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.
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe. The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the science fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (chapters 4, 5, and 6). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the science fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (chapters 1, 2, and 3). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Black Cat.” The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement W. W. Jacobs’ short story “The Monkey’s Paw.” The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are made for Google Drive. 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
This bundle of exercises reinforces grammar rules to be applied in high school writing. Whether the goal is to gather formative data on student skills or augment preparation for standardized testing scenarios, these materials provide explanations for various grammar principles and straightforward practices that students may complete in the classroom or as an independent activity. All resources are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats. Concepts covered include the following:
The Verb and its Parts.
This formative grammar worksheet measures how well students can identify main verbs and helping verbs. Featuring 20 opportunities to practice application of knowledge, this editable resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Simple, Compound, and Complete Subjects and Predicates.
This formative grammar packet reviews the basics of subjects and predicates in their simple, compound, and complete forms. This resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Applying Verb Tenses (Emphasis on Irregular Verbs).
This grammar packet includes explanations and examples of verbs in their principal parts with an emphasis on irregular verbs. Practices involve filling in blanks to correctly apply verb tenses. This resource is recommended for middle school students preparing for high school composition classes, as well as for high school students enrolled in composition courses emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs.
This formative grammar worksheet measures how well students understand transitive and intransitive verbs. Featuring 20 opportunities to practice application of knowledge, this editable resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Commas, Conjunctions, and Semicolons.
This grammar packet covers 12 essential rules for using commas, semicolons, and conjunctions correctly. Students apply their understanding of these rules by making revisions to several sentences. This resource is recommended for high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Apostrophe Rules.
This grammar packet covers 16 tips for applying apostrophe rules correctly. Students apply their understanding of these rules by making revisions to several sentences. This resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing foundational writing skills. An answer key is included.
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives.
This formative grammar worksheet reviews the basics of common and irregular adjectives that compare. Featuring 50 opportunities to apply knowledge of comparative and superlative adjectives, this resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Comparative and Superlative Adverbs.
This formative grammar worksheet reviews the basics of common and irregular adverbs that compare. Featuring 45 opportunities to apply knowledge of comparative and superlative adverbs, this resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Precise Language with Synonyms.
This formative grammar worksheet helps students understand how context influences word choices. Students will identify the synonym that best suits the context of a given sentence. Featuring 30 opportunities to practice application of knowledge, this resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Writing Numerals and Using Active Voice.
This grammar packet covers 16 rules for writing numerals according to standard conventions. It also helps students practice using active voice (and word economy) by revising sentences written in passive voice. This resource is recommended for high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Singular and Plural Indefinite Pronouns.
This formative grammar packet reviews the basics of singular and plural indefinite pronouns and matching them with appropriate verb forms in context. This resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Possessive Pronouns.
This formative grammar worksheet reviews the basics of possessive pronouns with an emphasis on correctly applying them to animals in context. Featuring 24 opportunities to apply knowledge of possessive pronouns, this resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Demonstrative & Interrogative Pronouns.
This formative grammar worksheet measures how well students can apply knowledge of demonstrative pronouns and interrogative pronouns. Featuring 20 opportunities to practice application of knowledge, this editable resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Verbals.
This formative grammar worksheet helps students understand how to use verbals (gerunds, participles, and infinitives). Featuring 60 opportunities to practice application of knowledge, this resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Compound Subjects and Verb Agreement.
This formative grammar worksheet addresses the basics of conjugating verbs so that their forms match their compound subjects correctly. Featuring 30 opportunities to apply knowledge of compound subjects and verbs, this resource is recommended for middle and high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing rudimentary writing skills. An answer key is included.
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
This grammar worksheet covers the general principles of pronoun-antecedent agreement. It helps students recognize and apply these rules so they write and speak according to standard conventions. This resource is recommended for high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing foundational writing skills. An answer key is included.
Resolving Common Word Usage Errors.
