8th Grade English Language Arts Literature Circles

Unlock the mysteries and suspense of "The Hitchhiker" by Lucille Fletcher with this comprehensive, end-of-year ELA unit, perfect for middle school humanities teachers! This meticulously designed resource offers a full week of engaging, scaffolded lessons, culminating in a dynamic Socratic seminar and creative choice board activities.

What's Included:

• Fully Detailed Lesson Plans: Each day is carefully planned with clear objectives, standards alignment, and step-by-step instructions. Scaffolds and differentiation strategies ensure all students can participate and succeed.
• Engaging Activities: Students will read and analyze the text, listen to the captivating radio play, and participate in thought-provoking discussions. Every lesson is designed to captivate students' imaginations and deepen their understanding of the material.
• Socratic Seminar: Facilitate a rich, student-led discussion with our structured Socratic seminar guidelines. Students will engage in meaningful dialogue, using evidence from the text to support their points.
• Choice Board Projects: Empower students to demonstrate their learning creatively with a variety of project options, including writing an alternate ending, crafting a comic strip, designing a literary brochure, and more. Each option includes graphic organizers and rubrics to guide student work.
• Comprehensive Question Sets: Thoughtful questions accompany each lesson, encouraging critical thinking and textual analysis. An answer key is provided to support teacher facilitation.
• Paper-Based Resource: Designed for easy implementation, this unit is fully printable and ready to use in any classroom setting.

Unit Breakdown:

• Day 1: Whole-class reading of "The Hitchhiker" followed by listening to the radio play. Discussion on suspense and foreshadowing.
• Day 2: Collecting evidence and constructing responses using the claim, evidence, reasoning (CER) format. Preparation for the Socratic seminar.
• Day 3: Socratic seminar day. Students explore and discuss the text, aiming to speak 2-3 times, using textual evidence to support their points.
• Days 4 & 5: Choice board activities. Students choose from a range of creative projects to showcase their understanding of the story.

Benefits:

• Engaging End-of-Year Content: Keep students motivated and excited about learning with a thrilling, suspenseful story that will capture their interest.
• Scaffolding and Extension Ideas: Each lesson includes scaffolds to support all learners and extension ideas to challenge advanced students.
• Comprehensive and Ready-to-Use: Save time with detailed lesson plans, organized materials, and everything you need to deliver a successful unit.

Perfect for middle school humanities teachers looking to end the year with a bang, this unit will leave students discussing, debating, and reflecting on "The Hitchhiker" long after the lessons are over. Bring your classroom to life with this engaging, paper-based resource!

Included in this 12 week unit: Ultimate Middle School Short Story Bundle: 12 Week Engaging Suspense ELA Units (TeachShare.com)

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Complete Teacher's Unit is the ultimate resource for English teachers seeking to bring this classic tale to life for their students. This comprehensive package contains everything needed to teach the novel in a meaningful and engaging way.

The unit begins with an Introduction Power Point that sets the stage for the novel and provides important background information. This presentation is a valuable tool for engaging students and generating interest in the story.

The Study Guide is a comprehensive resource that includes about the author, a character map. and questions that encourage critical thinking and analysis. With this guide, teachers can easily guide their students through the plot and ensure a deep understanding of the themes and symbolism present throughout the text.

The Characterization Flipbook is a fun and interactive way for students to explore the characters in the novel. With this flipbook, students can create character sketches and analyze the motivations and actions of each character.

Graphic Organizers are also included, providing students with a visual way to organize their thoughts and ideas. These organizers are designed to help students explore key themes and concepts in the novel, making it easier for them to make connections and analyze the text.

The Vocabulary Lists and Quizzes are essential tools for building students' vocabulary and understanding of the language used in the novel. These lists and quizzes are comprehensive and designed to challenge students at all levels.

The Vocabulary Crossword Puzzles provide an entertaining way for students to review and reinforce their understanding of the novel's vocabulary.

The Escape Room is a fun and engaging way to bring the novel to life. With this activity, students work together to solve puzzles and clues based on the novel's themes and characters.

Ultimately, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Complete Teacher's Unit is a must-have resource for any English teacher. With its comprehensive materials and engaging activities, this unit is sure to capture the attention of students and foster a love of literature that will last a lifetime.

Accountable Talk BUNDLE | Discussion Kit | Classroom Talk Tools

ABOUT THIS BUNDLE:

• Accountable Talk Bundle
• 277 pages
• Includes 9 products
• PDF files (Some products include digital files, too)
• Excellent for ALL grade levels and subject areas!
• Some include digital versions

Products included in this Bundle:

▶️ Introduction to Accountable Talk PowerPoint Packet

▶️ Accountable Talk Discussion Trackers (Data Collection)

▶️ Accountable Talk Discussion Note-Catcher Worksheets

▶️ Accountable Talk Discussion Starters, Desk Tags, Rubric

▶️ Accountable Talk Sentence Stem Strips

▶️ Accountable Talk Reflection Sheets

▶️ Accountable Talk Speech Bubbles

▶️ Accountable Talk Posters

▶️ Reading Strategies Bookmarks

*******************************

This Accountable Talk Bundle includes:

✅ INTRODUCTION to Accountable Talk Packet

------ Introduction to Accountable Talk PowerPoint (25 Slides)

------ 3 Accountable Talk Sentence Starter Bookmarks

------ 1 Desk Tag (Color and B&W)

------ Accountable Talk Sentence Starter Worksheet (Color and B&W)

------ 3 Student Worksheets (to follow along during presentation)

------ 2 Answer Keys/Sample Response Worksheets

------ Discussion Norms/Guidelines Posters (2 Variations)

------ 3 Google Slide Links

✅ 12 Discussion Trackers (Data Collection) Editable!

