A short lesson focusing on practicing short constructed responses (SCR) using informational texts about the Ancestral Puebloans and the Haudenosaunee. Students read short passages, identify key details, and write evidenced-based responses.

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.

A comprehensive assessment focusing on decoding 2-3 syllable words across various syllable patterns including closed, VCe, r-controlled, open, and vowel teams.

A focused 30-minute exploration of Macbeth's moral decay and psychological collapse across Act II, Scene 2 and Act III, Scene 4. Students analyze the immediate aftermath of regicide and the public appearance of Banquo's ghost to determine if Macbeth is fit for the crown.

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.

An analysis of Chapter 8 'Moscow', focusing on the introduction of Uncle Anoosh and the influence of political ideology on personal identity and Marji's concept of heroism.

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 that bridges the gap between informational and narrative texts by applying detective skills to fiction. Students integrate character inferences with theme identification to solve 'literary mysteries,' analyzing fables like 'The Wisdom of the Cracked Pot' and 'The Kindness of the Lion.'

A lesson focused on identifying the central 'Big Picture' idea in informational texts using the 'Investigation Lens.' Students practice zooming out from specific details to synthesize the main message authors intend to convey, using cases about polar bear adaptations and Thomas Edison's persistence.

A foundational lesson on making inferences using text evidence and personal schema. Students learn 'The Detective's Equation' (Evidence + Schema = Inference) and apply it to solve short 'case studies' ranging from athletic disappointments to mysterious kitchen messes.