Reading Comprehension

This lesson guides students through an analysis of Día de Muertos, focusing on the cultural significance, historical roots, and identity-affirming power of the tradition. Students will practice synthesizing information from multiple paragraphs to construct a meaningful written response about resilience and memory.

A comprehensive lesson on building strong argumentative essays, focusing on thesis construction, evidence integration, and addressing counter-arguments through the 'Debate Lab' theme.

A focused lesson on identifying the topic, main idea, and supporting details in short informational texts, designed for 6th-grade students.

A specialized set of professional SMART goals and evaluative tools for middle school teachers focusing on Literature and Informational reading standards. Includes SLO planners, professional goal banks, and proficiency scales for data-driven instruction.

In this lesson, middle school students explore the power of rhetoric through the speeches and writings of historical and modern change makers. They analyze how language can spark social change and apply these strategies to craft their own persuasive messages.

A mini-lesson focused on identifying the author's purpose and controlling idea using the article 'Photo and Video Manipulation: Tricks or Treats'. Students will analyze text structure and evidence to decode the author's intent and central message.

The capstone of the intervention where students integrate all context clue types and focus on selecting the 'strongest' evidence to support complex inferences. Includes a final 'case' to solve.

Covers example and contrast context clues to determine word meaning. Students practice making logical predictions about plot outcomes based on foreshadowing and environmental clues in the text.

Teaches students how to use synonyms and antonyms as context clues while inferring character traits and emotions from dialogue and actions. Practices focus on identifying 'clues' in a character's behavior.

Focuses on identifying explicit definition clues in text and distinguishing between literal facts and implied meanings. Students begin building their 'Investigator Handbook' and practice with a bioluminescence nonfiction text and a mystery fiction text.

A creative writing application where students rewrite a passage from a new perspective. Includes scaffolds for tone and sentence structure, concluding with a formal rubric for assessment.

Students compare different perspectives on the same topic by analyzing a narrative excerpt from Jason Reynolds and a paired news article. The lesson focuses on how purpose and point of view change the delivery of information.

An introduction to 'voice' in literature, using Sandra Cisneros's 'The House on Mango Street' as a primary text. Students learn to identify word choice and sentence structure that contribute to a narrator's unique personality.

Students will explore the historical context of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, practice identifying central ideas and supporting details, and complete a STAAR-formatted assessment.

A fast-paced creative writing lesson exploring extended metaphors through Carol Ann Duffy's 'Valentine'. Students deconstruct unconventional imagery and draft their own anti-cliché love poems.

A lesson focused on breaking down the components of an argument: claim, evidence, and reasoning. Students will learn to identify these elements and evaluate their logical connections.

Covers the resolution of the story, character growth, and the ultimate lesson learned by the 'Man with the Plan'.

Tracks the execution of the heist, focusing on pacing, suspense, and the climax of the novel.

Analyzes the logistical planning of the heist and the internal conflicts that arise within the group.

Explores how Griffin assembles his specialized team, focusing on individual character traits and unique skills.

A 6th-grade ELA lesson focused on RL.6.1, RL.6.2, and RL.6.3, where students analyze and compare two short stories through binary-choice questions.

A comprehensive lesson on building strong argumentative essays, focusing on thesis construction, evidence integration, and addressing counter-arguments through the 'Debate Lab' theme.

A lesson focused on identifying text structures using visual scaffolding, signal words, and sentence starters designed for English Language Learners.

A comprehensive lesson teaching 6th graders how to use graphic organizers (Cornell notes, mind maps, and T-charts) to organize information effectively. Includes a detailed lesson plan, a visual anchor chart, and guided practice worksheets.

A creative writing application where students rewrite a narrative passage from a different perspective, using a tone checklist and structured scaffold to demonstrate mastery of voice.

Students compare a narrative account of cultural identity with an informational news article to analyze how different perspectives and formats shape the delivery of a shared theme.

An introduction to literary voice using excerpts from The House on Mango Street, focusing on word choice and sentence structure as tools for building character personality.

A creative writing application where students rewrite a passage from a new perspective. Includes scaffolds for tone and sentence structure, concluding with a formal rubric for assessment.

Students compare different perspectives on the same topic by analyzing a narrative excerpt from Jason Reynolds and a paired news article. The lesson focuses on how purpose and point of view change the delivery of information.

An introduction to 'voice' in literature, using Sandra Cisneros's 'The House on Mango Street' as a primary text. Students learn to identify word choice and sentence structure that contribute to a narrator's unique personality.

A 15-minute center rotation focused on using context clues (synonyms, antonyms, examples, and definitions) to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words through a 'Word Detective' theme.

