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 go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a meaningful excerpt from chapter 21 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is 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 and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of the given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare the content of Perry’s most recent letter to Kenny to his previous letters
Apply knowledge of literary devices
Choose relevant textual evidence in support of a claim
Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help students engage in analysis of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers with this set of close reading worksheets delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Passages from chapters 1, 5, 10, 14, and 21 are featured. Answer keys are included.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Identify textual evidence in support of claims
Discern what given passages reflect about the protagonist’s modes of thinking
Make logical inferences about characters’ psychological states based on actions
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices
Determine the functions of given passages
Analyze a situation to discern what is both positive and negative in terms of its outcome
Explore character motivations
Explain how dramatic irony is present in a given passage
Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
Examine how complex characters behave and interact
Discern tone in context
Write with clarity and precision
And more
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 a meaningful excerpt from chapter 2 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is 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 and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how knowledge of the Vietnam War’s outcome emotionally influences the reader
Describe tone in context
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Isolate an example of figurative language
Conduct brief research to identify parallels between the narrator and the author James Baldwin
Decide what the primary function of the excerpt is
Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
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 two meaningful excerpts from chapter 5 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is 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 and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Evaluate the positive and negative aspects of a particular situation
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on dramatic irony, personification, and simile
Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
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 a meaningful excerpt from chapter 1 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is 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 and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Isolate an example of figurative language
Select textual evidence in support of a claim
Decide what the primary function of the excerpt is
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
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 a meaningful excerpt from chapter 14 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is 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 and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of the given excerpt
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Choose relevant textual evidence in support of a claim
Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
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 a meaningful excerpt from chapter 10 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is 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 and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on alliteration
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a lesser-known Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Donkey.” An answer key and copy of the short story 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
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, dramatic irony, simile, and situational irony
Articulate a relevant theme
Explore the motif of the guest-host relationship
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 a short story by the Brothers Grimm: “Gossip Wolf and the Fox.” 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:
Gossip Wolf’s general disposition
Gossip Wolf’s request of the fox
The fox’s general disposition
Acts of deception
The humans’ treatment of Gossip Wolf
The resolution
And more
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “Gossip Wolf and the Fox” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are 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
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including consonance, dramatic irony, verbal irony, and more
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering a short story by the Brothers Grimm: “The Donkey.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the fairy tale. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
A queen’s self-image
The donkey’s relation to the king and queen
The queen’s treatment of the donkey
The donkey’s love of music
Factors that contribute to the donkey’s sadness
A king’s kindness
A servant’s secret order
The donkey’s transformation
The resolution
And more
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Wolf and the Man” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. 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 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
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Isolate an example of figurative language
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering a short story by the Brothers Grimm: “The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the fairy tale. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The reason for the mother goat’s departure
Distinguishing characteristics of the wolf
The mother’s emotional state as she departs
Means by which the wolf tries to trick the little goats
The number of eaten goats
The location of the uneaten goat(s)
Means by which the eaten goats are rescued
The wolf’s cause of death
The goats’ collective reaction to the wolf’s death
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are 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 function of a given excerpt
Consider the tone of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including aphorism, invective, onomatopoeia, situational irony, and more
Isolate an example of figurative language
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Three Brothers” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are 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
Describe tone in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Isolate an example of figurative language
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering a short story by the Brothers Grimm: “The Three Brothers.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the Grimm’s fairy tale. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The brothers’ common objective
The nature of the father’s relationship with his sons
The brothers’ distinct interests
Secondary characters who cross paths with primary characters
The resolution
And more
Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop close reading analysis skills with this bundle of rigorous worksheets covering The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Each activity focuses on a single vignette from the novel and helps readers get a better sense of how the author’s literary style develops character and advances plot. Answer keys are provided, and all materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
These resources may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these activities, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words or phrases as they are used in the text
Discern the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Compare and contrast characters
Explore a variety of objects for symbolic value
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, repetition, situational irony, dramatic irony, and more
Articulate the greater significance of given details
Explore important social concepts such as gender inequality and institutional bias
Conduct brief research on relevant topics
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
And more
Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Beautiful and Cruel.” An answer key is included. 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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials including a dictionary or thesaurus
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Make logical predictions based on context clues
Compare and contrast two characters (Nenny and Esperanza)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification
Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Red Clowns.” An answer key is included. 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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Infer a reason the author named this vignette “Red Clowns”
Consider the role of the setting in context
Discern the greater significance of a given detail (Esperanza’s being labeled “Spanish girl”)
Discern the intended effect of figurative language in context (“the moon that watched”)
Consider tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the twenty-fifth vignette titled “Geraldo No Last Name.” 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
Connect the phrase “Nothing in his pockets” to the vignette’s title
Articulate the significance of the phrase “Nothing in his pockets”
Discern the intended effect of the author’s stylistic choices (with emphasis on the incorporation of fragments and colloquialisms)
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including verbal irony and dramatic irony
Explore the concept of systematic prejudice, or institutional bias, in the text
Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision