Middle School Poetry Handouts (by date, latest first)

Students love Kwame Alexander's verse novel The Crossover, and I love the rigor of these power worksheets! His novel is organized into sections just like a basketball game including:

• Warm-up free download here!
• First quarter
• Second quarter
• Third quarter
• Fourth quarter
• Overtime

This resource covers all of the poems in the First Quarter section; with each poem accompanying two pages of guided practice with middle school ELA standards including:

• Vocabulary and dictionary practice
• Inferencing
• Identifying figurative language 
• Making text-to-self connections
• compare and contrast characters
• Identifying Imagery
• Text structure
• Analyzing point of view

Did you know The Crossover is coming to Disney+? The novel is set to release a miniseries in 2023! If your class loves this text, check out my other resources:

• The Crossover Warm Up Standard Aligned handout for each poem! PDF & PPT (TeachShare.com)
• The Crossover First Quarter Standard Aligned handout for each poem! PDF & PPT (TeachShare.com)
• The Crossover Basketball Rules Motivational and Plot Posters PNG/PDF (TeachShare.com)

This is a informational newsletter AND research report about Maya Angelou as an African American Artist. Students can use this as a jumping off point for a research project or for Black History Month or Women's History Month.

Information on...

- Early Life

- Career

- Interesting Facts

- Artistic Contributions

• Inclusive Learning: Foster an inclusive classroom environment by exploring diverse narratives and celebrating the achievements of underrepresented voices.
• Ready-to-Use Content: Save time on lesson planning with our pre-packaged materials, allowing you to focus on what you do best – inspiring the next generation.

How It Works:

1. Choose a Subject: Students select an individual to research. This could be anyone from historical figures, scientists, artists, to contemporary leaders or influencers. Maya Angelou is pre-filled in on version of this template.
2. Fill in the Blanks: The template guides students through the research process. They'll fill in key sections, providing biographical information, accomplishments, and the impact of the chosen individual.
3. Present to the Class: The completed reports become the basis for engaging class presentations. This step encourages students to express themselves confidently and articulately.

This is a Informational Newsletter AND Research Report AND Collaborative Art Project about Maya Angelou as an African American Artist and a Black Changemaker. Students can use this as a jumping off point for a research project or as an activity for Black History Month or Women's History Month.

Information on...

- Early Life

- Career

- Interesting Facts

- Artistic Contributions/Influences

• Inclusive Learning: Foster an inclusive classroom environment by exploring diverse narratives and celebrating the achievements of underrepresented voices.
• Ready-to-Use Content: Save time on lesson planning with our pre-packaged materials, allowing you to focus on what you do best – inspiring the next generation.

How It Works:

1. Choose a Subject (Maya Angelou): Students select an individual to research. This could be anyone from historical figures, scientists, artists, to contemporary leaders or influencers. Maya Angelou is pre-filled in on version of this template.
2. Fill in the Blanks: The template guides students through the research process. They'll fill in key sections, providing biographical information, accomplishments, and the impact of the chosen individual.
3. Present to the Class: The completed reports become the basis for engaging class presentations. This step encourages students to express themselves confidently and articulately.

Introducing our profound collaborative art project: the "Phenomenal Woman" Collaborative Mural Poster! Engage students as artists, inviting them to contribute to a larger masterpiece that pays tribute to the wisdom and resilience of Maya Angelou. This unique product transforms any space into a vibrant tapestry of collective expression, capturing the spirit of Maya Angelou's impactful words and life.

***Pro-Tip*** To make a smaller puzzle- use your printer or copiers "combine" feature and print 2 pages on one paper!

2 sizes- 25 pieces or 36 pieces! (Bordered or Borderless)

GROWING BUNDLE- As we grow- you get more!!! Close Reading Articles with biographical information.

This is a reading research newsletter bundle with-

- Misty Copeland

- Ruby Bridges

- Louis Armstrong

- Maya Angelou

- Jacob Lawrence

- Billie Holiday

All newsletters are biographical.

These are your curated gateway to the vibrant world of Black artists and their profound contributions to the arts. Designed especially for elementary school students, this kid-friendly research newsletter brings you fun and informative snapshots, engaging stories, and interesting facts about Black and African American artists and their creative brilliance.

