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 take-home assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based, multiple choice quiz covering chapters 12 and 13 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An alternate short answer version is provided for re-assessment purposes. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following plot elements:
Jem’s moodiness
Disappointing news to begin summer
The reason for Atticus’s two-week absence
The incident involving Eunice Ann Simpson
Lula’s treatment of the children
The general reaction of the parishioners toward the children
Calpurnia’s separate identities
Why Alexandra decides to stay with the family
Alexandra’s philosophy on what makes “fine” people
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based, multiple choice quiz covering chapters 14 and 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An alternate short answer version is provided for re-assessment purposes. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following plot elements:
Aunt Alexandra’s feelings toward Calpurnia
The discovery under Scout’s bed
Breaking “the code of childhood”
Dill’s epiphany regarding Boo Radley’s isolation
Jem breaking up the meeting
Atticus and Mr. Underwood outside of the jailhouse
Jem’s concern for his father
The lynch mob
How the lynch mob came to disperse
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 12 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is provided. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, these instructional materials save teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom.
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 this resource, students will do the following:
Apply knowledge of coordinating conjunctions, selecting the most appropriate conjunction to join two sentences in context
Discern the most logical interpretation of an excerpt
Analyze the author’s word choices and phrasing to determine intent
Apply knowledge of literary devices (imagery and theme) to the text
Analyze an excerpt to discern its significance
Analyze a passage to discern tone in context
Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations
Analyze context clues to articulate how Calpurnia is characterized, citing textual evidence in support of claims
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is provided. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, these instructional materials save teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom.
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 this resource, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Explore an abrupt shift in tone
Apply knowledge of literary devices including paradox and dramatic irony
Consider the greater significance of a given detail
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Write about literature with clarity, logic, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the science fiction short story “The Star Beast” by Nicholas Stuart Gray. 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:
Where the creature first encounters humans
What drives the creature to approach humans
The physical characteristics of the creature
The older couple’s emotional reaction to the creature
Where the city experts keep the creature detained
The knowledge of the creature
The collective reaction to the creature after examination and interrogation
How humans mock the creature
The creature’s definition of a man
How the proceeds of the creature’s sale are invested
The new location of the creature after being sold
The creature’s prominent fear
The resolution
Help high school readers go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 1, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings (“Montague is bound as well as I,” ���woo her,” and “one fire burns out another’s burning”)
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony and dramatic irony
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Help high school readers go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 1, scene 5, of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile, situational irony, onomatopoeia, foreshadowing, and metaphor
Analyze the author’s paradoxical language to discern a theme related to love
Choose the best textual evidence in support of a claim
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 3, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as dramatic irony and oxymoronic language
Conduct brief research on a variety of subjects including allusions to obscure mythological creatures
Support claims or inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 4, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the overall purpose of a given soliloquy
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Support claims or inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 4, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern apparent contradictions in dialogue
Define complex words and phrases in context
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Applying knowledge of literary devices including situational irony
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 1, scene 7, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern tone in context
Infer the intended effects of Shakespeare’s language and narrative techniques
Define complex and archaic words as they are used in the text
Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as hyperbole and dramatic irony
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering an excerpt from Act 2, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern tone in context
Determine the function of a given passage
Define challenging words as they are used in the text
Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare characters in the play
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion and situational irony
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 5, scene 5, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Define challenging words and phrases in context
Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s diction
Discern tone in context
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on metaphor
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 1, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the primary function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast two characters (Cassius and Casca)
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst. Alternatively, the assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Point of view
The reason for the narrator’s disappointment
Details suggesting Doodle was not expected to live long
The narrator’s immoral thoughts
Doodle’s surprising actions
A setting the narrator and his brother seem to enjoy
The effects of pride
Doodle’s stories
The narrator’s agenda concerning his brother’s abilities
A natural disaster that devastates the narrator’s family
The reason for the interruption of a family dinner
Why the narrator rushes home as the story reaches its climax
A somber discovery
This 30-slide PowerPoint presentation complements a unit on memory devices and study skills for high school freshmen. The following concepts are covered in a visually pleasing manner:
Memory (includes 3 brief memory exercises requiring students to attempt to remember 13 items; this always lends itself to great follow-up discussion on memory devices students used to meet their goal)
Aspects of Short-term and Long-term Memory
Stages of Memory
Numbers and Why They Tend to Frustrate the Brain
Ebbinghaus’s Memory Curve (a.k.a. “Forgetting Curve”)
Contributing Factors that Influence Retention of Information
Flashbulb Memory
The Importance of Reviewing Information Over Time
Memory Devices
Mnemonics
Acronyms
Chunking
Grouping
Repetition
Flashcards
Imagery & Visualization
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “Charles” by Shirley Jackson. The resource may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The identity of the narrator
Laurie’s tendencies upon returning home from school
The general characterization of Laurie’s teacher
Laurie’s changing behavior toward his parents
Mrs. Hyman’s concerns about Laurie’s schooling
The lesson Mr. Hyman believes Laurie must learn
The reason Mrs. Hyman cannot attend a parent-teacher conference
The general characterization of Charles
Mr. Hyman’s suggestion pertaining to Charles’ mother
A revelation in the resolution
Help high school students analyze how Doris Lessing used figurative language (simile), alliteration, descriptive language, and characterization to develop a compelling narrative and a mature, emotionally intelligent protagonist in “Through the Tunnel.” Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, 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.
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this set of quizzes covering chapters 17 through 29 of Feed by M.T. Anderson, a dystopian science fiction novel. A multiple choice quiz and answer key are provided, as well as a short answer alternative option for re-assessment. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Questions pertain to details from the sections titled “Release” (chapter 17) through “A Day in the Country” (chapter 29):
Violet’s excitement
Unique terminology for deliberately causing one’s feed to malfunction
The condition of Violet’s feedware
Titus’s dreams
Violet’s beliefs about corporate influence on society
Violet’s behavior at the mall
Characteristics associated with School™
Violet’s classification of America’s system of government
How Titus’s parents try to cheer him up
The fate of the hacker from earlier in the novel
The reason Violet’s father speaks the way he does
An unsettling question asked by Violet