For many high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “Geraldine Moore the Poet” by Toni Cade Bambara is a short story focusing on a girl with unfavorable life circumstances who is on the verge of an important self-discovery: that she has a natural talent for expressing herself poetically. With this bundle of high school resources covering “Geraldine Moore the Poet,” English Language Arts teachers will be able to evaluate general reading comprehension and support the continued development of close reading analysis skills. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable, editable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing, idiom, and ambiguity Articulate the function of a given detail Make logical inferences about the author’s intent Demonstrate awareness of the narrative’s inciting incident Articulate the symbolism associated with Geraldine’s being offered tomato soup Choose an opinion with which Geraldine is most likely to agree Evaluate the qualities that make Geraldine’s poem “the most poetic thing” Argue whether Geraldine or Mrs. Scott experiences the greatest epiphany Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

For many high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird” by Toni Cade Bambara is a short story focusing on a Black family whose ways of life are being infringed upon by opportunistic, politically motivated filmmakers. With this bundle of high school resources covering “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird,” English Language Arts teachers will be able to evaluate general reading comprehension and support the continued development of close reading analysis skills. Included are the following: an editable, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others Infer character motivations Articulate the function of a specific character (Cathy) Make logical inferences about the author’s intent Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, idiom, and onomatopoeia Isolate an example of figurative language from among several options Choose an opinion with which Granny would most likely agree based on an anecdote she shares with her family Determine which character or characters are represented in the character of Goldilocks Identify several ways in which the filmmakers dehumanize Granny and members of her family Draw parallels between the American folk hero John Henry and the character of Granddaddy Cain Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Fairy tales are not just for elementary readers; even middle and high school students may use fairy tales as tools for extending beyond reading comprehension and practicing close reading analysis skills. “The Girl Without Hands” by the Brothers Grimm, also known as “The Maiden Without Hands” and “The Armless Maiden,” is a short story about the plight of a maiden whose poor father makes a bargain that results in her disfigurement and confinement. Included are the following: an editable, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; the public domain short story; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others Isolate a factual statement from falsehoods in the context of the miller’s characterization Explain how situational irony and dramatic irony are applied Discern the significance of the maiden’s decision to draw a circle around her Explore cause-and-effect relationships (how losing her hands affects the maiden physically, psychologically, and interpersonally) Analyze the silver hands for symbolic value Define complex words in context Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration and foreshadowing Cite textual evidence to support claims and ideas Write with clarity and precision

Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and minimize take-home lesson planning with this set of instructional resources covering chapter two of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; and answer keys. Students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze character motivations Apply knowledge of various literary devices including alliteration, assonance, and simile Discern and articulate the greater significance of a given detail with emphasis on what is revealed about character modes of thinking Analyze how complex characters interact Make logical inferences about how Tom perceives Myrtle Demonstrate awareness of how social status influences behavior Compare Myrtle to the puppy she is gifted Discern a primary function of the chapter Write with clarity and precision

Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and minimize take-home lesson planning with this set of instructional resources covering chapter five of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact Articulate how Gatsby’s behavior is ironic from Nick’s perspective Apply knowledge of various literary devices including situational irony, simile, and hyperbole Identify textual evidence that best supports a claim Analyze the author’s use of language to discern his intent Explore the symbolism of an object or objects Clarify and elaborate on a concern Nick has for Gatsby in a given passage Write with clarity and precision

Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and minimize take-home lesson planning with this set of instructional resources covering chapter six of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact Discern the intended effect of figurative language in context Make logical inferences about Gatsby’s decision making Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, situational irony, hyperbole, euphemism, allusion, and personification Analyze the author’s craft to determine the intended meaning of a lesser known phrase Analyze what character dialogue reveals about their psychological and emotional states Determine the significance of a given detail Explore dynamic character Identify a main function of the chapter

Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and minimize take-home lesson planning with this set of instructional resources covering chapter seven of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact Make a logical inference about Daisy’s parenting style Identify the significance of given characterization details Apply knowledge of various literary devices including assonance, consonance, metaphor, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, imagery, euphemism, and catharsis Analyze word choices to determine which word most accurately conveys an idea Explore character motivations Explore Nick’s assessment of Gatsby’s behavior in the context of the chapter Analyze the author’s craft Write ideas with clarity and precision