Key Features:

1. Artist Spotlights: Explore concise profiles of Black artists across various disciplines – from visual arts and music to literature and performing arts. Gain a quick but comprehensive overview of their influential works and impact on the artistic landscape.

Research Templates

Product Description:

Are you a teacher looking for an engaging way to develop your students' research and presentation skills? Look no further! Our "Blank Research Report Template for Biographies" is the perfect tool to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and research skills in your classroom.

Two blank templates-

-One that is pre-filled with some of black artists' picture and name

-One that is blank and requires the student to write his name and draw thier portrait (can be used for any person)

Key Features:

1. Structured Framework: This template provides a well-organized and structured framework for students to conduct research on a chosen individual's biography. It guides them through essential components such as background, early life, accomplishments, and more.
2. Versatility: Tailor the template to fit the unique needs of your curriculum. Whether your focus is historical figures, contemporary leaders, or cultural icons, this template is adaptable to a variety of subjects.
3. Encourages Independent Learning: Empower students to take ownership of their learning journey. The blank spaces prompt students to conduct independent research, fostering a sense of curiosity and self-directed learning.
4. Develops Research Skills: Our template encourages students to utilize various research methods, including online resources, books, and interviews. It's a fantastic opportunity for them to hone their research skills and discern reliable information.
5. Promotes Presentation Skills: Beyond researching, students will practice organizing information coherently and presenting it in a well-structured report. This template lays the foundation for effective communication, a crucial skill in any academic or professional setting.

How It Works:

1. Choose a Subject: Students select an individual to research. This could be anyone from historical figures, scientists, artists, to contemporary leaders or influencers. Jacob Lawrence is pre-filled in on version of this template.
2. Fill in the Blanks: The template guides students through the research process. They'll fill in key sections, providing biographical information, accomplishments, and the impact of the chosen individual.
3. Present to the Class: The completed reports become the basis for engaging class presentations. This step encourages students to express themselves confidently and articulately.

Students can use this as a jumping off point for a research project or for Black History Month.

Are you looking for a way to ⭐️TEACH and INSPIRE⭐️ for Black History Month?

These are your curated gateway to the vibrant world of Black Changemakers and their profound contributions to the world. Perfect for a project for Black History Month! Designed especially for elementary school students, this kid-friendly research newsletter brings you fun and informative snapshots, engaging stories, and interesting facts about Black and African American changemakers and their creative brilliance. All newsletters are biographical.

This is a reading passage newsletter GROWING BUNDLE with-

- Misty Copeland

- Ruby Bridges

- Louis Armstrong

- Maya Angelou

- Jacob Lawrence

- Serena Williams

- Jackie Robinson

- Jesse Owens

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

- Barack Obama

- Wangari Maathai

- Harriet Tubman

- Pelé

- Roberto Clemente

...and many more to come

Are you looking for a way to ⭐️TEACH and INSPIRE⭐️ for Women's History Month?

These are your guide to teaching about influential Female Changemakers and their profound contributions to the world. Perfect for a project for Women's History Month! Designed especially for elementary school students, these kid-friendly biographical research newsletters bring you fun and informative snapshots, engaging stories, and interesting facts about female changemakers and their creative brilliance. All newsletters are biographical.

INCLUDED- Reading Comprehension Questions! Differentiated and can be used with any reading passage. Perfect for close reading!

This is a reading passage newsletter GROWING BUNDLE with-

- Misty Copeland

- Ruby Bridges

- Dr. Jane Goodall

- Maya Angelou

- Wangari Maathai

- Serena Williams

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

- Harriet Tubman

- Simone Biles

- Mae Jemison

- Billie Holiday

- Dr. Jane Goodall

- Sonia Sotomayor

- Malala Yousafazi

- Frida Kahlo

- Rosa Parks

- Amelia Earhart

- Ellen Ochoa

-Dolores Huerta

-Frida Kahlo

...and many more to come

Get ready for an enriching journey in learning with our Research Reading Passage and Body Biography Poster Bundle, featuring a diverse array of influential leaders in Black history! Celebrate these Black Changemakers!

