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

Are you looking for a fun and educational activity to bring the magic of Christmas into your classroom? The Christmas Reading Comprehension Escape Room is just what you need! Four unique reading comprehension challenges that focus on making inferences, character analysis, context clues, and elements of plot. Designed for students in grades 3-6, this engaging resource combines holiday excitement with critical reading practice. Your students will help Santa recover his missing star by solving puzzles and challenges that build essential reading skills—all while having a blast!

➡️ What’s It All About?

This festive escape room features four unique reading comprehension challenges that will get your students thinking critically and working together to save the day. Each task focuses on an important skill:

• Making Inferences: Students read between the lines to find clues and draw conclusions.
• Character Analysis: They’ll explore characters’ traits and motivations to uncover key details.
• Using Context Clues: Tough vocabulary? No problem! Students will learn to decode tricky words by examining the surrounding text.
• Plot Comprehension: From the introduction to the resolution, they’ll piece together the sequence of events to unlock the next clue.

Every challenge is tied to TEKS standards, making it both fun and academically meaningful. Plus, the question formats mimic those on the STAAR assessments, so it’s a great way to prepare students for testing season without them even realizing it.

➡️ Here’s what’s included:

• Easy Prep Materials: Print-and-go worksheets that make set-up simple and stress-free.
• Built-in Decoder: A fun twist that adds a layer of mystery to every task.
• Clear Instructions: Step-by-step guidance to help you implement the activity smoothly, even if you’re new to escape rooms.
• Group or Individual Options: Let students work independently or in teams, depending on your classroom needs.

➡️ Suggested Classroom Use

• As a whole-class activity, fostering collaboration and a sense of holiday fun.
• In small literacy groups for targeted practice on specific skills.
• As a test prep tool, giving students hands-on experience with STAAR-style questions.
• For differentiated instruction, customizing tasks for various reading levels.

➡️ Benefits

1. Encourages Active Learning: Students move, interact, and think critically.
2. Boosts Engagement: Gamified elements make comprehension exciting.
3. Supports Differentiation: Flexible setup works for individuals, pairs, or groups.
4. Reinforces Key Skills: Focuses on mastering reading comprehension skills. 
5. Saves Time for Teachers: Ready-to-use materials make lesson planning simple.

Enhance learning, inspire students, and create memorable classroom moments with an Escape Room!

➡️ LET’S CONNECT

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➡️ Additional Supports

Mini-Lessons

➡️Please leave a review to earn TeachShare credit!

Allow students to take control of their learning by creating text-dependent questions based off of the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy! This activity requires students to develop and apply higher-order thinking skills by coming up with their own questions while also coming up with an answer key using the R.A.C.E writing strategy.

This Activity Pack Includes:

• Black & White Printable Version - Handouts and Activities
• Color Digital Version - Handouts and Activities
• Teacher Presentation

The Digital and Print Options Each Include:

• Handout explaining what Bloom's Taxonomy is
• Question starters/examples
• Assigned-level activity pages (R.A.C.E setup)
• Choose-your-level activity pages (one per page AND two per page options)

Teacher Presentation Reviews:

• Bloom's Taxonomy basic overview
• Each level explained

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Starbooks Virtual Book Tasting with Verse Novels

This flip book goes through all 35 chapters of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and has questions to ensure comprehension. It also includes a character map 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.

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Like this book? Want to cover satire? You may also like...

href="https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Elements-of-Satire-2542405">Elements of Satire

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Your 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will love practicing reading out loud with these Fall-themed engaging and high-interest sentences! 

This set includes 48 low-prep sentences with a fun Fall theme that are perfect for practicing reading fluency.  Quick and easy set up plus clear student directions make these activities perfect independent practice, literacy centers, and homeschooling families!

Printable fluency sentences and a blank page are included to customize for your student(s).  High interest topics will especially motivate your reluctant readers. Students will love reading these sentences to practice reading out loud! The sentences are appropriate for grades 3-5. 

Here’s what you’ll get:

• 48 sentences on high-interest topics
• Pictorial instructions page
• Black sentence page to customize
• Certificate of completion to print and color
• Progress tracker
• Extension activities 

Ideas for use:

The format is perfect if you have daily fluency practice or offer take home activities for students. I use these with my own homeschooled children and my online teaching students. I’ve also included several extension activities to use the materials further.

