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 assessment planning responsibilities with this set of two quizzes covering Book 2, chapters 9 and 10, of George Orwell’s 1984. A multiple choice quiz and short answer option are included. Use one for post-reading comprehension checks, and use the other as a guided reading worksheet or re-assessment opportunity. Answer keys are also provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Winston’s 90-hour work week
Oceania’s new enemy
Goldstein’s book
Crimestop
A singing prole woman
“We are the dead”
The picture on the wall and what it conceals
The sudden appearance of troops
A realization about Mr. Charrington
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 “And of Clay Are We Made” by Isabel Allende, as translated by Margaret Sayers Peden. 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 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
Describe tone in context
Determine the functions of given excerpts
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, metaphor, personification, situational irony, symbolism, and more
Reflect on what the story implies about the power of the media
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 “And of Clay Are We Created” by Isabel Allende, as translated by Margaret Sayers Peden. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The nature of the natural disaster
The age of the trapped girl
The identity of the narrator
Rolf’s career
Means by which people try to help the trapped girl
Rolf’s reflections
Interactions between Rolf and the trapped girl
The narrator’s assessment of Rolf’s condition
And more
Help middle and 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 “Catch the Moon” by Judith Ortiz Cofer. 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 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 the author’s use of punctuation in context
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Evaluate whether the protagonist’s father bears responsibility for his behavior
Activate knowledge of the fairy tale “Cinderella” and compare the titular character to Luis
Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany, hyperbole, symbolism, and more
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “Catch the Moon” by Judith Ortiz Cofer. 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: ancient, barrio, cementerio, correspondence, decapitate, hijo, hubcap, juvenile, makeshift, metal, relic, and vulgar.
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 duties with this plot-based, multiple choice quiz covering the short story “Catch the Moon” by Judith Ortiz Cofer. Additionally, a short answer option is provided for re-assessment purposes. These resources may double as guided reading handouts to foster active reading habits among students. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Luis’s criminal behavior and its consequences
The reason for disruptive behavior
Luis’s defining characteristics
How Luis made his gang “legal”
The general characterization of Luis’s dad
The reason Naomi comes to the junkyard
Naomi’s positive influence on Luis
Borrowing his father’s car
The reason Luis cries for his mother
The significance of the “treasure hunt”
An evolving relationship with Luis’s father
Finding textual support for Luis’s status as a dynamic character
Internal vs. external conflict and seeking textual evidence
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “American History” by Judith Ortiz Cofer. 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: abrupt, altar, dilapidated, discreet, elation, enthralled, hierarchy, hija, hue, infatuated, resigned, solace, vigaroes, and wail.
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 the short story “American History” by Judith Ortiz Cofer. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
Elena’s general demeanor
Elena’s likes and dislikes
Elena’s impression of Eugene
The dream of Elena’s parents
Elena’s personal goals
A major historical event
Elena’s observations as she heads home
Elena’s intentions in the hours following the historical event
The interaction between Elena and Eugene’s mom
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The White Umbrella” by Gish Jen. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The nature of the practice sessions
The narrator’s lies
The bickering between the narrator and her sister
The reason the narrator is reluctant to ask for a white umbrella
The interaction between the narrator and her teacher
A misunderstanding involving the white umbrella
The narrator’s awkward admission to her teacher
The reason for the mother’s delay
The mother’s sharing of a Chinese saying
A terrifying incident
The fate of the white umbrella
Help middle and 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 “American History” by Judith Ortiz Cofer. 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 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
Consider how a change in point of view would affect the reader’s perception of Elena’s mother
Discern the main conflict of the narrative
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast two characters
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, personification, simile, and more
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 “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Point of view
Setting
The general characterizations of the men at sea
The correspondent’s assessment of Nature
The identity of the character who dies
How the surviving men perceive themselves following their shared experience
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “Lullaby” by Leslie Marmon Silko. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The protagonist’s name
The fate of each of the protagonist’s children
Setting
The significance of the snow
Conflicts between the protagonist and her husband
Memories of the protagonist’s mother and grandmother
The reason for the husband’s firing
The husband’s irresponsible financial decisions
The context of the lullaby
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Californian’s Tale” by Mark Twain. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Point of view
The amount of time that has passed
The area’s reputation
The narrator’s assessment of those who live in log cabins
The narrator’s observations about the cabin
Why the narrator is encouraged to stay
The concerns of the narrator
How the host’s personality changes over the course of the story
How the host’s friends subdue him
The truth about the host’s life
The host’s apparent medical condition
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “Tuesday Siesta” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The characters’ means of transportation
The nature of the relationship between mother and daughter
The purpose of the characters’ trip
Carlos’ general characterization
The priest’s treatment of the mother
The object given to the mother by the priest
The mother’s disposition in the face of scrutiny
And more
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, answer keys. and a copy of the narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: acclivity, apprehension, apprise, ardently, assent, brooding, deference, dictum, elude, gesticulate, giddy, idler, ineffable, keen, luminous, monotonous, oscillation, pier, poignant, presage, preternaturally, secessionist, sentinel, stockade, subdue, summarily, uncanny, and undulation.
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 the short story “In Another Country” by Ernest Hemingway. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Historical context
Setting
The general characterization of the narrator
The nature of soldiers’ injuries
Interactions between characters
The resolution
And more
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, answer keys. and a copy of the parable are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: abashed, antipathy, apprehensive, countenance, fain, hastily, hoary, imbue, indecorous, iniquity, irreproachable, magistrate, moldered, ostentatious, pathos, portend, precede, pulpit, remonstrance, sagacious, shudder, solicitude, summon, thither, tremulous, venerable, waggery, and zealous.
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 the short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Historical context
Setting
The general characterization of the protagonist
The inciting incident
Psychological effects of the protagonist’s conflict
The resolution
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the parable are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
The subject of the minister’s sermon
The townspeople’s reaction to the veiled minister
Elizabeth’s relationship to the minister
An observation made during a funeral service
The reason for the minister’s fear at a wedding ceremony
The minister’s caretaker when he becomes elderly
Whether or not the minister ever permits his veil to be lifted
The nature of the minister’s dying remarks
And more
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 “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner. An answer key and copy of the narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Reflect on the significance of the narrative’s title
Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings
Infer 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
Compare and contrast two characters
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, personification, metaphor, 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