New ReviewA three-part writing assessment challenges scholars to think critically about schools of the past and present. Learners read informative texts, answer questions to prepare for a discussion, research in small groups, complete a Venn...

New ReviewScholars read excerpts from the story, Heidi, in a three-part assessment that focuses on comparing and contrasting characters. Each part contains three tasks that challenge learners to discuss, answer comprehension questions,...

New ReviewA three-part assessment challenges scholars to write opinion essays covering the topic of the student council. After reading three passages, writers complete a chart, work with peers to complete a mini-research project, answer...

New ReviewA three-part assessment promotes reading comprehension skills. Class members read literary texts and take notes to discuss their findings, answer comprehension questions, write summaries, and complete charts. 

New ReviewA three-part assessment challenges scholars to read informational texts in order to complete three tasks. Following a brief reading, class members take part in grand conversations, complete charts, and work in small groups to research...

New ReviewTwo informational texts feature community gardens of the past and present and how seeds grow. Scholars read, discuss what they have read, complete a timeline, define words, and compose a brief essay about the texts' main idea.

New ReviewThree options offer young writers the opportunity to read a short story, answer questions, and write a response. A handy language arts resource focuses on reading comprehension and analyziing the story's lesson: look before you leap. 

New ReviewIs it okay to be mean to people if you don't get caught? Such questions drive the anticipation guide for The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis. The activity, designed to be completed before reading, has learners answer...

New ReviewWill Peter and Cole ever forgive one another? Anticipation guides contain questions such as this to help teach readers how to make predictions about a text. First out of a series of five resources, the guide is full of statements about...

New ReviewTwenty slides make up a set of festive, May-themed writing prompts designed to grab scholars' attention and warm-up their writing skills. Prompts include story starters, holidays, research questions, the five senses, and more! 

New ReviewScholars explore three of the most controversial words in the entire Declaration of Independence: "We the People." The ninth lesson in a series of 10 includes a close passage explaining the controversy of the three words and looks at...

New ReviewSeventh graders read a close passage about a writer who opened the doors to American history. The lesson includes a graphic organizer, guided questions, and a final writing task where students must identify a central idea of a close...

New ReviewWhat does being an American mean? Scholars explore this question through Langston Hughes' poem, "I, Too, Sing America." The sixth of 10 lessons is scaffolded to begin with taking notes about the poem, then have learners complete a...

New ReviewWhen it comes to writing effective arguments, writers must do more than simply make a claim, counterarguments must be considered. Aspiring writers analyze counterarguments in editorials, and then learn how to write counterarguments in...

New ReviewWhat would you do to be free? Seventh graders read a close passage about the Montgomery Bus Boycott to answer text-dependent questions, have a discussion, and complete a final writing task. The final lesson of 10 has scholars investigate...

New ReviewRome wasn't built in a day, but researchers can be with proper scaffolding. This writing unit has scholars write a research paper through scaffolding of various parts of the process. Learners begin with identifying a topic and crafting a...

New ReviewFour activities work alongside the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary. Depending on which story scholars choose to complete, learners locate textual evidence to prove that the Quimbys are a happy family, list Ramona's experiences and the...

Challenge writers to compose an essay detailing their stance on, and the history of, voting. Three assignments, each broken down into three parts, requires fifth graders to take notes, read and complete charts, write paragraphs, compare...

Introduce shape poems with help from the book Flicker Flash by Joan Bransfield Graham. Pupils discuss and describe what a shape poem is and how it is made prior to drafting an example poem. Once budding poets are ready, pupils compose...

Budding poets create two acrostic poems, one for their name and another using a word of their choice. Over the course of five days, scholars compose, revise, publish, and share their work with their peers.

Our sense of smell has a wonderful way of bringing back memories. Unlock those memories with an olfactory-inspired writing prompt that challenges writers to tell a story about a specific smell and the memories it conjures.

Who is the founding father—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or Benjamin Franklin? Scholars decide which of three early Americans, should be crowned the founding father of America based on research. Then, they compose a persuasive...

Use a set of 50 writing prompts all year long with topics including back to school, the 100th day of school, and everything in between. This must-have resource is sure to get young writers on their way to becoming experienced writers.

Scholars discuss the many ways they use persuasion in their everyday lives and brainstorm specific ideas for encouraging someone to do something. With the list of persuasive techniques they made, young writers complete a graphic...