Evaluate reading comprehension, support critical thinking, and embrace the spirit of Christmas and wintertime no matter the time of year with this bundle of plot-based quizzes, close reading analysis worksheets, vocabulary development exercises, and an end-of-unit test for six holiday-themed short stories: “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote, “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, “The Burglar’s Christmas” by Willa Cather, “At Christmas Time” by Anton Chekhov, “The Heavenly Christmas Tree” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and “Three Wise Guys” by Sandra Cisneros. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Determine the functions of given excerpts Describe and examine tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany, foreshadowing, idiom, metaphor, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, situational irony, 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, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching O. Henry’s Christmas-themed short story “The Gift of the Magi.” A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, vocabulary application activity, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Explore how the author’s narrative techniques shape the readers’ understanding of the story Consider tone in context Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices including onomatopoeia, hyperbole, foreshadowing, paradox, and eye dialect Isolate examples of sexist stereotypes throughout the story Argue whether the author’s stylistic choice to capitalize a common noun (Combs) is acceptable Conduct brief online research in order to answer questions as needed Choose a relevant theme in the context of a given excerpt Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and encourage analysis of characters and plot with these worksheets and assessments covering Isaac Asimov’s science fiction short story “Robot Dreams.” A plot-based quiz, a vocabulary application handout, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, a close reading inference worksheet, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Analyze sentence structures with emphasis on the use of an appositive phrase Analyze the author’s stylistic choice to capitalize common noun phrases Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, pun, and personification Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction

For many middle and high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. This bundle focuses on three representative short stories by Toni Cade Bambara: “Raymond’s Run,” “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird,” and “Geraldine Moore the Poet.” English Language Arts teachers may use this bundle as a tool for evaluating general reading comprehension, supporting the development of close reading analysis skills, and promoting homework accountability. Included are the following: editable, plot-based quizzes for each narrative; close reading analysis activities for each narrative; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.

Evaluate general reading comprehension and help students analyze characters, plot, and literary craft with this bundle of materials covering Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading inference worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Choose an opinion with which Granny would most likely agree based on an anecdote she shares with her family Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, idiom, and onomatopoeia Draw parallels between the American folk hero John Henry and the character of Granddaddy Cain Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the science fiction short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Isolate numerous examples of sensory language Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s narrative techniques Draw parallels to currently existing technologies Consider themes in context Support claims and inferences with relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Young Goodman Brown.” Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading questions, a craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, a word search game, a crossword puzzle, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Determine the narrative’s dominant conflict Articulate how the narrative is consistent with the conventions of Dark Romanticism (Gothic literature) Discern the intended effect of the author’s language Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including anaphora, ambiguity, personification, foreshadowing, simile, and onomatopoeia Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision