Category Archives : FREE LESSONS & PRICED LESSONS – The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs


Wuthering Heights Student Workbook

Description

Wuthering Heights Student Workbook contains everything a teacher needs to teach Bronte’s novel. Instead of the boring question and answer format, the Student Workbook prompts students’ ideas about characters, asks them to comment on significant quotes, and to notice some of the essential techniques used by the author such as symbolism, allusions, themes, etc. in each of the chapters. I have created this resource for my own classes, and students love the meaningful format. Instead of writing information about themes, symbolism, characterization, etc. on separate sheets apart from the chapter questions, everything is integrated in a simplified way.

In addition, a comprehensive answer key is also provided for the teacher. You now have all of the flexibility needed for your lesson plans with all of the work provided for you.

More specifically, the Student Workbook contains work on (42 activity pages):

❒ Important information from each chapter

❒ Setting description and symbolism

❒ Characterization (you can see the characters develop as the students’ read)

❒ Gothic elements

❒ Symbolism

❒ Themes

❒ Supernatural occurrences

❒ Significant quotes

❒ Narration

❒ Allusions

❒ Sociogram (to show characters’ relationships)

❒ Inferencing questions to further students’ understanding

❒ Family tree (to help students remember who is who)

❒ Conflicts

❒ Literary techniques used by the author

❒ Characterization chart

Please see the product preview for more information.

This resource includes 84 pages in total. Please see the preview for further details.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Thematic Poetry Unit: Editable
Brave New World Student Notebook

Death of a Salesman No Prep Unit

Frankenstein No Prep Unit

Hamlet No Prep Unit

Lord of the Flies No Prep Unit

Much Ado About Nothing No Prep Unit

Romeo and Juliet No Prep Unit

The Yellow Wallpaper No Prep Mini-Unit

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
84 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
2 months


The Giver Game Bundle for Chapter Review

Description

The Giver Game Bundle – A perfect addition to any novel unit!

According to research, using games when teaching increases student participation, comprehension, as well as fostering emotional and social learning.

Today’s 21st- century student needs to be fully engaged in learning to gain knowledge and then apply it in meaningful ways. Many teachers find that traditional comprehension questions are not engaging and often do not reinforce understanding. Both teacher and student often find answering the traditional chapter questions tedious and uninteresting.   

Help your students fully engage with Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” by incorporating these short, fun games into your unit.  

Each game includes quality questions that check the student’s understanding and are varied to include:  

❒ Important vocabulary and terms

❒ Symbolism

❒ Irony

❒ Foreshadow

❒ Literary elements

❒ Plot 

❒ Characters

❒ Themes

❒ Quotes

❒ Everything you would ask in traditional comprehension questions

The breakout rooms include clues and answer keys for the teacher. The teacher can give students hints if they struggle in their quests.

The games created are interactive, engaging, and varied to maintain student interest. Each game includes a different theme with different challenges. Some games have game-show quiz-style questions, while others are like mini breakout rooms. Even better, the games require no preparation for the teacher. Other than an internet connection, nothing else is required! Merely share the game link with students, and they’re off to work independently. The games also inform students of the correct answer to all questions, so they will learn the necessary information before moving on to subsequent material.

Students can play these games as a group or individually. Create a class challenge to see who can complete the games in less time. The possibilities are endless! These games are also a great way to engage students in learning online.

The activities will take 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the game and the student’s abilities.  

I love doing this activity at the beginning of my lessons to review the previous chapter, facilitating discussions and class activities.

The bundle includes  23 games and 320 questions in total!

The games can be played on any PC, laptop or tablet, Smartphone, Mac, or Chromebook. Anything that can access the internet can be used to access the games.  

Check out this free sample from Chapter 1

You may also be interested in the following products:

❒ The Chrysalids Game Bundle

The Outsiders Game Bundle

❒ Check out my other Interactive Games

❒ Analyze This!

❒ Short Story Bundle

❒ I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

❒ ELA Literature Study Unit

❒ Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
21 games
Answer Key
Does not apply
Teaching Duration
N/A


Romeo and Juliet Unit – No prep required

Description

ROMEO AND JULIET UNIT

This bundled unit has been designed to make life easier for the Language Arts teacher. It contains a teacher guide with detailed lessons, a student guide with all of the notes required by students, an answer key for students’ work, and three evaluations (answer keys and evaluation rubrics included). All you need to do is print and begin teaching.

This purchase includes:

❒A comprehensive Teacher guide with 15 detailed lessons (7 pages)

❒A student guide with guiding questions and activities (focus on characterization, themes, figurative language, irony, etc…) -10 pages

❒A Scavenger Hunt activity to introduce students to Shakespeare and his times (includes eight colorful cards and a PowerPoint with answers.)

❒A detailed answer key for students’ work (10 pages)

❒A quiz on Acts 1 and 2 – answer key included

❒Oral presentation on Irony – evaluation rubric included

❒Culminating Activity – Students write a children’s story based on the themes in the play. Evaluation rubric as well as work process sheets included (7 pages)

There are a total of 51 pages included in this unit.

The unit will last between 17 to 20 periods. (3 – 4 week unit)

All that’s left is to teach. I hope you enjoy this unit.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Thematic Poetry Unit: Editable
Frankenstein No Prep Unit

Hamlet No Prep Unit

Hamlet Scene Summary Visual Notebook

Much Ado About Nothing No Prep Unit

Poetry Unit for Senior Students

Wuthering Heights Student Workbook

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
89 pages
Answer Key
Included with rubric
Teaching Duration
2 Weeks


The Outsiders Chapter Review Game Bundle

Description

The Outsiders Game Bundle – A perfect addition to any novel unit!