✅ 70 Rectangular Accountable Talk Stem Strips (Color and B&W) (There are 5 strips for EACH category - 14 categories X 5 sentence strips = 70 Rectangular Stem Strips in Total!) (COLOR and B&W)

✅ 4 Talking Stem Bookmarks that contain one column (5 areas of discussion)

✅ 4 Talking Stem Bookmarks that contain two columns (10 areas of discussion)

✅ 32 Accountable Talk Speech Bubbles (Rainbow and B&W)

✅ 12 Reading/Discussion Starter Bookmarks

✅ 2 Accountable Talk Desk Tags in 2 Variations (Color and B&W)

✅ 1 Accountable Talk Sentence Starter Sheet

✅ 21 Discussion Note-Catcher Graphic Organizer (2 Variations)

✅ 1 Peer Evaluation Accountable Talk Discussion Rubric in 3 Variations (Editable)

✅ 3 Accountable Talk Reflection Sheets in 2 Variations (Print and Digital)

✅ 13 Accountable Talk Posters (in 2 sizes: 8.5x11, 11x14 - PDF and JPEG)

*******************************

This Accountable Talk Bundle contains meaningful Accountable Talk tools to promote student collaborative talk in the classroom! These tools encourage academic, productive, active, and respectful conversations between students. These materials will provide them with varied opportunities to practice, apply, and build "new" language proficiency. These tools will also enhance their listening and speaking skills and increase rigor in the classroom!

*******************************

RESOURCE DSCRIPTION

▶️ Introduction to Accountable Talk PowerPoint Packet

✅ Consists of 25 PowerPoint Slides.

✅ Uneditable PowerPoint due to copyright purposes.

✅ Includes two student-version slides where worksheets have been provided to help you engage students in discussion (about the topics in those two slides)

✅ Visually appealing and colorful. Contains student-friendly, age-appropriate, mature graphics.

✅ PowerPoint and Digital versions included. (PowerPoint and Google Slides)

▶️ Accountable Talk Sentence Starter Stems

✅ Sentence Starters are included in the form of a worksheet, bookmarks, and desk tag (Color and B&W)

✅ PDF version / printable / uneditable

▶️ Student Worksheets

✅ There are three student worksheets: two worksheets align to two slides in the PowerPoint presentation. You will be able to stop at two points in the PowerPoint presentation and engage students in discussion about two particular topics. Students can share their thoughts. The third worksheet is reflection worksheet that includes 3 questions.

✅ Print and Digital versions. (Text boxes are already created to make it easier for you and your students)

✅ Two detailed Answer Keys are included.

▶️ Discussion Norms/Guidelines Posters

✅ Included are two sets of Discussion Norms/Guidelines Posters that include the same content and images, but differ in fonts and backgrounds.

✅ Print and Digital versions included

▶️ 13 Accountable Talk Posters

These Accountable Talk Posters feature the following Accountable Talk categories:

• Invite Others to Discuss
• Introduce Evidence
• Summarize
• Disagree
• Agree
• Comment
• Build On
• Clarify
• Predict
• Infer
• Question
• Visualize
• Make A Connection

All 13 posters are colorful, contain an image that reflects the Accountable Talk category and appropriate sentence stem starters that can be posted anywhere in the room where students can see and refer to during discussions. You can print them out on gloss paper and laminate for optimal quality.

*******************************

▶️ 12 Editable Classroom Talk / Discussion Trackers (Data Collection)

This resource includes 12 different Accountable Talk / Classroom Talk Discussion Trackers (in different variations). Two of the Accountable Data Trackers are "student trackers" and titled “My Discussion Tracker” where students can keep track of their own participation during classroom talk. These trackers enable you to keep track of who's making:

• Claims/Inferences
• Supporting their Ideas with Evidence
• Providing an Analysis or Explanation of their Claims/Inferences (Substance)
• Volunteering their Ideas
• Using Accountable Talk Stems
• Engaging in Respectful Communication with Peers
• Actively Listening
• Making Connections
• Building on Others’ Ideas
• Not Contributing to Discussion
• Not Using Accountable Talk Stems
• Does Not Support Ideas with Evidence
• Interrupting Others (as they speak)
• Engaged in Side Activities
• Lacking Substance

✅ Some trackers also provides you opportunities to jot down important key points that students have shared during discussion as well as some interventions needed to help them engage better in classroom talk.

✅ All this information can be tracked in these Classroom Talk / Accountable Talk Discussion Trackers. The data captured in these trackers can greatly help you provide the necessary interventions needed to support students in rigorous classroom talk. These trackers can also help you monitor their progress and have evidence of student learning. Your administrators will love you for this!

✅ Additionally, all 12 Discussion Trackers come in EDITABLE forms, so you can easily modify according to your needs and your students’ needs.

✅ PLEASE NOTE: The editable trackers do not contain the same fonts, borders, and clipart images as in the PDF version due to copyright purposes and requirements made by other contributing clipart artists. However, you may add your own borders and images to the editable version as well as change the fonts to your own style. The trackers themselves in the editable version are the same as the PDF version. The PDF version contains all the visually appealing fonts, clipart graphics, and borders.

