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 chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian young adult fiction novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: errand, foolhardy, galvanize, glint, immaculate, immunity, merciful, parched, regiment, rigorously, scurry, trudge, vague, and wander.
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 high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Edith Wharton’s short story titled “A Journey.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative 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 states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the functions of given details
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare characters in the story
Apply knowledge of literary devices including ambiguity, metaphor, personification, red herring, simile, and oxymoron
Consider themes in context
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “The Call of Cthulhu” by H.P. Lovecraft. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: acrid, allude, archaic, befoul, brood, clamber, concede, conspicuous, corroborate, crude, cryptic, din, eccentricity, elicit, enigmatical, evoke, impertinence, imply, incessant, interminably, keenly, loathsome, noisome, perfunctory, placid, portentous, precipitous, redolent, scarcely, shudder, tangible, transient, vain, and weariness.
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 high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story “The Heavenly Christmas Tree,” otherwise known as “The Beggar Boy at Christ’s Christmas Tree.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative 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 states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, foreshadowing, onomatopoeia, situational irony, and more
Conduct research online in order to answer questions related to culture and history
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about coming-of-age fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Willa Cather’s short story “The Burglar’s Christmas.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative 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 states explicitly as well as implicitly
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 including allusion, epiphany, foreshadowing, internal conflict, metaphor, paradox, personification, simile, and situational irony
Argue whether the author wants the audience to empathize with the protagonist
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about coming-of-age fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Truman Capote’s holiday-themed short story “A Christmas Memory.” An answer key is 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 states explicitly as well as implicitly
Consider historical context in relation to the plot
Isolate examples of figurative language used in the text
Discern the intended effect of the author’s narrative techniques
Describe and examine tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Determine the functions of given details and excerpts
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, epiphany, foreshadowing, hubris, metaphor, onomatopoeia, simile, situational irony, and unreliable narrator
Reflect on significant themes
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about coming-of-age fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Anton Chekhov’s short story “At Christmas Time.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative 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 states explicitly as well as implicitly
Consider nuances in words with similar meanings
Reflect on the author’s choice of title and its intended effect
Evaluate the author’s means of emotionally influencing readers
Make logical inferences about the author’s philosophies on life
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare the lives of Vasilisa and Pyotr with the life of Yefimya
Apply knowledge of literary devices including ambiguity, euphemism, metaphor, onomatopoeia, and more
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about coming-of-age fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Book 1 of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Two crossword puzzles, two word search activities, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: atrocity, bough, clamor, conspicuous, contempt, dingy, dissemble, feeble, furtively, genially, heretical, incredulous, inscrutable, interminable, murmur, nebulous, obsolete, odious, procure, reproach, strident, subtlety, tedious, treachery, and tremulous.
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 Book 2 of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Two crossword puzzles, two word search activities, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: apathetic, assent, avaricious, barren, beseech, clamber, continually, denounce, eccentricity, extricate, fleeting, indefatigably, indignation, ineffectual, luminous, melancholy, mournful, mutter, palpable, remonstrance, reverence, solitude, spurious, subdued, and vague.
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 Book 3 of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Two crossword puzzles, two word search activities, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: abashed, aberrations, allusion, coarse, disquieting, doleful, eminent, exult, intently, keen, omnipotent, persecute, prevaricate, recede, reconciliation, relinquish, shrill, shudder, superfluous, surly, tentative, torpid, vehemently, weariness, and whimper.
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 H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Outsider.” 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
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Mary Shelley’s short story “The Mortal Immortal,” a narrative of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and philosophical perspectives on eternal life. This piece also pairs well with Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein, particularly in terms of discussing the book’s ending. 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
Consider the effects of the author’s language and narrative techniques
Discern the function of a given excerpt
Describe tone in context
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on metaphor, personification, catharsis, imagery, repetition, oxymoron, hyperbole, and more
Explore themes in context
Reflect on the oxymoronic title and what it reflects about the protagonist
Conduct research as needed to answer questions about a feminist perspective on the plot and the deeper meanings of given allusions
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Gothic fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Engage middle and high school students with a classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm: “The Seven Ravens.” With this close reading worksheet, students will go beyond basic reading comprehension and practice their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills. An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the short story. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings
Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Evaluate whether the authors intended for the father to be considered a villain
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing, personification, symbolism, and more
Consider themes in context
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
Engage high school students with a dark fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm: “The Juniper Tree.” With this close reading worksheet, students will go beyond basic reading comprehension and practice their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills. An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the narrative, which makes a fitting addition to a short story unit for grades 9 through 12, especially during the Halloween season. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings
Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including allusion, black humor, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, onomatopoeia, personification, and more
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
Engage middle and high school students with a classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm: “The Clever Brothers.” With this close reading worksheet, students will go beyond basic reading comprehension and practice their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills. An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the short story. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings
Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Evaluate the characters’ levels of enthusiasm for the tasks at hand
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including allusion, onomatopoeia, simile, situational irony, symbolism, and more
Consider themes in context
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 middle and 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 the short story “The Outsider” by H.P. Lovecraft. An answer key is provided, as well as a copy of the narrative, which makes for an excellent addition to a Halloween-themed short story unit for grades 9 through 12. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings
Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Determine the function of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, foreshadowing, hyperbole, situational irony, symbolism, and more
Consider themes in context
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 students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Red Clowns.” An answer key is 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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Infer a reason the author named this vignette “Red Clowns”
Consider the role of the setting in context
Discern the greater significance of a given detail (Esperanza’s being labeled “Spanish girl”)
Discern the intended effect of figurative language in context (“the moon that watched”)
Consider tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “The Family of Little Feet.” An answer key is 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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effects of figurative language in context
Connect aspects of plot to the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Cinderella”
Discern the dominant conflict in the vignette
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, metaphor, simile, allusion, symbolism, and foreshadowing
Explore themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “The Three Sisters.” An answer key is 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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Activate prior knowledge of characters and plot
Discern the intended effects of given details
Consider tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Compare two characters in the novel
Consider the symbolism associated with a circle
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, and foreshadowing
Connect elements of the vignette to elements of a Shakespearean play
Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the final vignette, “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes.” An answer key is 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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the greater significance of a given detail (“I am going to tell you a story about a girl who didn’t want to belong”)
Discern the intended effect of the author’s syntax (“the house I belong but do not belong to”)
Discern the intended effect of figurative language (“I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much”)
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Discern the tone of the vignette
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, anaphora, metaphor, dramatic irony, and more