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.
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Truman Capote’s holiday-themed short story “A Christmas Memory.” An answer key is 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 completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Consider historical context in relation to the plot
Isolate examples of figurative language used in the text
Discern the intended effect of the author’s narrative techniques
Describe and examine tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Determine the functions of given details and excerpts
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, epiphany, foreshadowing, hubris, metaphor, onomatopoeia, simile, situational irony, and unreliable narrator
Reflect on significant themes
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about coming-of-age fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the holiday-themed short story “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: carnage, cavort, chastise, dilapidated, disposition, garish, goad, inaugurate, murmur, prosaic, shudder, sprightly, and vaguely.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz on the short story “At Christmas Time” by Anton Chekhov. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with coming-of-age fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The general characterization of the parents
Yegor’s paid task
Yegor’s response to a character’s anguish
The passing of time
Setting
The nature of the relationship between a daughter and her parents
Yefimya’s homelife
The name of Yefimya’s husband
The husband’s profession
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the Christmas-themed short story 'The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: ardent, cascade, coax
depreciate, falter, fixedly, imply, imputation, instigate, laboriously, meretricious, parsimony, and prudence.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Anton Chekhov’s short story “At Christmas Time.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative 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 completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Consider nuances in words with similar meanings
Reflect on the author’s choice of title and its intended effect
Evaluate the author’s means of emotionally influencing readers
Make logical inferences about the author’s philosophies on life
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare the lives of Vasilisa and Pyotr with the life of Yefimya
Apply knowledge of literary devices including ambiguity, euphemism, metaphor, onomatopoeia, and more
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about coming-of-age fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “At Christmas Time” by Anton Chekhov. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: abide, ailing, bereaved, coarse, conceited, doze, efficacy, habitual, hasten, invincible, porter, stifling, subside, and unintelligible.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapter 7 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: capitulate, coccidiosis, continually, countenance, decree, incite, rejoice, retribution, thwart, treachery, tumult, and whinny.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapter 9 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: bray, complicity, contemptuously, dart, demeanor, indignantly, internment, knacker, oration, superannuated, temper, and waft.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Gwendolyn Brooks’ short story “Maud Martha Spares the Mouse.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The length of time Maud Martha had searched for the mouse
Maud Martha’s assumptions about the mouse’s mindset
Maud Martha’s initial reaction to encountering the mouse
Maud Martha’s emotional response to sparing the mouse
Maud Martha’s self-reflection
Maud Martha’s tasks at home
And more
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement John Steinbeck’s short story “Flight.” A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: agilely, ascend, clamber, coarse, dart, desolate, foliage, furtive, gangling, gulch, listless, meager, plod, rein, scowl, sentinel, sheepishly, skitter, slumberous, stern, whinny, withered, wriggle, and writhe.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 11, 12, and 13 of Orson Scott Card’s dystopian science fiction novel Ender’s Game. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: blunder, corroborate, derisive, loathsome, merciful, paltry, plead, rebuke, tedious, temperament, translucent, and wary.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 7 and 8 of Orson Scott Card’s dystopian science fiction novel Ender’s Game. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: erode, intently, mutter, obscurity, personnel, raucous, shudder, swaggering, transparent, polyglot, magnanimous, and ostentatiously.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 1 and 2 of Orson Scott Card’s dystopian science fiction novel Ender’s Game. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: commiserate, forestall, glint, malleable, mirth, peripheral, quarrel, rescind, smirk, spatter, submerge, and vivisect.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 14 and 15 of Orson Scott Card’s dystopian science fiction novel Ender’s Game. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: apprehension, ascetic, compensate, dwell, feint, formidable, graceful, inscrutable, itinerant, timid, vague, and wince.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 3 and 4 of Orson Scott Card’s dystopian science fiction novel Ender’s Game. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: ambiguous, beckon, contempt, decelerate, deftly, extenuating, feeble, glower, incredulous, persecution, stride, and taunt.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 9 and 10 of Orson Scott Card’s dystopian science fiction novel Ender’s Game. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: acquiescence, archaic, banter, competent, cynical, denunciation, discreet, humble, improvise, keen, surly, and wander.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 5 and 6 of Orson Scott Card’s dystopian science fiction novel Ender’s Game. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: clamber, effect, emulate, errand, extricate, martyr, opaque, sadism, tumult, unanimous, whimper, and wriggle.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 7, 8, and 9 of John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: casually, clamor, deftly, humble, incredulously, malice, retort, saunter, shrill, sidle, stride, supplication, and toil.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 10, 11, and 12 of John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: apprehensively, coarse, contemptuous, eminent, giddy, ornery, principle, quarrel, shrewd, shudder, stationery, trifle, vague, and weary.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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
Frontload assigned readings with these vocabulary games and activities to facilitate comprehension of Orson Scott Card’s dystopian science fiction novel Ender’s Game. Alternatively, stash these materials in an emergency sub folder to keep students meaningfully engaged in the book during unexpected teacher absences. Included are 7 vocabulary application activities, 7 crossword puzzles, 7 word search games, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
A total of 84 challenging words are addressed: acquiescence, ambiguous, apprehension, archaic, ascetic, banter, beckon, blunder, clamber, commiserate, compensate, competent, contempt, corroborate, cynical, decelerate, deftly, denunciation, derisive, discreet, dwell, effect, emulate, erode, errand, extenuating, extricate, feeble, feint, forestall, formidable, glint, glower, graceful, humble, improvise, incredulous, inscrutable, intently, itinerant, keen, loathsome, magnanimous, malleable, martyr, merciful, mirth, mutter, obscurity, opaque, ostentatiously, paltry, peripheral, persecution, personnel, plead, polyglot, quarrel, raucous, rebuke, rescind, sadism, shudder, smirk, spatter, stride, submerge, surly, swaggering, taunt, tedious, temperament, timid, translucent, transparent, tumult, unanimous, vague, vivisect, wander, wary, whimper, wince, and wriggle.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex 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