Context Clues Task Cards for High School and Middle School Secondary students will learn how to determine the meaning of unknown words using the surrounding text. Definition, example, antonym, and details are the 4 strategies used to guess the definition in this NO PREP product. This NO PREP product uses the 4 strategies of definition, example, antonym, and details. Included: -- Preview Activity with 4 sample task cards -- Preview PowerPoint, with sample answers for discussion --24 Task Cards with a mystery word and a context clue-filled sentence. Print, cut, and go! -- Answer Key (in two formats) -- Bonus: Creating Context Clue-Filled Sentences Directions and Blank Cards -- Bonus: Creating Context Clue-Filled Sentences 20 Mystery Words with Definitions The Preview Activity allows students to try their hand at context clues before they are graded. This will be especially useful if this product is not being used immediately after a Context Clues lesson. The four sample cards work as a review to remind students of the four main strategies (definition, example, antonym, and details) for context clues. The class will use the PowerPoint to check their answers and generate a discussion if they have questions. Task Cards can also be used as Entrance Tickets, Differentiation, Homework, Comprehension Check, Exit Tickets … the possibilities are many! Simply print and cut. Laminate for years of use.

This Literary Terms Match-Up Game is effective, fun, 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. Literary terms included are: Dialogue, Figurative language, Plot Inference, Genre, Suspense, Imagery, Theme, Flashback, Irony, Effect, Omniscient, Point of View, Fiction, Cause, Paraphrase, Retelling, Conflict, Setting, Climax, Foreshadowing, Predict, Stanza, Tone, Mood, Main idea, Resolution,Character, Drama, Non-fiction, Narration, Onomatopoeia. 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. (Mine was printed on colored paper- in the picture. Laminating the game board and pieces (hint: 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!

Middle School Exit Slips are based on Common Core Literature Standards and can be used with any selection, any day! Just print, cut, and distribute! CCSS Aligned You can use each of the twenty-one tickets several times throughout the year with different literature selections. 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 21 printable pages has four Exit Tickets. If you need 40 exit tickets, simply make 10 copies. Print, then 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 the main character change during the story? (based on CCSS) *How might the story change if the ending was different? (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!). I have also added 14 Bonus Exit Ticket ideas (common core aligned) that are more specific- PLUS a blank Exit Ticket page. Write in your own idea! These bonus tickets might not work well with every story, but when you find one that works for your selection, simply: cut, paste, and print! Exit Slips are the tickets to get out of the door. They help students process what they've learned by allowing them to reflect and summarize. Thank you!

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!

Secondary students will learn how to determine the meaning of unknown words using the surrounding text. This NO PREP product uses the 4 strategies of definition, example, antonym, and details to guess the definition of the mystery word when reading to help comprehension. Included: -- Preview Activity with 4 sample task cards -- Preview PowerPoint, with sample answers for discussion --20 Task Cards with a mystery word and a context clue-filled sentence. Print, cut, and go! -- Answer Key (in two formats) -- Bonus: What's the Difference Between Details and Examples? The Preview Activity allows students to try their hand at context clues before the graded assignment. This will be especially useful if task cards are not being used immediately after a Context Clues lesson. The four sample cards work as a review to remind students of the four main strategies (definition, example, antonym, and details) for context clues.The class will use the PowerPoint to check their answers and generate a discussion if they have questions. (This is the same Preview Activity included in Set #1.) To find Set #1, click this link: Task cards work perfectly after a “Context Clues” lesson. Need one? Search for Kroll Context Clues Lesson Task Cards can also be used as Entrance Tickets, differentiation, homework, comprehension check, Exit Tickets … the possibilities are many! Simply print and cut. Laminate for years of use.

Students learn the four common text structures: Compare/Contrast, Description, Cause/Effect, and Problem/ Solution. In this lesson, students learn the definition of text structure- and the difference between it and text features (commonly confused). This product includes the PowerPoint, an EATS lesson plan, graphic organizer, worksheet and answer key. Once students are shown several examples, they will practice identifying original paragraphs (created by me) and writing in a text structure format. Students will write their own paragraph using a structure of their choosing. Others will guess which structure they used. Lastly, students will pair up to summarize the lesson. Students will learn: What clues can I use to determine the text structure of a written piece? and How do text features and structures help the reader understand what they are reading? Common Core Standards: RI. 6.5 Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how the major sections contribute to the whole and to the development of the ideas. Thank you and ENJOY!