According to research, using games when teaching increases student participation, comprehension, as well as fostering emotional and social learning.

Today’s 21st- century student needs to be fully engaged in learning to gain knowledge and then apply it in meaningful ways. Many teachers find that traditional comprehension questions are not engaging and often do not reinforce understanding. Both teacher and student often find answering the traditional chapter questions tedious and uninteresting.   

Help your students become fully engaged with S.E. Hinton’s”The Outsiders” by incorporating these short, fun games into your unit.  

Each game includes quality questions that check the student’s understanding and are varied to include:  

❒ Important vocabulary and terms

❒ Symbolism

❒ Irony

❒ Foreshadow

❒ Literary elements

❒ Plot 

❒ Characters

❒ Themes

❒ Quotes

❒ Everything you would ask in traditional comprehension questions

The Bundle also includes a BONUS GAME on Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” (Only available in the bundle)

The breakout rooms include clues and answer keys for the teacher. The teacher can give students hints if they struggle in their quests.

The games created are interactive, engaging, and varied to maintain student interest. Each game includes a different theme with different challenges. Some games have game-show quiz-style questions, while others are like mini breakout rooms. Even better, the games require no preparation for the teacher. Other than an internet connection, nothing else is required! Merely share the game link with students, and they’re off to work independently. The games also inform students of the correct answer to all questions, so they will learn the necessary information before moving on to subsequent material.

Students can play these games as a group or individually. Create a class challenge to see who can complete the games in less time. The possibilities are endless! These games are also a great way to engage students in learning online.

The activities will take 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the game and the student’s abilities.  

I love doing this activity at the beginning of my lessons to review the previous chapter, facilitating discussions and class activities.

The bundle includes 206 questions in total!

The games can be played on any PC, laptop or tablet, Smartphone, Mac, or Chromebook. Anything that can access the internet can be used to access the games.  

Check out this free sample from Chapter 1

You may also be interested in the following products:

❒ The Chrysalids Game Bundle

❒ Check out my other Interactive Games

❒ Analyze This!

❒ Short Story Bundle

❒ I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

❒ ELA Literature Study Unit

❒ Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
13 games and 206 questions
Answer Key
Does not apply
Teaching Duration
N/A


Literature Circles for Senior Students

Description

Introducing Literary Circles for Senior Students – the ultimate resource for an engaging and organized literature study experience. This comprehensive document guide includes everything students and teachers need to participate effectively in literature circles.

I created this resource because I found many other literary circle resources too childish for my older students.  I created this for my senior-level high school students (although it can easily be used in grades 9 and 10 as well.)  The feedback I received from students was impressive.  They were engaged in learning and completed their work because their peers counted on them.  They also enjoyed working with others and learning in a different format than usual.

The guide includes detailed descriptions of session procedures and group roles, making it easy for students to understand their responsibilities and participation expectations. Additionally, the guide includes a working document for each session, bookmarks and links to navigate the lengthy document quickly, and clear success criteria and expectations for the unit.

An easy organization grid is also provided to assign roles at the beginning of the unit, and a group evaluation rubric and tracking chart are included to track student’s progress throughout the unit. The resource also includes a definition of roles and templates for the work in each session, making it easy for the teacher to prepare and share the Literature Circles Document Guide with each group.

In short, this resource is designed to make literature circles easy to navigate and organize, with clear instructions, resources and tools for students to help them engage more deeply with the literature they are reading.

The resource is completely modifiable to suit individual teacher and classroom needs.

Included:

❒ A document for students’ work

❒ An evaluation grid

❒ A tracking guide to facilitate the evaluation process

❒A Google Form survey to facilitate the group selection

❒ Teacher instructions on how to create and organize successful literature circles

This document is created in Google Docs and is modifiable.  


You may also be interested in the following products:

❒ Check out my Interactive games and breakout rooms

Brave New World Student Notebook

Death of a Salesman No Prep Unit

Frankenstein Bundle

Hamlet Bundle

Lord of the Flies No Prep Unit

Poetry No Prep Unit

Wuthering Heights Student Workbook

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
26 pages, 3 Google Docs, 1 Google Forms
Answer Key
Does not apply
Teaching Duration
1 month


Free Exploring the Elements of Fiction in Creative Writing

Description

As an introduction to story writing and the creative writing process, these visual notes are a great way for students to understand what that process is and what it is not.

Note sheet includes the following topics:

❒ What makes a story good?

❒ What about the plot?

❒ Narrative unity

❒ Building suspense

❒ Includes practical examples as explanations

The resource also includes a chart to help students think about the important elements in their own stories.

Please see the preview for more details.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Building Suspense in Creative Writing

Creating Characters in Creative Writing

Creative Writing Activity

Creative Writing Bundle

Introduction to Creative Writing

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
2 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Essay Writing Flip Book

Description

The Essay Writing Flip Book is a resource that I created for my students for essay writing. Even when they have learned the basics of the essay, they soon forget important details. This guide is an ‘at a glance’ resource where students can quickly find the information they need so that they can concentrate on the bulk of their arguments.

The Flip Book contains:

❒ Pre-writing: finding a topic, understanding it, writing a thesis statement

❒ Introduction writing: tips for writing and starting an intro, and proper format

❒ The body of the essay – paragraph format, how to build arguments, and other tips

❒ Quotations (2 pages) – how to use quotes in an essay, how to incorporate quotes, in-text- citation using MLA format, etc.

