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.
“Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros is a coming-of-age short story involving a girl who, for the first time, experiences public marginalization and must learn to navigate an unjust world. This close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking. While the close reading activity upholds academic rigor and eliminates the need for take-home assessment planning, the brevity of the narrative helps teachers fill awkward gaps in their teaching schedules. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing the close reading activity, students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Isolate the story’s inciting incident
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Identify the narrative’s antagonist
Evaluate the significance of the teacher’s last name (Price) given the context of the plot
Argue in support of the claim that the protagonist is smarter and wiser than a typical eleven-year-old
Predict how Rachel will be affected by her embarrassing classroom experience
Explore the symbolic meaning behind the phrases “big red mountain” and “runaway balloon”
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Explore theme
Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials
With this plot-based quiz covering the second part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the second part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Assumptions about the car that backfired
Another alarming noise
The effects of World War I on Septimus Warren Smith
Lucrezia Warren Smith’s work
Maisie Johnson’s native city
The reason Maisie approaches the Smiths
The effect of the abovementioned interaction on Maisie
Carrie Dempster’s judgment of Maisie
Carrie Dempster’s self-reflection
Carrie Dempster’s personal goals
With this plot-based quiz covering the fourth part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the fourth part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
What Peter’s thoughts reflect about his psychological state
A detail about Clarissa that Peter does not like
Peter’s observations
Peter’s actions at Trafalgar Square
Peter’s actions at Regent’s Park
Interactions between Peter and Sally
Clarissa’s hobby when she was younger
Peter’s initial assessment of the relationship between Clarissa and Richard
Peter’s assessment of Clarissa’s soul
The location of Peter’s meet-up with Clarissa
With this plot-based quiz covering the first part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the first part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Clarissa’s plans
The setting
Peter Walsh
Clarissa’s reaction to Peter’s letters
Hugh Whitbread
An article of clothing on which Clarissa focuses
Clarissa’s self-image
Clarissa’s feelings toward Doris Kilman
Elizabeth’s relation to Clarissa
Mrs. Pym’s profession
An alarming sound
With this plot-based quiz covering the third part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the third part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Lucy’s profession
A reason for Clarissa’s loneliness
The location where Clarissa often reads
The subject of a book Clarissa reads
The reason Clarissa sleeps alone
The reason Aunt Helen takes offense to Clarissa
The interaction between Sally and Joseph
The reason Clarissa declines Lucy’s offer of help
Peter’s peculiar tendency
Peter’s personal history, especially as it relates to Clarissa
Peter’s emotional reaction
Clarissa’s reminder
With this plot-based quiz covering the sixth part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the sixth part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Septimus’ personal interests
The location of Septimus and Lucrezia’s first meeting
The role of Mr. Brewer in Septimus’ life
Qualities of Lucrezia that agitate Septimus
Septimus’ perspective of the world
Dr. Holmes’ recommendations
Septimus’ delusions
The interaction between Septimus and Bradshaw
Bradshaw’s intentions
Lucrezia’s reaction to Bradshaw’s departure
Lady Bradshaw’s personal history
With this plot-based quiz covering the last part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the last part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The role of Mrs. Walker
Clarissa’s feelings about her own party
The reason Clarissa throws parties
The identity of Lady Rosseter
Ellie Henderson’s relation to Clarissa
Sally’s past interaction with Hugh Whitbread
Sally and Clarissa’s more recent personal history
Peter’s feelings about attending the party
Noteworthy guests
Jim Hutton’s general characterization
Lady Bruton’s evaluation of Richard’s marriage and its effect on Richard
The reason Clarissa gets upset at the Bradshaws
Clarissa’s feelings toward Septimus
Sally’s analysis of Clarissa’s feelings for Peter
Peter’s beliefs
With this plot-based quiz covering the seventh part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the seventh part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Lady Bruton’s request of Hugh and Richard
Lady Bruton’s solution to the problems of the British Empire
Lady Bruton’s self-reflections
Richard’s assessment of Hugh
Observations that upset Richard
Richard’s gift for Clarissa
The reason Clarissa feels external pressure
The company Elizabeth keeps
Clarissa’s concerns about how she is perceived
With this plot-based quiz covering the fifth part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the fifth part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Dr. Holmes’ evaluation of Septimus’ condition
Sir William Bradshaw
Lucrezia’s emotional state
Septimus’ feelings as they relate to his marriage
The role of Evans in Septimus’ life
Septimus’ delusions
Peter’s evidence in support of the claim that England has changed
Sylvia’s relation to Clarissa
The cause of Sylvia’s death
The identity of the person Peter blames for Sylvia’s death
An incident that shaped Peter’s opinion of Richard
The reason Peter is surprised by Sally
With this plot-based quiz covering the eighth part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the eighth part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Doris Kilman’s general disposition
The reason Doris lost her job
Clarissa’s evaluation of Elizabeth and Doris’ friendship
Elizabeth and Doris’ shopping trip
Doris’ self-image
Doris’ judgment of Clarissa
Doris’ advice for Elizabeth
How Doris’s emotional state is calmed
Mr. Fletcher’s behavior
Elizabeth’s interests
Clarissa’s judgment of Elizabeth
With this plot-based quiz covering the ninth part of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. In addition to the answer key, a copy of the ninth part of Mrs. Dalloway is provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Lucrezia and Septimus’ personal history
How Septimus helps his wife
Septimus’ “visitor”
Why Lucrezia is happy
How Dr. Holmes is greeted by Lucrezia
The doctors’ advice for Septimus
The manner of Septimus’ death
Peter’s letter
Peter’s vision of his future
Peter’s dinner
A story in the newspaper
Peter’s feelings about Clarissa’s party
Measure and extend reading comprehension of the first third of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale. Included are two assessments for differentiation purposes, one subjective and one objective. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered as Word Documents and PDFs.