Students synthesize information from multiple texts to create a comprehensive comparison and write a final evidentiary paragraph.

Students learn about hurricanes and practice organizing information into a structured paragraph with a clear topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion.

Students explore the science of tornadoes while focusing on identifying key details and mastering domain-specific vocabulary.

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.

Teaches students to evaluate claims, analyze evidence, and craft strong argumentative responses for the NYS ELA exam.

Develops students' ability to identify central ideas and the specific evidence that supports them in informational texts.

Focuses on the essential vocabulary and structural frameworks needed to analyze complex middle school texts.

An introduction to Shakespeare's whimsical comedy for young readers, focusing on plot, characters, and the magical setting of the enchanted forest.

This lesson guides students through an analysis of Día de Muertos, focusing on the cultural significance, historical roots, and identity-affirming power of the tradition. Students will practice synthesizing information from multiple paragraphs to construct a meaningful written response about resilience and memory.

A focused practice session on identifying cause-and-effect relationships within a fictional text, modeled after EOC RLA assessment formats.

A 6th-grade ELA lesson focused on RL.6.1, RL.6.2, and RL.6.3, where students analyze and compare two short stories through binary-choice questions.

A lesson focused on post-SSR reading comprehension through daily reflection and choice-based activities across four key skill areas.

A comprehensive ELA lesson for grades 4-6 focused on identifying and mapping narrative arcs. Students use exploratory metaphors to navigate plot structures, climax, and resolution.

An introduction to Book 3, focusing on Jack's growing anxiety about his friends 'outgrowing' the apocalypse and the initial mysterious signals from the outside world.

A deep dive into Chapter 6 of 'The Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare King', focusing on character motivations and the introduction of the Nightmare King's lore.

Final assessments and a project-based learning activity where students explore the book's themes creatively.

The aftermath of the rescue, Winnie's big decision, and the ultimate resolution of the story (Chapters 21-Epilogue).

The tension rises as the man in the yellow suit makes his move and the Tucks face a dire threat (Chapters 13-20).

Exploring the Tucks' home life, their explanation of the spring, and Winnie's growing bond with the family (Chapters 6-12).

Introduction to the Foster family, the woods, and the initial encounter with the Tucks (Prologue to Chapter 5).

A fast-paced, 30-minute lesson where students become literary detectives, learning to identify and use specific textual evidence to support claims about short fiction.

A modified introduction to Sandra Cisneros's 'The House on Mango Street,' focusing on Esperanza's identity, her neighborhood, and key character relationships through simplified vignettes and visual aids.

A deep dive into the Ceremony of Twelve, focusing on themes of individuality, community control, and the mysterious role of the Receiver of Memory in chapters 6 through 8 of The Giver.

The capstone of the intervention where students integrate all context clue types and focus on selecting the 'strongest' evidence to support complex inferences. Includes a final 'case' to solve.

Covers example and contrast context clues to determine word meaning. Students practice making logical predictions about plot outcomes based on foreshadowing and environmental clues in the text.

Teaches students how to use synonyms and antonyms as context clues while inferring character traits and emotions from dialogue and actions. Practices focus on identifying 'clues' in a character's behavior.

Focuses on identifying explicit definition clues in text and distinguishing between literal facts and implied meanings. Students begin building their 'Investigator Handbook' and practice with a bioluminescence nonfiction text and a mystery fiction text.

An introduction to Shakespeare's whimsical comedy for young readers, focusing on plot, characters, and the magical setting of the enchanted forest.

This lesson guides students through an analysis of Día de Muertos, focusing on the cultural significance, historical roots, and identity-affirming power of the tradition. Students will practice synthesizing information from multiple paragraphs to construct a meaningful written response about resilience and memory.

A 6th-grade ELA lesson focused on RL.6.1, RL.6.2, and RL.6.3, where students analyze and compare two short stories through binary-choice questions.

A character analysis and creative writing lesson centered on the Straw Hat Pirates from One Piece. Students will explore character motivations, roles, and traits while developing their own unique additions to the crew.

A lesson focused on post-SSR reading comprehension through daily reflection and choice-based activities across four key skill areas.

An introduction to Book 3, focusing on Jack's growing anxiety about his friends 'outgrowing' the apocalypse and the initial mysterious signals from the outside world.

A deep dive into Chapter 6 of 'The Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare King', focusing on character motivations and the introduction of the Nightmare King's lore.

Final assessments and a project-based learning activity where students explore the book's themes creatively.

The aftermath of the rescue, Winnie's big decision, and the ultimate resolution of the story (Chapters 21-Epilogue).

The tension rises as the man in the yellow suit makes his move and the Tucks face a dire threat (Chapters 13-20).

