A comprehensive lesson designed to help middle school students master the art of writing strong, argumentative thesis statements through a blueprint-themed instructional approach.

A comprehensive lesson for middle schoolers on mastering the art of the argumentative hook, covering four distinct strategies to grab a reader's attention and bridge to a strong claim.

This lesson focuses on Chapter 4 of Frederick Douglass's narrative, analyzing how specific accounts of murder illustrate the inhumanity of slavery and the corruption of the Southern legal system. Students analyze key lines and imagery to identify Douglass's central claims about the lack of justice and value placed on enslaved lives.

A summative assessment unit comparing the historical case of Phineas Gage with modern neuroscience regarding the adolescent brain, focusing on reading comprehension and comparative analysis.

A lesson centered on Paul Laurence Dunbar's 'The Place Where the Rainbow Ends,' focusing on imagery, symbolism, and the theme of hope through collaborative discussion and creative analysis.

A lesson focused on using the 'bolts and structure' metaphor to teach students how to identify and use text evidence to support inferences. Students learn to see evidence as the essential hardware that prevents their ideas from falling apart.

A lightning-fast 5-minute mini-lesson focusing on identifying and analyzing shifts in a character's point of view through a short narrative model.

A vocabulary assessment for the novel 'The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963' focused on the words desperate, exasperated, hypnotized, jabber, and tempt. Designed with accessibility and clear character context for scholars.

A detective-themed lesson where students analyze the conflicting perspectives of Melba and Minnijean regarding the school play in Warriors Don't Cry. Students gather evidence to understand individual motivations and group concerns during the integration of Central High.

A lesson exploring the vital roles of minor characters in literature, teaching students to analyze how 'small' parts influence plot, theme, and character development through tiered reading and creative writing.

A lesson focusing on the themes of choice, aging, and suppression in The Giver Chapters 4 and 5.

A final culmination of the book club unit, where students synthesize the entire novel through creative projects and thematic reflections.

The emotional climax and resolution of the story as the tiger is released and Rob finally opens his suitcase, covering chapters twenty-one through thirty.

Exploring the developing friendship between Rob and Sistine and the growing pressure of the tiger's presence, covering chapters eleven through twenty.

An introduction to the Lister Motel and Rob Horton's 'suitcase', covering the first ten chapters of the novel.