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 comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school and college with this set of rigorous questions on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Very Old Folk.” The variety of reading question types also facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1400-1500, this text and its corresponding active reading exercise are appropriate additions to a high school short story unit, especially at the 11th and 12th grade levels. A detailed answer key is provided. 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 completing this activity, students will demonstrate the following:
An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations
An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character mindsets
An ability to analyze complex vocabulary and phrasing in context
An ability to navigate specialized reference materials successfully
An ability to analyze a passage to discern its primary purpose
An ability to analyze the text for literary devices such as situational irony
An ability to analyze cause-and-effect relationships
An ability to analyze textual details to infer and articulate the author’s intent
An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim
An ability to articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly
An ability to write with clarity, logic, and precision
Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of comprehension and analysis questions on the short story “The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage” by the Brothers Grimm. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative, which has an estimated Lexile measure of 1100-1200, are provided. 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 with these materials, students will:
Demonstrate comprehension of the general plot
Analyze the author’s craft to discern the meaning of particular words and phrases in context
Apply knowledge of literary devices by identifying examples of inciting incident, situational irony, and theme
Support analysis of text by using relevant textual evidence and reasoned logic
Analyze character dialogue and actions to infer their interests and motivations
Write with clarity and precision
Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of comprehension and analysis questions on Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “The Butterfly.” A variety of question types are included to help prepare for standardized testing scenarios: vocabulary-in-context questions, main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story (estimated Lexile range of 700-800) 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 completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Write with clarity and precision
Verify interpretations of words and phrases using reference materials such as a dictionary or thesaurus
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including situational irony and alliteration
Articulate variables that influence the protagonist’s modes of thinking
Evaluate whether the protagonist is fair in his process of selecting a potential wife
Make logical inferences about characters’ motivations
Explain how the author incorporates foreshadowing into the text
For many high school readers, fairy tales and fantasy fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Red Shoes” by Hans Christian Andersen is about a peasant girl whose obsession with her footwear leads to supernatural events, seemingly divine punishment, and eventual redemption. With this rigorous worksheet composed of high-order questions, English Language Arts teachers will help students extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills. 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 dramatic irony, personification, symbolism, and more
Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others
Make a claim about whether a detail is ironic
Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual details
Explore potential themes
Discern the function of a given paragraph
Connect the text to societally relevant concepts in modern society, such as social mobility
Conduct research to answer questions about autobiographical parallel
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
For many high school readers, fairy tales and fantasy fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Buckwheat” by Hans Christian Andersen is a cautionary tale about a young buckwheat whose pride becomes his tragic downfall. With this rigorous worksheet composed of high-order questions, English Language Arts teachers will help students extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills. The briefness of the narrative also helps teachers fill awkward gaps in scheduling. 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
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials such as a dictionary or thesaurus
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including hyperbole, alliteration, assonance, hubris, personification, dramatic irony, and more
Analyze a passage to discern author’s intent
Discern the function of a given paragraph
Analyze what characters’ actions reveal about their modes of thinking
Make logical inferences about characters’ actions
Explain how the author incorporates personification into the text
Explore the symbolism of trees and articulate how the old willow tree’s characterization is consistent with symbolic interpretations
Articulate a relevant theme and connect it to plot developments
Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual details
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Save time without sacrificing rigor by utilizing this bundle of analysis worksheets designed to promote close reading skills associated with Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. A variety of high-order question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, examining how word choices influence a reader’s interpretations, applying knowledge of literary devices, and articulating ideas in writing with clarity and precision. 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.
Students will be able to do the following:
Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern point of view
Analyze character motivations
Analyze how complex characters interact
Clarify cause-and-effect relationships
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices including situational irony, hyperbole, simile, alliteration, assonance, metaphor, oxymoron, and others
Articulate the intended effect of metaphorical language
Analyze the author’s craft to determine intent
Make logical inferences about how Tom perceives Myrtle
Demonstrate awareness of how social status influences behavior
Compare Myrtle to the puppy she is gifted
Discern a primary function of a given chapter
Analyze the effect comparing Gatsby to Belasco has on the reader
Infer why the author may have intended to wait to introduce Gatsby until chapter three
Analyze what Nick’s dialogue and behavior at the party reveals about his psychological state
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Articulate how Nick’s expectations of Gatsby are violated
Articulate the cultural significance of the white chauffeur transporting people of color
Discern what Nick finds astonishing about Wolfsheim’s behavior
Identify the primary function of Wolfsheim’s character in the context of the plot
Articulate the technique Fitzgerald uses to spark a significant shift in tone
Identify textual evidence that best supports a claim
Explore the symbolism of an object or objects
Clarify and elaborate on a concern Nick has for Gatsby in a given passage
Explore how Tom sees himself in the context of the tragedies of Gatsby, Myrtle, and Wilson
Write with clarity and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this set of quizzes on Life As We Knew It, a dystopian young adult novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer, with emphasis on chapters fifteen through seventeen. A multiple choice assessment is provided, as well as a subjective version. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important details:
Mom’s feelings about needing Miranda’s help
Why Mrs. Nesbitt believes it is better that Miranda visit daily
What Mrs. Nesbitt wants Miranda’s mom to know
The significance of people moving plywood into their living rooms
Miranda’s feelings following the death of Mrs. Nesbitt
Mrs. Nesbitt’s pendant