❒ Transitions – how and why to use them, a list of commonly used transitional words and expressions

❒ MLA format

❒ Revision Checklist

8 pages of information in all!


You may also be interested in the following products:

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Free Thesis Writing Activity

How to Write a Paragraph

Teaching the Essay Package

Thesis Writing Activity

Thesis Writing Poster

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
9
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Rubrics: Self Evaluation and teacher assessment rubrics

Description

Self-evaluation grids are a great way to guide students in their evaluations. Students will know exactly what is expected of them and will be made responsible for their own success. This package can also easily be changed to be used as peer evaluations.

Included within this document are over 20 different self-evaluation grids.

These self-evaluation grids are also very helpful to teachers:

Helps the teacher justify the final mark;

❒ Helps the teacher create meaningful evaluation grids;

❒ Helps to identify students’ weaknesses and strengths;

❒ Helps parents and students better understand the task required;

❒ Helps teachers create rubrics for the final evaluation.

This package was created in a Word document in order to be easily modified and changed according to the individual teacher’s needs.

This self-evaluation package contains self-evaluation grids for:

❒ Newspaper article

❒ Short story writing (intermediate and senior)

❒ Essay writing (various different types)

❒ Essay evaluation rubrics (for teacher –with and without sources)

❒ Independent study unit

❒ Research paper

❒ Skits

❒ Board game

❒ Group work

❒ Opinion piece

❒ Editorial

❒ Friendly letter

❒ Debate

❒ Movie review

❒ Journals

❒ Scrapbook

❒ Seminar

❒ Speech

❒ Riddle writing

You may also be interested in the following products:

Comment Bank

ELA Report Card Comments

Group Work Assessment Tool

Opinion Letter with the Novel Holes

Opinion Piece Bundle

Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
27 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


The Elevator Short Story Mini-Unit

Description

“The Elevator” Short Story Mini-Unit is a one-stop-shop for teaching the short story. Other than photocopies, all of the work has been done for you.

This mini-unit is suitable for grades 7 through 10 and includes:

❒a copy of the short story

❒questions for comprehension

❒a plot chart organizer

❒activity to help students discover the author’s purpose for writing

❒an instructional sheet on how to develop themes (with a practical example)

❒an instructional sheet on how to develop a theme in paragraph form

❒a graphic organizer to help students organize their paragraphs

❒an example of a completed graphic organizer to plan the paragraph

❒an example of a paragraph for “The Elevator.”

❒a comprehensive answer key for all handouts

❒a three-day lesson plan to accompany the story

You may also be interested in the following products:

ELA Literature Study Unit

Charles by Shirley Jackson

Rain, Rain, Go away Short Story

Seventh Grade Short Story

Short Story Bundle

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
16 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
N/A


Creative Writing Activity

Description

TOW (Thought of the Week) is a great way to get students started in the creative writing process. The teacher can use the writing prompts as a writing activity, a one-time evaluation, or as a semester-long evaluation.

Included is:
❒ 20 weeks of creative writing prompts (3 different choices per week)

❒ An instruction sheet for students

❒ An editable due date sheet (in PDF)

❒ Three editable evaluation sheets (work process, oral, and writing) in Word for

easy modifications.

I’ve used these prompts for years now, and every year I’m surprised at how much students enjoy this activity. I thought that it was time I shared.

You may also be interested in the following products that are part of my Creative Writing Series:

Building Suspense in Creative Writing

Creating Characters in Creative Writing

Creative Writing Bundle

Exploring the Elements of Fiction in Creative Writing

Introduction to Creative Writing

See the Preview for more details.

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
8 pages
Answer Key
Rubric only
Teaching Duration
1 Semester


Free Frankenstein Note-Taking for Critical Thinking

Description

This is an excerpt from my Frankenstein Note-Taking for Critical Thinking ResourceI hope you will enjoy this free preview.

This is a description of the full resource.

This thought-provoking resource encourages students to think critically about the novel to extend their knowledge of themes and how they are developed.  The package is a great alternative to the traditional comprehension questions usually assigned by teachers and invites students to think deeply about the materials read.  The instructional strategy used within these pages is similar to that of a “flipped classroom” created to further engage students in their learning.

Instead of traditional comprehension questions given after chapters, students are given guided note-taking sheets (in Google Docs) where they are prompted on what kind of information to focus on within each chapter. For example, some chapters rely heavily on symbol development while others focus more on character development.  Students will learn how to take effective notes and how to ask effective questions thus developing the novel’s themes.  The second part of the sheet requires students to extend their learning by participating in small group discussions where they learn how to ask Socratic questions, discuss important novel elements in guided discussions, and participate in creative activities to further investigate the characters’ motivations.

Each sheet prompts students on which information to focus their notes on and includes a group activity where students are encouraged to develop their own questions based on the chapters’ thematic focus to deepen their understanding of the intricacies of the novel and the literary elements used to develop themes.  This teaching strategy creates independent and responsible learners.  When students have completed their group work, a guided discussion with the entire class highlights different perspectives on how to analyze Shelley’s classic tale.  

All materials are available in Google Docs and are modifiable.

Students learn how to:

Be independent

Take good notes

Work in a group setting

Ask good questions

Be responsible in their learning

Analyze the novel

Become engaged in their learning

To think critically

Also included:

  • Success criteria, overall expectations, and an evaluation grid are included for teachers who want to evaluate the notes and the group discussions.
  • Peer and Self-Evaluation grids are included for students
  • Pacing guide for the teacher to help with planning

This resource also pairs well with my Frankenstein Unit and Workbook.

