Guides

Maximize your students’ reading experience by providing activities that foster comprehension and reinforce understanding of literary elements. Activities for each section allow students to process portions of the novel through individual and collaborative exercises that encourage close reading. Suggestions for maintaining Interactive Novel Logs provide students with additional ways to reflect and connect personally with the novel. Students have the opportunity to synthesize their ideas through a variety of post-reading activities. Correlated to the Common Core State Standards. 3rd - 6th Grades

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Transform the reading of a great novel into a journey of discovery. This customizable resource offers incredible flexibility as you share and explore great literature with your students. The guide is organized by literary elements and includes Teacher Instructions that provide activity overviews. Student activities feature text-dependent questions that encourage close analysis and call for evidence to support claims. This resource also includes suggestions for creating and maintaining Interactive Novel Logs to provide students with a place to connect with the literature in ways of their choosing. Pre- and Post-Reading activities are included as well as suggestions for pairing texts to expand the understanding of themes and topics. 144 pages. Learn More

The Discovering Literature Series is designed to develop a student’s appreciation for good literature and to improve reading comprehension. While many skills reinforce a student’s ability to comprehend what he or she reads (sequencing, cause and effect, finding details, using context clues), two skills are vital. They are: discerning main ideas and summarizing the text. Students who can master these two essential skills develop into sophisticated readers. 96 pages.

Each chapter analysis is organized into three basic elements: Student Directives, Chapter Vocabulary, and Chapter Summary.

The Student Directives contain the main ideas in each chapter. They provide the students, working individually or in groups, with a framework for developing their summaries. Student Directives can also be used as group discussions.

The Chapter Vocabulary includes definitions of keywords from each chapter. To save time, students need only to copy, not look up, definitions.

A Chapter Summary for each chapter is included for teacher use and knowledge.

Throughout the guide Skill Pages and Tests are provided for to build an increased understanding of the book and to review student’s knowledge.

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See all the fun and exciting things Spot can do with his spots by completing fun, challenging activities and lessons that support this classic story. Put Me in the Zoo: An Instructional Guide for Literature features appealing and challenging cross-curricular lessons and activities that work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend rich, complex literature. Everything that teachers need is packed into this guide that is the perfect tool to teach students how to analyze story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and more. This classroom resource is the ideal way to add rigor to your students' explorations of literature.

Grades K-3

From Teacher Created Materials

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Get ready to fly into Neverland with our favorite adventurist Peter Pan! Accompanying him, this thorough comprehension guide is filled with insightful questions and fun projects, including shadow puppets, games, and even mapping Neverland, keeping students engaged in the magical material. This is recommended for students in 3rd grade. 58 pages Learn More

Spend some time with Owl as he explores the world around him from the comfort of his own home. Young readers will enjoy analyzing Owl and his misunderstandings through fun, challenging activities and lessons. Owl at Home: An Instructional Guide for Literature was created as a support tool for this classic story by Arnold Lobel. This classroom resource will familiarize young readers with these short stories while adding rigor to their explorations of rich, complex literature. Engaging cross-curricular activities will encourage children to analyze the story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and more. Grades K-3

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Of Mice and Men: An Instructional Guide for Literature supports the instruction of this classic story about friendship and loss. Encourage students to analyze the struggles that Lennie and George face in their friendship by completing the fun, challenging activities provided in this resource. Analyzing story elements in multiple ways, close reading and text-based vocabulary practice, and determining meaning through text-dependent questions are just a few of the many skills students will gain after interacting with the rigorous and appealing cross-curricular lessons. Written to support this well-known novel by John Steinbeck, the lessons and activities work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend rich, complex literature. Students will enjoy analyzing this title while reveling in the life lessons they take away from it.

