Less than $5 8th Grade Reading Literature Circles

Reading Esperanza Rising? 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 Google Drive Version? CLICK HERE

Check out our other reasources for Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising- An Introduction PowerPoint

Esperanza Rising Interactive Flipbook Study Guide

Esperanza Rising Characterization Flip book

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."

"Echoes of Hope: The Children of Sarajevo" is an inspiring story of resilience and creativity amidst the devastating siege of Sarajevo. A group of children, led by Luka, Maja, Amir, and Zlata, transform a war-ravaged hideout into "The Nook," a sanctuary of learning, art, and music. They preserve the city’s spirit through storytelling, makeshift classes, and concerts, becoming a symbol of hope. Post-siege, "The Nook" evolves into a community center, its mural a poignant reminder of courage. The children, now adults, impart lessons of unity and creativity to future generations, showcasing the enduring power of the human spirit.

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

General Learning Objectives for Deep by Design stories:

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!

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

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This mix-and-match reading log is designed to empower students to become mindful and engaged readers. It offers a variety of engaging components that can be used as stand-alone pages or combined in a mix and match fashion to create personalized reading journals.

Google Drive Folder includes a PDF and a digital Google Slides version.

Here's what you get in:

• "Books to Read" List: Spark excitement with a dedicated space for students to track books they're eager to dive into.

• "Book Hall of Fame": Celebrate literary discoveries with a page to record and cherish favorite books.

• "Favorite Authors": Encourage a love for specific authors by providing a space for students to keep a log of their favorite authors.

• "Reading Reflections": Deepen comprehension with a dedicated space for students to rate and review each book they finish.

• "Recommendations": Foster a sense of community by allowing students to share their thoughts and recommend books to peers. These can be kept private or can be shared with the class to grow a class of readers!

• Reading Trackers: Choose between two engaging options:

• Monthly Tracking Sheets: Students color in pictures of books as they complete them, creating a visual record of their reading journey.

• Grid-Style Tracker: This flexible tracker allows for color-coding genres and marking each finished book, offering a long-term overview of reading progress.

Benefits:

• Supports mindful reading: Encourages students to reflect on their reading experiences and develop a deeper appreciation for literature.
• Promotes accountability: Helps students stay on track with their personal reading goals.
• Print or Digital format: Adaptable to individual preferences and classroom needs.
• Interactive and engaging: Makes reading a fun and rewarding experience for students.

This reading log is the perfect tool for teachers and parents to cultivate a lifelong love of reading in young minds!

Reading Ender's Game? Don't know where to get started? We got you covered.

This flip book goes through all 15 chapters of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and has questions to ensure comprehension. It also includes a character map, historical context and background information on the author to help your students successfully navigate through the text. Answer key is included and the questions are easy to answer while reading the book. Easy to use and easy to grade. It makes a great study guide for students.

Need Google Drive Version?

CLICK HERE

Need More Help Covering Ender's Game?

Ender's Game Vocabulary Lists and Quizzes

Ender's Game Vocabulary Crosswords

Ender's Game Characterization Flip book

Ender's Game Introduction Power Point

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

Aisha, a 13-year-old girl living in Gaza city, chronicles her experiences through a diary during a period of intense conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza. As bombings, power outages, water shortages, and infrastructure damage disrupt daily life, Aisha describes her fears for her family's safety and her disrupted education. She finds resilience through community support and small acts of normalcy like playing games with friends. Temporary ceasefires provide glimpses of peace amid the violence. But tensions frequently boil over into clashes and protests at the border, unleashing new rounds of bombardment. Aisha conveys the mental and physical toll of living through endless cycles of war and deprivation in Gaza. Yet she retains hope for justice and freedom in the future, fueled by the strength of her community. Throughout her diary, Aisha gives an intimate account of what it's like to come of age in Gaza against a backdrop of conflict and hardship.

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

General Learning Objectives for Deep by Design stories:

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.

NOW WITH NEWLY ADDED MATERIALS!!

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, this student-tested resource includes everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding Walter Dean Myers' acclaimed novel, Monster... 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

• Fun Introductory Lesson Plan on Academic Conversations - NEWLY ADDED!

• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fish Bowl”

• “Fish Bowl” Preparation Sheet

• Conversation Builder Prompts

• Observation Sheet

• Rubric

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Save over 20% on this resource when you purchase as part of a growing bundle of all Monster products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Monster (Myers) Activity BUNDLE

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Also, check out these great resources to complement your unit on Monster:

⭐ Monster (Myers) Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan

⭐ Monster (Myers) Literature Guide

⭐ Monster (Myers) Quizzes for Entire Novel

⭐ Monster (Myers) Social Media Materials

⭐ Monster (Myers) ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Monster (Myers) vs. Murder on a Sunday Morning Compare Contrast Project

⭐ Monster (Myers) Breaking News Article Assignment

⭐ Monster (Myers) Literature Guide and Quizzes BUNDLE

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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 no-prep Book Talk Guides for teachers. And because I am so passionate about the power of Book Talks, my Book Talk Guides will ALWAYS BE FREE!

What's Included?

• Teacher Tips for successful book talks

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

• Two student book talk response activities

Follow my store and check back as new titles and themed Book Talk bundles will be added!

A close reading activity of the Declaration of Independence which asks students to cite textual evidence to evaluate author's purpose, persuasive techniques, and literary devices. Good for any ELA or History class.