A total of 30 pages.

Check out the preview for a free sample.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Thematic Poetry Unit: Editable

Much Ado About Nothing Complete Unit

Poetry Unit for Senior Students

Lord of the Flies Unit – No Prep Required

Hamlet Complete No Prep Unit

Romeo and Juliet – No Prep Unit

Death of a Salesman – No Prep Unit

Wuthering Heights Student Workbook

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
3 pages
Answer Key
Does not apply
Teaching Duration
3 days


Introduction to Much Ado About Nothing

Description

The introduction to “Much Ado About Nothing” Breakout Room is the perfect way to introduce the play.

According to research, using games when teaching increases student participation, comprehension, as well as fostering emotional and social learning.

Today’s 21st- century student needs to be fully engaged in learning to gain knowledge and then apply it in meaningful ways. Many teachers find that traditional comprehension questions are not engaging and often do not reinforce understanding. Both teacher and student often find answering the traditional chapter questions tedious and uninteresting.   

Help your students fully engage and understand the play by beginning your unit with this fun activity.

The game includes four different sections:

  1. An introduction to Shakespeare’s life and times
  2. Information about the Globe Theatre
  3. Information about Shakespeare’s use of language
  4. An introduction to the play’s themes and conflicts

Each section includes a section where students will discover information about each category.  Then they will answer a series of questions, puzzles, and tests to break out each room.

This resource includes clues and answer keys for the teacher. The teacher can give students hints if they struggle in their quests.

The game is interactive, engaging, and varied to maintain student interest. The game includes a different theme with different challenges. The games require no preparation for the teacher. Other than an internet connection, nothing else is required! Merely share the game link with students, and they’re off to work independently. 

Students can play the game as a group or individually. Create a class challenge to see who can complete the game in less time. The possibilities are endless! These games are also a great way to engage students in learning online.

The activities will take approximately 40  minutes, depending on the game and the student’s abilities.  

The game includes  21 questions, 4 puzzles, and 4 information rooms.

The games can be played on any PC, laptop or tablet, Smartphone, Mac, or Chromebook. Anything that can access the internet can be used to access the games.  

You may also be interested in the following products:

❒ The Chrysalids Game Bundle

The Outsiders Game Bundle

❒ Check out my other Interactive Games

❒ Analyze This!

❒ Romeo and Juliet Unit

❒ I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

❒ Hamlet Bundle

❒ Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
1 game
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Figurative Language and Poetic Devices Jeopardy Game

Description

Are you looking for a new way of introducing poetic devices in your class? This PowerPoint document is a great way to review poetic terms or to help students learn them.

I play this game from grade 9 to grade 12 and all of the students love them.

Directions on how to play the game are also included.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Creating a Board Game Assessment Tool

I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

Parts of Speech Grammar Circles

Superhero Themed Parts of Speech Posters

Spelling Flip Book

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages

28 pages

Answer Key

N/A

Teaching Duration

N/A


Paragraph Writing Activity in conjunction with Frankenstein

Description

Paragraph Writing Activity in conjunction with Frankenstein

Very often, students have difficulty with the analysis process involved in literature. Where they not only have to analyse but now have to apply their newfound skills to a well-developed paragraph, some students become overwhelmed with the process.

This particular activity will focus on both the analysis and writing a paragraph using the PEEL method.

Paragraph writing and analysis are two essential components in essay writing. To facilitate this process, I have created a lesson where students can become more comfortable with the revision process by modelling the proper steps from beginning to end. The lesson includes a modelling of the writing process from understanding the topic to the final draft. See preview for details

This lesson can only be used after students have read chapter 19 from the novel Frankenstein.

5 pages total

You may also be interested in the following products:

ELA Literature Study Unit

Frankenstein Activity

Frankenstein Bundle

Frankenstein Debate

Frankenstein No Prep Unit

Frankenstein Workbook

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
5 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Seventh Grade Short Story Mini Unit

Description

Seventh Grade Short Story Mini-Unit is a great way to start any literature unit. Suitable from grade seven to ten, this unit reviews literary elements and allows students to practice identifying all important elements.

The unit includes:

❒ a copy of the short story

❒ an anticipation reading guide

❒ a two-page literary element cheat sheet

❒ plot graph

❒ word wall

❒ character trait explanation sheet

❒ characterization activity

❒ writing evaluation (or activity) with an evaluation sheet

❒ a comprehensive answer key for all activities.

18 pages total

You may also be interested in the following products:

ELA Literature Study Unit

Charles by Shirley Jackson

Opinion Letter with the Novel Holes

Rain, Rain, Go away Short Story

Short Story Bundle

The Elevator Short Story

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
18 pages
Answer Key
Included with rubric
Teaching Duration
3 days


Introduction to Romeo and Juliet

Description

The introduction to “Romeo and Juliet” Breakout Room is the perfect way to introduce the play.

According to research, using games when teaching increases student participation, comprehension, as well as fostering emotional and social learning.

Today’s 21st- century student needs to be fully engaged in learning to gain knowledge and then apply it in meaningful ways. Many teachers find that traditional comprehension questions are not engaging and often do not reinforce understanding. Both teacher and student often find answering the traditional chapter questions tedious and uninteresting.   

Help your students fully engage and understand the play by beginning your unit with this fun activity.

The game includes four different sections:

  1. An introduction to Shakespeare’s life and times
  2. Information about the Globe Theatre
  3. Information about Shakespeare’s use of language
  4. An introduction to the play’s themes and conflicts

Each section includes a section where students will discover information about each category.  Then they will answer a series of questions, puzzles, and tests to break out each room.