Grades 9-12

From Teacher Created Materials

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Follow the story of ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her Jewish best friend Ellen who must move in with the Johansen family and pretend to be their daughter to escape the Nazis. Readers will learn to connect historical events to the story with the help of this literary guide that supports instruction of Number the Stars, the Newbery Medal-winning book by Lois Lowry. Analyzing story elements in multiple ways, close reading and text-based vocabulary practice, and determining meaning through text-dependent questions are just a few of the many skills students will gain after interacting with the rigorous and appealing cross-curricular lessons and activities in this resource. The activities and lessons work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend rich, complex literature.

Grades 4-8

From Teacher Created Materials

See also #3712.

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Ride along on an exciting adventure with Elmer Elevator as he attempts to rescue a baby dragon held captive on a mysterious land. My Father's Dragon: An Instructional Guide for Literature is the perfect tool to aid students in analyzing and comprehending this Newbery Honor book. Appealing and challenging cross-curricular lessons and activities were written to support this well-known story, and incorporate research-based literacy skills to help students become thorough readers. These lessons and activities work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and much more. Grades K-3 From Teacher Created Materials See also #6178 Learn More

My Brother Sam Is Dead: An Instructional Guide for Literature supports instruction of the Newbery Honor book about a family torn apart by the American Revolution. Encourage students to make connections to historical events by completing the activities and lessons provided in this guide. The rigorous, cross-curricular lessons and activities work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend rich, complex literature. Students will learn how to analyze story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and more. Add rigor to your students' explorations of rich, complex literature with this essential resource.Grades 4- 8 From Teacher Created Materials Learn More

This volume is a continuation in our ever popular First Favorites Collection Series(1386 &1533). More Favorites Comprehension Guide provides opportunity for students who need additional transitional reading support. Students will benefit from a bit more time on the basics and a chance to hone their skills while reading good books. This guide offers resources for books such as Encyclopedia Brown, My Father’s Dragon and more. The guide includes developmentally-tailored art and writing exercises and activities that will develop valuable comprehension skills in each student. First graders who are ready to move ahead but not quite ready for longer chapter books will benefit from this guide, as well. Guide includes permission to reproduce for both school and homeschool use. Learn More

From the legend of the true account of Misty to the incredible continuing story of the Assateague Island ponies. This guide is full of comprehension questions and activities that bring this book to life. 56 pages Learn More

Dancing cows? Tea parties on the ceiling? Talking birds? Christmas shopping with stars? When Mary Poppins is about, her young charges can never tell where the real world merges into make-believe. Neither can the reader, and that is one of the hallmarks of good fantasy. And the comprehension guide is full of as many interesting things as Poppins' carpet bag: poetry, crafts, comprehension questions, mazes, and even directions for a proper cup of tea. Learn More

Challenge students with engaging activities and lessons as they undertake a rich and deep exploration of this classic young adult fiction novel. Written by William Golding, the winner of the 1983 Nobel Prize in Literature, this world-renowned literary work will captivate students as they examine its powerful themes of conflict, civilization, survival, and savagery. This resource is packed with tools to teach students how to analyze story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and more. These rigorous, cross-curricular lessons and activities work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to comprehend complex literature and help them understand the story's significance. Strengthen your students' critical literacy skills. Grades 9-12 From Teacher Created Materials See also #1874. Learn More

This classic story tells of four sisters—Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—growing up while their father is taking part in the War Between the States. This thorough comprehension guide includes questions and answers for each chapter, projects based on each character, vocabulary studies, and delicious recipes. This guide is recommended for readers in the 6th grade. 85 pages Learn More

Follow the story of a young girl stranded for years on an island off the California coast. Island of the Blue Dolphins: An Instructional Guide for Literature features rigorous and engaging lessons and activities to aid in students' comprehension and analysis. These appealing and challenging cross-curricular lessons and activities were written to support the Common Core State Standards and incorporate research-based literacy skills to help students become thorough readers. Each lesson and activity work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and much more. Add rigor to your students' explorations of rich, complex literature with this essential resource! Grades 4-8 Learn More

Journey with Shirley Temple Wong as she sails from China to New York and discovers how America can be a place where dreams come true. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson: An Instructional Guide for Literature provides unique, standards-based lessons to help students analyze story elements in multiple ways, engage in close reading and text-based vocabulary practice, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and more. Through these fun but rigorous activities, students will develop key critical literacy skills and learn how to comprehend rich, complex literature.

