This complete lesson for the short story “Too Soon A Woman” by Dorothy M. Johnson requires no prep! This product includes: ---3 day lesson plan in EATS format (including an activating strategy, teaching strategies, and more…) ---Six printable worksheets (including comprehension questions, discussion questions, exit tickets, and more…) ---Answer Keys ---28- Slide PowerPoint (including methods of characterization, PALS reading strategy Essential Question Sample Answer, and more…) This lesson is Common Core aligned to: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.3 Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision. I LOVE this story! The voice, the desperate situation, the narrator’s naïve hatred all tug at my heart! I especially love the last sentence’s revelation! The lesson discusses character traits, character motivation, point of view, and conflict. Each is clearly defined- and examples are given. During the three days, students are given the opportunity to work independently, in pairs, in groups, through writing, through speech, etc. Various activities will help with differentiated learning. This lesson is particularly effective in helping students answer the Essential Question (How can we analyze how particular lines of dialogue or a particular incident in a story reveal aspects of a character?) for three reasons: 1- Students practice answering in groups with a short fable BEFORE they read the text 2- Students are shown an example of an answer, which they critique BEFORE they read the text 3- Students read the text at least twice. Due to this preparation, students are able to successfully answer the E.Q. at the culmination of the lesson (on Day 3!). I hope you enjoy this lesson as much as I do! Thank you!

This no-prep lesson is includes a powerpoint, printables, plan and more to make teaching this short story a breeze! Included: -- Lesson Plan in EATS format with an Essential Question, vocabulary, activating strategy, teaching strategies, and a summarizing strategy (Exit Ticket)- aligned with the CCSS.Lit. 6.3 & 6.5 -- an original PowerPoint- that showcases the vocabulary definitions, discussion questions, sample answers, and more. Some slides have timers to keep students motivated to keep their discussions alive. --PALS reading strategy- a technique for reading to allow all students to read aloud (I use this a lot with short stories in my classroom!) --- 3 printable worksheets- No prep- Just print and go! ---an activity to mimic the author’s style. Students get to try their hand at writing a paragraph using Uchida’s sentence formation and style. --- Answer Keys -- two optional slides for differentiation. Students didn’t fully master the essential question? I have included an EXTRA Sample Answer. I often display this one as students are writing their exit tickets- so they can refer to it if they get “stuck.” A sample answer can also be printed and sent home for students to use as they write their own responses. The SAMPLE RESPONSE to the Essential Question is extremely helpful to struggling students. The sample is based on "The Three Little Pigs." Students get to see- and critique- a response before they are expected to write. Characterization is discussed in detail. Note: * Some of the activities and slides from this lesson come directly from my original product entitled “The Smallest Dragonboy.” If you have the short story “The Bracelet” by Yoshiko Uchida in your anthology, this lesson is for you! Created to be easy to use and fully engaging, the lesson plan pairs with the worksheets to be very successful with “The Bracelet,” a short story found in most middle school anthologies. The PowerPoint is very helpful to provide students examples and activities- and keep them in the right place! Thanks so much! ~Kim

Nelson Mandela's "Long Walk to Freedom" and Rita Dove's "An Interview: I Was Not Alone" (an essay on Rosa Parks) are perfect short non-fiction selections for Black History Month. Focus on heroes, cause and effect, black history, and more! This resource includes: --one-page lesson plan, --three worksheets, --a basic PowerPoint for Rosa Parks, ---a PALS instruction and example, and --answer keys. The PowerPoint is editable for your convenience. Using the Common Core Standards and Learning Focused, I have included an EATS lesson plan with an Essential Question, preview vocabulary (including CAUSE and EFFECT), activating strategy, teaching strategies and a summarizing strategy (Exit Ticket). Further, this lesson pairs students to work on cause and effect together. The texts of "An Interview: I Was Not Alone" and "The Long Walk to Freedom" are NOT included due to copyright laws. Please make sure you have access to the texts before purchasing this resource. The lesson plan, worksheets, and PPT are time-saving and effective. Thank you!

