With a decade of teaching experience, I specialize in developing student-centered ELA activities and unit plans that foster creativity and critical thinking. My resources have been tried and tested in more than 74,000 classrooms worldwide since 2013.
With a decade of teaching experience, I specialize in developing student-centered ELA activities and unit plans that foster creativity and critical thinking. My resources have been tried and tested in more than 74,000 classrooms worldwide since 2013.
Engage students in higher-level thinking with this inference-based worksheet for “The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken. Perfect for middle and high school English Language Arts classrooms, this close reading activity challenges students to analyze character motivations, identify literary devices, and interpret deeper meanings behind the story’s fantastical elements.
This ready-to-print, no-prep resource includes 12 rigorous multiple choice and short-answer questions that promote close reading and literary analysis. Aligned with Common Core standards for reading literature, this worksheet encourages students to make evidence-based inferences while exploring themes like love, sacrifice, identity, and the consequences of wish fulfillment. An answer key is included.
Use this literary analysis worksheet as part of a unit on short stories, fairy tales, or modern fantasy. Whether you’re teaching theme, characterization, or literary devices, this resource reinforces key ELA skills in a meaningful, text-based context.
Ideal for:
Inference and close reading practice
Literature circles or independent reading
Sub plans or emergency lessons
Test prep and skill reinforcement
Help students get excited about narrative writing during the Halloween season with this set of 72 Creative Writing task cards for high school English Language Arts. These imaginative prompts will help students develop original Halloween-themed short stories incorporating suspense, horror, dark humor, and classic seasonal settings.
Delivered in print-and-go PDF format, the prompts include characters, settings, conflicts, creepy situations, and/or introductory sentences that give even the most reluctant students clarity and focus in their creative storytelling.
Though Halloween-themed, these task cards are suitable all year long in the context of teaching the conventions of Dark Romanticism/Gothic fiction.
Help students gain better perspective on the art of poetry with this accessible activity for ELA settings, particularly Creative Writing classes, and especially during the back-to-school and Halloween seasons. Students will write a Halloween- or fall-themed brace octave: an eight-line stanza (minimum) following either an A-B-B-A-A-B-B-A rhyme scheme or an A-B-B-A-C-D-D-C rhyme scheme. A directions document, exemplar, and prewriting outline are included. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats.
Help students gain better perspective on the art of poetry with this accessible activity for ELA settings, particularly Creative Writing classes, and especially during the back-to-school and Halloween seasons. Students will write a Halloween- or fall-themed pensee: a five-line poem following a set subject structure and syllabic pattern (2, 4, 7, 8, 6). A directions document, exemplar, and prewriting outline are included. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats.
Help students gain better perspective on the art of poetry with this accessible activity for ELA settings, particularly Creative Writing classes, and especially during the back-to-school and Halloween seasons. Students will write a Halloween- or fall-themed Pathya Vat: a metered Cambodian poetry form that uses quatrains composed of four-syllable lines exclusively. A directions document, exemplar, and prewriting outline are included. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats.
Help students gain better perspective on the art of poetry with this accessible activity for ELA settings, particularly Creative Writing classes, and especially during the back-to-school and Halloween seasons. Students will write a Halloween- or fall-themed epulaeryu: a seven-line poem about food that has a set syllabic structure (7, 5, 7, 5, 5, 3, 1). A directions document, exemplar, and prewriting outline are included. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats.
Help students gain better perspective on the art of poetry with this accessible activity for ELA settings, particularly Creative Writing classes, and especially during the back-to-school and Halloween seasons. Students will write a Halloween- or fall-themed clarity pyramid poem: a seven-line, single-subject piece following a particular syllabic pattern (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8). A directions document, exemplar, and prewriting outline are included. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats.