This resource includes clues and answer keys for the teacher. The teacher can give students hints if they struggle in their quests.

The game is interactive, engaging, and varied to maintain student interest. The game includes a different theme with different challenges. The games require no preparation for the teacher. Other than an internet connection, nothing else is required! Merely share the game link with students, and they’re off to work independently. 

Students can play the game as a group or individually. Create a class challenge to see who can complete the game in less time. The possibilities are endless! These games are also a great way to engage students in learning online.

The activities will take approximately 40  minutes, depending on the game and the student’s abilities.  

The game includes  21 questions, 4 puzzles, and 4 information rooms.

The games can be played on any PC, laptop or tablet, Smartphone, Mac, or Chromebook. Anything that can access the internet can be used to access the games.  

You may also be interested in the following products:

❒ The Chrysalids Game Bundle

The Outsiders Game Bundle

❒ Check out my other Interactive Games

❒ Analyze This!

❒ Romeo and Juliet Unit

❒ I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

❒ Hamlet Bundle

❒ Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
1 game
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Thesis Writing Activity

Description

We all know that the thesis statement is the most important part of the essay. This is also the part of the essay with which students have the most difficulty.

When you are able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a work, you are able to write better yourself.

Topic: Is knowledge good or destructive? The subject is interesting, and can be used along with many different types of literature, or on its own.

In this bundle, I’ve included an interactive PowerPoint presentation that includes the following:

❒ The definition of a thesis statement

❒ How to write a thesis statement (and the steps to take leading up to the thesis)

❒ 5 examples of thesis statements, where students must identify both the weaknesses and the strengths

❒ 10 slides explaining the strengths in the examples and the weaknesses in the examples

❒ 1 example of a well-written thesis statement, and an explanation about why it’s good.

To accompany the PowerPoint presentation, I’ve included a student activity sheet with a list of all of the examples written in the PPT. (PDF format)

Also included is a lesson plan with details regarding the PowerPoint and activity sheet.

As a bonus, I’ve also included 2 posters listing the 7 essential steps to writing a great thesis. I’ve included an image format and a PDF format for easy printing.

❒ the first poster measures 70 cm (27.6 inches)

❒ the second poster, which students can actually read from far away, measures 97 cm (38.2 inches)


You may also be interested in the following products:

Analyze This!

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Essay Writing Flip Book

Free Thesis Writing Activity

Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

Teaching the Essay Package

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
22 slides, 1 page, 1 poster
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
N/A


Analyze This! A Step-by-Step Guide to Analysis

Description

Analyze This! is a step-by-step guide to analyzing literature

I created this bundle to help my students understand analysis and how to apply their newfound skills to write an effective essay. In my 21 years of teaching High School English, I have repeatedly noticed that students often have difficulty in knowing how to analyze and use the information to write with a purpose in essay form. This step-by-step guide for high school students simplifies the process and gives students and teachers all of the tools they need to become successful literary critics.

The bundle includes:

❒ A page with suggestions on how to use the bundle.

❒ Two pages explaining the difference between analysis and literary analysis.

❒ One page on how to create an effective outline (what content should be included).

❒ An exercise using the “Ant and the Grasshopper” fable to help students analyze elements of plot, characterization, symbolism, theme, and setting.

❒ An answer sheet with detailed information.

❒ Instructions on how to use the above information to focus a topic and write a thesis statement.

❒ An outline activity – students need to complete an outline using a given thesis statement.

❒ An answer key (with a possible outline) to help student compare their outline with this one.

The bundle includes 13 pages and two to three days worth of lessons.

This is a practical and simple way to guide students through the analytical process.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Creative Writing Bundle

ELA Literature Study Unit

Essay Writing Flip Book

Free Thesis Writing Activity

Teaching the Essay Package

Thesis Writing Poster

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
13 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
3 days


Parts of Speech Grammar Circles (Superhero Themed)

Description

Superhero themed Parts of speech Grammar Circle Unit

One of the biggest challenges I had in my English classes was how to fit grammar in with everything else I had to teach. I would give students grammar pages, and then we would correct them together. It was tedious, and it took forever! What’s more is that students were not learning the way I wanted them to. They wouldn’t apply what they had learned from the grammar pages and activities.

I found a solution!

Grammar Circles. Grammar Circles are very similar to literature circles in the sense that students are teaching one another grammar. It is a fun and functional way to teach and Learn grammar. Although this may be done individually, it can also be completed as a group where students, through a specific process outlined in the package, teach one another grammar. They also correct the work together, so the teacher has very little to do other than to facilitate and supervise.

Once these circles have been implemented and students know who their group members are and what they are supposed to do, it is a great prep to leave a supply teacher.

The package includes:

1) A Student Packet – which contains the Literature Circle directions, the notes, and activities, and a “Mark Calculation” page to keep track of their marks. (27 pages)

Activities included focus on:

❒nouns

❒adjectives

❒verbs

❒adverbs

❒prepositions

❒conjunctions

❒putting it all together

❒correct use of pronouns

❒who and whom

❒that and which

❒who’s and whose

❒that and who

❒pronoun case

❒pronoun agreement

❒active and passive voice

❒verb tenses (present, past, future)

❒verb uses (consistency in verb tenses)

2) A teacher Guide with easy to follow instructions on how to organize the Grammar Circles.

3) The Answer Key – devised to allow students to correct their work and learn from one another.

Also included are free Superhero Themed Parts of Speech Posters to decorate your class.