This grammar worksheet covers 30 common word usage errors in high school writing and speaking. It is designed to help students recognize and apply standard usage principles in formal communications and is recommended for high school students enrolled in composition classes emphasizing foundational writing skills. An answer key is included. Usage principles covered include the following:
accept vs. except
advice vs. advise
affect vs. effect
all ready vs. already
all right vs. alright
all together vs. altogether
allusion vs. illusion
among vs. between
amount vs. number
anyway vs. anyways
being as/that vs. since
beside vs. besides
could/would/should have vs. could/would/should of
couldn’t care less vs. could care less
each other vs. one another
enthusiastic vs. enthused
farther vs. fewer
fewer vs. less
good vs. well
imply vs. infer
in vs. into
its vs. it’s
lay vs. lie
lose vs. loose
principal vs. principle
regardless vs. irregardless
supposedly vs. supposably
than vs. then
who vs. whom
whose vs. who’s
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the science fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (chapters 16, 17, and 18). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the science fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (chapters 13, 14, and 15). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the science fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (chapters 10, 11, and 12). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the science fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (chapters 7, 8, and 9). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering the Grimm’s fairy tale “Cat and Mouse in Partnership,” a cautionary narrative about the incompatibility of characters. The brevity of the text helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the supporting activity upholds rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and 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 the close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Discern the intended effect of word choices in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on foreshadowing, pun, verbal irony, situational irony, and more
Explore how details in the text contribute to the superstition that cats are agents of evil
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fairy tale fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Wolf and the Fox,” a cautionary story about the consequences of impulsiveness. The brevity of the narrative also helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the supporting activity upholds rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and 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 states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Discern the intended effect of word choices in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast the two primary characters
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fairy tale fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Sandra Cisneros’ Christmas-themed short story titled “Three Wise Guys: Un Cuento de Navidad.” The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. 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 givers of a gift
The occasion for a gift
The active imaginations of a family and their neighbors
When the mother wants her family to open the box
The family’s socioeconomic conditions
The revelation of the gift
Ruben’s reaction to the gift
Facilitate research on thirty topics related to The House on Mango Street and its author, Sandra Cisneros, with this low-prep, standards-based activity. Students will navigate informational texts about historically significant women (Elvia Carillo Puerto, Adelina Zendejas, Lydia Cacho, and more), landmark events (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Equal Rights Amendment, and more), social justice organizations (American Civil Liberties Union, League of Women Voters, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and more), Chicana authors (Gloria Evangelina Anzaldúa, Denise Chávez, Michele Serros, and more), and opportunities for writers (Hispanic Scholarship Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, and more). After compiling relevant details, the process culminates in the delivery of a formal presentation. A detailed scoring rubric is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Ultimately, students will perform the following tasks:
Articulate connections between a research topic and the assigned text
Conduct research using available resources
Collect and classify reliable sources
Develop successful methods of recording information
Evaluate the credibility of nonfiction texts, taking into consideration readability, date, relevance, expertise, and bias
Apply conventions of MLA formatting
Correctly site resources to avoid plagiarism
Organize information in a cohesive manner, using a note-taking system that includes summary, paraphrasing, and quoted material
Analyze, synthesize, and integrate information, generating a thoughtfully comprehensive report, free of generalities and redundancies
Present information in a formal, coherent manner
Engage middle and high school students with a classic example of adventure fiction, “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, and use this set of rigorous questions to promote close reading analysis skills. A variety of question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, examining how word choices influence a reader’s interpretations, applying knowledge of literary devices, and articulating ideas in writing with clarity and precision. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Explore the author’s narrative techniques such as increasing the frequency of shorter, choppier sentences as the narrative reaches its climax
Determine author’s intent in writing that the protagonist’s limitation is that he is without imagination
Identify the protagonist’s motivation in continuing despite extremely harsh conditions
Draw logical inferences based on the fact that the dog “knew it was no time for traveling” and “its instinct told it a truer tale than was told to the man by the man’s judgment”
Apply knowledge of literary devices including symbolism and simile
Locate textual evidence in support of claims associated with the protagonist’s self-awareness
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
For many high school students, humorous fiction, tall tales, and satire are types of literature that maximize interest and engagement. “The Devil and Daniel Webster” by Stephen Vincent Benet is a representative short story with great literary and academic merit. With this multiple choice assessment, English Language Arts teachers will be able to evaluate general reading comprehension and hold learners accountable for completing assigned work. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Daniel Webster’s background
Jabez Stone’s unfortunate circumstances
The stranger’s dubious intentions
Jabez Stone as a dynamic character
The stranger’s handkerchief
A compromise in the bargain
Trial representation
The make-up of the jury
The trial as a trap
Winning over the jury
The trial’s outcome
Resolution
Help high school students develop a greater understanding of how Stephen Vincent Benet used hyperbole, simile, metaphor, and other literary devices to convey an exaggerated narrative in “The Devil and Daniel Webster” that is consistent with the supernatural fiction and tall tales. Delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats, this resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions. Through such discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key is included.
Fairy tales are not just for elementary students; even high school readers can use (and enjoy) fairy tales as a tool for practicing close reading analysis skills. This worksheet composed of rigorous questions covers “Sleeping Beauty” by the Brothers Grimm. With an estimated Lexile Measure range of 1200-1300, the short story is suitable for both middle and high school students. The briefness of the narrative also makes it an appropriate time-filler for awkward gaps in teaching schedules. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly
Apply knowledge of literary devices including anthropomorphism, symbolism, foreshadowing, and more
Identify the story’s inciting incident
Analyze the author’s craft
Explore relationships between complex characters
Define complex words in context
Articulate conventions of the fairy tale genre
Cite textual evidence in support of inferences and claims
Write with clarity and precision
