Generation TeXt

Does technology affect our intelligence? Stefanie Olsen's article, "Intelligence in the Internet Age," and the thought provoking reading comprehension questions that follow, are sure to generate a lively discussion. 

Somebody Wanted But So Then (SWBST)? Yes! Here's a great strategy for teaching young readers how to summarize narrative text. In addition, the packet includes exercises that show kids how to summarize nonfiction text using the classic...

What is it like to be the first person in your family to attend a four-year college? Learners interview a first-generation college student and write a biographical essay. They read a case study, develop interview questions, conduct an...

Age is more than just a number. Class members read an article about the different aspects of age and how one might determine their true age. Learners then respond to a series of questions about the text.

If your class is new to reading and writing research, this is a great place to start! As the first video in a series of nine on using resources to craft an informational text, your writers are prompted to gather information and consider,...

Good argumentative essays develop claims by using evidence drawn from the text. How to select sufficient, and the most relevant evidence, is the subject of a short video that uses Act III, scene i of Hamlet as a text. The narrator models...

How can word choice affect a political speech? Middle and high schoolers examine the text of the 1999 State of the Union Address, and then determine how newspaper articles and television reports describe and analyze the event. Use this...

It is important for writers to address all aspects of a prompt. Show the video or slides to demonstrate how to pick a prompt apart with a strategy that can apply to any writing prompt. The video focuses on a prompt based on "Mrs....

What if . . .? Is the view of the empty street in front of the White’s house the only possible ending to “The Monkey’s Paw”? The narrator of this short video models for viewers how to use brainstorming to generate possible alternative...

Ever made a mountain out of a molehill? Individuals read Aesop's "The Mountain in Labor," a fable about a mountain that groans and attracts attention over a mouse. An audio retelling of the story and graphic organizer examines...