High School Reading Literature Circles

Comprehensive Dahl Exploration: This bundle combines three of Roald Dahl’s most compelling stories, each presented in a detailed ELA unit designed to engage middle school students. Perfect for an author’s study, this bundle allows students to analyze Dahl’s unique narrative style and recurring themes across different works. From the mysterious escalations in "Way Up to Heaven" to the unsettling undertones of "The Landlady" and the darkly comic "Lamb to the Slaughter," students will appreciate Dahl’s mastery in crafting suspense and surprise. This bundle is an excellent resource for end-of-year activities, sub plans, or a focused thematic unit on one of literature’s most intriguing authors.

1. Way Up to Heaven ELA Unit

Description: Explore the suspenseful realms of Roald Dahl’s "Way Up to Heaven" with this detailed ELA unit. This package includes engaging slides for easy teaching, a structured Socratic seminar to foster deep discussion, comprehensive lesson plans for effective learning, and versatile choice board activities to cater to diverse learning preferences. Students will delve into thematic analysis, character study, and the craft of writing through guided essays and creative projects.

2. The Landlady ELA Unit

Description: Dive deep into the chilling story of "The Landlady" with this complete ELA unit. It features dynamic slides that enrich the narrative experience, a Socratic seminar to enhance critical thinking, and a choice board that offers creative and analytical options like comic strips and alternate endings. Additional essays and activities, including a film comparison using a Venn diagram, make this unit perfect for a comprehensive study of narrative techniques and thematic development.

3. Lamb to the Slaughter ELA Unit

Description: Unpack the intrigue of Roald Dahl’s "Lamb to the Slaughter" in this all-inclusive ELA unit. This resource provides detailed slides for seamless instruction, engaging seminar guidelines to discuss the complexities of the plot, and a range of activities including a choice board for student-driven projects. The unit also includes tailored essay prompts and additional activities that encourage a deeper understanding of the story’s themes and Dahl’s distinctive writing style.

Bonus:

Includes in-depth character analysis across three stories and synthesizing essay prompt with graphic organizers!

Reading The Book Thief? 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

Studying The Book Thief?

Need more resources?

We got you covered.

The Book Thief Flip book Study Guide

The Book Thief Characterization Flip book

The Book Thief Introduction Power Point

NEW IN 2020: Rigorous! Thought-provoking! Discussion-based! This 130-page EDITABLE document features discussion question and answer keys for all 9 chapters of The Great Gatsby. This discussion-based curriculum promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The discussion questions will challenge your students to dig beneath the surface of the text and generate profound interpretive insights!

What you'll get are 9 double-sided handouts — one for each chapter of Fitzgerald's novel — that feature 8-12 discussion questions. The discussion questions are so detailed and thorough that they'll set your students up to hold consistently engaging and thought-provoking discussions. Every discussion question is grounded in concrete textual details and challenges students to arrive at lucid interpretive insights!! You'll also get a 90-page ANSWER KEY with detailed answers for every single question....

The discussion questions will come to you in a 130-page EDITABLE Word document that you can customize for your teaching style! 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.

The previews for my resources provide access to dozens of pages of actual content. Click on the green “PREVIEW” button to see what you’ll get. . . .

Thank you for choosing “Rigorous Resources”!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

Note: These discussion questions are also included in my Gatsby MEGA-Bundle. The bundle contains everything you'll need to deliver amazing and comprehensive lessons on Fitzgerald's novel: over 40 slides and over 240 pages of content-rich handouts and activities. If you've already purchased the bundle, you don't need to purchase these discussion questions. Thanks!

Click to view the Gatsby MEGA-Bundle

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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.

Please check out the video preview for my line of Socratic Seminars!

This bundle includes every product in my Socratic Seminar Bundle line. Multiple novels and short stories are included for grades 6-12! My students LOVE Socratic Seminars, and I often use them as their final assessment grade. The can be used in small literature circle groups, or with a full class. Please ask if you have any questions!

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!

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.

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

⭐ The Alchemist

⭐ Divergent

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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.

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!

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

Unlock Literary Analysis with "The Way Up to Heaven" - A Complete Week-Long ELA Unit

Prepare your middle school classroom for an immersive literary journey with our comprehensive week-long ELA unit centered around Roald Dahl’s gripping short story, "The Way Up to Heaven". Tailored specifically for middle school ELA teachers, this resource is perfect for wrapping up the year, enriching substitute plans, or as an engaging mini-unit.

What’s Included in This Resource?