Questions pertain to the following important details:
The emptiness and loneliness of her room
Serena Joy’s previous life
The Japanese tourists’ interest in handmaids’ lives
The Wall
The teachings of Aunt Lydia
The doctor’s offer
Offred’s previous life
Moira’s escape attempt and its consequences
The loss of the narrator’s daughter
The Ceremony
The news Nick shares with Offred
Reduce teacher workload, measure general reading comprehension, and promote homework accountability with this printable quiz on “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following key ideas:
Primary setting
Rainsford’s hobby
An inciting incident
The characterization of the antagonist
The protagonist’s initial impression of the antagonist
The antagonist’s means of gathering his game
The start of the hunt
The antagonist’s motivations
Rainsford’s successes
The climax
The resolution
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills for high school with this close reading analysis worksheet covering the science fiction short story “The Star Beast” by Nicholas Stuart Gray. A detailed answer key is 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 as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques with emphasis on how the author helps the audience empathize with a non-human protagonist
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hubris and situational irony
Consider themes in context
Articulate how the narrative conforms to standard conventions of science fiction
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
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 Act 2, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Annotate text to show active engagement
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Choose the best textual evidence in support of a claim
Apply knowledge of personification, dramatic irony, and simile
Choose a theme that is best reinforced in a given passage
Support inferences or claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
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 Act 2, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Annotate text to show active engagement
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings
Infer 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 personification, paradox, and foreshadowing
Choose the best textual evidence in support of a claim
Discern the tone of Friar Laurence’s soliloquy
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter one of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. With this resource, students will focus on significant details in order to develop a deeper understanding of the novel and its craft, thus helping them contribute more meaningfully during class discussions. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging in this exercise, students will…
Analyze characterization
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Read closely to isolate accurate statements from false statements
Determine author’s intent
Analyze the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the novel
Determine the significance of a given detail
This 30-slide PowerPoint presentation complements a unit on memory devices and study skills for high school freshmen. The following concepts are covered in a visually pleasing manner:
Memory (includes 3 brief memory exercises requiring students to attempt to remember 13 items; this always lends itself to great follow-up discussion on memory devices students used to meet their goal)
Aspects of Short-term and Long-term Memory
Stages of Memory
Numbers and Why They Tend to Frustrate the Brain
Ebbinghaus’s Memory Curve (a.k.a. “Forgetting Curve”)
Contributing Factors that Influence Retention of Information
Flashbulb Memory
The Importance of Reviewing Information Over Time
Memory Devices
Mnemonics
Acronyms
Chunking
Grouping
Repetition
Flashcards
Imagery & Visualization
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Imp of the Perverse” by Edgar Allan Poe, a piece of horror and psychological fiction that explores the impulse to do wrong for wrong’s sake alone. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative, which is especially fitting for the Halloween season, are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The principles of phrenology
The narrator’s assessment of phrenology
The narrator’s understanding of perverseness
The location from which the narrator shares his account
The means by which the narrator committed his crime
How the narrator learned of the murder method
The immediate results of the murder
How the narrator’s mind shifts over time
The narrator’s repeated motto
How the public comes to learn of the narrator’s crime
The narrator’s ponderings in the resolution
Go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet to complement chapter 1 of Dracula by Bram Stoker. An answer key and copy of the chapter, which is in the public domain, are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable 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.
By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s narrative techniques with emphasis on how setting influences mood
Determine the function of a given paragraph
Consider the greater significance of given details
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on foreshadowing and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Gothic literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision