Curated OER
The Catcher in the Rye: Vocabulary Self-Collection Strategy
Group members select a word from The Catcher in the Rye they would like the class to know more about. After identifying the context and determining the meaning of the word from the context, they present the word to the entire class,...
Novelinks
The House on Mango Street: Discussion Web
As part of a final discussion of The House on Mango Street, groups examine a concept question about the text, record arguments for and opposed to the question, and then a draw their own conclusions.
Curated OER
My Antonia: Prereading Guided Imagery
What makes a place safe? What makes a setting effective? Explore the safe spaces and descriptive language with a prereading activity for Willa Cather's My Antonia. The teacher describes his or her own safe space and then prompts pupils...
Bantam Books
The Tempest: Chalk Talk
Discussion doesn't always need to be spoken. Before you begin The Tempest by William Shakespeare, have kids connect their ideas and experiences to central questions of the play with a silent discussion activity. Once they have...
Novelinks
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter: Anticipation Guide
Get readers thinking about issues raised by Chapter 5 of Carson McCullers' The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter with an anticipation guide. Individuals decide whether they agree or disagree with a series of statements and discuss their thinking...
For the Teachers
Sequence Plot Chart
Your kids can identify the plot sequence of a short story, but what about an informational article? Have them examine the chronological order of events in informational texts with a lesson on the sequence of events.
Curated OER
The Giver: Lesson 1
Do “memories need to be shared?" Are “memories…forever?" Would you give up memory to live in a perfect world? Introduce a unit centered on Lois Lowry’s utopian/dystopian novel The Giver with a series of activities that has groups...
EngageNY
Analyzing Point of View and Figurative Language: Chapter 1
Check out the view! Scholars complete a graphic organizer to analyze how Laurence Yep develops a character's point of view in Dragonwings. Additionally, pupils re-read parts of the novel and annotate the text on sticky notes, looking for...
EngageNY
Learning from the Narrator’s Point of View: Introducing Dragonwings
Journey into the past with Laurence Yep's Dragonwings. Scholars complete anchor charts to analyze techniques the author uses to develop the narrator's point of view in his novel. As they read, pupils also complete word catchers to track...
K20 LEARN
Who Are They Really?: Characterization In The Outsiders
Ponyboy, Johnny, Winston, and Darry come alive in a lesson that focuses on the details S. E. Hinton uses to characterize the Greasers and the Socials. The class first observes the actors' words; the thoughts revealed their effect on...
Curated OER
Faster And Faster!
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing rereading as a fluency strategy, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed...
Curated OER
Let's Race to the Top
Student increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing good reader strategies, 3rd graders complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed assessment of...
Curated OER
Reader R.E.A.C.T.I.O.N.
Students practice their reading comprehension skills. In this reading skills lesson, students use the R.E.A.C.T.I.O.N. model to identify story elements in books that students elect to read independently.
Curated OER
Me, Plain and Tall
Second graders read and discuss Patricia MacLaclan's book Sarah, Plain and Tall. They write a narrative putting themselves in the setting of the story.
Curated OER
Jack and the Beanstalk
Student increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing good reader strategies, 3rd graders complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed assessment of...
Curated OER
Ready, Set, Go
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing rereading as a good reader strategy, students complete an initial read of a novel text. With a partner, they complete a timed fluency drill...
Curated OER
Racy Readers
Learners increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After discussing the importance of reading fluently, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed...
Curated OER
Go, Speed Reader, Go
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing chunking, decoding, and rereading, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working in small groups, they read complete a timed...
Curated OER
Up, Up, Up The Banana Tree
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing decoding, chunking and rereading, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed...
Curated OER
Studying the Great Depression Through Novels
Eighth graders view pictures of life in a small town during the Great Depression in Illinois to gain an understanding of living conditions during the era. They read novels based on life of this era.
Curated OER
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Graphic Organizer: Venn Diagram
Compare and contrast the characters in John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Using a Venn diagram, kids write in different traits to describe each person, and note their shared characteristics in the middle section.
Novelinks
Count of Monte Cristo: Unsent Letters
To demonstrate their understanding of the relationships in Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, readers are asked to assume the voice of one of the characters and draft a letter addressing another individual in the story.
Curated OER
Novel News
Young scholars, working in groups create a newspaper based on the events that take place in a novel. Groups complete sections of the newsletter based on criteria and publish it using newsletter publishing software.
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension Jobs
Students practice different strategies to help them draw meaning from their reading. Students, divided into groups, read an assigned text selection. Each group member provided a summary of what they have been read based on a particular...