Why your students will love this:

Your students will love practicing their oral reading fluency with these sentences because it is fun to pull them out of a hat and the topics are high interest or funny! 

**Prep is quick and easy…**Just print the pages, cut the sentences into strips, find a basket or bin, and let your student(s) pull a sentence to read!

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Questions about this product?

If you have any questions, please contact me BEFORE purchasing. I will reply to you in a timely manner. Thank you in advance for your positive ratings and comments on this product.

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Copyright

©yourreadingtutor

All rights reserved by the author - Ashley DiMercurio

Permission to copy for single classroom use only

Keywords:

Reading fluency, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, copy work, reluctant readers, high-interest topics, reading out loud, fall, autumn, fall theme

Reading Comprehension Fiction: Lotto

Our worksheets cover a variety of genres and themes from popular children's literature, making reading fun and enjoyable for kids of all ages

- Improve reading comprehension

- Engage with popular children's literature

- Enhance critical thinking skills

These are fun, interactive reading comprehension worksheets. Students will receive the lucky lottery number if they answer all the questions correctly.

Students must correctly complete the five comprehension questions to get the daily PICK 5 lottery numbers. (They will only have a winning lottery ticket if they complete all the questions correctly.) This activity has an independent and guided component.

Set includes 5 Passages from

The Birthday Party by Oliver Optic

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

A Gallery of Children by A.A. Milne

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baun

The Story of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

Life Cycle of a Tree Reading Comprehension Activity (Year 3-5)

Bring the beauty of autumn into your literacy centres with this engaging Life Cycle of a Tree reading comprehension activity! Perfectly designed for Year 3-5 students, this resource offers a text about the fascinating changes that trees go through during autumn. Students will explore why leaves change colour, how trees prepare for winter, and the importance of the tree's life cycle.

What’s included:

• A written text about the Life Cycle of a Tree with a focus on autumn.
• Reading Comprehension questions that encourage students to think critically and answer in their own words, reinforcing their understanding of the life cycle.
• A research section for early finishers, students can research deciduous trees and evergreen trees and what their differences are.
• Answer key for easy marking.

This versatile resource is ideal for use in literacy centres, reading groups, or as part of an autumn themed unit. It promotes reading comprehension, critical thinking, and independent research skills. Whether used for whole class instruction or individual learning, students will love discovering the magic of trees during autumn while strengthening their literacy skills.

Looking for more Autumn themed literacy centre resources?

Synonyms and Antonyms

Like what you see? Follow along at Captivating Kids where you'll get heaps of inspiration and all the low down on new resources!

I'd also love to connect on social media and see the resources in action!

This book series is great for young children as they can relate with what Franklin and his friends experience as they are growing up and helping each other. The book, Franklin's Halloween discusses Franklin's feelings about going to a haunted house, making decisions, having fun with his friends, being a good friend, etc. The comprehension questions in this product relate with the text as well as students own experiences. Images are located throughout packet to help students answer questions. As the book is being read aloud, as students are reading the book or after the book has been read, students can answer the comprehension questions in this packet.

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Frankenstein Reading Comprehension Passage and Questions

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Clifford's Halloween Comprehension Questions

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Apple Orchard Field Trip Writing Assignment

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Make simile and metaphor practice spook-tacular with this set of 50 Halloween-themed task cards! Perfect for engaging your students in identifying and understanding figurative language, these fun and interactive cards are a must-have for your literacy centers, small group work, or independent practice. Designed for 3rd to 5th graders, these task cards help students differentiate between similes and metaphors while adding a festive touch to your language arts lessons.

What’s Included:

• 50 Halloween Simile vs. Metaphor Task Cards with a variety of examples ranging from simple to complex
• A student recording sheet for easy tracking of answers
• An answer key for quick and easy grading
• A fun, spooky Halloween design to keep students engaged

Key Features:

• Perfect for Literacy Centers: Students can work individually or with partners to solve each card, making figurative language practice interactive and collaborative.
• Versatile Use: Ideal for center activities, homework, early finishers, or a whole-class scoot game. Great for reviewing similes and metaphors in a fun, themed way.
• Differentiated Learning: Cards are crafted with varying levels of difficulty, allowing you to support all learners in your classroom.
• Engaging Halloween Theme: Capture your students' attention with Halloween-themed examples that make learning figurative language fun and festive!