*******************************

▶️ 70 Rectangular Accountable Talk Stem Strips (5 strips for each of the 14 categories)

There are 5 rectangular Accountable Talk Sentence Starter Stem Strips for EACH category. Included are both COLORED and B&W Sentence Strips. These rectangular Accountable Talk Stem Strips provide students with access to five different option speech starters for each category.

How You Can Use the Stem Strips

✅ One great idea is to provide students with these rectangular stems and have them write their names on the back. During discussion, every time a student introduces/expresses his or her ideas using the sentence starter on the Accountable Talk Rectangular Stem Strip, they hand that stem strip to you. At the end of class, you will be able to see and take note of how many times each student used the stem starter during discussion when presenting ideas. (All you have to do is look at their names in the back). It's an AMAZING way to keep track of who’s using Accountable Talk during discussion and who isn’t, then provide intervention to ensure that students are using them. Students will also see that they are being held accountable for engaging in productive classroom talk using academic language!

✅ You can also display them on your bulletin boards so students can use them as a reference when engaging in productive, respectful talk!

*******************************

▶️ 32 Accountable Talk Speech Bubbles

This resource includes 32 Accountable Talk Speech Bubbles (Rainbow and B&W) that can be posted anywhere in the classroom where students can reference them during discussions. These Speech Bubbles will help students actively engage in meaningful, respectful discussion with their peers. They contain Accountable Talk discussion starters to encourage academic, productive, and respectful conversations between students. These will provide them with varied opportunities to practice, apply, and build "new" language proficiency.

*******************************

▶️ 12 Reading/Discussion Starter Bookmarks

Twelve attractive reading strategy bookmarks that students can use when they read or engage in classroom talk. Each bookmark includes sentence stems consistent with the following reading strategy categories:

☆ Determining Importance

☆ Making Inferences

☆ Questioning

☆ Evaluating

☆ Predicting

☆ Summarizing

☆ Visualizing

☆ Text-to-Self Connections

☆ Text-to-Text Connections

☆ Text-to-World Connections.

These bookmarks are a great way to inspire your students to read, have in a school library, use as classroom prizes or give to students just because!

You may:

• Print and cut each one out (as there are four bookmarks on each sheet)
• For long lasting use, photocopy onto card stock paper, or laminate them.
• For personal touch you can also hole-punch the tops and tie a ribbon through!

*******************************

▶️ Accountable Talk Talking Stems

✅ Variation #1 - One Column Talking Stem that contains 5 talking/discussion areas: Agree, Disagree, Prompt, Clarify, and Add-On. This variation comes in four colors: Yellow, Pink, Blue, and B&W. Each color bookmark includes the same content.

✅ Variation #2 - Two Column Talking Stem that contains 10 talking/discussion areas: Agree, Disagree, Prompt, Clarify, Add-On, Explain, Evidence Comment, Question, and Summarize. This variation comes in four colors: Yellow, Pink, Blue, and B&W. Each color bookmark includes the same content.

▶️ 2 Accountable Talk Desk Tags (in two different themes / Color and B&W)

The Desk Tags are Accountable Talk “mini posters” that can be printed and nicely taped to the corner of students' desk, so they can reference them all year long! They can refer to these tags for every activity, written and oral!

▶️ 1 Accountable Talk Sentence Starter Sheet

The Accountable Talk Sentence Starter Sheet includes discussion stems for 8 Accountable Talk categories:

☆ Agreeing

☆ Disagreeing

☆ Using Evidence

☆ Adding On

☆ Clarifying

☆ Questioning

☆ Predicting

☆ Inferring

Students can keep these sheets in their folders and have access to them where ever they go, especially at home. They can use these discussion starters in their writing and homework assignments as well!

▶️ 21 Discussion Note-Catcher Graphic Organizer

☆ 21 Discussion Note-Catcher Worksheets (WITH Graphics)

☆ 21 Discussion Note-Catcher Worksheets (WITHOUT Graphics)

☆ 2 Google Slide Links (for both variations)

These Discussion Note-Catcher Worksheets (Print and Digital) can increase students' interests and engagement during class discussions, debates, classroom talk, group talk, etc.! You can help maintain students' interests and focus by holding them accountable for actively listening and recording important discussion information . . . to later share during discussion. As students both discuss and record their ideas and answers, and listen and record others' ideas and answers, they can get different perspectives on a topic, organize their thinking, and feel more confident in contributing to their discussions.

These Discussion Note-Catcher Worksheets come in two variations:

✅ 21 Discussion Worksheets WITH Graphics

✅ 21 Discussion Worksheets WITHOUT Graphics

✅ BOTH Print and Digital

Digital Versions of both variations are included in case you facilitate your classes online/remotely!

▶️ 1 Peer Evaluation Accountable Talk Discussion Rubric / 3 Variations

This resource includes one Peer Evaluation Rubric in three variations - Same content. Editable versions are included, so you can modify in such a way that meets the needs of your students and instructional plans!

The Peer Evaluation Accountable Talk Discussion Rubric is meant for students to use and asses each other during Class Talk. Before beginning a discussion or debate, give each student a Peer Evaluation Rubric with another student’s name on it. (You can decide who will asses who, or you can just randomly write the names on Rubrics). Ask students to “secretly” observe and assess that student’s participation during the class discussion or debate. Students should not know who is assessing who so that evaluations of participation are fair. Throughout the discussion or debate, students will take meaningful notes of their classmates’ performances. At the end of the discussion or debate, give them 5 minutes to score the student whose name is on their Peer Evaluation Rubric. Finally, students can go up to the person they were observing and hand them the rubric. At the very end, the teacher collects the rubrics for review. This has worked so well for me! Students were always “on their toes." Students found it so exciting to be observed by classmates and also observe others.

