We create engaging English language arts resources that help teachers save time! We are full-time teachers and have taught in a middle school for over 20 years. Our goal is to create high-quality resources focused on grades 5-9.
We create engaging English language arts resources that help teachers save time! We are full-time teachers and have taught in a middle school for over 20 years. Our goal is to create high-quality resources focused on grades 5-9.
This novel study unit for Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston has everything you need to support your students as they read Alston’s engaging fantasy novel.
In this Amari and the Night Brothers novel study, you will find:
Chapter Summaries formatted for teacher use & distribution to students.
Discussion Questions
Comprehension Activities
Vocabulary Quizzes
Whole Book Multiple-Choice Assessment in print and self-correcting Google form version.
Student Discussion Question Worksheets
End-of-book essay question
Answer Keys
Comprehensive teacher Information pages
Each chapter contains multiple leveled questions allowing the teacher to differentiate for all students.
Another resource you might like:
Fantasy Genre Study Unit
This resource helps you teach students how themes enrich the story, how symbols can add depth, and how motifs can enhance the overall meaning of a text. These engaging activities and readings will help students sharpen their analytical skills and develop a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling.
Inside this resource, you will find…
A day-by-day lesson pacing guide
An editable Google slide presentation providing an overview with examples of symbolism, motif, and theme
9 total practice sheets for all three concepts
A fifteen-question multiple-choice assessment in both print and self-correcting Google form formats
This novel study unit for Ghost by Jason Reynolds has everything you need, including chapter summaries, to support your readers as they read Reynolds’ award winning novel.
In the Ghost novel study, you will find:
*** Chapter Summaries** formatted for teacher use & distribution to students.
Discussion Questions
Comprehension Activities
Vocabulary Quizzes
5 Multiple Choice Assessments presented in both print and self-correcting Google form versions
Student Discussion Question Worksheets
End of the novel questions/activities
Answer Keys
Teacher Information pages
Another resource you might be interested in:
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds Novel Study Unit
This 4 week long mystery genre study unit provides students with an understanding of the mystery genre through engaging slide presentations, original mystery short stories, creative writing story starters and comprehension sheets.
This 97 page/slide unit also includes:
A list of the mystery terms suitable for posting.
Differentiated note-taking sheets to help students record mystery terms and definitions.
Formative and summative assessments with answer keys.
Mystery story graphic organizers.
Mystery “story starter” peer feedback forms (in the digital format only.)
Rubric
Other resources you might be interested in:
Trash by Andy Mulligan Novel Study
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone Novel Study Unit
Science Fiction Genre Study
Students love science fiction and this Science Fiction Genre Study unit makes it easy to immerse them in this interesting genre. This month long unit is always a great hit in our classrooms!
This 130 page/ slide Science Fiction genre study unit is presented in both print and digital formats and includes the following:
2 colorful lesson presentations
An Introduction to the characteristics of science fiction
Two original science fiction short stories to help teach the characteristics of science fiction.
Identifying science fiction characteristics in a text
Differentiated note-taking sheets
Assessments
A quiz of the science fiction terms
2 multiple choice assessments (also in self-correcting Google form versions)
Answer Keys
Other resources you might like:
Unwind by Neal Shusterman Novel Study Unit
The Last Cuentista Novel Study Unit
Leverage students’ enthusiasm for graphic novels and meld it with research and informational writing! This resource not only helps teachers teach the elements of graphic novels such as splash pages, frames, use of color, close ups etc., It also teaches narrative elements such as characterization and dialog.
This month-long, 160 page/slide graphic novel unit will guide you through teaching your students all about graphic novels, their unique elements and how to convert traditional text into a graphic novel format. Students will learn how to read and analyze graphic novels for their literary aspects then create a research-based graphic novel biography.
Although this resource contains lessons focused on how to create a biography graphic novel, you can easily adapt the lessons to teach your students how to convert stories, personal narratives or other types of informational text into a graphic novel format!*
This resource was created using Google slides.
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Pacing Guide
Standards List
4 Lesson Presentations
*Introduction to Graphic Novel Elements
*Graphic Novel vs. Novel- Literary Elements (Setting, Dialog, Mood, Traits)
*How to Create a Graphic Novel Activity
*Biography Graphic Novel Project
Reading Comprehension Activity Sheets
Assessments with answer keys
Applying Graphic Novel Elements Practice
Storyboard
Research Planning Pages
Ten Unique Graphic Novel Layout Templates
Graphic Novel Biography Project Checklist
Rubric
Links to Digital Files
Other resources you might be interested in:
Middle School Narrative Writing Unit
Character Traits Resource
This novel study unit for City Spies by James Ponti has everything you need to support your students as they read Ponti’s mystery/thriller novel.
in this novel study for City Spies, you will find:
Chapter summaries presented in two ways-one for teacher use and another one for student use.
Supplemental information presentation (created in Google Slides).