• CommonLit Text: Easy access to "The Way Up to Heaven", ensuring seamless integration into your curriculum.
• Dynamic Slides: 22 interactive slides designed to guide discussions, enhance understanding, and captivate students' interest from start to finish.
• Socratic Seminar Tools: Everything you need to run a successful Socratic seminar, including detailed procedures and a framework for students to use claim, evidence, and reasoning in their discussions.
• Diverse Writing Prompts: Rigorous prompts for argumentative, informational, and correspondence essays that challenge students to delve deeper into the story’s themes and characters.
• Choice Board Activities: Engage every learner with creative projects such as comic strips, alternate endings, newspaper articles, and literary brochures.
• Film vs. Text Comparison: A Venn diagram activity to critically compare the story's film adaptation with Dahl's original text, fostering critical media literacy skills.
• Comprehensive Teaching Guide: Detailed instructions and tips to help you make the most of each lesson, regardless of your previous experience with the story.

Ideal For:

• End-of-Year Engagement: Keep your students intellectually stimulated and creatively engaged right up to the final bell.
• Substitute Lesson Plans: Robust, easy-to-follow plans ensure that your class remains productive even when you're not there.
• Focused Literary Studies: Perfect for a thematic unit that explores suspense, character analysis, and narrative structure.

Why Choose This Unit?

• Standards-Aligned: Meets key ELA standards, preparing students with essential analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Adaptable and Flexible: Easily modified to suit different classroom needs and student abilities.
• Interactive and Engaging: Encourages students to actively participate in their own learning through a variety of creative and analytical tasks.

Empower your students to explore complex literary themes, develop critical thinking skills, and express their understanding through diverse mediums. This all-encompassing unit is not just a teaching tool—it's a gateway to a richer understanding of literature.

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

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

My students LOVED this book, so we recently added it to our literature circle choices! I designed this activity to be a structured student-led discussion after the group finished reading the novel. I typically use it as their final assessment grade!

This file contains two different packets of Socratic Seminar packets- packet A and packet B. Each packet contains three different discussion questions that require students to answer and provide two quotes from the text to back up their answers. Students are also required to come up with three additional questions they will ask if there’s time in their seminar. Finally, the packet has a page where each student will monitor a partner in the opposite circle. They will make a check each time their partner speaks, and paraphrase meaningful comments their partner makes. The file also contains a rubric for you to use while your students are discussing!

When you print out the file, you’ll see packet A on the top half of the sheet, packet B on the bottom half, and then the rubric as the last page of the file. Remove the rubric and print one out for each of your students. Copy the rest of the pages, cut them in half, and staple them. Each student will receive one half-sheet booklet; packet A or packet B.

Give your students adequate time to plan for their Seminar! I usually give them a full class period (40 minutes for me), but you could have them do it for homework, or over the course of a few days. The day of the Seminar, you’ll assign partners with opposite packets. Let A discuss for as long as they need (usually 30-ish minutes for me!), then flip-flop your circles and have B discuss afterwards.

My students LOVE Socratic Seminars! I have found the fishbowl discussion format works much better when you give each group three different questions so you don’t hear the same discussion two times, which is how this product is set up. I have used Socratic Seminars in small literature circle groups, as well as with the whole class at once. Please ask if you have questions!

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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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End the year strong with our fully-fledged, week-long ELA unit on "Lamb to the Slaughter," crafted for middle school teachers. This resource is an exceptional choice for end-of-year activities, substitute teacher plans, or as a focused mini-unit, suitable for grades 6-8 but easily adjustable for broader use.

What’s Included in This Comprehensive Unit:

• Text and Film Study: Access the PDF text and use our detailed guides to compare it with its film adaptation, enhancing comprehension with visual learning.
• Interactive Slides: Leverage beautifully designed PowerPoint slides that guide daily lessons and foster lively discussions.
• Socratic Seminar Tools: Utilize our structured Socratic seminar procedures and evidence writing guides to cultivate critical thinking and eloquence in discourse.
• Diverse Writing Prompts: Challenge your students with tailored argumentative, informational, and correspondence essay questions that deepen their analytical skills and understanding of the text.
• Creative Choice Board Activities: Motivate and inspire with options for comic strips, alternate endings, literary brochures, and newspaper articles, catering to diverse learner interests and abilities.
• Venn Diagrams: Facilitate insightful comparisons between the text and film, aiding students in identifying key literary elements and thematic nuances.
• Curriculum Alignment: Ensure educational standards are met with activities designed to hone key literacy skills.

Perfect For:

• Dynamic Learning Environments: Whether it's wrapping up the school year with engaging content, needing robust plans for substitute teachers, or focusing on a thematic unit, this package delivers.
• Adaptability: With materials adjustable for different learning levels, you can tailor the experience to fit your classroom's specific needs.
• Comprehensive Coverage: From reading comprehension to creative expression and critical writing, every base is covered, making this a turnkey solution for busy teachers.

