Less than $5 11th Grade Literature Circles (by date, latest first)

World War II fiction novels offer high school teachers a powerful tool for engaging students in historical learning. These novels provide immersive experiences that transport readers into the tumultuous era of the 1940s, allowing them to witness the human experience amidst the chaos of war. Through compelling characters and gripping narratives, students can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of the conflict, including its causes, consequences, and the diverse perspectives of those involved. Moreover, reading World War II fiction encourages critical thinking and empathy as students explore themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the impact of war on individuals and societies. By delving into these narratives, students not only enhance their historical knowledge but also develop important skills in analysis, interpretation, and perspective-taking, making World War II fiction an invaluable addition to any high school curriculum.

This list is by no means exhaustive but it contains newer as well as classic titles, many of which have been made into movies. Share this list with students for reading suggestions over the break or during the school year for book reports or other assignments. Or use for a student book club or even your own book club! World War II historical fiction is quite popular right now!!!

I admit that my own historical fiction novel, Hearts at War, is on the list! I wrote this novel with the high school student in mind, in order to delve deeper into life on the home front for those coming-of-age. The story centers around a Japanese-American boy and a Caucasian girl who grow up in Southern California and then follows how their lives diverge once Pearl Harbor is attacked. Students might be surprised to learn that Japanese-American Nisei served as secret translators in the Pacific theater of war during World War II. I wanted that piece of history to come to light which has been hidden for far too long.

Students read a passage and answer comprehension questions. Based on the answers they are able to decode a secret message!

3 Little Pigs with a twist- Part of my first story of my Bilingual Series

Tales with a twist is designed to give students a familiar feel, but with surprising elements throughout the story.

Print out the stories in either English, or Spanish or both!!!

It is not direct translation rather I focused in translating the stories in a way they feel right and are authentic.

More stories coming soon!

Follow a wanna-be-mom's true tale of international adoption that ranges from Texas to Guatemala. Excellent for literature circles and discussions on adoption, cultural issues, diversity, goal setting, social issues, and achieving dreams. For questions and projects for differentiated learning and critical thinking visit author Pica Kahn's TeachShare website at: http://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Questions-Projects-for-Finding-Yuri

An easy-to-follow, 14-page guide for understanding and writing literature analysis. Includes: Individual/Group activities Writing process approach Definitions Purpose Goal Options Terminologies for students to look up and define Steps for analyzing Critical thinking components Literary Prior Knowledge Handout Worksheet for Analyzing Literature Extra Resources (Video and more...) Interactive approach to understanding how to properly begin, write, and complete literary analysis essays. Be sure to build a class model!

An easy to understand presentation to help students with mood and tone. Includes: Definitions Quotes Examples Group/Individual Activities with word banks Whole class reviews (Poetry and Prose) Great for literature classes and writing reviews! Meets CCSS.

Character traits and analysis fun!

Have some outdoor fun (or use butcher paper for indoors) with sidewalk novel characters! Students choose a character from their novels then do body outlines with sidewalk chalk. Fill these with physical and character traits from quotes within the novel...full directions for implementing and making a competitive game. Can be used with all ages and novels. Excellent for comprehension and assessment.

2 PowerPoints in one: Author's Style and Types of Sentences

Upper level, 31 page lesson on Authors' Style and Types of Sentences that focuses on how and why writers' styles changed over the years, introduces the use of author's style in students' essays, and reviews the four kinds of sentences: Basic, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex.

It includes:

Simple explanations for author's style & types of sentences

Color coded examples

Peer workshopping activities

Extra individual/group/class activities

Tips for helping writers identify author's style & types of sentences

Why author's style & sentence variety is important in writing

Activities for understanding and practicing author's style and types of sentences

Real life connections

Excellent for homeschool, Gifted & Talented, AP/Pre-AP, flipped classes, literacy centers, and test prep. Helps student writers understand and master author's style and sentencing skills through collaborative, colorcoded, peer workshopping techniques.

I used this resource with one of my guided reading groups. After they completed a book they choose from the list of extra activities.

Thanks for looking! Please rate and leave a comment.

Fostering avid readers means consistently presenting books to your class. I have witnessed, first-hand, the power of consistent Book Talks with my students. Book Talks have the power to foster continued love in avid readers and reach even the most struggling readers.
Check out my brand new series of no-prep Book Talk Guides for teachers--starting with this Freebie for Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.

What's Included?

• Teacher Tips and Tricks for successful book talks, including suggested links for book trailers*

• Book Talk Guide, including genre, what kind of students might enjoy each book, and a plot summary

• At least one student book talk response activity

Follow my store and check back as new titles and themed Book Talk bundles will be added in the days and weeks to come!