Student discussion question pages (print and digital formats)
Comprehension activities (print and digital formats)
Vocabulary lists
Vocabulary quizzes
2 Extension question writing activities
End-of-Book, multiple-choice assessment (in print and Google form version).
Answer keys
Learning targets
Character list
Another resource you might be interested in:
Mystery Genre Study Unit
Point of View and Perspective can be challenging to teach because each term is often used interchangeably. To make teaching easier and a little less stressful, we’ve created this 48-page, low-prep resource. Inside, you’ll find a slide show that has clear definitions and simplified examples to help you introduce students to the concepts of point-of-view and perspective.
Here’s what you get…
A day-by-day week-long lesson plan
An editable Google slide presentation providing an overview of the five types of point-of-view as well as an overview of perspective and its influencing factors
A note-taking sheet to keep students engaged during the presentation
A point-of-view practice sheet
A quiz to help students understand the factors that influence perspective
A comprehension practice sheet that prompts students to identify and analyze a character’s perspective
A fifteen-question multiple-choice assessment in both print and self-correcting Google form formats
This novel study unit for THE LAST CUENTISTA by Donna Barba Higuera has everything you need to support your students as they read Barba Higuera’s science fiction novel.
In this The Last Cuentista novel study, you will find:
**Chapter summaries **formatted for teacher use & distribution to students.
Supplemental Information SLIDES presentation
Student discussion question pages
Comprehension activities
Vocabulary lists
Vocabulary quizzes
End of Novel, Multiple Choice Assessment (in Google form version too)
Answer Keys
This is unit is offered in a print and digital format so you can upload digital student sheets to a learning management system.
The structure of this resource allows for easy differentiation to help you support your students in class.
Other resources you might be interested in:
Science Fiction Genre Study
Unwind by Neal Shusterman Novel Study Unit
December is full of holidays and this unit will help you explore them with your students in fun and engaging ways while meeting the standards. Start each class with a bell ringer then follow that up with a group writing activity centered around a holiday-themed prompt. Your students can spend a class designing a toy and telling a story from that toy’s point of view. They’ll also have the opportunity to work on nonfiction reading comprehension with five original informational articles about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Christmas in America, and Christmas in Australia. Each non-fiction article comes with a corresponding assessment featuring multiple-choice and constructed response questions.
These activities are designed to give teachers choices. Activities last anywhere from 10 minutes to multiple classes. Each activity stands on its own or works as part of the mini-unit. If you teach one grade level or multiple grade levels across many sections, we’ve got you covered!
Inside this Resource…
Story Starter Activity
Write-Around Activity
The Secret Life of a Toy Writing Activity
5 Informational Articles Featuring:
Hanukkah
Christmas in the U.S.
Kwanzaa
Las Posadas
Christmas in Australia
Assessments: Multiple-choice/Constructed response (print & digital)
Five Fun Bell Ringer Writing Prompts
Story Writing Rubric
Prompt Response Sheets
Links to Digital Files
Answer Keys and More!
Another resource you might be interested in:
End of (School) Year Activities
This novel study unit for “The Door of No Return” by Kwame Alexander has everything you need to support your students as they read Alexander’s important new novel.
In the The Door of No Return novel study, you will find:
Chapter summaries formatted for both teacher use & distribution to students
Supplemental information presentation
Student discussion question pages
Comprehension activities
Vocabulary lists
Vocabulary quizzes
Extension essay question
End of Novel, Multiple Choice Assessment (also in Google form version)
Answer Keys
Unlock the secrets of literature with our literary devices bundle! This product contains engaging lessons on mood, tone, symbolism, theme, motif, perspective, and point of view.
Each lesson is crafted to provide clear explanations in a thought-provoking manner.
By incorporating these resources into your curriculum, you’ll help your students develop critical thinking skills, and foster a deeper appreciation for literature all while helping them to improve their overall reading comprehension.
Purchase this bundle and transform your classroom into a center of literary exploration!
Included in this Bundle:
Lesson Presentations That Teach Each Literary Device (75 Slides)
13 Student Practice Activities
3 End-of-Unit Assessments With Answer Keys
3 Pacing Guides
Student Information Pages
15-20 Total Instructional Days
Our Tone and Mood resource contains informative slide shows, writing activities, practice sheets, and assessments that help teachers save time as they teach students to understand the similarities and differences between these concepts.
What’s inside…
An editable Google Slides lesson presentation that clearly explains mood and tone
Pacing guide
4 Student practice sheets
Identifying the Mood graphic organizer (can be used with choice reading book)
A visual writing prompt to practice Creating a Mood
Identifying the Tone of a passage
Adding Tone writing activity
A student information page
3 Assessments on mood
Answer keys
This novel study unit for Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds has everything you need to support your students as they read Reynolds’ award winning novel.