For those who are from Ontario, Canada – this unit adheres to the Grade 9 English Curriculum (academic). The unit can be taught in any grade to learn parts of speech.

(51 pages total for this unit)

You may also be interested in the following products:

The Grammar Cheat Sheet

Inference Cheat Sheet

How to Write a Paragraph

Sentences Grammar Circles For Easy & Effective Grammar

Spelling Flip Book

Thesis Writing Activity

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
51 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
N/A


Death of a Salesman Unit (Digital activities included)

Description

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman used to be one of my least favorite plays to teach. I found it depressing, and I had a difficult time teaching it in a way that was meaningful to students. Then, I created this bundle so that students would not only learn about drama, tragedy, irony, etc. but also think about their own futures, while they are contemplating their post-secondary education. While Willy Loman’s dreams are unrealistic and unattainable, students contemplate their own dreams, strengths, and weaknesses. You will definitely have more than a few excellent discussions when teaching this play.

This unit has been conceived with the teacher in mind. It contains a Student Guide, a Teacher Guide, and a comprehensive Answer Key. All you have to do is print the packages and teach them. It’s as easy as that! I’ve also included two options for end unit evaluations, which contain evaluation grids and answer keys. The unit is, in my opinion, visually appealing and the contents teach analysis of literature.

What the bundle contains: (The documents, except for the evaluations, are in PDF format.)

The Student Guide contains 16 pages: (2 versions, with graphics and one without)

❒Notes on the American Dream

❒An anticipation guide

❒An in-depth look at success as it pertains to the lives of the students (which can, later on, be related to the play.)

❒Thematic comprehension questions for each act

❒Work on motifs and symbols used in the play

❒Work on characterization

❒Notes on tragedy (Aristotle’s definition and modern definition)

❒Review notes for students

Answer Key contains 29 pages:

❒Answers to ALL of the students’ work

❒Introduction to Arthur Miller

❒Comprehensive notes on each scene of the play (to help students understand and appreciate literary techniques used by the author)

❒List of themes and how they are developed – Revue sheet

The final evaluation contains three different options:

1) A unit test with an answer key. Contains 3 essay-type questions.

2) An essay. Contains essay topics, work process (steps 1…..), an outline guide, and an evaluation grid.

ALL EVALUATIONS ARE FORMATTED IN WORD DOCUMENTS FOR EASY CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS AND INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER KEY.

The Teacher Guide contains 5 pages:

❒Includes 8 complete lessons that leave the teacher nothing to do, but to teach.

❒Lesson 1: Historical context and pre-reading

❒Lesson 2: Setting and reading (there are specific pages assigned to each lesson)

❒Lesson 3: Symbols, Motifs and reading the play

❒Lesson 4: Character chart and reading the play

❒Lesson 5: Reading – exploring irony and the meaning of the title

❒Lesson 6: Reading and a look at the difference between modern and classic tragedy

❒Lesson 7: Theme development and review

❒Lesson 8: Evaluation (Option 1 – test (answer key included), Option 2 – Essay (evaluation grid, work process, outline included)

A digital copy of all of the student activities is included in this unit in Google Docs format to facilitate distance learning.

***An EDITABLE version of this unit is now available! Click here for more information: EDITABLE – Death of a Salesman Unit (Complete No Prep)

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Thematic Poetry Unit: Editable

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Frankenstein No Prep Unit

Hamlet No Prep Unit

Lord of the Flies No Prep Unit

Much Ado About Nothing No Prep Unit

Romeo and Juliet No Prep Unit

Wuthering Heights Student Workbook

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
70 pages
Answer Key
Included with rubric
Teaching Duration
2 Weeks


ELA Literature Study Unit – Use with ANY Work of Literature

Description

ELA Literature Study Unit – Use with ANY Work of Literature

This bundle has everything needed to teach any work of literature, to start literature circles, or as an alternative to independent book reports. It also teaches literacy skills which are essential for students to add meaning to content.

Now comes with a fill in the blank PDF for students who prefer using the computer

There are 24 pages in the unit guide that include:

❒ Anticipation guide

❒ Prediction chart

❒ Plot Chart

❒ Plot chart (graphic organizer)

❒ List of character traits and a STEAL chart for characterization

❒ Characterization graphic organizer

❒ STEAL characterization graphic organizer

❒ Character traits graphic organizer

❒ Conflict activity

❒ Personal word wall

❒ Important passages (quotes) activity sheet

❒ Questions for Comprehension (generic- before, during, and after reading)

❒ Event map

❒ Chapter summary pages

❒ Making inferences activity sheet

❒ Activity on author’s purpose

❒ Themes and how to develop them

❒ How to develop themes in paragraph form (using PEEL)

❒ Paragraph graphic organizer (using PEEL)

❒ How to answer a test question in paragraph form (using PEEL)

Included are 2 evaluations with rubrics:

1) Writing a journal as one of the characters in the story (focus on characterization)

2) Writing a newspaper article on an event from the story (focus on plot and cause and event)

Characterization poster for the classroom is also included in two different formats (legal size paper required).


You may also be interested in the following products:

Creative Writing Bundle

Inference Cheat Sheet

Poetry Lesson: Analyzing Poetry

Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

Opinion Letter with the Novel Holes

Opinion Piece Bundle

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
31 pages
Answer Key
Included with rubric
Teaching Duration
N/A


Hamlet Scene Summary Visual Notebook (Digital copy included)

Description

This resource has been created as a substitute for the traditional “questions and answers” method we are used to. As teachers, we aim to ensure students understand the play’s essential elements, but we also want to engage them in a “hands-on” fashion.