This product features an engaging "Art Talk" activity that will have your new students thinking, writing, speaking, and moving on the very first day of school. In this activity, they must choose between 6 different quotes about art and articulate why the quote aligns with their perspective on art. I use this lesson every year to set the tone for what I expect in class - it is a great way to gain insight about their current attitudes towards art while they get to know one another with a higher level thinking activity as opposed to the same-old, same-old icebreaker. Product includes: - Comprehensive Lesson Plan - "Art Talk" Sheet for students to fill out - 6 Corresponding "Art Quote" signs to hang up around your room Though I utilize this product on the first day of school, it really can be used all year long. I hope that it is as successful in your class as it is in mine! _________________________________________________________________________ Also, check out these great products to start your school year off strong by Language Arts Excellence: First Day of School Powerpoint Study Hall Expectations Powerpoint Presentation Back to School / Open House Brochure

Socratic Seminar Materials for Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s Harrison Bergeron

A Socratic Seminar (or a "Fish Bowl" Conversation as I like to call them with my students) is a higher order way of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class texts. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, this student-tested resource was created to include everything required to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., all with very little preparation required on your end.

Product Includes:

• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom

• Engaging Introductory Activity for Conversation Building

• 5 Editable Discussion Questions for each “Fishbowl” conversation

• “Fishbowl” Preparation Sheet

• Conversation Builder Prompts

• Observation Sheet

• Rubric

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Also, check out these great resources to complement your unit on Harrison Bergeron by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Harrison Bergeron Pre-Reading Activity

⭐ Harrison Bergeron ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint

⭐ Escape from Dystopia ESCAPE ROOM

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Sometimes the best classroom discussions arise when students say nothing at all!

This product features a thoughtful and engaging activity for use during the study of Harper Lee's ever-enduring tale, To Kill a Mockingbird. Centering around 5 different provocative passages from the book, this lesson provides your students with a chance to think, reflect, and respond to their peers without ever saying a word. This creative approach is a great way to differentiate instruction among your students and allows even your most quiet students to shine. I am confident that this no-prep lesson will become a must-do activity within your unit on To Kill a Mockingbird.

Product Includes:

- 5 "Silent Conversation" worksheets with 5 different quotes from the novel

- Full lesson plan

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Also, check out these great resources to complement your unit on To Kill a Mockingbird by Language Arts Excellence:

To Kill a Mockingbird Anticipation Guide &

Lesson Plan

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Sometimes the best classroom discussions arise when students say nothing at all!

This product features a thoughtful and engaging activity for use during the study of Harper Lee's ever-enduring tale, To Kill a Mockingbird. Centering around 5 different provocative passages from the book, this lesson provides your students with a chance to think, reflect, and respond to their peers without ever saying a word. This creative approach is a great way to differentiate instruction among your students and allows even your most quiet students to shine. I am confident that this no-prep lesson will become a must-do activity within your unit on To Kill a Mockingbird.

Product Includes:

- 5 "Silent Conversation" worksheets with 5 different quotes from the novel

- Full lesson plan

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Also, check out these great resources to complement your unit on To Kill a Mockingbird by Language Arts Excellence:

To Kill a Mockingbird Anticipation Guide &

Lesson Plan

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This resource features lesson plans and materials to conduct a formal set of Socratic Seminars for Edgar Allan Poe's chilling tale of plague and pestilence, The Masque of the Red Death. Socratic Seminars (or "Fish Bowl" Conversations as referred to in this resource) are higher order ways of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class texts. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, this student-tested resource includes everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding the short story, The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe... and no preparation is required by you at all.

Product Includes:

• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom

• Engaging Introductory Activity for Conversation Building

• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fishbowl” conversation

• “Fishbowl” Preparation Sheet

• Conversation Builder Prompts

• Observation Sheet

• Rubric

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Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Masque of the Red Death:

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Anticipation Guide

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Social Media Materials

More resources to round out your Edgar Allan Poe unit:

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Crossword Puzzle

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle

But why stop with one story? We have enough Edgar Allan Poe resources to frighten your students for months!

⭐ The Raven Literature Guide

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide

⭐ The Black Cat Literature Guide

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide

⭐ The Cask of Amontillado Literature Guide

⭐ The Fall of the House of Usher Literature Guide

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Short Story BUNDLE

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⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐

Socratic Seminars (or "Fish Bowl" Conversations as I like to call them with my students) are fantastic, higher order ways of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class text. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, I have done the work for you!

