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 general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this set of two quizzes covering Book 2, chapters 7 and 8, of George Orwell’s 1984. A multiple choice assessment and a short answer option are provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Winston’s nightmare
Winston’s previous belief that he was responsible for his mom’s death
A flood of memories returning
The Party’s influence on its members
How Winston and Julia are jeopardizing their own safety
Winston and Julia’s desire to join the Brotherhood
An encounter with O’Brien
Winston’s feelings after his meeting with O’Brien
Measure general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this set of two quizzes covering Book 2, chapters 4 through 6, of George Orwell’s 1984. A multiple choice assessment and a short answer option are provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The room Winston rents
Julia’s encounter with a rat
The significance of the paperweight
Winston’s imagination as he stares into the paperweight
The expected vanishing of a character
Winston’s reaction to the singing of a prole woman
The hate song and other preparations for Hate Week
Julia’s accusations against the Party
An encounter with O’Brien
O’Brien’s offer to Winston
Measure general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this set of two quizzes covering Book 2, chapters 1 through 3, of George Orwell’s 1984. A multiple choice assessment and a short answer option are provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The irony of Julia’s message to Winston
Analysis of Julia’s comment, “We’re not dead yet.”
Hate Week
The prisoner transport
Winston’s reaction to Julia’s very personal admission
Primary influences on Julia’s behaviors
How the government manipulates people into frenzy
Winston’s alarming admission about his ex-wife
Measure general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this set of two quizzes covering Book 1, chapters 7 and 8, of George Orwell’s 1984. A multiple choice assessment and a short answer option are provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Winston’s assessment on who would best stage a revolt against the government
Winston’s reasoning behind the aforementioned assessment
The logic as to why the proles would not likely stage a revolt
Living conditions
A photograph and Winston’s concerns about it
Winston’s belief on how reality should be determined
Winston’s curiosity about actual history (not the Party-sanctioned accounts of it)
Winston’s fear over being followed
An alternative to the Thought Police’s torture
Measure general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this set of two quizzes covering Book 1, chapters 4 through 6, of George Orwell’s 1984. A multiple choice assessment and a short answer option are provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Comrade Withers
The concept of “unpersoning” someone
The purpose of Newspeak
Examples of Doublespeak
An explanation of Facecrime
Syme’s intelligence and Winston’s concerns about it
Syme’s work
Ironic messaging from the Ministry of Plenty
Winston’s diary entry
The government’s goal concerning sexual behavior
Winston’s ex-wife
Winston’s internal strife
Measure general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this set of two quizzes covering Book 1, chapters 2 and 3, of George Orwell’s 1984. A multiple choice assessment and a short answer option are provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
By completing these quizzes, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Winston’s fear of the Thought Police
The Junior Spies and their job
Public executions of the Party’s dissidents
Winston’s dream involving O’Brien’s voice
Winston’s dream involving his mother
A government purge
Physical jerks
Why it is so difficult to recall one’s childhood
Oceania’s enemy country
Communication via the telescreen
Measure general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this set of two quizzes covering Book 1, chapter 1, of George Orwell’s 1984. A multiple choice assessment and a short answer option are provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The setting
The nature of the propaganda disseminated by way of the telescreen
Winston’s professional responsibilities
The ironic role of the Ministry of Peace
The significance of Emmanuel Goldstein
The general characterization of proles
How Winston rebels against the government
The Party’s treatment of enemies of the state
And more
Engage middle and high school students with a classic example of horror and supernatural fiction, “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs, and use this multiple choice assessment to promote homework accountability and evaluate general reading comprehension. An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the public domain short story. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Weather conditions
Interactions among family members
The visitor’s background