Facilitate reading comprehension and sharpen literary analysis skills with this bundle of activities and assessments covering Jim Heynen’s short story “What Happened During the Ice Storm.” A plot-based quiz, close reading inference worksheet, vocabulary definitions activity, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Evaluate whether the narrator would agree with most people’s assertions that the ice-coated setting is “beautiful”
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, euphemism, metaphor, simile, and more
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of activities to complement Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “The Old Tombstone.” A definitions worksheet, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Challenge middle and high school students to move beyond surface-level comprehension with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Jim Heynen’s short story “What Happened During the Ice Storm.” From applying knowledge of literary devices to making inferences about the author’s intentions, readers will be supported by a set of rigorous questions complementing the text. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Evaluate whether the narrator would agree with most people’s assertions that the ice-coated setting is “beautiful”
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, euphemism, metaphor, simile, and more
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Facilitate reading comprehension and sharpen literary analysis skills with this bundle of activities and assessments covering Katherine Mansfield’s short story “The Wind Blows.” A plot-based quiz, close reading inference worksheet, vocabulary definitions activity, vocabulary application exercise, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Evaluate whether the narrator demonstrates some degree of sympathy toward the snake
Apply knowledge of literary devices including assonance, imagery, simile, symbolism, and more
Conduct brief research on the author’s life and articulate several autobiographical parallels
Write about literature with clarity, precision, and accuracy
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Katherine Mansfield’s short story “The Wind Blows.” A definitions worksheet, vocabulary application activity, crossword puzzle, word search game, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
By engaging with these activities, students will determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words and discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed:
allegretto
arpeggios
breakwater
chaff
esplanade
flutter
gleam
lollop
murmur
plait
revolting
satchel
serge
shabby
skim
solitude
stave
stride
tam
trills
ulster
waist
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Doris Lessing’s short story “No Witchcraft for Sale.” A definitions handout, vocabulary application worksheet, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
By engaging with these activities, students will determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words and discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed:
annul
contradictory
efficacy
exasperation
homestead
incredulously
kraal
mealie
obstinate
perfunctory
protuberance
reverently
sullen
uncouth
writhe
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of activities to complement Jim Heynen’s short story “What Happened During the Ice Storm.” A definitions worksheet, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Evaluate general reading comprehension and maximize student engagement with this plot-based quiz covering Jim Heynen’s short story “What Happened During the Ice Storm.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to be completed outside the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The general reaction to the sight of ice-coated objects
How farmers protect their livestock
The specific type of bird that is the focus of the story
How these birds are suffering
What the boys bring with them (or don’t)
The boys’ immediate reaction to the sight of the birds
What the boys do with their coats
How the story concludes
Evaluate general reading comprehension and maximize student engagement with this plot-based quiz covering Doris Lessing’s short story “No Witchcraft for Sale.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to be completed outside the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
The reason for the servants’ gifts
Teddy’s nickname
What Gideon does with Teddy’s hair
Gideon’s job
The incident that changes the nature of Gideon and Teddy’s relationship
An emergency
Gideon’s response to the emergency
The parents’ response to Gideon’s swift action
A visitor
Gideon’s well-intentioned deception
Evaluate general reading comprehension and maximize student engagement with this plot-based quiz covering “Bearskin” by the Brothers Grimm. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to be completed outside the classroom. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The terms of a deal with the devil
The soldier’s motivation for taking the deal
An object bestowed upon the soldier
The origin of the name ‘Bearskin’
The soldier’s good-heartedness
The innkeeper’s motivation for denying the soldier a place to stay
An old man’s offer in exchange for help
The disclosure of Bearskin’s true identity
The devil’s actions at the conclusion of the deal
The fate of the older sisters
Evaluate general reading comprehension and maximize student engagement with this plot-based quiz covering “The White Snake” by the Brothers Grimm. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to be completed outside the classroom. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The king’s eccentricities
The effect of consuming the white snake
Why the servant is accused of theft
How the servant proves his innocence
The king’s reward
The reason the servant declines the reward
How the servant demonstrates compassion
The fate of the horse
The tasks assigned by the princess
How the princess’ heart is changed
Evaluate general reading comprehension and help high students relate to works of fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Katherine Mansfield’s short story “The Wind Blows.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the text are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
The cause of the mother’s agitation
Matilda’s reaction to her mother’s scolding
Matilda’s general appearance
Mr. Bullen’s role and general disposition
The title of a musical piece
How Marie’s entrance affects Matilda
The brother’s name
The resolution
Facilitate reading comprehension and sharpen literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of activities and assessments covering Leslie Norris’ coming-of-age short story “Shaving.” A plot-based quiz, a literary craft analysis worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Isolate characterization details that elicit emotional responses from readers
Isolate examples of figurative language and articulate the intended effects
Isolate examples of dialogue and descriptive language that contribute to an atmosphere of realism
Convey information through speech and writing in a coherent manner
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