Studies demonstrate that Sketch noting and doodling help students retain information and understand concepts better than simply answering questions.

This resource allows students to complete notes during the reading process and use the images and heading provided to help them know what the focus should be on.

This is also an excellent study and review tool.

Included in this resource are:

❒a note-taking page for every scene in the play

❒a note-taking page for every soliloquy in the play

❒a comprehensive answer key for all scenes and soliloquies

The Hamlet Visual Notebook is now available in digital format on Google Slides for distance learning.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Hamlet Bundle

Hamlet No Prep Unit

Much Ado About Nothing No Prep Unit

Romeo and Juliet No Prep Unit

Wuthering Heights Student Workbook

The Yellow Wallpaper No Prep Mini-Unit

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
48 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
N/A


Frankenstein Workbook (Digital copy included)

Description

The Frankenstein Workbook is now distance learning ready. The activities are all available on Google Slides where students can insert their answers.

The Frankenstein Workbook was created as a different way to learn from Mary Shelley’s novel. (1831 edition)

The Student Workbook has 30 pages that focus on themes, symbols, important quotes, characterization, romantic and gothic literature, biblical and literary allusions, and elements of the plot.

The format includes symbols to help guide students in theme development and allow them to build on characterization, symbolism, and meaningful allusions in the novel in a clear and more visual way.

******************************

PRODUCT CONTENT:

Student Workbook x1 (30 pages)

Answer Key x1

Copy of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner x1

Annotated copy of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner x1

Please note that this is a digital download in PDF format and that the pages are not editable.

******************************

WORKBOOK CONTENT:

❒ Background information

❒ Anticipation Guide and Introductory Activity

❒ Letters 1-4

❒ Chapters 1&2

❒ The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (allusion in the novel)

❒ Chapters 3, 4 & 5

❒ Chapters 6, 7 & 8

❒ Chapters 9 & 10

❒ Chapters 11 & 12

❒ An activity

❒ Supplementary activity – Nature in Romantic Literature

❒ Chapter 13 (activity)

❒ Chapters 14 & 15

❒ Chapter 16

❒ Chapters 17 & 18

❒ Chapter 19

❒ Chapters 20 &21

❒ Chapter 22

❒ Chapters 23 & 24`

❒ Activity on symbolism

❒ Activity on theme development

The activities are available in a booklet format or individually. This workbook is also a great accompaniment to my Frankenstein No Prep Unit. It is a great addition to the unit to help vary activities.

FOR MORE FRANKENSTEIN RESOURCES:

Frankenstein No Prep Unit

Frankenstein Activity

Frankenstein Bundle

Frankenstein Debate

Paragraph Writing Activity (Frankenstein)

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Thematic Poetry Unit: Editable

Brave New World Student Notebook

Hamlet Scene Summary Visual Notebook

Romeo and Juliet No Prep Unit

Wuthering Heights Student Workbook

The Yellow Wallpaper No Prep Mini-Unit

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
88 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
N/A


The Yellow Wallpaper Mini-Unit (Digital resource included)

Description

The Yellow Wallpaper Mini-Unit” is perfect for teaching students to analyze literature in a meaningful way. All of the prep work and thinking have been done for you. This truly is a print-and-go resource. The mini-unit includes 5 lesson plans, an interactive PowerPoint presentation to introduce the story’s historical context, student activities, as well as a detailed answer key. The mini-unit also includes a creative writing piece that allows students to play around with voice and situate themselves within the context of the times.

This lesson is suitable for grades 9 to 12.

60 pages and 19 slides total in this unit.

See below for further details.

The PowerPoint is an interactive presentation with information about the author, the context of the time, notes on feminist literature and its history, information about Weir Mitchell and the rest cure, experts from François Poullain de la Barre’s “The Woman as Good as the Man, and an excerpt from Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s “Émile, or On Education” to help students understand women’s frustrations and the want for change.

The Lesson Plans contain 5 comprehensive lessons, which fully explore this work’s mastery and teaches students to think critically by annotating the work. The lesson plans include journal topics, class discussions, and exit tickets, as well as learning goals for each lesson for students to fully grasp the importance of this work.

The student Activities include an activity on symbolism, activity on the theme, a tutorial on how to develop themes in paragraph form (this is an important skill for ELA students), an example of a developed theme, and a paragraph organizer.

Two copies of the short story are included – a copy of the short story with space for students to annotate the work and an annotated copy for the teacher or for differentiated learning as the case may be. (Provided in Word as well as PDF format to allow you to add your own annotations.)

An analysis evaluation is also included available in Word and PDF format to suit students’ needs.)

❒Students will write an analytical paragraph where students must develop one of the themes from the work. (A sample answer is provided with a rubric)

❒ A comprehensive answer key is provided for all work.

This resource includes a digital version in Google Docs to facilitate online and distance learning.

You may also be interested in the following products:
Brave New World Student Notebook
Death of a Salesman No Prep Unit

Frankenstein Bundle

Hamlet Bundle

Lord of the Flies No Prep Unit

Poetry No Prep Unit

Wuthering Heights Student Workbook

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
60 pages and 19 slides
Answer Key
Included with rubric
Teaching Duration
1 Week


How to write a paragraph

Description

The Paragraph package is an easy to use document that will help students learn how to write effectively using the proper form.

The document includes a detailed description of the different types of paragraphs as well as how to effectively write the paragraph (with sentence by sentence instructions).

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Creating a Board Game Assessment Tool

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Opinion Letter with the Novel Holes

Sentences Grammar Circles

For Easy & Effective Grammar

Short Story Bundle

Spelling Flip Book

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
3 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Description

This “Cheat Sheet” was designed to help students while writing in English. This at a glance 2 page sheet is colorful and has an easy to find layout to help students remember certain important things while they write.

I allow my students to use this in class when writing a test. This is not a grammar lesson, but it will remind students about the grammar they’ve learned in the past.

Some of the reminders included:

❒ parts of speech

❒ transitional words

❒ quotation marks (how and when to use them)

❒ basic sentence structure

❒ spelling tips (plurals of nouns and IE rule)

❒ punctuation rules (apostrophe, colon, semicolon)

The other side of the page has comma rules:

❒ with coordinate conjunctions

❒ with introductory elements

❒ with other elements (dates, parenthetical expression, nouns in a direct address)

❒ with adjectives

❒ with appositives

It also contains tips on things to avoid, such as writing a paragraph shorter than 4 sentences. And, it contains a list of things to do, such as make sure that your paragraphs contain at least 2 pieces of evidence.

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Essay Writing Flip Book

How to Write a Paragraph

Inference Cheat Sheet

Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

Sentences Grammar Circles For Easy & Effective Grammar

Spelling Flip Book

Superhero Themed Parts of Speech Posters

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
2 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


I Have, Who has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language and Poetry

Description

The goal of this game is to help students memorize and understand FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE through the use of games. Playing rather than memorizing is a fun activity that will engage students in a classroom.

Included in this purchase is the MASTER SHEET, which contains the answers, attractive STUDENT CARDS, which you can print and cut out in colour (on card stock and laminate for sustainable use), and A SET OF RULES explaining how the game works.

This package contains 23 cards and 12 extra blank cards in case you have a bigger class.

NEW – Now includes editable, blank cards.

You may also be interested in the following:

Analyze This!

Creating a Board Game Assessment Tool

Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy Game

Parts of Speech Grammar Circles

Poetry Lesson: Analyzing Poetry

Poetry Unit for Senior Students

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
11 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
N/A


Comment Bank

Description

Do you run out of meaningful criticism for your students’ high school papers and work?

I created this comment bank because I had the same problem. After a little while, you don’t know what to write on a student’s test.

The Comment Bank has been constructed to save the Language Arts teacher time when offering constructive and helpful comments on students’ evaluations. Marking papers in any Language Arts class is always a lengthy process. Increasingly, teachers are being asked to write more detailed comments to highlight students’ strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes we run out of ideas. Being the vigilant teachers we are, and wanting to help our students achieve their potential is and will always be one of our priorities. To this end, when marking students’ papers, writing down everything we want to say to them about their papers would be a very lengthy process. I have decided to share my personal comment bank with you.

The bank comments on the following areas:

❒Structure

❒Communication

❒The next step

❒Mechanics

❒Style

❒Persuasion

❒Analysis


The package contains 7 pages of comments, which are divided by levels of accomplishment A, B, C and D. (levels 100 to 50)

Included in this package are over 120 comments for students. You can get inspiration from these pages to handwrite your comments, or you can do what I do and copy/paste your comments into a word document, print, and staple the comment to the students’ evaluations. This is a real time saver. Parents, students, and school administration LOVE this method of feedback. And, this way, it takes much less time to be much more efficient. I hope you enjoy it!

You may also be interested in the following products:

ELA Report Card Comments

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Rubrics: Self-Evaluation Bundle

Creating a Board Game Assessment Tool

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
7 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Spelling Flip Book

Description

The Spelling Flip Book is designed to help young learners become familiar with spelling rules and to incorporate them into their work.

Students can color and personalize their flip books to enhance the spelling learning experience.

I always like encouraging my students to use their flip books as reference sheets when they are working to promote good spelling habits. The goal is that eventually, by using the flipbook when working, the student will begin to remember common errors made in the past and correct them. I have had much success with this strategy in my classes.

I’ve also included a color copy and an answer key – a total of 18 pages.

You may also be interested in the following products:

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Opinion Piece Bundle

Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

Sentences Grammar Circles For Easy & Effective Grammar

Superhero Themed Parts of Speech Posters

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
18 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
N/A


The Fun They Had Mini Short Story Unit – Digital Download in Google Drive

Description

With online learning becoming more prevalent in our society, most of our students have experienced traditional learning in a classroom with socialization and online at home.  Both approaches to learning come with their own sets of challenges and rewards. Isaac Asimov’s short story “The Fun They Had” introduces an interesting opportunity for students to discuss the importance of social and human contact in learning.

 Appropriate for grades 7-10

Resource contains

❒ Lesson plan to guide the teacher

❒ Pre-reading journal activity, a brief introduction of the author and historical context 

❒ A copy of the short story with directions on how to annotate the work

❒ Comprehension questions (in both Google Docs and Google Forms formats)

❒ A copy of the short story both annotated for the teacher and without annotation for students

❒ An answer key

❒ An optional Letter Writing Enrichment Activity

❒ Evaluation or enrichment activity (with rubric and self-evaluation checklist)

Pages total 17 pages and a Google Forms

The resource is completely editable in Google Docs and Forms.

When your purchase is complete, you will download a PDF document containing the links to the digital resources.  You will be invited to make a copy of the document and save it in your drive. 

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ELA Literature Study Unit

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Rain, Rain, Go away Short Story

Rubrics: Self-Evaluation Bundle

Seventh Grade Short Story

Charles by Shirley Jackson

The Elevator Short Story

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
17 and 1 Google Forms
Answer Key
Included with rubric
Teaching Duration
3 days