Exploring the Tucks' home life, their explanation of the spring, and Winnie's growing bond with the family (Chapters 6-12).

Introduction to the Foster family, the woods, and the initial encounter with the Tucks (Prologue to Chapter 5).

A fast-paced, 30-minute lesson where students become literary detectives, learning to identify and use specific textual evidence to support claims about short fiction.

A modified introduction to Sandra Cisneros's 'The House on Mango Street,' focusing on Esperanza's identity, her neighborhood, and key character relationships through simplified vignettes and visual aids.

A deep dive into the Ceremony of Twelve, focusing on themes of individuality, community control, and the mysterious role of the Receiver of Memory in chapters 6 through 8 of The Giver.

The capstone of the intervention where students integrate all context clue types and focus on selecting the 'strongest' evidence to support complex inferences. Includes a final 'case' to solve.

Covers example and contrast context clues to determine word meaning. Students practice making logical predictions about plot outcomes based on foreshadowing and environmental clues in the text.

Teaches students how to use synonyms and antonyms as context clues while inferring character traits and emotions from dialogue and actions. Practices focus on identifying 'clues' in a character's behavior.

Focuses on identifying explicit definition clues in text and distinguishing between literal facts and implied meanings. Students begin building their 'Investigator Handbook' and practice with a bioluminescence nonfiction text and a mystery fiction text.

A creative writing application where students rewrite a passage from a new perspective. Includes scaffolds for tone and sentence structure, concluding with a formal rubric for assessment.

A comprehensive creative writing lesson where students learn to weave character, setting, and plot into compelling narratives through a textile-inspired workshop approach.

A lesson for middle schoolers on identifying and using persuasive techniques (ethos, pathos, logos) and rhetorical strategies in advertisements and speeches.

A lesson on digital media literacy for middle schoolers, focusing on the SIFT method to evaluate online information, identify bias, and spot misinformation.

A comprehensive lesson for middle schoolers on breaking down complex, multi-step instructions using chunking, visualization, and paraphrasing strategies.

A lesson that introduces students to the 'Story Spine' framework, a structured approach to narrative construction used by professional storytellers. Students will learn to build a solid plot foundation and apply it to their own creative writing projects across various genres.

A comprehensive review lesson using an 8-paragraph, 1200 Lexile passage to practice all previously learned structures and elements.

Explores descriptive text structure and how diagrams clarify complex anatomical and functional information.

Focuses on sequential text structure and the use of maps to convey historical and geographical information.

Focuses on identifying main ideas and supporting details while analyzing the effectiveness of images in informational texts.

A 6th-grade ELA lesson exploring the mechanics and importance of oral tradition, contrasting a casual game of 'Telephone' with the rigorous cultural preservation of Indigenous storytelling. Students practice being 'story keepers' by interviewing peers and accurately retelling personal narratives.

Students become 'story detectives' to reverse-engineer famous narratives, identifying whether the author likely began with Character, Setting, Conflict, or Plot as their primary focus.

Students learn to identify chronological sequence and use signal words to create a 5-step vacation itinerary.

Students explore the classic Hero's Journey narrative framework by watching a video about the fantasy genre and Clove the dragon. They then apply the three stages (Departure, Initiation, and Return) to a story of their choice using a creative mapping activity.

A 6th-grade literacy lesson focused on identifying and mapping semantic connections (Comparison, Cause and Effect, Sequence) within complex non-fiction text. Students use visual 'node maps' to visualize paragraph structure, modeled after Khan Academy instructional techniques.

A lesson where students learn to identify comparison, cause/effect, and sequence structures in informational texts using a 'friendship web' analogy and color-coded annotation.

Students will learn the six elements of plot—Exposition, Inciting Incident, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution—through a video-guided analysis and a kinesthetic 'Plot Mountain Hop' activity.

Students will learn and apply a 4-step objective summary process to a short narrative text, distinguishing between essential plot points and non-essential details or opinions.

Students will master the art of the objective summary by learning the 4-step process to strip away bias and uncover the 'bones' of a story. The lesson features a Khan Academy video and a 5-sentence constraint activity to sharpen concise, neutral writing skills.

This lesson explores the mechanics of suspense by analyzing how authors use pacing and time constraints to create tension. Students will watch a video bridging baking science with literary analysis and then compose their own 'ticking clock' narrative in a text message format.

A lesson where students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources by creating structured 3-step research plans to solve 'driving questions.' Inspired by a video lesson on costume design and historical research.

This lesson guides students through an analysis of Día de Muertos, focusing on the cultural significance, historical roots, and identity-affirming power of the tradition. Students will practice synthesizing information from multiple paragraphs to construct a meaningful written response about resilience and memory.