Explore the remarkable lives and legacies of:

- Maya Angelou

- Misty Copeland

- Harriet Tubman

- George Washington Carver

-Barack Obama

-Mae Jemison

- Jackie Robinson

- Billie Holiday

- Wangari Maathai

...with our engaging 2-page nonfiction reading passages. Overflowing with fascinating discoveries, inspiring anecdotes, and colorful illustrations, these passages invite students to delve into the unique contributions and achievements of each individual, providing essential research material for the poster project.

Then, ignite creativity with our Body Biography Poster - a 12-piece collaborative masterpiece! Students color, assemble, and fill in the details, choosing between lined or unlined boxes to suit their style. As they work on their posters, they'll uncover the innovative spirit, perseverance, and profound impact of these influential figures on history and society.

Once complete, proudly display their work in the hallway, on bulletin boards, or as door decorations, showcasing their dedication and honoring the diverse legacy of Black leaders!

Stay tuned for more additions to our growing bundle, featuring even more influential figures in Black history!

It's the perfect blend of fun and learning for grades 1-6 - guaranteed to make every lesson about these remarkable leaders unforgettable!

This is a newsletter about Maya Angelou as an African American Artist and a Black Changemaker. Students can use this as a jumping off point for a research project or for Black History Month and Women's History Month.

INCLUDED- Reading Comprehension Questions! Differentiated and can be used with any reading passage about an influential female leader. Perfect for close reading!

• Colored and black-line version
• Reading comprehension questions for early elementary (1-3) and separate worksheet for upper elementary (4-6)

Information on...

- Early Life

- Career

- Interesting Facts

- Artists

Other newsletter for Black History Month:

Misty Copeland

Louis Armstrong

Jacob Lawrence

Maya Angelou

Or get ALL NEWSLETTERS here!

35 Mother's Day English and Spanish elementary grade activities for coloring and writing. 

Includes:

• letters
• poems
• banners
• word searches (lower & upper reading levels)
• reasons why you're a great mom
• stationary with borders
• and much, much more!

Great for cutting and pasting, to give as gifts, and for teaching coloring and creative writing skills. Great Mother's Day memory makers!

Pair with Mother's Day Coloring Sheets from Educator Helper.

Visit www.bethhammett.blogspot.com for FREE weekly activities.

Do you want to make reviewing figurative language a breeze? Are you struggling to find examples for your students? To you want to engage and motivate your students? Then download this BUNDLE Similes, Idioms, Oxymoron & Other Figurative Language Editable Lists! Use this as a handout or for your own worksheets!

Well suited for the Language Arts or ELL classroom, this resource includes editable lists of similes, metaphors, idioms, oxymorons, onomatopoeia, alliteration, consonance, and assonance.

➟ How to Use This Resource:

• As a handout
• For your own worksheets
• To put in a writing binder or at writing centers for students to use

➟ This Resource Includes:

• 128 Idioms with definitions
• 52 Similes
• 42 Metaphors
• 40+ Oxymorons with definitions
• 26 examples of alliteration
• 5 types of onomatopoeia with over 200 examples
• 12 examples of assonance
• 12 examples of consonance

✈️ Click here to follow A World to Explore Store and be the first to know about brand new games and activities!

❤ Other Resources You'll LOVE:

• Editable List of Oxymorons
• Editable list of Oxymoron Onomatopoeia & Alliteration
• Editable List of Idioms, Similes, & Metaphors

Grammar & Figurative Language

Homophones Choice Board 

SIMILES Choice Board, Student Checklist, Rubric, 48 Similes w/ definitions

METAPHORS Choice Board, Checklist, Rubric, Metaphors w definition

Digital Grammar Practice - ALL ABOUT ANIMALS - Walruses

Digital Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Practice - ALL ABOUT ANIMALS - Gorillas

Grammar:

VIRTUAL Grammar Scategories - Making Grammar FUN! by A World to Explore Store

BUNDLE Grammar Games! Parts of Speech Scategories 2 KaBOOM Irregular Verbs

KaBOOM Grammar Games - Irregular Plural Nouns by A World to Explore Store

KaBOOM! Virtual GRAMMAR Game #1 - Irregular Past Tense Verbs

KaBOOM! Virtual GRAMMAR Game #2 - Irregular Past Tense Verbs

Rock, Paper, Scissors - Grammar Games! Irregular Past Tense Verbs

Rock, Paper, Scissors Grammar Games Irregular Plural Nouns 

FUN:

Truth or Dare...the Classroom Party Game You Didn't Know You Needed!