The alarming discovery at Mrs. Nesbitt’s house following her death
Gray snow and the blizzard
Miranda and Jonny’s plan to help Matt find his way home
Jonny’s discovery about the family’s eating habits
Matt’s suggested diet change
The fantasy that plays out in Miranda’s head
The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin is a modern retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, written in a manner that is easier to process—even for struggling readers. This comprehensive bundle includes the following: multiple choice, plot-based quizzes; close reading analysis activities; a summative test; and answer keys. With these resources, English teachers will be able to evaluate students’ general text comprehension, promote analysis of complex literature, hold learners accountable for completing assigned readings, eliminate at-home assessment planning, and expedite the grading process without sacrificing academic rigor. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will do the following by the end of the novel:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words as they are used in a given passage
Select the best synonyms for given words as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Discern tone in context
Explore how characters think, behave, and interact
Compare and contrast characters
Examine how setting influences character development
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing, personification, simile, epiphany, understatement, symbolism, situational irony, and dramatic irony
Apply knowledge of various sound devices including sibilance and assonance
Locate relevant textual details in support of the claim that Ulysses was the only crew member with the ability to think critically in the face of danger
Explore themes that are reinforced in a given passage
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this set of quizzes on Life As We Knew It, a dystopian young adult novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer, with emphasis on chapters one through four. A multiple choice assessment is provided, as well as a subjective version. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important details:
The relationship between Miranda and her mother
The neighbors’ collective reaction to the meteor strike
The subsequent natural disasters that occur
The significance of school not being cancelled the following day
Miranda’s heroism in the face of disaster
People’s peculiar purchasing habits at the supermarket
Rumors that begin to circulate
Miranda’s step-mother and her condition
Megan’s alarming response to the worldwide disaster
Matt’s arrival home and his comments on heroism
This bundle of editable quizzes measures comprehension and holds students accountable for the assigned reading of Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. For each section of the novel, a multiple choice assessment and short answer alternative are provided. The subjective assessments may double as guided reading worksheets to encourage more active engagement with the text. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats.
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter sixteen journal entry dated November 17, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explain the intended effect of figurative language
Consider how an allusion shapes meaning
Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as onomatopoeia
Explore implications about society in a post-meteor world
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter two journal entry dated May 18, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters develop and interact
Analyze language to discern the intended effect
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole and metaphor
Explore the author’s craft
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and reasoning
Write ideas with clarity and precision
And more
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter one journal entry dated May 11, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters develop and interact
Analyze language to discern the intended effect
Apply knowledge of literary devices including pun
Make logical inferences about the protagonist’s modes of thinking
Discern the main function of a given excerpt
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter three journal entry dated May 19, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters develop and interact
Analyze language to discern the intended effect
Consider both denotative and connotative definitions of words as they are used in context
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony
Determine a primary function of the chapter
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and reasoning
Write ideas with clarity and precision
And more
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter four journal entry dated May 20, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters develop and interact
Analyze the author’s language to articulate the intended effect
Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile, foreshadowing, and aposiopesis
Explore the greater significance of a given detail
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and reasoning
Write ideas with clarity and precision
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter six journal entry dated June 15, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters develop and interact
Analyze figurative language to articulate the intended effect
Define complex words as they are used in the text
Apply knowledge of literary devices including pun and dramatic irony
Explore a significant shift in narrative tone
Articulate the symbolic value of a given detail
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and reasoning
Write ideas with clarity and precision
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter seven journal entry dated July 2, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters develop and interact
Make logical inferences about Miranda’s mindset in the context of the language she uses to communicate ideas
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion and situational irony
Infer the reason(s) for Miranda’s frequent dreams of Becky
Determine the function of the diary entry
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and reasoning
Write ideas with clarity and precision
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter eighteen journal entry dated December 25, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as paradox and dramatic irony
Compare and contrast Miranda’s childhood with her mother’s
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter fifteen journal entry dated October 29, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as idiom, alliteration, cliché, euphemism, and dramatic irony
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Defend whether Miranda’s behavior as it is conveyed in the entry is consistent or inconsistent with her previous characterization
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Mythological fiction is a genre that appeals to the imaginations of many middle and high school students. The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin is a modern retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, written in a manner that is easier to process—even for struggling readers. With this summative test covering the entire novel, English teachers will be able to evaluate students’ comprehensive text comprehension and ability to analyze key characters, plot developments, and themes. An answer key is provided, and all materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
This assessment covers the following:
Athena’s aid along the journey
Ulysses brilliant trick
Achilles’ warrior status and weakness
Menelaus’s call to arms
Poseidon’s relationship to Polyphemus
The faithful wife of Ulysses
Helen’s reputation
The enormous whirlpool
Paris’s judgment
A faithful, old dog
A loyal swineherd
Circe’s peculiar abilities
Hyperion’s background
Morpheus and the lotus flowers
Helen’s suitors
Aeolus’ efforts to help Ulysses
Hermes’ role in Ulysses’ journey
The gullibility of Polyphemus
A blind prophet
The peculiar talents of the sirens
Eurycleia’s discovery
Telemachus
Alcinous’s assistance
Nausicaa’s revelation
Poseidon’s ire
The winner of a contest
A character’s disguise
Foreshadowing
External conflict/internal conflict
Antagonist
Situational irony
Dramatic irony
Theme
Dynamic character
And more