Whether you’re teaching similes and metaphors for the first time or reviewing for mastery, these Halloween task cards provide the perfect mix of challenge and engagement. Your students will love practicing figurative language with these spooky, themed cards!

I hope you find this resource just as helpful for your students as it has been for mine! If you have any questions or would like to share feedback, please reach out to me on Instagram: MrsBaileyandHerClass.

How to Earn TeachShare Credits for Future Purchases:

• Visit Your My Purchases Page: Navigate to your TeachShare account and locate your purchase history.
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• Rate and Comment: Give a quick rating and leave a brief comment about the product.
• Receive TeachShare Credits: Your feedback will earn you credits for future TeachShare purchases.
• Report Errors or Suggestions: If you notice any errors or have suggestions, please let me know in the Q&A section before leaving negative feedback. I’m committed to improving my products and appreciate the chance to address any issues. Thank you for your support!

©mrsbaileyandherclass2024

15 Commonly Confused Words J-W with engaging CCSS activities for students to learn. Includes: J-W 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. jewel joule 2. knew new 3. know no4. lay lie 5. loose lose6. moral morale 7. morning mourning 8. nose knows 9. none no one 10. passed past 11. pole poll 12. principal principle 13. rain reign 14. road rode15. sight site cite 16. stationary stationery 17. their there they’re 18. to too two 19. warn worn 20. weather whether Students will have fun learning these Commonly Confused Words.

This product is made for:

adapting instruction

differentiating instruction

on level learners

struggling writers

struggling readers

ESL/ENL

Deaf Education

Homework

Classwork

Homeschooling

Bell Work

Virtual Instruction

Remote Instruction

Arthur's Birthday is a great book to read for students to learn about being a good friend, being patient, understanding, how some people celebrate a birthday, etc. Students are presented with a variety of comprehension questions based on what happens in the book, Arthur's Birthday. Students can answer these questions as the book is read to them, as they read the book independently or they can use the text for lookbacks once the book is finished.

Get your students tuned into Fractured Fairytales in your classroom with this "Jack and the Beanstalk: The Kindly Giants" Readers Theatre Script. This funny and heartwarming script is an engaging and entertaining way to teach students about fractured fairytales.

In this Readers Theatre script, your students will act out the fairytale of Jack and the Beanstalk, but with a twist! This fractured fairytale tells a different version of the classic tale, where Jack is a thief who steals the magic beans and robs the giants. However, the giants, Gina and Greg, are just kindly beings trying to get by.

Through a series of humorous and heartwarming scenes, your students will act out this fractured fairytale and learn the importance of honesty and kindness.

Key Features:

• Educational and Entertaining: This fractured fairytale Readers Theatre script combines education and entertainment seamlessly, making it an ideal teaching tool. It's perfect for a fairytale unit or study! Great for literacy sessions or the drama classroom!

• Character Development: The fairytale characters in the script are relatable and well-developed, allowing your students to connect with them on a personal level.

• Engaging Dialogue: The witty and heartwarming dialogue keeps students engaged and eager to see what happens next, making it an excellent choice for classroom readings and performances.

• Literacy Sessions or Performing Arts Lessons: Perfect to integrate into your literacy centres or your social-emotional learning lessons! A great way for your students to study fractured fairytales and then create their own.

• Lesson on Honesty and Kindness: The central theme of honesty and kindness is woven throughout this fractured fairytale Readers Theatre script, imparting valuable life lessons to young minds.

• Perfect for Years 3 - 6: Suitable for middle-upper elementary students, this script can be adapted for various grade levels, ensuring that every student can benefit from its message of cooperation and empathy.

• Fractured Fairy Tales: A fun way to teach fractured fairytales and all the wonderful literacy elements that come along with them.

• Easy to Use: All you need to do is print, staple, and go!

By using this "Jack and the Beanstalk: The Kindly Giants" Readers Theatre Script, you can explore fractured fairytales and have fun while you’re at it. Your students will not only enjoy the entertaining story but will also gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives and the power of storytelling.

Simply download, print, staple, and you're good to go! Woo hoo!