▶️ 3 Accountable Talk Reflection Sheets (Print and Digital)

Students' reflection of classroom talk helps them identify areas and skills that need both improvement and enrichment. These reflection sheets encourage students to reflect about their experiences during collaborative talk and develop an appreciation for particular skills involved. These reflection sheets are student-friendly making it feasible for students of all levels to think and write about their overall participation in a collaborative learning environment. Reflection sheets contain images, sentence starters, and questions to really help students think about their learning. They are especially student-friendly for SPED and ELL students!

*******************************

This Accountable Talk Bundle is also included in the following discounted Mega Bundles:

• All ELA Mega Bundle
• ELA/SEL MEGA BUNDLE

*******************************

© Queen's Resources LLC – All rights reserved.

Created by © Queen's Educational Resources / All Rights Reserved

Your purchase includes one copy to be used in a single classroom. If you are looking for multiple copies, please be sure to purchase additional licenses.

*******************************

Interested in REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS?

Checkout my REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS LIBRARY!

*******************************

Interested in realistic kids, teens, and adults clipart? Check out my CLIPART GALLERY!

*******************************

Click here to FOLLOW ME!

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!

queenseducationalresources@gmail.com

*******************************

DID YOU KNOW that you can earn money for future TeachShare purchases when you leave feedback on a resource you purchased?!?!? All you have to do is leave feedback on the purchased resource! When you do so, you earn TPT credits. These TPT credits can be redeemed and used toward future purchases!

❤️ Reviews and Ratings: Reviews and Ratings are extremely important to me. Your time to rate this product and write a review will greatly be appreciated! ;-)

*******************************

LET'S CONNECT:

• My Website
• Queen's Clipart Gallery
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• TeachShare

UPDATED FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR: Finally, a poetry unit designed for high-school English that teenagers genuinely love!! Your students' skills in close reading and literary analysis of poems will skyrocket....

The 3-week unit features 60+ canonical poems written by a diverse spectrum of English-speaking poets. The poems and accompanying lesson plans are organized into 12 thematic packets which can be used in sequence over two weeks. That's over 200 pages worth of editable poetry resources!

This unit promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The discussion questions, quick writes, literary device quizzes, and analytical writing assignments will challenge your students to dig beneath the surface of the text and generate profound interpretive insights!!

Here are some highlights from this editable 200-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems (5-6 Poems per Packet): The 12 homework packets contain a total of 71 poems by a diverse range of award-winning poets such as William Shakespeare, John Keats, Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Robert Hayden, Theodore Roethke, Maya Angelou, Audre Lorde, Mary Oliver, Gary Soto, Li-Young Lee, Ada Limón, Elizabeth Acevedo, and others. The poems are collected into ten reading packets that focus on prominent literary devices and themes: 1) poems using sensory imagery, 2) poems using figurative language, 3) love poems, 4) poems on ethical dilemmas, 5) poems on complex parent-child dynamics, and 6) poems on cultural identity. Because teenagers have a lot to say about these themes, the poems will set the stage for your class to have fascinating and profoundly productive discussions!! (75 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: A glossary with definitions and examples of the various types of figurative language, imagery, stanzas, and syntactic devices. Many teachers already have a glossary of literary devices, but I'm providing this in case you need one. (2 pages)

• Literary Devices Quizzes: A total of ten quizzes, each with 10 questions about a wide range of literary devices: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. Open each class with a quiz to assess whether your students can accurately identify the literary devices used in the poems from the homework packets. Answer keys included. (24 pages).

• Discussion Questions: This bundle features a list of discussion questions for the first poem in each of the homework packets. The discussion questions will ensure that every class discussion starts on a productive foot. Every discussion question is grounded in concrete textual details and challenges students to arrive at lucid interpretive insights! The questions lend themselves to a range of different pedagogical uses: 1) to focus students’ thinking prior to beginning a discussion, 2) to prompt in-class writing, 3) to assign written reflections for homework, etc. Guaranteed to elicit student engagement and foster deep thinking! Answer keys included. (60 pages)

• Quick Writes: The quick writes give students an opportunity to capture and refine the best ideas generated in the discussion. Quick writes can also help reticent students to gather their thoughts so they'll feel ready and eager to contribute. (24 pages)

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on a poem of their choice. The assignment sheet contains detailed instructions for how to generate a formalist analysis of a poem (analyzing how the poem's formal features contribute to its meaning). This kind of formalist analysis is exactly what students are asked to generate on the AP Literature exam! Sample paper included. (15 pages)

This entire resource packet will come to you in two separate formats: Word docs *and* PDFs. Because the Word docs are fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access all of the materials as PDF documents — which are easy to navigate and quick to print!

My store is called “Rigorous Resources” because all of the resources contain rigorous content that will motivate students to engage in thought-provoking and productive discussions. Thank you for choosing Rigorous Resources.

