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.
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words/phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Determine the primary function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony
Conduct brief research on Bethlem Royal Hospital
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words/phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on hyperbole
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 2, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the meaning of complex words and figurative language in context
Determine the function of a given passage
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare Gloucester and Lear
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, metaphor, assonance, and personification
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Cat and Mouse in Partnership,” a cautionary story about manipulative and predatory behavior. The brevity of the narrative also helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Circumstances under which the cat and mouse decide to live together
Preparations for the winter
The hiding place of provisions
The cat’s deceptive behavior
The mouse’s suspicion of the cat
The fate of the mouse
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz 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. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The reason the fox is subservient to the wolf
The demands the wolf makes of the fox
The fox’s assessment of the wolf’s behavior
The consequences of the wolf’s actions
The resolution
And more
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 Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “Grandmother,” a narrative centering on themes of appreciating the elderly and the fleeting nature of physical life. The brevity of the narrative helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the supporting activity maintains rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the text (estimated Lexile range of 1000-1100) 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
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Describe the tone of the complete text
Discern the intended effects of figurative language and other narrative techniques
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, sibilance, irony, symbolism, imagery, metaphor, and more
Explore themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of critical thinking skills, and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Raven,” which centers on the themes of persistence and resilience. A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, the public domain short story, and answer keys 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 engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the function of a given excerpt
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, hyperbole, pun, paradox, symbolism, and more
Explore relevant themes in context
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 Grimm’s fairy tale “The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle,” a narrative addressing the values of hard work and devotion. The brevity of the short story helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the activity upholds rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the text 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
Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a given word
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Discern the intended effect of narrative techniques in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of several literary devices including alliteration, assonance, hyperbole, euphemism, oxymoron, hypophora, personification, paradox, and 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 the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle,” a narrative addressing the values of hard work and devotion. The brevity of the narrative also helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The maiden’s tragic life circumstances
The old woman’s work
The last advice of the old woman
The maiden’s work
The prince’s internal conflict
The prince’s initial sighting of the maiden
A distinguishing characteristic of the prince
The effects of the maiden’s song
The resolution
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Emissary,” a piece of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and the meaningful bond between humans and their pets. An answer key is provided. 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.
Students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of the author’s language in context
Consider the effects of the author’s narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Verify interpretations of language, using reference materials as needed
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on foreshadowing, personification, onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, callback, and more
Conduct brief research on Halloween’s history to answer a question pertaining to the season’s relevance to the plot
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
“The Emissary” by Ray Bradbury is a short story of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and the meaningful bond between humans and their pets. Use this plot-based quiz on “The Emissary” to evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with literature. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The title’s connection to a particular character
Martin’s general characterization
Setting
The significance of the relationship between the protagonist and his dog
The mother’s reaction to the dog
Miss Haight’s general characterization
Martin’s curiosity about death
Martin’s observations about the dog before it vanishes
Miss Tarkins’ general characterization
Martin’s observations about the dog when it unexpectedly returns
The implications of the resolution
“The Mortal Immortal” by Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, is a short story of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and philosophical perspectives on eternal life. Use this plot-based quiz on “The Mortal Immortal” to evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with literature. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The significance of a given date
The protagonist’s name
How the protagonist and his beloved first met
Cornelius Agrippa’s profession
The perception of Agrippa
Why the protagonist is motivated to work for Agrippa
The reason the protagonist ingests the elixir
A deathbed admission
The public’s reaction to the protagonist’s perpetual youthfulness
Bertha’s demeanor as she ages
The protagonist’s plans for himself
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Wives of the Dead,” a piece addressing themes of grief and illusion. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. 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.
Students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the narrative’s point of view
Describe tone in context
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast the protagonists
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, ambiguity, dramatic irony, and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of critical thinking skills, and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Wolf and the Fox,” a cautionary story about the consequences of impulsiveness. A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, the public domain short story, and answer keys are included. The brevity of the narrative helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the supporting activity upholds rigor in the classroom. 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 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
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 Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “Grandmother,” which centers on themes of appreciating one’s elders and the fleeting nature of physical life. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Point of view
Grandmother’s physical characteristics
What the narrator appreciates most about Grandmother
Prized possessions
A significant memory
The nature of Grandmother’s passing
How Grandmother’s memory is honored
The narrator’s perspective on burials and the dead
Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of critical thinking skills, and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle,” a narrative addressing the values of hard work and devotion. A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, the public domain short story, and answer keys are included. The brevity of the narrative helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the supporting activities uphold rigor in the classroom. 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 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
Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a given word
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Discern the intended effect of narrative techniques in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of several literary devices including alliteration, assonance, hyperbole, euphemism, oxymoron, hypophora, personification, paradox, and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fairy tale fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of critical thinking skills, and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Cat and Mouse in Partnership,” a cautionary story about manipulative and predatory behavior. A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, the public domain short story, and answer keys are included. The brevity of the narrative helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the supporting activities uphold rigor in the classroom. 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 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
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
Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of critical thinking skills, and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle for teaching Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “The Old Tombstone,” a narrative that conveys a method by which beauty may always exist in the world despite humanity’s tendency to be ruinous. A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, the public domain short story, and answer keys 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 engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consider the greater significance of given details
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, symbolism, and situational irony
Conduct brief research as needed to convey how modern memorial services are different from those in the 1800s
Explore themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “The Old Tombstone,” a narrative that conveys one method by which beauty may always exist in the world despite humanity’s tendency to be ruinous. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Setting
How a family came into possession of several tombstones
The general purposes of the tombstones
Imagery associated with the tombstone
The reputation of an old couple
A character’s reminiscences
The fate of the old couple’s house
The old man’s belief on what happens to all things
The effect of the grandfather’s account
Prevalent imagery
Theme
Use this set of reflective surveys and writing prompts to help middle and high school students meditate on their study habits and develop data-driven strategies for achieving a growth mindset. These are helpful back-to-school materials for a range of subject areas and age groups, though they are especially useful in structured study halls with emphasis on improving task management, time management, and organizational skills. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Included are the following:
A study habits survey asking students to rank themselves in 30 relevant areas
A distractibility survey asking students to assess the quality of their study spaces
Twenty-eight writing prompts to facilitate reflection, discussion, and growth mindset
A PowerPoint to display each of the twenty-eight writing prompts