Verb Mood... is a Common Core necessity! Verb Moods - Subjective. Conditional. Imperative. Interrogative. Indicative. I've tried to make this topic a little snazzy. Generally, students feel that verb moods are a bunch of big words that are not relevant to them. My goal is to connect a visual with each mood and have students understand each mood through various activities. This EATS lesson includes: --a very helpful graphic organizer -- the content standard and essential question -- preview vocabulary -- Fantastic PowerPoint with the definition and example of each mood: Indicative, Imperative, Interrogative, Conditional and Subjunctive -- a review -- a writing activity -- an Exit Ticket The graphic organizer works really well with my 8th graders! Students connect to the visuals and can use this g.o. with future assignments! This PowerPoint is accompanied by an EATS lesson plan. This lesson focuses on: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking, AND (especially) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1c Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood. The Essential Questions used are: -- How can I use verbs correctly in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive moods? -- How can I form verbs correctly in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive moods? Thanks so much!- Kim Kroll

Secondary students will get a task card and determine the text structure of a passage. Cause and Effect, Compare and Contrast, Description, Problem-Solution, Sequence, and Chronology are the structures used in this NO PREP product. Twenty-one original reading selections are showcased. Focus: CCSS ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.5, 6.6, 7.5, 7.6, 8.5, 8.6, 9-10.5, 9-10.6 Included: ---- 21 original text structure Task Cards ---- Answer keys ---- Answer sheets ---- optional “Your Turn” activity ---- 6 “Your Turn” Task Cards ---- Text Structure printable worksheet --- Lesson/ Notes Just print, copy, and distribute. It's that easy! Students read a selection on each card and decide if the text structure is: Cause-Effect, Compare-Contrast, Description, Problem-Solution, Sequence, or Chronology. These cards are an easy way to check student comprehension, but can be used in many more ways. Try them as Entrance Tickets, Exit Tickets, Differentiation, Comprehension Check, or Homework… They might also be used as a springboard for discussion of how the author accomplishes his/ her purpose. One of my favorite ways to use is as follows: Make copies of each slide, but do not cut apart. Each student will answer all four items on one page. The next day, as students enter the room, they will receive the next page. Continue until all answers are completed. On the fifth day, students pair up and check answers. Give students time to re-read any passages that received a different answer from their partner. Turn in for a grade. Have students write on the task cards- or the provided answer sheets.

This graphic organizer will help students figure out the difference among Possessive, Plural, and Plural-possessive nouns. What's the difference? This product answers just that. Worth its weight in gold for my students! For some reason, this was a difficult concept. Even ADULTS confuse plurals and possessives. Think about how many Christmas cards you get from the Smith's or Jones's? (There is NO apostrophe on plurals, guys!) This printable shows the difference between plural, possessive, and plural- possessives. The clip art proves to be a valuable tool for student understanding! The 1-page printable is copied 4 times: once as a printable, once as a black and white printable, once as a fill-in-the- blanks graphic organizer and once as a graphic organizer without images. This product will easily help your students LEARN plurals and possessives! Thanks!

This 26- slide PowerPoint gives great background biographical information of America's beloved writer, O. Henry. Paired with a worksheet, you may use as an example of any historical figure for a research project. This resource can serve as a great introduction for any class studying O. Henry's short stories. The accompanying worksheet will assure students follow along with the PowerPoint presentation. The answer key is included. This is perfect to use as an example of a finished project- when students are assigned to make a PowerPoint on a historical figure.

Students learn how to uncover the meaning and how to analyze the role of symbols in literature in this two-day interactive lesson. The class will discuss literary symbolism using examples on the PowerPoint. There are opportunities within the lesson to brainstorm ideas before students are expected to work individually. The EATS lesson plan includes an Essential Question, Activating Strategy, Teaching Strategies and an Exit Ticket. Students will understand how to correctly answer the Essential Question by the end of the second day- because they have been taught the strategies, they have worked collaboratively, they have seen a model answer, and they have worked individually. This product includes: • A powerpoint • A worksheet • An activity • An exit ticket • Assessment • Answer keys This lesson covers: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.4 through 11-12.4 (determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL. 8.1 through 11-12.1 Analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text (cite the textual evidence) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL .11-12.6 Analyze a case in which grasping a point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is really meant

This lesson for the short story “Anataeus” by Borden Deal includes an EATS lesson plan with an Essential Question, preview vocabulary (including ALLUSION), activating strategy, teaching strategies, and a summarizing strategy (Exit Ticket). The product includes a Powerpoint, a PALS worksheet, a 2-paged study guide, and the answer key. RL.7.3. Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot) is the Common Core focus. Best of all, this lesson splits the text into chunks so that the students can group to do an ever-popular “Jigsaw” activity. The product is editable in case you want to add or delete any section. The allusion to the “real” Antaeus is included. Instead of just reading a short story in class, use this product to teach flashback, plot, character- all tied to the COMMON CORE standard.