Like what you see? Follow along at Captivating Kids where you'll get heaps of inspiration and all the low down on new resources!

I'd also love to connect on social media and see the resources in action!

Want more Readers Theatre Scripts?

Check out...

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Do your students need help with analysis? Use these ten graphic organizers with images for analysis practice and writing a thesis. These exercises and graphic organizers help students springboard to analyzing more complex illustrations and essays for future coursework.

This easy to implement, step-by-step analysis guide for individual, small/whole group practice includes:

Full picture slides for whole group discussion and preview

10 Analysis Graphic Organizers with images

One Blank Analysis Graphic Organizer

Analysis categories include: Assumptions/Inferences, Year, Time, Season, Setting, Stereotypes, Characterization, Genre, Emotions, and Others

Writing a Thesis Statement

This step-by-step guide is simple to follow, great for test prep, and helps students uncover the process of analysis.

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction
• differentiating instruction
• on level learners
• struggling writers
• struggling readers
• ESL/ENL
• Deaf Education
• Homework
• Classwork
• Homeschooling
• Bell Work
• Virtual Instruction
• Remote Instruction

This book series is great for young children as they can relate with what Franklin and his friends experience as they are growing up and helping each other. This book, Franklin Goes to School discusses Franklin's feelings about going to school, what his strengths are, making friends, etc. The comprehension questions in this product relate with the text as well as students own experiences. Images are located throughout packet to help students answer questions. As the book is being read aloud, as students are reading the book or after the book has been read, students can answer the comprehension questions in this packet.

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction
• differentiating instruction
• on level learners
• struggling writers
• struggling readers
• ESL/ENL
• Deaf Education
• Homework
• Classwork
• Homeschooling
• Bell Work
• Virtual Instruction
• Remote Instruction

This book series is great for young children as they can relate with what Franklin and his friends experience as they are growing up and helping each other. The book, Franklin is Messy, discusses Franklin being responsible, taking care of his things, cleaning his bedroom, returning things when he borrows them, reusing items, being a good friend, etc. The comprehension questions in this product relate with the text as well as students own experiences. Images are located throughout packet to help students answer questions. As the book is being read aloud, as students are reading the book or after the book has been read, students can answer the comprehension questions in this packet.

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction
• differentiating instruction
• on level learners
• struggling writers
• struggling readers
• ESL/ENL
• Deaf Education
• Homework
• Classwork
• Homeschooling
• Bell Work
• Virtual Instruction
• Remote Instruction

This book series is great for young children as they can relate with what Franklin and his friends experience as they are growing up and helping each other. The book, Franklin Plays the Game, discusses Franklin's feelings about playing soccer, discovering that he needs to practice to improve, learning about teamwork, being a good friend, winning is not the most important thing when playing sports, etc. The comprehension questions in this product relate with the text as well as students own experiences. Images are located throughout packet to help students answer questions. As the book is being read aloud, as students are reading the book or after the book has been read, students can answer the comprehension questions in this packet.

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction
• differentiating instruction
• on level learners
• struggling writers
• struggling readers
• ESL/ENL
• Deaf Education
• Homework
• Classwork
• Homeschooling
• Bell Work
• Virtual Instruction
• Remote Instruction

Arthur Babysits is a great book to read for students to learn responsibility, not just with babysitting or taking care of a younger sibling or cousin, but with homework, cleaning their bedroom, etc. Students are presented with a variety of comprehension questions based on what happens in the book, Arthur Babysits. Students can answer these questions as the book is read to them, as they read the book independently or they can use the text for lookbacks once the book is finished.

What’s Included?

• 20 Bookmarks, each featuring a critical reading skill or strategy for grades 3 - 8:

  • Main Idea & Supporting Details
  • Summarizing
  • Making Inferences
  • Context Clues
  • Identifying Theme
  • and many more!

Why You'll Love This Resource

• Student-Friendly Format: Each bookmark simplifies complex skills into bite-sized, actionable steps.
• Versatile Use: Perfect for guided reading groups, independent practice, or homework aids.
• Aligned with Curriculum Standards: Helps reinforce essential reading skills aligned with Common Core and other standards.
• Durable and Reusable: Print, laminate, and reuse for years!

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

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!

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.