Truth or Dare 2nd Edition

BUNDLE Truth or Dare Versions 1 & 2

Virtual Scategories & Truth or Dare (All Ages!)

Digital Online GAME Two Things in Common (This2That)

Happiness Quiz & Reflection Questions (Great for SEL, Self-Esteem, Well-Being!)

50 FlipGrid Discussion Questions Posting Tips & Rubric

30 Digital Borders/Frames on Lined Paper for Writing Prompts

Do you need examples of oxymorons for your students? Do you struggle to find lists to share with your students? Do you want to support your students in learning figurative language? Then download this Oxymoron Figurative Language Reference Handout FULLY EDITABLE! This editable list of over 40 oxymorons with definitions can be used as a handout or for your own worksheets. Perfect to put in a writing binder or at writing centers for students to have easy access. No more searching the internet to find the right examples. It's all right here!

Included in this resource:

• 40+ Oxymorons with definitions

✈️ Click here to follow A World to Explore Store and be the first to know about brand-new games and activities!

❤ Other Resources You'll LOVE:

• Editable list of Oxymoron Onomatopoeia & Alliteration
• Editable List of Idioms, Similes, & Metaphors
• Figurative Language EDITABLE Lists Similes, Idioms, Oxymoron, Alliteration

Grammar & Figurative Language

Homophones Choice Board 

SIMILES Choice Board, Student Checklist, Rubric, 48 Similes w/ definitions

METAPHORS Choice Board, Checklist, Rubric, Metaphors w definition

Digital Grammar Practice - ALL ABOUT ANIMALS - Walruses

Digital Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Practice - ALL ABOUT ANIMALS - Gorillas

Grammar:

VIRTUAL Grammar Scategories - Making Grammar FUN! by A World to Explore Store

BUNDLE Grammar Games! Parts of Speech Scategories 2 KaBOOM Irregular Verbs

KaBOOM Grammar Games - Irregular Plural Nouns by A World to Explore Store

KaBOOM! Virtual GRAMMAR Game #1 - Irregular Past Tense Verbs

KaBOOM! Virtual GRAMMAR Game #2 - Irregular Past Tense Verbs

Rock, Paper, Scissors - Grammar Games! Irregular Past Tense Verbs

Rock, Paper, Scissors Grammar Games Irregular Plural Nouns 

FUN:

Truth or Dare...the Classroom Party Game You Didn't Know You Needed!

Truth or Dare 2nd Edition

BUNDLE Truth or Dare Versions 1 & 2

Virtual Scategories & Truth or Dare (All Ages!)

Digital Online GAME Two Things in Common (This2That)

Happiness Quiz & Reflection Questions (Great for SEL, Self-Esteem, Well-Being!)

50 FlipGrid Discussion Questions Posting Tips & Rubric

30 Digital Borders/Frames on Lined Paper for Writing Prompts

Do you want to make reviewing figurative language fun and engaging? Do you want to motivate and support your students as they learn? Then download this with this Oxymoron, Onomatopoeia, and Alliteration an Editable List of Figurative Language resource! You will receive a no prep editable list! This resource includes editable lists of oxymorons, onomatopoeia, alliteration, consonance, and assonance. Use this literary device resource as a handout or for your own worksheets. Perfect to put in a writing binder or at writing centers for students to have easy access to. No more searching the internet to find the right examples. It's all right here!

➟ Included in this resource:

• 40+ Oxymorons with definitions
• 26 examples of alliteration
• 5 types of onomatopoeia with over 200 examples
• 12 examples of assonance
• 12 examples of consonance

✈️ Click here to follow A World to Explore Store and be the first to know about brand new games and activities!

❤ Other Resources You'll LOVE:

• Editable List of Oxymorons
• Editable List of Idioms, Similes, & Metaphors
• Figurative Language EDITABLE Lists Similes, Idioms, Oxymoron, Alliteration
• BUNDLE Similes, Idioms, Oxymoron & Other Figurative Language Editable Lists

Grammar & Figurative Language

• Homophones Choice Board 
• SIMILES Choice Board, Student Checklist, Rubric, 48 Similes w/ definitions
• METAPHORS Choice Board, Checklist, Rubric, Metaphors w definition
• Digital Grammar Practice - ALL ABOUT ANIMALS - Walruses
• Digital Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Practice - ALL ABOUT ANIMALS - Gorillas

Grammar:

• VIRTUAL Grammar Scategories - Making Grammar FUN! by A World to Explore Store
• BUNDLE Grammar Games! Parts of Speech Scategories 2 KaBOOM Irregular Verbs
• KaBOOM Grammar Games - Irregular Plural Nouns by A World to Explore Store
• KaBOOM! Virtual GRAMMAR Game #1 - Irregular Past Tense Verbs
• KaBOOM! Virtual GRAMMAR Game #2 - Irregular Past Tense Verbs
• Rock, Paper, Scissors - Grammar Games! Irregular Past Tense Verbs
• Rock, Paper, Scissors Grammar Games Irregular Plural Nouns 

FUN:

• Truth or Dare...the Classroom Party Game You Didn't Know You Needed!
• Truth or Dare 2nd Edition
• BUNDLE Truth or Dare Versions 1 & 2
• Virtual Scategories & Truth or Dare (All Ages!)
• Digital Online GAME Two Things in Common (This2That)
• Happiness Quiz & Reflection Questions (Great for SEL, Self-Esteem, Well-Being!)
• 50 FlipGrid Discussion Questions Posting Tips & Rubric
• 30 Digital Borders/Frames on Lined Paper for Writing Prompts

Since the Pandemic, so much has gone digital, including testing--both campus and state testing. If your campus and/or state has made the switch to online testing, and you are looking for strategies to help your students adapt their annotating strategies, these graphic organizers can help!

This product includes graphic organizers for poetry (TPCASTT format) and text (can be used for fiction or informational) and is designed to be a gradual release model:

• Students use fully-structured graphic organizers to guide annotating during online testing
• Teachers can print graphic organizers as posters, and blank organizers w/ no text are included to help students transition from guided annotations
• Finally students will be able to transition from graphic organizers to being able to annotate freely using scratch or notebook paper

What You Get

• Poetry (TPCASTT) structured graphic organizer
• Text (Fiction or Informational) structured graphic organizer

-This can be customized to add personal teacher tips or specific classroom annotation symbols or Signposts

• Blank Poetry (TPCASTT) graphic organizer (no text)
• Blank Text (Fiction or Informational) graphic organizer (no text)

-Graphic Organizers can also be printed by the teacher in a poster size as a classroom anchor chart.

This product bundles all of my Roll of Thunder products together at a discount! You'll have 5 reading check quizzes, individual chapter activities, a Socratic Seminar, and even a movie viewing guide!

The following activity walks students through making text-to-text connections between what Cassie experiences on her trip to Strawberry in chapter 5 of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, and the real life story of Emmet Till. Students begin by reading an article and viewing a 5-minute video about Emmet Till. Then they answer text-based questions that require them to think about the experiences of both Cassie and Emmet. They will compare the expectations and actual experiences of both individuals, respond to quotes from the movie and text, and explain why the behavior of both children was viewed as "offensive". Finally, they will read and annotate the poem "Emmet Till" by James Emanuel, answering questions about the tone, word choice, and figurative language. Students could work on this independently, with a partner, or in a small group.

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

This 45-page EDITABLE unit tracks the development of the sonnet from Shakespeare's day through by Harlem Renaissance. How are traditional sonnets written by English poets like Shakespeare and Keats similar to and/or different from modern sonnets written by Harlem Renaissance poets like Claude McKay and Countee Cullen? This unit invites students to compare traditional sonnets focused on love with modern sonnets focused on socioeconomic equality....