Educational Objectives:

• Foster an appreciation for literature through multidimensional study of a classic text.
• Develop critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills through structured activities and discussions.
• Encourage creativity and personal expression through diverse, engaging projects.

Elevate your teaching toolkit with this rich, engaging ELA unit that promises not just to meet educational standards but to exceed them, sparking students' creativity and critical thinking. Perfect for teachers looking to provide a comprehensive, engaging literary experience that students will remember.

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

The Giver Complete Teacher's Unit is the ultimate resource for English teachers seeking to bring this classic tale by Lois Lowry 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.

Ultimately, The Giver : 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.

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

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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

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⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐

Transform your middle school ELA classroom with this comprehensive bundle of 12 highly engaging short story units. Each unit is meticulously designed to provide a full week of dynamic lessons, complete with detailed plans, interactive slides, a choice activity board, Socratic seminar questions, three STAAR-aligned essay prompts, a film vs. text Venn diagram, and the text PDF. These short stories will captivate your students and enhance their literary analysis skills, making learning both fun and meaningful.

Included Short Stories:

1. The Most Dangerous Game
2. Sorry, Wrong Number
3. The Hitchhiker
4. The Way Up to Heaven
5. Lamb to the Slaughter
6. The Landlady
7. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
8. Harrison Bergeron
9. Examination Day
10. The Pedestrian
11. All Summer in a Day
12. There Will Come Soft Rains

Bundle Features:

1. Comprehensive 5-Day Lesson Plans: Each story unit includes a detailed five-day lesson plan, ensuring a structured approach to teaching. Lessons are aligned with educational standards and include clear objectives and outcomes.

2. Interactive Slides: Engage your students with interactive slides that guide them through the story, provide context, and facilitate discussions. These slides are designed to keep students focused and involved.

3. Choice Activity Board: Each unit comes with a creative choice board, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding through various projects such as writing an alternate ending, creating a comic strip, designing a literary brochure, and more.

4. Socratic Seminar Questions: Encourage critical thinking and in-depth discussion with six thought-provoking Socratic seminar questions for each story. These questions help students delve deeper into the text and analyze its themes, characters, and literary elements.

5. Three STAAR-Aligned Essay Prompts: Each unit includes three essay prompts (argumentative, correspondence, and informational) that are aligned with STAAR standards, helping students practice their writing skills and prepare for standardized assessments.

6. Film vs. Text Venn Diagram: Enhance your students' analytical skills with a film vs. text Venn diagram activity. Students compare and contrast the short story with its film adaptation, focusing on key similarities and differences.

7. Text PDF: Each unit comes with a PDF of the short story, making it easy to provide students with the text for reading and annotation.

Why Choose This Bundle?

• Engaging Content: These short stories are highly engaging and perfect for capturing the interest of middle school students. The diverse selection of stories includes suspense, science fiction, dystopian themes, and more.
• Comprehensive and Ready-to-Use: Save time with ready-to-use lesson plans, activities, and resources. Each unit is designed for easy implementation, ensuring you can focus on teaching and engaging your students.
• Develop Critical Thinking: The activities and discussions included in each unit promote critical thinking, literary analysis, and deeper understanding of the text.
• Flexible and Adaptable: The bundle provides flexibility in teaching, with a variety of activities and assessment options to suit different learning styles and classroom needs.

Perfect for middle school humanities teachers, this bundle offers everything you need to deliver engaging and effective ELA lessons throughout the year. Enrich your curriculum and inspire your students with these timeless short stories and comprehensive teaching resources.

The Ethan Frome Complete Teacher's Unit is the ultimate resource for English teachers looking to engage their students with Edith Wharton's classic novella. This comprehensive package includes 114 pages of study materials, graphic organizers, and interactive activities to enhance the learning experience and ensure a deep understanding of the text.

The package begins with an introduction powerpoint that provides background information on the author, the historical context of the story, and key themes to watch for. Next, the study guide delves into the plot, characters, and symbolism, with questions designed to encourage critical thinking and discussion.

The characterization booklet provides students with an in-depth analysis of each character, including quotes and textual evidence to support their traits and motivations. Additionally, the package includes vocabulary crossword puzzles and quizzes to reinforce understanding of key terms and literary devices.

One of the highlights of the Ethan Frome Complete Teacher's Unit is the Escape Room, a fun and engaging activity that challenges students to use their knowledge of the book to solve puzzles and clues. This exciting exercise encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Overall, the Ethan Frome Complete Teacher's Unit is a must-have resource for any teacher looking to make their literature unit both fun and educational. With a range of materials to suit all learning styles and abilities, this package will help students to develop a deep appreciation for this timeless classic.