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

Should you prefer to purchase the poetry units individually, here are links to the five poetry units:

Poetry Unit #1: Sensory Imagery in Poetry

Poetry Unit #2: Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry Unit #3: Love Poems

Poetry Unit #4: Poems on Ethical Dilemmas

Poetry Unit #5: Poems on Family Relationships

Poetry Unit #6: Poems on Cultural Identity

Store: https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Rigorous-Resources

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.

This story is also available as part of an eight story ebook, "Young Voices: Eight Short Stories of Courage & Resilience."

In "Beyond the Horizon," a poignant tale unfolds, following the footsteps of Jose and his three close friends as they embark on a journey that will test the bounds of their friendship and the depth of their dreams. Set against the backdrop of their small Mexican town, this 1200-word story invites readers to walk alongside these spirited youths as they navigate the rugged path to a future filled with hope and uncertainty.

The narrative weaves the laughter, fears, and silent strength of this band of brothers, who are determined to chase the opportunities that eluded their ancestors. With the golden dawn of possibilities before them, they face the daunting challenge of crossing the Mexico-U.S. border, carrying not just their aspirations but also the rich cultural heritage of their homeland.

As the four friends confront the harsh realities of their quest, their bond is tested in ways they never imagined. The story captures the essence of human resilience and the unbreakable spirit of those who dare to dream beyond their horizon. Join us in this heartfelt journey that transcends borders and resonates with anyone who has ever reached for the stars.

There are thought provoking questions (and possible answers) at the end of the story.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding Conflict: The material offers insights into the dynamics of territorial conflicts and their ramifications for those caught in the crossfire.

Effects of War or Conflict on Youth: The content underlines the deep-seated impact of hostilities on the mental and physical health of children and adolescents.

Resilience and Hope: Through character experiences, the narrative highlights the human capacity for endurance and the quest for collective healing amidst adversity.

Cultural Insight: The text provides a window into the complexities of a region's culture and the intense obstacles its inhabitants endure.

Human Rights: The narrative serves as a primer for dialogues concerning the safeguarding of civilians and the enforcement of human rights in times of strife.

Peacebuilding: The book promotes an investigation into the adoption of nonviolent strategies for mitigating disputes and fostering reconciliation at the community level.

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!

Being able to analyze and understand characters is very important skill students need in order to understand a story at a deep level. With these Characterization and STEAL character analysis reading response templates for Google Jamboard™, your students will interactively analyze characters by collecting evidence of speech, thoughts, effects, actions and looks.

What's Included:

• 5 templates ( 1 template for each element: speech, thoughts, effects, actions and looks

Directions:

• It is time to take a closer look at a character.
• Click on the Google Slide to access a forced copy of the templates in Jamboard.
• Students go back into the text to identify & explain aspects of the character.
• Students find at least 3 textual example for each element of characterization (S.T.E.A.L.).

Uses:

• individual activity
• small collaborative groups
• whole class where students can each contribute to a part of the activity, or as a guided lesson on character analysis
• distance learning
• assigned as a paper-pencil assignment
• short stories
• novel studies
• book clubs
• litereacy centers
• AVID

What is Google Jamboard:

Google Jamboard is a digital interactive and collaborative whiteboard. It is a FREE online and app version.

Click HERE to see our other reading resources!

Click HERE to see our other AVID resources!

Follow KJ Inspired Resources:

TeachShare Store

Instagram

Tik Tok

Help your AVID or ELA students build reading comprehension and practice using text evidence with these editable discussion cards and talking chips for an article on solar eclipses! Students will read the provided article with space for note taking and a summary, then they will sit in small groups and take turns pulling a discussion card and using their talking chips.

Great for: using text evidence, collaboration and team building, public speaking practice,

⭐AVID BUNDLE!⭐

✨Solar Eclipse Bundle✨

DIRECTIONS:

• Access your forced copy of the Google Doc with the article on solar eclipses. Allow students to read, take notes in the margin, and summarize the article by answering the essential question at the top.

• Go to the last slide to add your own discussion prompts.

• Click "File" then "Download" and then "PDF" to download the prompts as a PDF document.

• Print, cut, and laminate a set of cards for each of your groups of 4-5 students.

• Print, cut, and laminate talking chips.

• Put students into groups of 4-5.

• Decide how many talking chips each student gets (this encourages participation during the dialogue and teaches students how to use social cues when deciding when to share, instead of raising a hand).

• One student draws a card from the top. That student asks the question and dialogue begins in the group. Students should have the short story handy so they can use evidence in their responses.

• When dialogue dies down, students continue taking turns drawing a card, asking questions. and having discussions.

• Students should discard the questions already asked so they don't repeat any.

WHAT's INCLUDED:

• Google Doc with a solar eclipse article
• Google slide with printable talking chips
• 20 Discussion Prompts in color and black & white
• Editable Discussion Prompt Cards in color and black & white

Solar Eclipse Roll a Story

Check out other AVID Resources HERE!

Check out other Reading Resources HERE!

This resource features a bundle of four exciting lesson plans, activities, and classroom decor for your unit on the hero's journey. Lessons have all been classroom-tested and allow for differentiation while encouraging optimal student engagement. You will not find tedious lists of comprehension questions and vocabulary words in this bundle; instead you will find materials that will allow your students to understand and connect with the hero's journey on a deeper level.

⭐ Hero's Journey Anticipation Lesson Plan:

This product features an engaging introductory lesson plan that will have your students thinking, writing, speaking, and moving on the first day of your hero's journey unit. In this activity, they must choose between 6 different quotes by famous figures about what makes a hero, articulate why the quote aligns with their own perspective, then share their findings with the rest of the class in a fun, non-intimidating way.