The twelve poems are divided into two reading packets, with the first packet focusing on early sonnets about romantic love, and the second packet focusing on modern sonnets about the black experience. Each reading packets is followed by a classwork packet that contains a quiz on literary devices, discussion questions for two poems, and quick writes. Finally, a third packet features a writing assignment, sample student paper, and glossary of literary devices.

Here's a detailed account of what you'll find in this 45-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems: The two homework packets contain a total of 12 love poems by award-winning poets such as William Shakespeare, Christina Rossetti, John Keats, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Claude McKay, Countee Cullen, Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others. While the first packet focuses on traditional love poetry, the second packet focuses on modern love poetry. Thus, the two packets will set you up to facilitate fascinating discussions about how the sonnet has been put to different uses over the centuries! (12 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: A glossary with definitions and examples of the various types of figurative language, imagery, sound devices, 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 students can accurately identify the literary devices found in poems from the packet: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. Answer keys included. (4 pages).

• Discussion Questions: This unit features a list of discussion questions for two poems in each of the two homework packets. The discussion questions will ensure that each class discussion is focused and productive. 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. (16 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. (4 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 45-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!

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

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

This 40-page EDITABLE poetry unit promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The 10 poems in this unit all pivot on vivid and evocative SENSORY IMAGERY.

Because even our strongest students often have difficulty analyzing poetic imagery, I designed this unit to help students learn to "unpack" images and to explain how images deepen a poem's meaning. 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 40-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems: The two homework packets contain a total of 10 poems by award-winning poets such as Emily Dickinson, Robert Hayden, Mary Oliver, Gary Soto, Sharon Olds, Mark Doty, Yusef Komunyakaa, Tony Hoagland, and others. The poems in each homework packet derive their meaning from the deft use of sensory images. These carefully selected 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: 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: Lists of discussion questions for the first poems in each homework packet. The discussion questions will ensure that your class discussions get off to a productive start. 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. (8 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. (2 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 40-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 50-page EDITABLE poetry unit promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The 12 poems in this unit pivot on the use of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, etc.

Teach your students how to analyze figurative language through a series of engaging lessons on poems that students are guaranteed to love. The literary device 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 50-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems: The two homework packets contain a total of 12 poems by award-winning poets such as Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Elizabeth Bishop, Richard Wilbur, Sylvia Plath, Maya Angelou, Julia Alvarez, Mark Doty, Sharon Olds, and others. The poems in each homework packet derive their meaning from the deft use of sensory images. These carefully selected poems will set the stage for your class to have fascinating and profoundly productive discussions!! (12 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 found in poems from the packet: 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 two poems in each of two homework packets. The discussion questions will ensure that your class discussions get off to a productive start. 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. (16 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. (4 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 50-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

NEW IN 2021: Rigorous! Thought-provoking! Discussion-Based! This 45-page EDITABLE poetry curriculum promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. 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 45-page curriculum:

• 10 Poems by Langston Hughes: The 10 poems in this mini-unit feature Langston Hughe's BEST works of poetry: "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," "Mother to Son," "I, Too," "Theme for English B," "Let America Be America Again," "Harlem," and more. The poems are split between two homework packets, each of which features 5 poems. Each homework packet is followed by a classroom packet with discussion questions and quizzes related to the poems. (12 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 note. 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. (12 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)

• 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 homework packets: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. Answer keys included. (4 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)

The entire 45-page unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word doc *and* PDF. Because the Word doc is fully editable, you'll be able to modify the resource to suit your teaching style and/or the skill levels of your students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access the entire unit as a PDF file, which is easy to navigate and quick to print!

Because I believe that teachers should be able to see exactly what they'll be getting before they purchase, the preview for this resource allows viewing accesses to 30 pages. Click on the green "preview" button to see exactly what you’ll get. . . .

Thank you for choosing “Rigorous Resources”!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

P.S. Don't forget to click “follow” for email updates on new products by Rigorous Resources. New products will be 50% OFF for the first 24 hours!