A comprehensive lesson on building strong argumentative essays, focusing on thesis construction, evidence integration, and addressing counter-arguments through the 'Debate Lab' theme.

A lesson focused on post-SSR reading comprehension through daily reflection and choice-based activities across four key skill areas.

A focused lesson on identifying the topic, main idea, and supporting details in short informational texts, designed for 6th-grade students.

A specialized set of professional SMART goals and evaluative tools for middle school teachers focusing on Literature and Informational reading standards. Includes SLO planners, professional goal banks, and proficiency scales for data-driven instruction.

In this lesson, students will master identifying and using main ideas and supporting details through the lens of investigative journalism. They will build a technical vocabulary to describe how authors construct arguments and narratives.

This lesson focuses on identifying the main idea and supporting details using a high-interest non-fiction text about Mars exploration. Students will practice summarizing key concepts and distinguishing between primary points and secondary facts.

A detective-themed lesson focusing on identifying the main idea, topic, and supporting details in complex texts, aligned with SPIRE Level 5 concepts.

A lesson focused on identifying text structures using visual scaffolding, signal words, and sentence starters designed for English Language Learners.

A comprehensive lesson teaching 6th graders how to use graphic organizers (Cornell notes, mind maps, and T-charts) to organize information effectively. Includes a detailed lesson plan, a visual anchor chart, and guided practice worksheets.

A lesson focused on identifying the main idea and supporting details in nonfiction texts using a detective-themed investigation approach. Students will learn to distinguish between the 'big picture' and the evidence that supports it.

A lesson focused on identifying the topic, main idea, and supporting details in non-fiction textbook chapters using a 'Textbook Trek' expedition theme.

A modified introduction to Sandra Cisneros's 'The House on Mango Street,' focusing on Esperanza's identity, her neighborhood, and key character relationships through simplified vignettes and visual aids.

A mini-lesson focused on identifying the author's purpose and controlling idea using the article 'Photo and Video Manipulation: Tricks or Treats'. Students will analyze text structure and evidence to decode the author's intent and central message.

Students will explore the historical context of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, practice identifying central ideas and supporting details, and complete a STAAR-formatted assessment.

A lesson focused on breaking down the components of an argument: claim, evidence, and reasoning. Students will learn to identify these elements and evaluate their logical connections.

Covers the resolution of the story, character growth, and the ultimate lesson learned by the 'Man with the Plan'.

Tracks the execution of the heist, focusing on pacing, suspense, and the climax of the novel.

Analyzes the logistical planning of the heist and the internal conflicts that arise within the group.

Explores how Griffin assembles his specialized team, focusing on individual character traits and unique skills.

This lesson guides students through an analysis of Día de Muertos, focusing on the cultural significance, historical roots, and identity-affirming power of the tradition. Students will practice synthesizing information from multiple paragraphs to construct a meaningful written response about resilience and memory.

A focused practice session on identifying cause-and-effect relationships within a fictional text, modeled after EOC RLA assessment formats.

A lesson focused on post-SSR reading comprehension through daily reflection and choice-based activities across four key skill areas.

A lesson focused on identifying text structures using visual scaffolding, signal words, and sentence starters designed for English Language Learners.

A comprehensive lesson teaching 6th graders how to use graphic organizers (Cornell notes, mind maps, and T-charts) to organize information effectively. Includes a detailed lesson plan, a visual anchor chart, and guided practice worksheets.

A 15-minute center rotation focused on using context clues (synonyms, antonyms, examples, and definitions) to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words through a 'Word Detective' theme.

Students will explore the historical context of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, practice identifying central ideas and supporting details, and complete a STAAR-formatted assessment.

Concludes the book club by examining the resolution and the characters' transition to a sanctuary. Students synthesize the entire story to write a final analysis of Ivan's growth and the story's theme.

Covers Ivan's creative plan to save Ruby through his art and the rising action as he works with Julia to communicate his message. Students analyze the power of storytelling and persistence.

Explores the arrival of Ruby and the passing of Stella, focusing on the turning point where Ivan makes a life-changing promise. Students analyze how character motivations shift in response to new plot events.

Introduces students to Ivan, Stella, and Bob at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall, focusing on character traits and the initial setting of the novel. Students define Ivan's 'silverback' identity and begin tracking his motivations.

Focuses on the pivotal events of the Wexler bridal shower, the detonation of the third bomb, and the growing evidence surrounding the bomber's identity.

A comprehensive set of activities and assessments for Chapter 15 of 'The Westing Game', focusing on character development, inference, and cause-and-effect relationships during the Wexler party.

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.