⭐ Hero's Journey Socratic Seminar:

This resource features everything you need in order to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom for any novel that follows the model of the hero's journey. Socratic Seminars are high-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. They are also a great way for students to work together and build upon one another's ideas without the assistance of a teacher. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, with this resource, the work has been done for you and you will have several days of student-led learning during your unit on the hero's journey!

⭐ Hero's Journey ESCAPE ROOM:

Though your students have been learning about the 12 stages, 8 archetypes, and countless examples of the hero's journey through literature and film, it is time for them to become heroes themselves by escaping your classroom! In order to do this, they must work in small teams to solve 5 different puzzles related to the hero's journey, discovering a hidden message, and finding clues along the way.

⭐ Hero's Journey Quote Posters:

Make your classroom pop with this set of 25 posters featuring provocative quotes about the hero's journey. Each 7.5 x 7.5 (square) PDF poster contains a quote about heroes imposed over a stunning photograph to spruce up your ELA classroom during your unit on the hero's journey. The square format makes for an eye-catching arrangement on your wall or bulletin board and serves as a great conversation starter. I suggest laminating the posters so that you can use them year after year!

Purchasing this bundle saves more than 20% off the cost of the four resources for your hero's journey unit.

___________________________________________________________________

Also, check out these great products for your unit on the hero's journey by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ The Alchemist

⭐ Divergent

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

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!

Novel Study for Any Novel (Independent or Small Group Novel Study)

For Grades 6 to 9

Aprox. 8 weeks teaching duration.

Google Slides, PDF, Editable MS Word

No Prep

Includes:

Reading comprehension questions

Several writing assignments

Analysis of character, mood, setting, literary devices

Graphic organizers

Student self assessment

Grading Rubric

Immerse your students in the thrilling world of "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell with this comprehensive, end-of-year ELA unit, perfect for middle school humanities teachers! This meticulously designed resource offers a full week of engaging, scaffolded lessons, culminating in a dynamic Socratic seminar and creative choice board activities.

What's Included:

• Fully Detailed Lesson Plans: Each day is carefully planned with clear objectives, standards alignment, and step-by-step instructions. Scaffolds and differentiation strategies ensure all students can participate and succeed.
• Engaging Activities: Students will read and analyze the text, watch a captivating film adaptation, and participate in thought-provoking discussions. Every lesson is designed to captivate students' imaginations and deepen their understanding of the material.
• Socratic Seminar: Facilitate a rich, student-led discussion with our structured Socratic seminar guidelines. Students will engage in meaningful dialogue, using evidence from the text and film to support their points.
• Choice Board Projects: Empower students to demonstrate their learning creatively with a variety of project options, including writing an alternate ending, crafting a comic strip, designing a literary brochure, and more. Each option includes graphic organizers and rubrics to guide student work.
• Comprehensive Question Sets: Thoughtful questions accompany each lesson, encouraging critical thinking and textual analysis. An answer key is provided to support teacher facilitation.
• Paper-Based Resource: Designed for easy implementation, this unit is fully printable and ready to use in any classroom setting.

Unit Breakdown:

• Day 1: Whole-class reading of "The Most Dangerous Game." Discussion on suspense and setting.
• Day 2: Watching a short film adaptation and gathering evidence using the claim, evidence, reasoning (CER) format. Preparation for the Socratic seminar.
• Day 3: Socratic seminar day. Students explore and discuss the text, aiming to speak 2-3 times, using textual evidence to support their points.
• Days 4 & 5: Choice board activities. Students choose from a range of creative projects to showcase their understanding of the story.

Benefits:

• Engaging End-of-Year Content: Keep students motivated and excited about learning with a thrilling, suspenseful story that will capture their interest.
• Scaffolding and Extension Ideas: Each lesson includes scaffolds to support all learners and extension ideas to challenge advanced students.
• Comprehensive and Ready-to-Use: Save time with detailed lesson plans, organized materials, and everything you need to deliver a successful unit.

Perfect for middle school humanities teachers looking to end the year with a bang, this unit will leave students discussing, debating, and reflecting on "The Most Dangerous Game" long after the lessons are over. Bring your classroom to life with this engaging, paper-based resource!

Included in this 12 week unit: Ultimate Middle School Short Story Bundle: 12 Week Engaging Suspense ELA Units (TeachShare.com)

Reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian? Looking for a way to engage your students? Our graphic organizers go perfectly with this timeless classic. Helping your students learn vocabulary, theme, plot, and symbols. This includes 5 graphic organizers and a rubric for easy grading.

***Need More Resources for "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?***

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Introduction Powerpoint

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Study Guide Flipbook

The Absolutely True Life Diary of a Part-Time Indian Characterization Flipbook

Accountable Talk Sentence Starter Stems, Discussion Starters, Academic Language

This resource is also included in the following discounted Bundles:

• Accountable Talk Bundle
• All ELA Mega Bundle
• ELA/SEL MEGA BUNDLE

*******************************

Accountable Talk Sentence Starter Stems are tools that students can use to respectfully get themselves into conversations and to draw other people into the conversation. They provide students a framework to agree or disagree with others, ask questions of each other, share an opinion, and paraphrase the discussion or a specific point. The talking stems are language tools that can be used to build productive academic discussions in your classroom. Teachers can use these Accountable Talk Stems can be used to prompt students to join classroom conversations by using the same stems. It helps students better communicate and learn using academic language to express concepts and thinking. This resource provides students with access to five different option speech starters for each category.