Herbert’s initial reaction to the object
Strange observations in a dying fire
The effects of a strange object
The reason Mr. White is reluctant to make subsequent wishes
Ominous sounds
Conflicting motivations of characters
The resolution
This summative test covers William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By administering this assessment, teachers will evaluate students’ abilities to do the following:
Demonstrate knowledge of aspects of drama including relevant vocabulary and historical context
Demonstrate knowledge significant characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that transpire
Identify the context of meaningful quotations in the play
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the novel including hyperbole, metaphor, situational irony, dramatic irony, verbal irony, and more
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to evaluate tragic mistakes characters make
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Measure general comprehension and hold students accountable for reading The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin with this multiple choice, plot-based quiz covering chapters twelve and thirteen (“Cattle of the Sun” and “Calypso”). An answer key is provided, as is a bonus short answer assessment. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important details:
A warning not to harm the golden cattle
30 days and nights of wind
Efforts to scrounge for food
Eurylochus and his lie to Ulysses
Ulysses means of survival
Calypso’s magic
Calypso’s comments about Penelope
Penelope’s weaving and her attempts to delay a major decision
Hermes’ arrival and its foreshadowing
Calypso’s sadness
Help high school Creative Writing students better understand the conventions of adventure fiction and prepare for the drafting of original short stories with this comprehensive, low-prep, standards-aligned unit plan. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Included are the following:
A detailed, standards-based unit plan articulating the unit’s transfer goal(s), essential question(s), enduring understanding(s), learning target(s), academic vocabulary, formative assessment(s), summative performance task(s), and learning plan(s).
Representative adventure fiction narratives by Jack London (“To Build a Fire”), Richard Connell (“The Most Dangerous Game”), and H.P. Lovecraft (“The Beast in the Cave”).
Worksheets to facilitate analysis of representative literature.
Detailed directions.
Suggested prompts for students who struggle to generate their own ideas
A comprehensive outline for student planning.
A document to facilitate the editing process.
A comprehensive rubric for evaluating student writing.
This summative assessment measures reading comprehension of The Dead and The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It also assesses a student’s ability to write claims in an analysis of the text and its characters using valid reasoning and sufficient evidence. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. A breakdown of content follows.
Part 1. Character Identification.
This matching section features 20 total questions, all of which pertain to the characters of Alex, Briana, Julie, Carlos, Mami, Papi, Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Lorraine, Kevin, Chris, Father Franco, Father Mulrooney, Sister Rita, and Harvey.
Part 2. Plot Recall.
This multiple choice section features 12 total questions. Students must demonstrate that they recall key incidents that occurred throughout the novel.
Part 3. Literary Term Application.
In this multiple choice section featuring 8 total questions, students will be presented with a textual detail that relates to a common literary device, such as foreshadowing, symbolism, metaphor, simile, antagonist, static character, dynamic character, dramatic irony, irony of result, theme, personification, complication, and more. Students must match the appropriate literary device to the given detail.
Part 4. Essay Writing.
Students must choose one of two prompts and write a thoughtful analysis of a character who demonstrates either the character trait of adaptability or perseverance. The student must use sufficient and compelling textual evidence to support their claims and may choose to relay personal anecdotes within their response.
Dystopian fiction and adolescent literature are genres that appeal to the imaginations of many middle and high school students and maximize their ability to relate to literary works. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer is a representative narrative, told from the perspective of a seemingly ordinary teenage girl facing extraordinary conflicts. 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. Additionally, the self-grading nature of all multiple choice questions helps teachers minimize take-home grading responsibilities. An answer key and standards-based rubric for scoring essays are provided. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats.
