Less than $5 Middle School Reading Strategies Centers (by price, low to high)

Help students identify topic sentences with this engaging activity. Students use a Topic Sentence Bank to choose correct answers for paragraphs for the article "The Flood". Can also be used to teach: paragraphing supporting details organization. Meets CCSS.

Posters including 17 literary devices which are easy to print and use in your classroom. Add them to your word wall or brighten up a reading area.

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A choice board for final projects. Perfect for ending a novel unit. Works well with any novel.

Enhance vocabulary in any class or content area with this AVID-inspired vocabulary awareness chart in Google Sheets. This vocabulary awareness chart allows students to check their awareness and knowledge of words found in the content they are learning about.

Directions

• The vocabulary self-awareness chart allows students to assess themselves on class vocabulary words.
• In my classroom, we chose our words from the words students have come across in their reading.
• Students write the vocabulary words, determine how well they know the word (checking a checkbox in the correct column), and type any notes or definitions they have for the word.
• Simply duplicate the chart in Google Sheets when you are ready for students to make a new self-awareness chart over new content you are learning so that students can keep a log.

What's Included

• One Google Sheets document where students will duplicate and log their vocabulary awareness across all the readings completed in your class.
• In the document, students will include:

- Name

- Date

- What the vocabulary is for

- Word

- Students will check a box for the following: know it well & can explain it, heard it or seen it before, no Clue

- Notes/Definitions

*This resource is available for Outschool teachers to purchase without the need for extra licenses.

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

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A worksheet to help students analyze conflicts and themes in Viola's soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's play: Twelfth Night. Comes with a graphic organizer and answer key. Great for when reading the play or on it's own.

Help student writers understand and read their essays from readers' perspectives with this nine page presentation. The analogy of learning to drive is used to help writers understand that reading punctuation is like obeying road signs. Includes: Many roles of a writer Visually stimulating graphics Defining Writer as Reader Practicing Writer as Reader slides (indiividual/group activity) Peer Workshopping Following the steps of reading, listening, and correcting Excellent for introducing writers' roles, peer workshopping, and understanding punctuation.

Engaging Fiction Comprehension - Character, Plot, Solution

This resource includes a 500+ word engaging fiction story centered around a compelling character facing a problem and coming up with a thoughtful solution. The complex narrative is written at a high 5th - 6th grade reading level and tackles mature themes including passion, injury, depression, and overcoming adversity that will resonate with middle school students.

The passage is followed by 5 multiple choice questions and 2 short answer questions focused on analyzing the central character's motivations and development, understanding the plot points and central conflict, and examining how the character grapples with and solves the key problem in the story. Detailed sample responses and an answer key are provided.

This fiction comprehension resource is perfect for:

Analyzing character traits, motivations, and development

Plot analysis and plot structure

Conflict and resolution

Theme and central ideas

Critical thinking and analysis

Key terms: character, plot, conflict, solution, fiction comprehension, upper elementary, middle school reading

With engaging content and thought-provoking questions, this resource provides an excellent opportunity for upper elementary or middle school students to practice standards-aligned ELA skills. This comprehension activity engages learners in analyzing high-level narrative fiction.

Reinforce word origins by having students come up with their own made-up words! Use compound words, foreign words, prefixes/suffixes, shortened words, sound words, rhyming words, etc...for this fun, visual activity. Includes: Directions Definition Example from Classic Poem Student Examples Application Activity Publishing Activities Meets CCSS, improves vocabulary, uses decoding skills, and visualization. Use for individual or group activity.

“The Great Reading Race” was designed to encourage students to read twenty-four books from all the Dewey Decimal System categories. The goal is to encourage your students to read all genres of books rather than simply focusing on one or two categories. They are given the Student Sheet at the beginning of the year to track their progress as they read books. The student sheet includes spaces for each of the Dewey Decimal System categories.

Includes:
Student Sheet (letter size)
Student Sheet (legal size)
Teacher Instructions

Tracking form for teacher (Excel)
Images of cars (paper size)
Images of cars (poster size)

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Archetype Web Quest! Started Web Quests this year and my students love them and so do I. Students must define and find examples for different archetypes. Great release of accountability. Requires students have access to a computer and internet. Includes resources and answer key.

This FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE STATIONS activity is a fun and effective method for giving students practice at analyzing the most important types of figurative language. Students will develop the skills not only to identify types of figurative language but also to explain how figurative language contributes to the meaning of a literary text!

Students will learn about figurative language while gaining exposure to the most profound and thought-provoking quotations from the world's greatest writers! They'll be asked to analyze the figures of speech in over 120 inspiring quotations by a diverse range of important authors: Chinua Achebe, Louisa May Alcott, Maya Angelou, Jane Austen, James Baldwin, William Blake, Emily Dickinson, John Donne, Louise Erdrich, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Robert Frost, Zora Neale Hurston, John Keats, Harper Lee, Toni Morrison, George Orwell, Zadie Smith, John Steinbeck, Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, and many others.

This stations activity focuses on the 8 types of figurative language that are used most commonly in literature: metaphor, simile, metonymy, personification, apostrophe, paradox, oxymoron, and hyperbole.

Here's what you'll find inside this 40-page resource:

• Stations Worksheets (x8): This resource includes a total of 8 worksheets focused on 8 types of figurative language. Each worksheet challenges students to explain the meaning or effect created by the same figure of speech found across 6 quotations. The quotations include some of the most profound and thought-provoking lines from famous authors — a total of 48 quotations! (8 pages)

• Answer Keys to Stations Worksheets (x8): The answer keys explain how the figures of speech found across 48 quotations contribute to the meaning of the quotation. (8 pages)

• Station Placards (x8): The 8 placards can be folded and placed on the desks that correspond to the 8 stations. The placards add a splash of colorful decoration to this activity. (8 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: This 1-page glossary features the 8 types of figurative language that are used most frequently in literature. The glossary includes definitions of the 8 types of figurative language as well as one or two examples of how each figure of speech gets used in famous quotations. Students can use the glossary to study in preparation for the quizzes on figurative language. (1 page)

• Quiz: Metaphors & Similes: This quiz focuses only on metaphors and similes; it challenges students to identify the figures of speech used across 15 famous quotations. Answer key included. (2 pages)

• Quiz: All Types of Figurative Language (x2): These two quizzes focus on all 8 types of figurative language. The first quiz challenges students to identity the figures of speech used across 25 quotations. The second quiz is similar but features 20 longer quotations; it could be used as a make-up quiz or extra-credit quiz. Answer keys included. (8 pages)

• Quiz: Figurative Language in Music: This quiz focuses on the types of figurative language used in 10 famous song lyrics by musicians such as The Beatles, Paul Simon, Elton John, John Legend, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift. Answer key included. (2 pages)

Here are the types of figurative language featured across the 8 stations:

1. Metaphor

2. Simile

3. Metonymy

4. Personification

5. Apostrophe

6. Paradox

7. Oxymoron

8. Hyperbole

The entire 40-page resource will come to you in two separate formats: Word doc and PDF. Because the Word doc is fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your particular students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access the entire resource as a PDF — which is easy to navigate and quick to print!

I'm eager to do everything I can to ensure that you have an amazing experience with figurative language! If you have any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

Thank you for stopping by Rigorous Resources!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

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This fun technology activity for all ages introduces and uses synonyms to turn students' photos into word-photo images! Can be used as individual/small/whole group activity. Includes: Definition and Example Whole Class "Give It a Try" Activity Step-by-Step Directions Materials List Websites and Links Ipad/Ipod/Android Apps Students' Examples Student Activity Directions Can be used with flipped classroom models, homeschool, and with minimal teacher instruction. Technology-based grammar/reading activity needs computers and internet access.

Have your middle schoolers regressed in their reading strategies, or do you have students that require explicit strategies relating to their fluency and phrasing? This collection of slides is intended for big kids who need extra support. The language is intended for grades 5 through 8. They're not babyish, and the texts used are at the level of your pre-teen and teen crowds!

This 35-page document provides you with posters (which you can display digitally as anchor charts, or have them printed), mentor texts to model the strategy or do a shared reading with your students, and independent task prompts.

In this document, you'll find:

• 9 Anchor Charts reflecting 9 different strategies.

• "I can read less common words with fluency."

• "I can make sense of my reading."

• "I can read with intonation and expression."

• "I can read with phrasing."

• "I can make my voice match the punctuation."

• "I can warm up my fluency by reading an easy book."

• "I can pay attention to punctuation."

• "Hear me out!"

• "I can be a helpful reading partner."

• 10 mentor texts.

• 8 independent tasks (often using writer's notebooks or post-its.)

I translate the majority of my documents to have both English and French versions; however, this is an English-only document.

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For goodness sakes, don't forget to have fun!

- Kaitlyn.

Help your 5th-grade students master the essential reading skills of identifying character, problem, and solution with this thoughtfully crafted resource! This set includes three engaging fiction passages at a Level T reading level, each designed to strengthen students' ability to track character development, analyze the main problem, and understand the solution.

Each passage is accompanied by:

• 5 multiple-choice questions that focus on character traits, the main conflict, and how the problem is resolved.
• 3 higher-level discussion questions to encourage deeper thinking and classroom conversation.
• Answer keys for all questions, making grading easy and efficient!

Also included in this set is our popular "Story Detective" Anchor Chart—a visual tool that guides students through the key questions to ask themselves when reading any fiction story. This anchor chart breaks down the process of understanding the character, identifying the problem, and following the solution.