This one page printable is ready for students to fill in. Ten text boxes are provided. Each text box has a blank for the year and lines so that students can fill in a description of the events. Great for novels, non-fiction, autobiography life lines, history and more! Thank you!

Author's Purpose Task Cards for High School and Middle School (two sets of 20 each) Based on Common Core.RI.6.6 , 7.6, 8.6, and 9-10.6, these task cards present a reading selection for which students select the correct author’s purpose. Included are: 2 SETS of 20 original Task Cards (There are 40 cards total- both sets use the same 20 cards strong>, but have different multiple choice selections. The second set is more rigorous- and most closely resembles the selections found on standardized tests.) Answer sheets Answer Keys Set 1: Students read a selection on each card and decide if the author's purpose is to: Persuade, Inform, or Entertain. Set 2: Students read a selection on each card and determine the author's purpose from more rigorous options, such as: A) to present an argument using facts, B) to narrate a scene using sensory details, etc. These cards are an easy way to check student comprehension, but can be used in many more ways: Entrance Tickets, Exit Tickets, Differentiation, Comprehension Check, Homework… They might also be used as a springboard for discussion of how the author accomplishes his/ her purpose. One of my favorite ways to use is as follows: Make copies of each slide, but do not cut apart. Each student will answer all four items on one page. The next day, as students enter the room, they will receive the next page. Continue until all answers are completed. On the fifth day, students pair up and check answers. Give students time to re-read any that are different from their partners. Turn in for a grade. Have students write on – or laminate and use them more than once. Focus: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.

High School Exit Tickets (a.k.a. Exit Slips) are based on Common Core Standards and can be used with any selection, any day! Just print, cut and distribute! You can use each of the twenty tickets with EACH of the selections you assign. Although these are titled “Exit Tickets,” they can be used as Activating strategies, homework slips, prompts for extemporaneous speeches, task cards… The uses are MANY. I have found these cards to be very successful with collaborative pairs as an informal assessment. Each of the 20 printable pages has four Exit Tickets. If you need 40 exit tickets, make 10 copies. Simply print and cut along the lines. You may choose to laminate and keep them in a Ziplock bag to use more than once. (Since they work with any selection, students will benefit from repeated practice!) Two Exit Tickets that are included in this product: “How did one character develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot? (based on CCSS) If the main character transported to the past (or the future), how well would s/he endure? (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) Each card will be the same size (easy collecting and stacking!). A box at the bottom of each card is provided for the score (easy grading!). Thank you! Exit Slips are the students' tickets to get out of the door!

This is Poetry Match-Up Game that is effective and can be used over and over in the classroom! Accompanied with an EATS lesson plan and following the Common Core RI.7.4., the "board" gives 28 definitions. If poetry terms seem a little too rigorous- or you want to begin slowly, I’ve divided the words into two sections. You can give students half of the words to begin. When they finish, you can give them the more challenging words. Or, to differentiate instruction, you can challenge gifted students with all words immediately. Poetry words (in blue) are: Free verse, Haiku, Internal rhyme, Alliteration, Limerick, Simile, Metaphor, Rhyme scheme, Imagery, Personification, Hyperbole and Pun. Challenging words (in green) are: Acrostic, Bard, Genre, Ballad, Symbol, Allusion, Foot, Tone, Parody, Theme, Stanza and Harlem Renaissance. The answer key is provided not only to make life easier, but to allow students to check their own work. At the beginning of the year, have students work in groups to match the term to the definition. As the year progresses, use it as a review to see if the students learned the material. Eventually, students will complete the activity individually. It is a great activity for the end of the year, too. You will be impressed how much the students have learned. What took them 20 minutes at the beginning of the year now takes 5 minutes for many students! Throughout the year, I use this as a "filler" when the power goes out or a bomb threat is called in (Yes, it happens!) without wasting students' time. Once, my principal unexpectedly visited my classroom while the students were working on this activity- and he asked if I made this myself. He was impressed. Yay! (The happiness we teachers get from a pat on the back...) I suggest making copies of the game pieces with colored paper so the words stand out more. (My copy is on colored paper in the photo. You may use plain white paper. I've put the terms in a colored font- in hopes you have a colored printer). Laminating the game board and pieces (hint: laminate BEFORE you cut them apart) is a really good idea as well. I also print out copies and give at Open House or at conferences. My students' parents were very grateful!