Grades 3-5

From Teacher Created Materials

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Billy must eat 15 worms in 15 days to win $50. Will he be able to do it? Readers will learn all about eating worms in this disgustingly entertaining story! How to Eat Fried Worms: An Instructional Guide for Literature features rigorous, cross-curricular lessons and activities that work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to comprehend complex literature and help them understand the significance of the story. This resource is packed with tools to teach students how to analyze story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and more. Grades 3-5 From Teacher Created Materials See also #1027. Learn More

Learn how one boy struggles to work his way out of his family's cursed, bad luck! Holes: An Instructional Guide for Literature is the perfect resource to aid students in analyzing and comprehending this Newbery Medal and National Book Award-winning novel. Appealing and challenging cross-curricular lessons and activities were written to support this story, and incorporate research-based literacy skills to help students become thorough readers. These lessons and activities work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and much more. Add rigor to your students' explorations of rich, complex literature with this essential resource! Grades 4-8 From Teacher Created Materials Learn More

Grab your cloak and travel with Heidi as she, Grandfather, and Peter adventure along the mountainside. This comprehension guide includes chapter questions, puzzles, games, solutions, and recipes to help your 5th grade student learn about life in the Alps, and more importantly, how God changes hearts and lives. 68 pages Learn More

Explore this classic survival story of a boy who is stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash and must learn to survive with only the help of his hatchet. Hatchet: An Instructional Guide for Literature supports this story and features challenging cross-curricular activities and lessons that work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to better analyze and comprehend literature. Students will learn to analyze story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading, improve text-based vocabulary, and determine meaning through text-dependent questions. Add rigor to your students' explorations of rich, complex literature with this essential resource that supports instruction of the Newbery Honor book by Gary Paulsen. Grades 4-8 From Teacher Created Materials Learn More

Motivate students to dive into this dystopian novel and make connections to the past, the present, and the future. Fahrenheit 451: An Instructional Guide for Literature is the perfect resource to aid students in analyzing and comprehending the classic novel written by Ray Bradbury. The cross-curricular lessons and activities work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and much more. The appealing, challenging activities were written to support the story, and incorporate research-based literacy skills to help students become thorough readers. Add rigor to your students' explorations of rich, complex literature with this language arts resource. Grades 9-12 From Teacher Created Materials See also #12783 Learn More

Introduce students to this Newbery Honor book and encourage them to analyze the text by completing the activities and lessons provided in Dragonwings: An Instructional Guide for Literature. This resource features rigorous, cross-curricular lessons and activities that work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to comprehend and analyze complex literature. This guide is packed with tools to teach students how to analyze story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and more. Add rigor to your students' explorations of rich, complex literature with this essential resource! Grades 4-8 From Teacher Created Materials Learn More

The Discovering Literature Series is a teaching guide that was designed to help students develop an appreciation for literature, to improve reading comprehension, and to introduce students to the techniques of literary criticism that reflect our best understanding of how to make meaning from text. Each guide in the series features an award-winning novel and uses a focus on strategic reading in its introduction of a wide range of critical reading skills and literature elements, as well as opportunities for writing in a variety of genres.

Each literature teaching guide for the Hunger Games trilogy is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and includes strategic reading lessons that focus on both the individual volume and the series. There are over 50 separate strategies in the series for deeper understanding and meaning.

In addition to lessons that focus on the standard elements of literature (plot, characterization, setting and mood, theme, diction, style, and narration), students are provided with the Choice Analysis Tool to help them gain a deep understanding of motivation in a complex and terrorized society. They are also offered the opportunity to use historical documents (e.g., the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence) as well as other works of literature and poetry to contextualize the trilogy. Each book also includes Writer’s Forums that guide students in writing while using the books in the series as a backdrop. A vocabulary feature in the final volume provides word study ideas for the entire series.

This 112-page teaching guide includes an answer key.

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