurative expressions
Analyze Poe’s use of descriptive language to infer the author’s intent
Conduct brief research on Swiss painter Henry Fuseli to develop greater understanding of Poe’s allusion to him
Explore the connection between the plot of the short story and the content of the poem titled “The Haunted Palace”
Examine how the author successfully intensifies suspense in the context of a passage
Analyze the connotative significance of the narrator’s labeling Roderick a hypochondriac
Identify details that contribute to a dreamlike or nightmarish atmosphere
Discern the functions of particular details
Make logical inferences about the resolution
Defend claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
For many high school readers, horror and supernatural fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a Gothic mansion, psychological deterioration, heightened emotions, grim imagery, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Fall of the House of Usher” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality 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. Questions pertain to the following key details:
How the narrator comes upon the House of Usher
The narrator’s descriptions of the House of Usher
What the narrator means when he refers to “shadowy fancies”
A characterization of the relationship between the narrator and Roderick
The content of the letter Roderick wrote the narrator
What the narrator means when he refers to Roderick’s “reserve [which] had always been excessive and habitual.
The Ushers’ ancestry
A description of the narrator as he first explores the House of Usher
Roderick’s ill appearance
Madeline’s relationship to Roderick
Madeline’s unusual medical condition
Roderick’s ability to play the guitar
Why Roderick wants to keep Madeline’s corpse in the house
A realization that Roderick and Madeline were twins
A strange sight through the window
Peculiar noises
Roderick’s terrible fear regarding Madeline
Roderick’s death
The narrative’s resolution
“The Premature Burial” by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story of special appeal to high school students interested in human psychology, horror stories, and Halloween. With this bundle of assessment materials, English teachers will save valuable time without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Consider the greater significance of given details
Discern the intended effects of the author’s diction, punctuation, and narrative techniques
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including eye dialect, onomatopoeia, allusion, pun, dramatic irony, situational irony, and more
Draw parallels between the narrative and a featured nonfiction passage
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Gothic fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
For many high school readers, psychological fiction and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Premature Burial” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a stream-of-consciousness technique, the intensification of an irrational fear, tales of being buried alive, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Premature Burial” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality 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 assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The exposition
The identities of those mentioned who suffered premature burials
The intentions of Julien Bossuet
The narrator’s beliefs concerning premature burials
The narrator’s medical condition
Precautions taken by the narrator to avoid death by premature burial
Where the narrator seeks shelter during a storm
How a premature burial scare affects the narrator’s life moving forward
The narrator’s evaluation of human imagination
For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Doom that Came to Sarnath” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: the plundering of a race of lizard people, shadows that seemingly originate from the moon, the vanishing of an entire city, and more. With this bundle of high school resources covering “The Doom that Came to Sarnath,” English teachers will save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading questions; the public domain narrative (estimated Lexile Measure of 1300-1400); and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the function of a given paragraph
Provide a detailed description of a group of characters
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Analyze nuances in words with similar definitions
Make logical inferences about character motivations
Analyze how complex characters think, behave, and interact
Examine the author’s intent
Articulate the significance of a given detail
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as foreshadowing
Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Doom that Came to Sarnath” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: the plundering of a race of lizard people, shadows that seemingly originate from the moon, the vanishing of an entire city, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Doom that Came to Sarnath” (estimated Lexile Measure of 1300-1400) helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality 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 assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The name Sarnath used to be known by
A physical description of the beings who once inhabited the area
The name of the beings’ leader
The object worshiped by the beings
The value humans saw in this region
The fate of the strange beings and the object they worshiped
The function of the amphitheater
The celebration humans held in commemoration of genocide
A strange event that takes place annually
The amount of time that has passed since the killing of the beings
The fate of the kings and their noblemen
The resolution