This is a complete lesson for the short story “Charles” by Shirley Jackson. No prep necessary! This product includes: ---3 day lesson plan in EATS format (including an activating strategy, teaching strategies, and more…) ---4 printable worksheets (including comprehension questions, writing prompts, exit tickets, and more…) ---Answer Keys ---41- Slide PowerPoint (including methods of characterization, PALS reading strategy, Sample Answer for the Essential Question, and more…)This is a great short story for the middle school! The lesson discusses: explicit details vs. implicit details, inferring, static vs. dynamic characters, and theme. During the three days, students are given the opportunity to work independently, in pairs, in groups, through writing, through speech, etc. Various activities will help with differentiated learning. This lesson is particularly effective in helping students answer the Essential Question (How can a reader determine theme of a text?) because a sample student answer is given for the class to critique. Students will independently answer the E.Q. at the culmination of the lesson (on Day 3!). I hope you enjoy this lesson ! This lesson is Common Core aligned to: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

REVENGE! This short story deals with justice and revenge. If you have the short story "Bargain" by A. B. Guthrie in your anthology, this lesson is for you! Created to be fully useful, this is a lesson that I have found to be successful with ""Bargain." I use this at the beginning of the year when teaching the plot mountain. I have included: -- an EATS lesson plan with an Essential Question, preview vocabulary, activating strategy, teaching strategies and a summarizing strategy (Exit Ticket) --2 worksheets- Just print and go! --Answer keys --PowerPoint The lesson has original (written by me!) sample answers to the Essential Question, which I have found to be EXTREMELY helpful for students. They get to see an answer before they are expected to write one. One sample is on "The Three Little Pigs." I have also included the components for PALS reading- as I've found this to be an effective strategy with short stories in my classroom. External and Internal Conflict are discussed. This product turns the short story in your book into an interactive lesson. Thanks so much! ~Kim

These exercises for learning how to determine an unknown word using context clues focuses on 4 categories: examples, definition, antonym, and details. Teaching these strategies will help your students’ reading comprehension with secondary texts. Context clues are so important; they are part of the Common Core Standards in grades TWO through TWELVE. This product includes: ---An EATS Lesson plan (with vocabulary, teaching strategies, etc.) ---A complete PowerPoint for this lesson ---Two worksheets ---Two activities ---A PowerPoint of printable TASK CARDS (8)- perfect for differentiated instruction This lesson focuses on grades 9 through 12. The lesson gives the definition for context and shows examples. A sample sentence without context clues is also shown. Students will be given an original picture of "clues" as a PowerPoint visual to connect with this concept. Students will learn the four main strategies that writers use to give context clues to their readers (telling, examples, antonyms, and picture-painting). As a class, students will practice with the examples on the PowerPoint- identifying which strategy the writer used. Later, students will pair up and work on TASK CARD examples (perfect for differentiating this lesson- or use them as homework slips!). Finally, students will work independently on a worksheet and create a context clue-filled sentence of their own for their peers to critique. Most of the students' unknown words come from my "Word of the Day: Preparing for the S.A.T." So, if they accidentally learn the meaning, it's a win!! This lesson has a lot of information and several strategies for students to learn. The second PowerPoint (the one with task cards) is intended to be printed. This lesson focuses on: CCSS Literacy .L9 -12.4.a. Thank you!

This product includes a Powerpoint, two- day lesson plan, and several worksheets. Created to be fully useful, this is a straightforward lesson plan with worksheets that I have found to be very successful with "Ta-Na-E-Ka," a short story on traditions. I use this at the beginning of the year when teaching the plot mountain. Included: ---2 EATS lesson plan with an Essential Question, preview vocabulary, activating strategy, teaching strategies and a summarizing strategy (Exit Ticket). ---4 worksheets- Just print and go! ---Answer keys ---An extra (optional) worksheet for differentiated instruction. ---Quiz The lesson has a sample answer to the Essential Question, which I have found to be EXTREMELY helpful for students to see before they are expected to write. The sample is on "The Three Little Pigs." A link to the story is provided if you want to read the story to your students. I have also included the lesson plan, worksheet and sample for PALS reading- as I've found this to be an effective strategy. External and Internal conflict are discussed. Thanks so much! ~Kim

“The Sea” by James Reeves is OFTEN used in state tests, worksheets, and anthologies. It is short, but provides a lot to discuss. It is straightforward, and yet still complex. The imagery is superb. Almost all of it is within the grasp of the student, and yet there are parts that need discussion to be revealed. All in all, it is a perfect poem to use with a class! Due to copyright laws, I am unable to include the poem. It is easy to find and is likely in your anthology. Included is a lesson plan originally written for 7th graders- appropriate for grades 6-12. This is a PowerPoint, lesson plan AND worksheet. The PowerPoint includes: the Essential Question Activating Strategy Defined vocabulary and Examples. Students will learn figurative language, metaphor and simile. They will see examples and create some new ones. Next, they will learn denotation and connotation. Again, they will see examples and try their hand at examples. Finally, they will apply this knowledge to the poem, "The Sea" by James Reeves. After reading through once, students will answer questions about the first stanza and discuss. Then, the teacher (and PowerPoint) will guide them to answer the essential question based on the first stanza. The second stanza will be read, questions will be answered, and the essential question will be attempted again, discussed and perfected. Finally, the third stanza will be the focus of the assessment. The students will again read and answer questions, but this time, the students will be expected to use the strategy taught (re-read, locate, investigate and compare) to answer the essential question on their own. There are more slides after the poem study is over, including an activity to write the poem in as few words as possible (to illustrate how word choice is important) as well as an exit ticket. I hope you enjoy this lesson! Thank you!

Display this student collaboration to show gratitude to the administrators! Eighteen pages total, this product has one extra page that can be added many times to the final poster (for any extra students you have). GREAT for end of the year! Pages can be colored any color, or you can ask students to: Color the background - Blue Color each letter - Yellow NO CUTTING Required. Just color and tape up! This Collaborative Poster is one of many. (Thank You, Guidance Counselors! / Thank You, Cafeteria Staff! / Thank You, Teachers! ETC.) This is an inclusive, community-building activity that promotes student collaboration. Each student colors one section of a large mosaic poster. Once all sheets are colored (NO CUTTING!), they are assembled to reveal a large multi-colored mosaic / poster / mural. You will love the results! Thank you!

If you’ve never read The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (“EvCT”) by Jacqueline Kelly, you are in for a treat. My sixth graders love EvCT and I LOVE teaching it! It works well as a cross-curricular unit with science OR history- and the author’s voice is simply incredible. 71 pages + 91 PowerPoint slides = 162 page resource! This product contains everything you need for a great unit and aligns with the Common Core State Standards. This product includes: • TWELVE lessons, each with a worksheet (study guide) featuring vocabulary. Answer keys are included. Most lessons also include extra activities to supplement the lesson (For example, one chapter features a PALS activity, complete with instructions; another chapter features a figurative lesson worksheet and activity.). The lesson plans are grouped as: 1. EvCT Ch 1 2. EvCT Ch 2 3. EvCT Ch 3 4 5 4. EvCT Ch 6 7 5. EvCT Ch 8 9 6. EvCT Ch 10 11 7. EvCT Ch 12 13 8. EvCT Ch 14 15 16 9. EvCT Ch 17 18 19 10. EvCT Ch 20 21 22 11. EvCT Ch 23 24 25 12. EvCT Ch 26 27 28 EvCT POWERPOINT (90 slides) The PPT gives visual references for background information (pinafore, kerosene lamp, Wounded Knee Massacre, author background, etc.), discussion questions, Venn diagrams, exit tickets and much more. Students also get to guess the prices from the 1890’s (my students love this activity!) EvCT Final Test (Answer Key included) Bookmarks What student doesn't like a little gift? Packed with EvCT info (and vocab!), this bookmark is a handy "cheat sheet" to use with the worksheets ~and possibly the final test (IF the teacher allows it...). This product also features several opportunities for figurative language practice (EvCT has a ton of figurative language: perfect for mini-lessons!) and a semi-colon study. Some worksheets (study guides) offer “challenge questions.” There are opportunities for differentiated learning. You can use challenge questions for students who are absent or as an activity for cooperative learning…). There are also suggestions for research. PLUS- writing prompts! This product is editable, if you prefer to customize any part. Final test, writing prompts, and extra activities are included! The Common Core Standards cited are for 6th grade, but other grades are largely interchangeable. Recommended for grades 5-8, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is a 2010 Newbery Honor Book and the winner of the 2010 Bank Street - Josette Frank Award. I spent over 100 hours on this product. I pride myself on creating a unit that offers user-friendly, thought-provoking lessons and creative activities. Click this link to buy all of my