*Update* Available under TeachShare Digital Resources which adds an interactive layer on top of the pdf for distance learning.

*This is one story taken from a book eight, which can be found here.

Help Your Students Explore Bullying & Resilience with "The Invisible Scars"

A Powerful Story & Engaging Activities for Grades 5-8

"The Invisible Scars" is a compelling short story about Avery, a middle school student struggling with the long-term effects of bullying. This relatable narrative provides a springboard for meaningful discussions about mental health, self-esteem, and the importance of seeking help.

This comprehensive resource includes:

• A moving short story (approx. 2,000 words) that tackles the sensitive topic of bullying and its lasting impact on a young person's life.

• Engaging activities designed to deepen students' understanding of the story's themes, including:

  • Thought-provoking discussion questions to spark classroom conversations about bullying, resilience, and support systems.
  • Creative writing prompts that encourage students to explore the story's themes through different perspectives and genres.
  • Project-based assignments that allow students to research, analyze, and create presentations, campaigns, and more.

• A comprehensive vocabulary list to enhance students' reading comprehension and vocabulary development.

"The Invisible Scars" will help your students:

• Develop empathy and understanding for individuals who have experienced bullying.
• Recognize the signs of bullying and its impact on mental health.
• Identify healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with difficult emotions and situations.
• Understand the importance of seeking help from trusted adults and mental health professionals.
• Develop their critical thinking, writing, and communication skills through engaging activities.

This resource is perfect for:

• Language Arts classes
• Social Studies classes
• Guidance lessons
• Advisory periods
• Anti-bullying initiatives

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. It is the PERFECT addition to any hero's journey unit for middle or high school students!

Socratic Seminars (or "Fish Bowl" Conversations as they are referred to in this resource) 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!

Product Includes:

• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom
• Engaging Introductory Activity for Conversation Building
• 7 Editable Discussion Questions that you can tailor to any novel
• “Fishbowl” Preparation Sheet
• Conversation Builder Prompts
• Observation Sheet
• Detailed Rubric

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Save 20% off this resource when you purchase as part of a bundle of hero's journey products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Hero's Journey BUNDLE

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

⭐ Hero's Journey ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Hero's Journey Anticipation Activity

The Alchemist

⭐ The Alchemist "Silent Conversation" Quote Pass Activity

⭐ The Alchemist Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan

⭐ The Alchemist Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ The Alchemist Quote Posters

⭐ The Alchemist Socratic Seminar Materials

Divergent

⭐ Divergent "Silent Conversation" Quote Pass Activity

⭐ Divergent (Roth) Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan and Materials

⭐ Divergent Faction Acrostic Poem Assignment

⭐ Divergent Faction Personality Quiz

⭐ Divergent Final Project - Long Lost Sixth Faction

⭐ Divergent Mock Choosing Ceremony - Lesson Plans and Materials

⭐ Divergent Unit Test

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Are you looking for a new way to keep your readers engaged?!

This Sketch Notes Reading Response activity works for any genre, covers multiple skills, and can be used whole class OR in stations, and has been a life-saver in my middle school classroom!

Product Features:

• Compatible with any genre
• Two formats for maximum student choice & engagement
• RLA Skills Covered: text evidence, making connections, inferencing, symbolism, theme

Suggested Uses:

• During Class Read-Alouds (class novels or First Chapter Fridays)
• Independent Reading Activity
• Literature Circles
• Reading Station Activity

Studying Fahrenheit451 ? Looking to give students some context for the novel ? Then this product is for you! Introduction power point includes:

•About the Author

•About the Book

•Historical Context

•Themes

•Symbols

•Essential Questions

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

In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, two seventh graders, Alex and Sarah, display remarkable resilience by choosing to help at their local community center instead of attending school. Through this experience, they learn valuable lessons about community, empathy, and the human capacity to overcome adversity. Alex finds solace in drawing, capturing the emotions around him, while Sarah uses storytelling to comfort younger children. Their actions not only aid in their personal coping but also bring hope to those around them. This story is a poignant exploration of young people finding strength and unity in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

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

General Learning Objectives for Deep by Design stories:

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.

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 Paulo Coelho's allegorical tale about overcoming obstacles and achieving one's dreams, The Alchemist. 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 The Alchemist!

Product Includes:

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

- Full lesson plan

_________________________________________________________________________

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

⭐ The Alchemist Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan

⭐ The Alchemist Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ The Alchemist ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Alchemist Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan

⭐ The Alchemist Quote Posters

___________________________________________________________________________

⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐

These book discussion task cards are an easy, low-prep way to engage students in any fiction text (novel, short story, picture book, etc.) they may read while supporting critical listening and speaking skills.

With a wide variety of questions, this set of 32 discussion cards covers many reading comprehension skills including:

• Inferencing & Text Evidence
• Making Connections
• Plot Elements
• Theme
• Tone/Mood
• Author's Purpose
• and many more!

What You Get:

32 task cards that can be printed two ways:

1. single-sided (Question side only)
2. double-sided (With a fun, patterned front cover)

This flip book goes through all the main characters of the play. It includes graphic organizers for your students to fill out in order to better understand character development. It makes a great study guide and a good way to have your students understand the differences and similarities between the different characters of the novel. Offers differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all your students! Rubric included for easy grading. This is the GOOGLE DRIVE version.