By taking this assessment, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge of primary and secondary characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that take place throughout the novel
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the novel including hyperbole, personification, metaphor, simile, allusion, onomatopoeia, situational irony, dramatic irony, and verbal irony
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to examine the protagonist’s emotional growth and transformation into a genuine hero
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this bundle of plot-based quizzes covering Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian science fiction novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. Although labeled quizzes, these resources may double as guided reading handouts to support purposeful, more active engagement with literature. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this plot-based quiz covering chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian sci-fi novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included, along with a short answer alternate quiz for reassessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
An incident resulting in the death of Kevin
An item Alex desperately needs to acquire from Harvey
Bri’s weak physical condition
The quarantine and its effect on Port Authority convoys
The typical time frame between convoy departures
Julie’s lack of fear over dying, except under one condition
Alex’s difficult decision for the night Bri’s sole inhaler cartridge empties
Alex’s failing condition and his sisters’ attempts to nurture him back to health
The reason Bri decides to leave the apartment
Bri’s death and the discovery of her body
Sister Rita’s comments on Bri’s faith and its influence on Bri
An offer that could potentially save Alex and Julie’s lives
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this plot-based quiz covering chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian sci-fi novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included, along with a short answer alternate quiz for reassessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Alex’s friends’ concerns for Briana’s health
Alex’s decision for the siblings to skip school to move away
Alex and Kevin’s 'body shopping" endeavors
Julie’s feelings of inferiority
The sudden closing of Julie’s school
The conflict between Bri and Julie regarding the probability that their parents are dead
Lottery tickets
Alex’s efforts to save Julie from a potential kidnapper
Harvey’s arrangements for Alex and Bri
Harvey’s disturbing arrangements for Julie
Mr. Flynn’s kindness and generosity
Alex’s physically exhausting labor
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this plot-based quiz covering chapters 9, 10, and 11 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian sci-fi novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included, along with a short answer alternate quiz for reassessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Natural disasters of epic proportion
Kevin and Alex’s decision to go “body shopping”
A bartering system in a black market
Harvey, the neighborhood dealer with a monopoly
Julie’s devastation following the death of her garden
Alex’s conversation with Sister Rita
Alex’s motive leading to his conversation with Father Franco
A comparison of city life and country life in the current climate
The return of Bri
The witnessing of a suicide and Alex’s subsequent confession
Alex’s decision to confess his sins to Father Mulrooney
A surprise celebration
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this plot-based quiz covering chapters 6, 7, and 8 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian sci-fi novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included, along with a short answer alternate quiz for reassessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Uncle Jimmy’s reappearance
Uncle Jimmy’s offer to Briana
Mr. Dunlap and his kind offer to Alex and Julie
Alex’s conflicting feelings about “stealing” food
Father Mulrooney’s announcement that school will continue through summer
Alex’s specific job, which must be done daily before school
Julie’s newfound love for gardening
The lack of sufficient food resources and the consequent mob
Alex’s failed effort to wish Briana a happy birthday
Father Mulrooney’s “insufficient compassion” and Alex’s reaction to it
Kevin’s kindness and generosity
Volcanic eruptions leading to the deaths of millions
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this plot-based quiz covering chapters 3, 4, and 5 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian sci-fi novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included, along with a short answer alternate quiz for reassessment purposes. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Observations about who is missing in the chapel
Alex’s decision to miss school and visit Yankee Stadium
The rules that must be followed while at Yankee Stadium
Methods of lessening the severity of the experience at Yankee Stadium
Alex’s austere reaction to Julie’s “Who died and made you boss?” remark
Chris Flynn and his father’s generosity
Bri’s belief that Mami may be alive, and her reasoning
Father Franco’s good news concerning Bri
Why Julie is not offered the same opportunity as Bri
A promise Bri wants Alex to make before departing
Alex’s maturity
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this plot-based quiz covering chapters 1 and 2 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian sci-fi novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The absence of Alex’s father
Alex’s brother, Carlos, and his Marine status
The setting of the novel
Why Mami is not home on the night of the meteor strike
Uncle Jimmy’s need for help at the bodega
The phone conversation between Alex and Carlos
Alex’s failed effort to visit the school for more information
Why the subway system is inoperable
The purpose of Alex’s list
Clarification on the disaster provided by Father Franco
Alex’s search for hidden cash
The bulletin board at St. Margaret’s
A curfew, a national day of mourning, and Alex’s belief that the government is searching for solutions
Alex’s visit to the hardware store
A telephone hotline
A phone conversation with Aunt Lorraine
The location of unidentified bodies