This packet includes everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding Edgar Allan Poe's chilling tale of torture, The Pit and the Pendulum - NO PREPARATION NEEDED!

• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom

• Engaging Introductory Lesson for Conversation Building

• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fish Bowl”

• “Fish Bowl” Preparation Sheet

• Conversation Builder Prompts

• Observation Sheet

• Rubric

___________________________________________________________________________

Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Pit and the Pendulum:

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Sensory Detail Activities

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Socratic Seminar

⭐ The Pit & the Pendulum ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Pit & the Pendulum Digital Escape Room

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This set of 32 unique task cards contain engaging thought-provoking questions meant to prompt lively discussion for literature circles or books clubs in your middle or high school ELA classroom. Questions are mainly reader-response and are fully aligned to the Common Core. They can be used at any point during the reading of a novel or short story and are great as both full-class lesson plans or for time-fillers at the end of class. I also like to use these cards as bell-ringer activities to check in on my students' thoughts and understanding of the novel as we go. These are the perfect task cards to add to your teacher's toolbox and use all year long! __________________________________________________________________________ Also, check out these great resources that can be adapted for any novel by Language Arts Excellence: Differentiated Essay Prompt Task Cards Novel Soundtrack Assignment Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan and Materials Adaptable for ANY Topic Differentiated End of Term Reflection Activities Book Recommendation Form Differentiated Essay Prompts for use with ANY Novel Active Reading Strategy Task Cards

This resource features a set of 25 reader response journal prompts for use during your unit on Shakespeare. Each bell ringer is comprised of a Shakespearean quote from one of his plays or sonnets and a thoughtfully crafted question that encourages students to personally connect and appreciate the timelessness of his work. Prompts can be used as bell-ringers (most popular and mean the first 5 minutes of every class for more than a month are planned for you!), summarizers, stations, full class or small group discussion questions, for homework, task cards, sub plans, as a filler activity… the possibilities are endless!

Example of a prompt:

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players… and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages” ~ As You Like It

What types of roles do you play in your own life? How do these roles differ and to what audience(s) are they played? Why do we find ourselves playing different roles for different people within our lives?

Enjoy using these bell ringers during your study of any Shakespearean play or any time throughout the year when you just need to hear a few wise words from the Bard!

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We've gone digital! Check out the paperless version to support distance learning:

⭐ Shakespeare Digital Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

Save 20% off this resource when you purchase as part of a bundle of Shakespeare products:

⭐ Shakespeare Resource Bundle

Also, check out these great products to add to your Shakespeare unit by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Shakespeare ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Shakespeare Scavenger Hunt

⭐ Introduction to Shakespeare Powerpoint

⭐ Shakespeare Crossword Puzzle

⭐ Shakespeare's "Death Lines" Activity

⭐ Shakespeare Valentine's Day Lesson Plan

⭐ William Shakespeare Quote Posters

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Socratic Seminar Materials for Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven

A Socratic Seminar (or a "Fish Bowl" Conversation as I like to call them with my students) is a higher order way of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class texts. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, this student-tested resource was created to include everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe... with very little preparation required on your end.

This product includes:

• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom

• Fun Introductory Lesson Plan on Academic Conversations

• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fish Bowl”

• “Fish Bowl” Preparation Sheet

• Conversation Builder Prompts

• Observation Sheet

• Rubric

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Also, check out these great products by Language Arts Excellence to supplement your unit on The Raven:

⭐ The Raven ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Raven Figurative Language Challenge

⭐ The Raven Literature Guide

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Sometimes the best classroom discussions arise when students say nothing at all!

This product features a thoughtful and engaging activity for use during your study of F. Scott Fitzgerald's beloved classic about the disillusionment of the American Dream, The Great Gatsby. Centering around 5 different provocative passages from the novel, this lesson provides your students with a chance to think, reflect, and respond to their peers without ever saying a word. This creative approach is a great way to differentiate instruction among your students and allows even your most quiet students to shine. I am confident that this no-prep lesson will become a must-do activity within your unit on The Great Gatsby!

Product Includes:

• 5 "Silent Conversation" worksheets with 5 different quotes from the novel
• Lesson plan

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Also, check out these great resources to complement your unit on The Great Gatsby by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ The Great Gatsby "Hot Seat!"

⭐ The Great Gatsby "Silent Conversation" Quote Pass Activity

⭐ The Great Gatsby Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan

⭐ The Great Gatsby Escape Room

⭐ The Great Gatsby Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game

⭐ The Great Gatsby Social Media Materials

⭐ The Great Gatsby Socratic Seminar Lesson & Materials

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence