A deep dive into the life and literary contributions of Booth Tarkington, focusing on his Indiana roots and his role in American regionalism. Students will read a biographical article and answer comprehension questions.

A Stranger Things themed lesson focusing on complex sentence construction using subject, verb, and various predicate expanders (where, when, why).

A creative writing lesson where students step into Clover's perspective to write a heartfelt eulogy for Boxer, focusing on the tragic betrayal of the working class by the pigs.

A lesson focused on identifying and explaining the theme of a literary passage using textual evidence. Students practice excavating deeper meanings from short narratives through collaborative or independent task card activities.

Analyze the high-stakes climax of Tuck Everlasting, focusing on plot structure, character motives, and the building of tension during the jailbreak. Students will explore the moral complexities of Mae and Winnie's actions through comparative analysis and suspense tracking.

A close-reading lesson focused on Chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby, exploring themes of time, memory, and Gatsby's obsession with the past through the symbol of the defunct mantelpiece clock.

A guided reading lesson focused on contemporary fiction, featuring an original short story about urban identity and change. Students will develop comprehension and critical thinking skills through close reading and evidence-based analysis.

A comprehensive analysis of Kwame Dawes' poem 'Dirt,' focusing on sensory imagery, metaphors, and the social-emotional connections to ancestry and resilience. This lesson includes differentiated materials for varying reading levels.

A high-energy lesson that teaches students how to identify central ideas and supporting evidence through the exciting world of motocross racing. Students will analyze a passage about the physical demands of the sport and use a scaffolded graphic organizer to map out their findings.