ABOUT THIS RESOURCE

☆ Accountable Talk / Discussion Starters

☆ PDF File

☆ Color and B&W

☆ Excellent for ALL grades and Subject Areas!

☆ There are 5 strips for each category. 5 X 14 = 70 different Rectangular Stem Strips in total!

This resource includes:

------ 70 COLORED Rectangular Accountable Talk Sentence Stem Strips

(14 categories X 5 sentence strips = 70 Rectangular Stem Strips in Total!)

------ 70 B&W Rectangular Accountable Talk Sentence Stem Strips

(14 categories X 5 sentence strips = 70 Rectangular Stem Strips in Total!)

*******************************

These Accountable Talk Sentence Stem Strips feature the following Accountable Talk categories in both COLOR and B&W:

1. Invite Others to Discuss

2. Introduce Evidence

3. Summarize

4. Disagree

5. Agree

6. Comment

7. Build On

8. Clarify

9. Predict

10. Infer

11. Question

12. Visualize

13. Connection

14. Analyze

*******************************

Other Accountable Talk resources you might be interested in:

▶️ Introduction to Accountable Talk PowerPoint Packet

▶️ Accountable Talk Discussion Trackers (Data Collection)

▶️ Accountable Talk Discussion Note-Catcher Worksheets

▶️ Accountable Talk Discussion Starters, Desk Tags, Rubric

▶️ Accountable Talk Reflection Sheets

▶️ Accountable Talk Speech Bubbles

▶️ Accountable Talk Posters

▶️ Reading Strategies Bookmarks

*******************************

© Queen's Resources LLC – All rights reserved.

Created by © Queen's Educational Resources / All Rights Reserved

Your purchase includes one copy to be used in a single classroom. If you are looking for multiple copies, please be sure to purchase additional licenses.

*******************************

Interested in REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS?

Checkout my REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS LIBRARY!

*******************************

Interested in realistic kids, teens, and adults clipart? Check out my CLIPART GALLERY!

*******************************

Click here to FOLLOW ME!

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!

queenseducationalresources@gmail.com

*******************************

DID YOU KNOW that you can earn money for future TeachShare purchases when you leave feedback on a resource you purchased?!?!? All you have to do is leave feedback on the purchased resource! When you do so, you earn TPT credits. These TPT credits can be redeemed and used toward future purchases!

❤️ Reviews and Ratings: Reviews and Ratings are extremely important to me. Your time to rate this product and write a review will greatly be appreciated! ;-)

*******************************

LET'S CONNECT:

• My Website
• Queen's Clipart Gallery
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• TeachShare

This 38-page EDITABLE poetry unit promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The 10 poems in this mini-unit all focus on different kinds of ethical dilemmas.

Because teenagers are genuinely intrigued by ethical dilemmas, these poems will set the stage for your class to have authentic discussions that inspire a whole new depth of reflection. The literary devices quizzes, discussion prompts, and analytical writing assignment will challenge your students to dig beneath the surface of the text and generate profound interpretive insights!

Here are some highlights from this 38-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems about Ethical Dilemmas: The two homework packets contains a total of 10 poems by a diverse range of award-winning poets such as Robert Frost, William Stafford, Ada Limón, Jan Beatty, Ross Gay, and others. Every poem focuses on some kind of ethical dilemma. Because teenagers are genuinely intrigued by ethical dilemmas, these poems will set the stage for your class to have fascinating and profoundly productive discussions!! (10 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: A glossary with definitions and examples of the various types of figurative language, imagery, stanzas, and syntactic devices. Many teachers already have a glossary of literary devices, but I'm providing this in case you need one. (2 pages)

• Literary Devices Quizzes: Open each class with a quiz of 10 questions to assess whether your students can accurately identify the literary devices used in the poems from the nightly homework packets: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. The digital versions of the quizzes on Google Forms will grade every student's work and generate a list of their scores. Answer keys included. (4 pages).

• Discussion Questions: This bundle features a list of discussion questions for the first poem in each of two nightly homework packets. The discussion questions will ensure that every class discussion starts on a productive foot. Every discussion question is grounded in concrete textual details and challenges students to arrive at lucid interpretive insights! The questions lend themselves to a range of different pedagogical uses: 1) to focus students’ thinking prior to beginning a discussion, 2) to prompt in-class writing, 3) to assign written reflections for homework, etc. Guaranteed to elicit student engagement and foster deep thinking! Answer keys included. (7 pages)

• Quick Writes: The quick writes give students an opportunity to capture and refine the best ideas generated in the discussion. Quick writes can also help reticent students to gather their thoughts so they'll feel ready and eager to contribute. (3 pages)

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on a poem of their choice. The assignment sheet contains detailed instructions for how to generate a formalist analysis of a poem (analyzing how the poem's formal features contribute to its meaning). This kind of formalist analysis is exactly what students are asked to generate on the AP Literature exam! Sample paper included. (3 pages)

This entire 38-page unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word *and* PDF. Because the Word doc is fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access all of the materials as a PDF — which is easy to navigate and quick to print! Finally, as a free bonus, I'm including links to digital copies of every document in user-friendly platforms like Google Docs and Google Forms.