The powerpoint, worksheets, lesson, and more are aligned with the 7th grade standards for this short story by Gary Soto. Check out the reviews! I have included: --a 2-day EATS lesson plan with an Essential Question, preview vocabulary, activating strategy, teaching strategies, and a summarizing strategy (Exit Ticket) -- two worksheets- just print and go! -- a 24-slide PowerPoint -- answer keys -- printable Exit Tickets -- printable Exit Ticket Sample Answers for student pairs to critique I have also included the definitions to the vocabulary, a review on the elements of a short story, PowerPoint slides with timers (to keep students focused on discussions), and sample responses to questions (for students to analyze- or use as a model). This product turns the short story “Mother and Daughter” into an interactive lesson. Make sure you have a copy of the story before buying this product. Due to copyright laws, it is not provided with this purchase. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.3 Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot). 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

If you have the short story “A Day’s Wait” by Ernest Hemingway in your anthology, this lesson is for you. Included in this resource are: a PowerPoint, lesson plan, and 3 worksheets. ✓ The EATS lesson plan includes: Essential Question, vocabulary, activating strategy, teaching strategies, and an Exit Ticket. ✓ The lesson plan and worksheets are a time-saver. Just print and go! Answer keys are included. ✓ The PowerPoint will help with pacing the lesson (especially if you are getting observed!) and will help students focus on the most important components of the lesson. Indirect and Direct Characterization are discussed. I have also answered the essential question (using an example for "The Boy Who Cried Wolf") so that students will be able to discuss how to critique an effective response. Display this sample answer when students are completing the exit ticket. The Common Core Focus is: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.5 Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot. Thank you!

"The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" by Chris Van Allsburg is the basis for this creative writing lesson. Check out the reviews below. The text is not included. Please secure a copy of "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" by Chris Van Allsburg before buying this product as you will need the pictures for the lesson. This product includes: EATS Lesson plan Powerpoint Student worksheets Brainstorming worksheet Peer conference worksheet After teaching/ brainstorming the first day, the class will write (like their fingers are on fire!) for days 2-5. I have added a simple PowerPoint, but it is not essential to teaching the lesson. The PPT is editable if you desire to make changes. Fun lesson for your creative writers! Thank you.

This “Puns” lesson comes complete with: • an EATS lesson plan (including essential question, teaching strategies, etc.) • a PowerPoint • a printable worksheet that follows the PowerPoint • an exit ticket • an answer sheet • a bonus worksheet for students to create puns This lesson provides an explanation of puns and the reasons authors use them. Students will learn to interpret puns through the discussion of the several examples. In order to focus on CCSS (LITERACY.L.8.5 and L.8.5.A), the Essential Question asks “How can I interpret puns?” A sample response to this question is included. Students will be able to discuss and critique the response- before they are expected to answer it on their own. I have found providing a sample answer really helps students understand how to respond to the lesson’s exit ticket. The printable worksheet allows students to follow along with the lesson- and independently work on interpreting puns in literature. An “Extra Pun Worksheet” is included for further study. Using the list of multiple meaning words and more examples, students can create their own puns! I hope you enjoy this Puns lesson. 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

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

This resource includes the Powerpoint, two- day lesson plan, and two worksheets (Answer Key included) for the short story by Anne McCaffery. Created to be fully useful, this is a straightforward lesson plan with worksheets that I have found to be very successful with "The Smallest Dragonboy," a short story on courage. ✓ 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 I have also included the lesson plan, worksheet, and sample for PALS reading- as I've found this to be an effective strategy. This product turns the short story in your book into an interactive lesson. Note: One slide- the original sample answer (on "The Three Little Pigs")- is the same one featured in my product "Bargain" by A. B. Guthrie. Thanks so much! ~Kim

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 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.

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!

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.

This lesson focuses on helping middle school students identify the different types of sentence. Students will notice that each structure signals differing relationships among ideas, as based on the Common Core Standard 7.1.b . This is a challenging topic. I have worked on this product to bring some fun to the lesson. I have included: # a PowerPoint, # a lesson plan (with activating strategy, vocabulary, exit ticket, etc.), # a graphic organizer # worksheets # FIVE activities, # a quick quiz, # a vocabulary list # answer keys and # a Your Turn exit ticket The lesson plan is detailed so that it is easy for the teacher to teach each structure with an activity (or two) without getting overwhelmed! The 66-slide PowerPoint is filled with information and is easy for students to follow- especially as they fill in their graphic organizer. There are visuals included. Plus, there is a silent activity where students guess by using sign language letter to show their choice! Fun! I have also included the worksheets in PDF in case that works best for you! CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.b Choose among simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas. Thank you!