In this Look Both Ways novel study, you will find:
Chapter Summaries formatted for teacher use & distribution to students.
Discussion Questions
Comprehension Activities
Vocabulary Quizzes
Three Multiple-Choice Assessments (one every 3-4 chapters) and a comprehensive end-of-the-unit multiple-choice assessment.
Student Discussion Question Worksheets
End of the novel essay question
Answer Keys
Teacher Information pages
Each chapter contains multiple leveled questions allowing the teacher to differentiate for all students.
Another resource you might be interested in:
Ghost by Jason Reynolds Novel Study Unit
Take the stress out of teaching pronouns with this engaging, student-centered, standards-aligned unit. This resource is a result of the many years we’ve spent refining the way we teach pronouns in our middle school classrooms. We’ve learned teaching grammar is a balance between introducing new concepts at a level most middle school students can grasp (without overwhelming them) while reinforcing their understanding of the fundamentals. Through the years, we have learned that when we get this balance right, grammar study really helps our students become knowledgeable, confident, and successful writers. (It can also be fun!) This resource helps students understand pronoun case, indefinite singular pronouns, relative pronouns, as well as reflexive and intensive pronouns.
INSIDE THIS RESOURCE, YOU WILL FIND…
A List of Standards/Learning Objectives
Teacher Background Information Pages for all Concepts
A Noun Review Lesson Presentation
An Engaging, Editable, 27-slide Lesson Presentation Covering:
possessive, subjective, and objective cases
indefinite singular pronouns
reflexive and intensive pronouns
relative pronouns
Fifteen (15) Printable Student Practice Pages
Five (5) Printable Quizzes
End- of-Unit Assessment in Print and Google™ Form Versions
Answer Keys
Links to Presentations and Digital Assessments
Other resources you might like:
Understanding Phrases and Clauses
This engaging grammar resource is the product of many years refining the teaching of phrases and clauses in a middle school classroom. These activities get students to the point where they are able to identify phrases and clauses, use phrases and clauses effectively in writing, and punctuate correctly. It really helps our students become knowledgeable, confident, successful writers too!
INSIDE THIS RESOURCE, YOU WILL FIND…
A List of Standards/Learning Objectives
Teacher Information Pages
5 Editable, Review Lesson Presentations:
Nouns
Verbs
Prepositions
Conjunctions
Subject/Predicate
Printable Student Practice Pages Connected to all Presentations
PRE and POST Assessments in Print and Google™ form Versions
Review Quiz
Editable, Step-by-Step Phrases and Clauses Slide Presentation
More Printable Student Practice Sheets
Punctuation Guidelines Page
Answer Keys
Links to Presentations and Digital Assessments**
Teach verbals, voice, and mood with this engaging, student-centered, standards-aligned unit. We’ve spent years refining the way we teach these grammar topics in our middle school classrooms and learned teaching grammar is a balance between introducing new concepts at a level most middle school students can grasp (without overwhelming them) while reinforcing their understanding of the fundamentals. Through the years, we have learned that when we get this balance right, grammar study really helps our students become knowledgeable, confident, and successful writers. (It can also be enjoyable!) This resource helps students understand gerunds, infinitives and participles, passive and active voice as well as the various verb moods.
INSIDE THIS RESOURCE, YOU WILL FIND…
A List of Standards/Learning Objectives
Teacher Background Information Pages for all Concepts
Student Reference Sheet
A 15-Slide Review Lesson Presentation on Verbs, Subjects, and Predicates
An Engaging, Editable, 20-Slide Presentation Covering:
gerunds, adjectival participles, and infinitives
passive and active voice
five verb moods
15 Printable Student Practice Pages
5 Review quizzes
End-of-Unit Assessment in Print and Google™ form Versions
Answer Keys
Links to Presentations and Digital Assessments
Other resources you might like:
Understanding Phrases and Clauses
Understanding Pronouns
Book clubs are a great way to differentiate and offer students choices in what they read. We’ve been teaching them for years and there’s no better way to establish a respectful community of readers. We are offering this freebie to help other teachers get started with book clubs.
Included in this FREEBIE…
Our book club (or literature circle) record sheet will help you manage and organize several groups across several classes.
Our clear and detailed rubric will help you set clear student expectations.
Our example of a completed record sheet will give you an idea of how this tool can help you assess student comprehension.
This FREE resource includes:
Punctuation rules reference sheet
Dialog tag reference sheet
Three activity sheets (print and digital format)
This is great for substitute plans and can also be used as part of a narrative writing unit.
Build a community of readers by getting your students to talk about the books they read! This book review activity is a fun and relaxed way for students to create a book review slide (poster) to share with their classmates. It also helps teachers create a student-driven book list that helps when students are struggling to find their next book to read.
Included in this FREE Resource…
A Book Review Lesson
An Example of a Book Review
A Google Slides Assignment Template to be Shared with Students
A Printable Book Review Activity Page