My store is called “Rigorous Resources” because all of the resources contain rigorous content that will motivate students to engage in thought-provoking and productive discussions. Thank you for choosing Rigorous Resources!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

Links to all of the poetry units in this collection:

Poetry Unit #1: Sensory Imagery in Poetry

Poetry Unit #2: Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry Unit #3: Love Poems

Poetry Unit #4: Ethical Dilemmas in Poetry

Poetry Unit #5: Family Dynamics in Poetry

Store: https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Rigorous-Resources

This story is also available as part of an eight story ebook, "Young Voices: Eight Short Stories of Courage & Resilience."

Dive into the heartwarming tale of "Irene and Henry: Friendship Beyond the Frontlines," a poignant story set against the backdrop of the Northern Ireland Troubles. This narrative follows young Irene, whose resilience and quiet determination shine through the daily challenges of growing up in a conflict-ridden village. When she forms an unexpected friendship with Henry, a boy from the "other side" of the conflict, they embark on a journey of understanding that transcends the barriers erected by their community.

There are thought provoking questions (and possible answers) at the end of the story.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding Conflict: The material offers insights into the dynamics of territorial conflicts and their ramifications for those caught in the crossfire.

Effects of War or Conflict on Youth: The content underlines the deep-seated impact of hostilities on the mental and physical health of children and adolescents.

Resilience and Hope: Through character experiences, the narrative highlights the human capacity for endurance and the quest for collective healing amidst adversity.

Cultural Insight: The text provides a window into the complexities of a region's culture and the intense obstacles its inhabitants endure.

Human Rights: The narrative serves as a primer for dialogues concerning the safeguarding of civilians and the enforcement of human rights in times of strife.

Peacebuilding: The book promotes an investigation into the adoption of nonviolent strategies for mitigating disputes and fostering reconciliation at the community level.

Elementary Spanish Bundle

More than a $23 savings!!!

-One More Product coming in this Bundle 9/18/204

Everything in this BUNDLE is BILINGUAL OR in Spanish.

Please see the list of all the items that are included!

Help your AVID or ELA students build reading comprehension and practice using text evidence with these editable discussion cards and talking chips for The Landlady by Roald Dahl! This activity is sure to get your middle school students in the Halloween spirit. This resource can be used during the Halloween season, but can also be used at any other time during the year! Students will read the provided story, The Landlady through the Google doc, then they will sit in small groups and take turns pulling a discussion card.

Great for: using text evidence, collaboration and team building, public speaking practice,

⭐Save 30% with this mega AVID BUNDLE!⭐

Save 30% with this AVID Halloween Bundle!

DIRECTIONS:

• Access your forced copy of the Google Doc with the story, The Landlady on the second slide.

• Go to the last slide to add your own discussion prompts.

• Click "File" then "Download" and then "PDF" to download the prompts as a PDF document.

• Print, cut, and laminate a set of cards for each of your groups of 4-5 students.

• Print, cut, and laminate talking chips.

• Put students into groups of 4-5.

• Decide how many talking chips each student gets (this encourages participation during the dialogue and teaches students how to use social cues when deciding when to share, instead of raising a hand).

• One student draws a card from the top. That student asks the question and dialogue begins in the group. Students should have the short story handy so they can use evidence in their responses.

• When dialogue dies down, students continue taking turns drawing a card, asking questions. and having discussions.

• Students should discard the questions already asked so they don't repeat any.

WHAT's INCLUDED:

• Google Doc with the story, "The Landlady"
• Google slide with printable talking chips
• 24 Discussion Prompts in color and black & white
• Editable Discussion Prompt Cards in color and black & white

Check out other AVID Resources HERE!

Check out other Reading Resources HERE!

This resource features a bundle of exciting presentations, lesson plans, and materials to supplement your unit on dystopian literature. Lessons have all been classroom-tested and allow for differentiation while encouraging optimal student engagement with any dystopian short story or novel. In this bundle, you will not find tedious lists of comprehension questions and vocabulary words; instead you will find material that will bring dystopias to life (well not literally!) in your classroom.

Included in this bundle:

⭐ Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint: This resource features an engaging, interactive, editable PowerPoint Presentation for introducing or reviewing Dystopian Fiction to your students! PowerPoint Presentation runs through an entire lesson from warm-up to explanation, application, and summarizer. Also included are 2 pages of "guided notes" so that you may differentiate your lecture for all levels of students. Since utopias and dystopias are intrinsically motivating for students, this lesson is always a fun one and gets students excited about the upcoming unit on whatever dystopian novel or short story you'll be reading!

⭐ Escape from Dystopia ESCAPE ROOM: This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Dystopia Escape Room. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task, but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game!

⭐ Dystopian Literature Socratic Seminar: This resource features everything you need in order to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom for any dystopian short story or novel. It is the PERFECT addition to any dystopia unit for middle or high school students! Socratic Seminars are high-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, with this resource, the work has been done for you!

⭐ Dystopia Quote Posters: Make your classroom pop with this set of 25 posters featuring provocative quotes about dystopia. Each 7.5 x 7.5 (square) PDF poster contains a quote either about dystopias or from dystopian literature imposed over a stunning photograph to spruce up your ELA classroom during your dystopian unit. The square format makes for an eye-catching arrangement on your wall or bulletin board and serves as a great conversation starter. I suggest laminating the posters so that you can use them year after year!

Purchasing this bundle saves more than 20% off the cost of the resources for your unit on dystopia.

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence