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 reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 3, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the primary function of the scene
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on foreshadowing
Support claims and inferences 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 craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 3, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Describe tone in context
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text including metaphor, simile, hubris, alliteration, personification, and irony
Come to class better prepared to discuss Shakespearean drama
“Spunk” by Zora Neale Hurston is a short story marked by the hubris of a self-assured man who has an affair with a meeker man’s wife—a decision that leads to his demise. This plot-based quiz covering the short story helps English teachers promote homework accountability and evaluate general reading comprehension—while eliminating take-home assessment planning responsibilities. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Spunk Banks’ characterization in the exposition
The gathering place for the community’s men
Lena Kanty’s characterization in the exposition
Elijah’s treatment of Joe
Joe’s weapon
The men’s opinion of Joe’s plan to confront Spunk
The outcome of Joe’s plan
Spunk’s assessment of Joe following his death
Speculation concerning the relationship between Spunk and Lena
An animal sighting and its significance to Spunk
Spunk’s manner of death
The resolution
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter 11 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 with this resource, students will…
Analyze the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on callback and situational irony
Analyze the symbolism of an object
Read closely to isolate logical inferences from less compelling or illogical inferences
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and/or reasoned thinking
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter 10 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 the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Draw reasoned inferences about characterization
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on simile and alliteration
Read closely to isolate accurate statements from false statements
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and/or reasoned thinking
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter 12 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 with this resource, students will…
Analyze the effect of the author’s word choices, including figurative language, on the reader
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the novel
Read closely to isolate logical inferences from less compelling or illogical inferences
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and/or reasoned thinking
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter eight 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 with this resource, students will…
Analyze the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Draw reasoned inferences about characterization
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on symbolism
Read closely to isolate accurate statements from false statements
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and/or reasoned thinking
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter six 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 the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Explore how complex characters think, behave, and develop
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Draw reasoned inferences about characterization
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on imagery
Read closely to isolate accurate statements from false statements
Explore the motif of heroism
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims with relevant textual evidence
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter four 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 the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Draw reasoned inferences about characterization
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the novel
Read closely to isolate accurate statements from false statements
Write about literature such that the reader will follow the student’s reasoning
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and/or reasoned thinking
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter 13 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 with this resource, students will…
Analyze the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on dramatic irony, imagery, and symbolism
Read closely to isolate logical inferences from less compelling or illogical inferences
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and/or reasoned thinking
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter 16 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 with this resource, students will…
Analyze the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on situational irony
Read closely to determine logical inferences
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and/or reasoned thinking
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter 15 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 with this resource, students will…
Analyze the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the novel
Read closely to determine logical inferences
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and/or reasoned thinking
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions covering chapter 14 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 with this resource, students will…
Analyze the effect of the author’s language upon the reader
Determine tone in context
Define unfamiliar and challenging vocabulary in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the novel
Read closely to determine logical inferences
Explore theme
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and/or reasoned thinking
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” (also called “Little Red Cap”). Alternatively, the assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
How people generally perceive Little Red Cap
Grandmother’s expressions of affection
The items Little Red Cap is instructed to bring Grandmother
The reason for the delivery of items
Mother’s advice to Little Red Cap
Little Red Cap’s initial reaction to meeting the wolf
The wolf’s methods of manipulating Little Red Cap
Signs of danger at Grandmother’s house
The reason the huntsman does not shoot the wolf
The rescuing of Little Red Cap and her grandmother
How Little Red Cap gets justice
The huntsman’s reward for his efforts
Information provided in the epilogue
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the satirical short story “The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Andersen. Alternatively, the assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
How the protagonist demonstrates his obsession with clothes
The motivations of the visitors
The visitors’ outlandish claims
The protagonist’s motivations
The protagonist’s internal conflict
Means by which the visitors deceive the community
The emperor’s participation in the procession
The resolution
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Rumpelstiltskin.” Alternatively, the assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The miller’s feelings toward his daughter
The miller’s feelings toward the king
The king’s greed
A task the maiden is assigned
An offer the king makes the maiden
Offerings made to the hobgoblin
A new task for the maiden
The length of time the maiden has to complete her new task
A messenger’s observations
The hobgoblin’s response to failure
The court’s reaction to the hobgoblin
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Chinua Achebe’s short story “Dead Men’s Path.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet 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:
Character motivations
General description of Obi’s colleagues
Nancy’s emotional and psychological states
The length of time Obi has been married
The nature of the conversation Obi has with a priest
The meaning behind a proverb
The cultural significance of the path
The reason Obi wants to close the path
A tragic situation
Retribution
The resolution
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Chinua Achebe’s short story “Dead Men’s Path.” An 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 both explicitly and implicitly
Determine the narrative’s dominant conflict
Analyze how complex characters interact and develop
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and situational irony
Determine the function of a particular passage
Make an inference about the author’s point of view
Articulate the intended effect of the author’s diction in context
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Write with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Morley Callaghan’s “All the Years of Her Life,” a short story focusing on how a young son’s behavior influences the psychological state of his loving mother. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
Conflict
The background of the protagonist
How complex characters interact
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Jorinda and Jorindel.” Alternatively, the assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The antagonist’s physical form in both the daytime and the nighttime
What happens to both men and women when they approach the antagonist’s house
The source of mournful singing
The nature of the relationship between the titular characters
Abrupt changes in Jorindel’s life
The content of Jorindel’s dreams
The length of time it takes Jorindel to find an item with magical properties
The resolution