As a bonus, we've included a student note catcher, perfect for independent practice, where students can jot down their observations on the character, problem, and solution of any story they read.

What’s Inside:

• 3 Level T Fiction Passages with:

  • Strong character development and relatable situations
  • Multiple-choice questions to assess comprehension of character, problem, and solution
  • Discussion questions to spark deeper classroom dialogue
  • Answer keys for all questions

• Story Detective Anchor Chart: A helpful visual reference for understanding any fiction story.

• Student Note Catcher: A worksheet to help students independently track character, problem, and solution in their reading.

Why You'll Love This Resource:

• Differentiated Practice: Level T passages are perfect for 5th-grade students, reinforcing essential reading comprehension skills.
• Engaging Content: Stories feature relatable characters, everyday problems, and meaningful resolutions that will captivate your students’ attention.
• Easy to Use: Printable and ready to go, with everything you need to teach character, problem, and solution all in one place.

Perfect For:

• Independent practice
• Small-group reading
• Homework assignments
• Test prep for understanding fiction text structures

Halloween Themed Reading Comprehension Passage & Questions for Literacy Centres

Looking for the perfect addition to your Halloween themed literacy centres? This engaging reading comprehension passage, featuring the story of Wanda the witch, will captivate your students while reinforcing key reading skills! Wanda’s journey from a mischievous, lonely witch to a kind hearted friend offers a fun and heartwarming Halloween narrative that your students will love, while also aligning with key literacy goals.

This resource includes:

• A beautifully written halloween themed reading comprehension passage that is perfect to include in your
• 2 multiple choice questions to assess comprehension.
• 2 open ended questions to promote critical thinking and deeper discussion.
• Thought provoking opinion question to inspire independent exploration and creativity and further develop comprehension and understanding.

Designed for Year 3-6 students, this Halloween comprehension passage is ideal for small group instruction, independent work, or as part of a spooky literacy centre. With a mix of fun and meaningful learning, your students will not only practice essential reading comprehension skills but also explore themes like kindness, friendship, and personal growth.

Why You’ll Love This Resource:

• Halloween themed: Perfect for incorporating the magic of the season into your literacy centres or activities.
• Flexible use: Great for literacy centres, homework, or whole class discussions.
• Encourages critical thinking: Open ended comprehension questions that push students to think beyond the text.

Get your students excited for Halloween while boosting their reading comprehension skills! This resource is easy to prep and guaranteed to add some spooky fun to your classroom.

Looking for more Halloween literacy centre activities?

Spelling Word Practice Halloween Themed

Halloween Writing Prompts

Halloween Readers Theatre Script

This flip book contains graphic organizers for eight of the main characters of Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. Requires students to use textual evidence to support their answers and is easy to put together. Great activity to help increase comprehension of the play. Use while reading the play or afterwards. Rubric included for easy grading.

*** Check out my other products for Julius Caesar***

Julius Caesar Vocabulary

Marc Anthony vs Brutus Speech Analysis

Julius Caesar Interactive Study Guide Flipbook

This flip book contains graphic organizers for eight of the main characters of Shakespeare's play As You Like It. Requires students to use textual evidence to support their answers and is easy to put together. Great activity to help increase comprehension of the play. Use while reading the play or afterwards.

This flip book contains graphic organizers for eight of the main characters of Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing. Requires students to use textual evidence to support their answers and is easy to put together. Great activity to help increase comprehension of the play. Use while reading the play or afterwards.

*Teaching Much Ado About Nothing?

Check out some of our other products.

Much Ado About Nothing Escape Room

Much Ado About Nothing Quizzes Acts 1-5

Much Ado About Nothing Flip book Study Guide

Much Ado About Nothing: Benedick Soliloquy Analysis Compare and Contrast Act 2

Shakespeare Comedies (All Plays)

15 Commonly Confused Words A-I with engaging activities for students to learn. Includes:

A-I game with fill-in-the-blank, definitions, make your own

sentences/slides (individual/groups & competitive play)

2 Crossword puzzles with Commonly Confused Words

2 Word Searches with Commonly Confused Words

All answer sheets included

Directions and Suggestions with Extensions

Words used are:

1. accept except

2. aloud allowed

3. bare bear4. brake break

5. coarse course6. council counsel

7. desert dessert

8. dose doze

9. envelope envelop

10. forbear forebear

11. grisly grizzly

12. glance glimpse

13. hair hare

14. hole whole

15. ingenious ingenuous

Students will have fun learning these Commonly Confused Words.

This flip book contains graphic organizers for eight of the main characters of Shakespeare's play Taming of the Shrew. Requires students to use textual evidence to support their answers and is easy to put together. Great activity to help increase comprehension of the play. Use while reading the play or afterwards.