A lesson focusing on using inference-based context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in short stories. Includes differentiated materials for various reading levels.

A final assessment where students apply all RI.8.2 skills to a new text in a 'Final Upload' scenario.

Exploring the relationship between central ideas and supporting details ('Supporting Cast').

Teaching objective summarization using the 'Highlight Reel' and 'TL;DR' framework.

Analyzing how a central idea is built throughout a text using a 'Script Breakdown' model.

Introduction to central ideas using the 'Main Feed' analogy. Students practice identifying the core message of texts.

A reading comprehension practice session focused on the passage 'Picturing Our Planet', specifically targeting the understanding of how visual aids support textual information.

A lesson focused on breaking down complex arguments into three core components: Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning, using a detective-themed investigation framework.

A rigorous writing practice session modeled after the New York State 7th Grade ELA exam, featuring a complex informational text and text-based response prompts.

An assessment unit for the first six chapters of Esperanza Rising, focusing on the transition from a life of privilege in Mexico to the flight toward California.

A comprehensive exploration of the plot and themes of Esperanza Rising, focusing on chapter-by-chapter summaries with bilingual support to deepen comprehension of Esperanza's journey from wealth to hard-won resilience.

A intensive reteach lesson for standard RI.6.3, focusing on how authors introduce, illustrate, and elaborate on key elements in a text using Civil Rights, Social Media, and Scientific Innovation topics.

The culminating project where students research a controversial sports figure and produce a persuasive investigative podcast script and recording.

Students master the art of the interview, learning to craft hard-hitting questions and analyze verbal cues to uncover the 'truth' behind the athlete's persona.

An exploration of how media framing, headlines, and persuasive language can transform an athlete's public image from hero to villain and back again.