top of page
KEY IDEAS AND DETAILS

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone: Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. 

​

Grade 6.RL.KID.2 & 6.RI.KID.2
Reading Standards:  Key Ideas and Details
​

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary. 

​

ESSSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Reading comprehension

​

Recognize and analyze theme and central idea 

​

Support theme or idea with details from the text 

 

Analyze the text

​

Summarize the text

​

Recognize and distinguish between fact and opinion or judgment 

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANDING

Types and uses of details, literary elements, and figurative language 

 

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY/LANGUAGE

Published on Jul 8, 2013

This video defines themes, specifically universal themes like good vs. evil, the individual vs. society, and the individual vs. self. What makes a theme universal? How do you identify themes? Why are they important?

The Power of Simple Words - Terin Izil

TEACHING SUMMARIZING TEXT

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Summarizing Text Worksheets

​

TEACHING CENTRAL IDEAS OF TEXT

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Central Ideas of Text Worksheets

​

TEACHING SUMMARY

ENGLISHLINX:  Summary Worksheets

A Summary is a brief statement or account of the main points of something. A summary often is made up of five to eight sentences and conveys the key points of a given text. A summary is a shortened version of something read and it may contain linking words such as; first, then, next, finally etc.. It is important to learn how to summarize different types of texts such as internet articles, magazine articles, chapter books, short stories and more. Summaries provide a shorten version of what was read or what took place.

​

TEACHING READING COMPREHENSION

ENGLISHLINX:  Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension is defined as the level of understanding of a text. This understanding comes for the interaction between the words that are written and how they trigger knowledge outside the text. Reading comprehension is one of the most difficult concepts for students to master. Understanding the story or text often takes much background knowledge of words, vocabulary, sentence structure and much more.

​

TEACHING THEME

ENGLISHLINX:  Theme Worksheets

A theme is the central message about life that the author wishes to convey to the reader. Most narratives or stories students read have a theme. The theme is sometimes hard to find. There are two kinds of themes, stated themes and implied themes. Stated themes are directly stated by a character or narrator in the story. Implied themes are not said directly, but the reader has to come up with what the think the message of the story is. Themes touch on the moral aspect of the story and how we as readers can learn lessons about life through literature.

​

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Published on Apr 25, 2013

Supporting Details
Without strong and vivid supporting details, it hardly matters what a great topic sentence a writer has created for a paragraph. It's the supporting details, in the form of facts, descriptions, and examples, that back up the claim made in that sentence. The supporting details are important enough that you could think of them as the real meat of any paragraph.

Supporting Details - Time4Writing.com

Published on Jul 24, 2013

Universal Themes by Shmoop!

Introduction to Reading Skills: Identify main idea and supporting details 

Published on Oct 7, 2014

We here at Shmoop believe that you should take the time to stop and smell the book. No, not the roses. The book. You won't get pulled over by the cops for breaking the speed reading limit, but you will miss out on meaningful moments, quotes, and characters. Bummer for you!

What Slow Reading is All About by Shmoop

Published on Oct 24, 2006

Learn to use context clues to help you find the meaning, from the Comprehension Upgrade course at learningupgrade.com.

Context Clues Song– Learn Comprehension – Learning Upgrade

Published on Oct 27, 2012

Great tool for student engagement, memorization skills, and another way to look at informational text!
Check out the accompanying lesson plan! It’s a great addition to the music video, and it makes for an awesome activating strategy. It includes a sample lesson plan, lyrics sheet to accompany the song, 10-question quiz, and answer key. http://grammarheads.com/product/facts...

Fact Versus Opinion Song - Educational Music Video

Published on Apr 1, 2015

Well, you start with the first word, then the second, then the third...until you finish an entire sentence. Next comes the second sentence… Okay, so you know it’s more complicated than that. This video would be a complete waste of time otherwise.  Want to test out the skills you learned in this video? Check out our Literature section! http://www.shmoop.com/literature/

How to Read Novels by Shmoop

Published on Mar 7, 2014

This quick animation provides a fun and engaging introduction to help with identifying themes, morals, and lessons, a key theme/moral/lesson skill of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. Visit http://www.flexliteracy.com to learn more about or sample this reading intervention program.

Introduction to Reading Skills: Themes, Morals, and Lessons - 1

Published on Mar 7, 2014

This quick animation provides a fun and engaging introduction to help with identifying themes, morals, and lessons, a key theme/moral/lesson skill of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. 

Introduction to Reading Skills: Themes, Morals, and Lessons - 2

Published on May 20, 2014

In this fun literacy skills cartoon students will learn how to identify themes in a story as Aesop tells the fable of The Monkey and The Dolphin. 
Visit www.flexliteracy.com to learn more about this English Language Arts intervention program from McGraw-Hill Education.

Introduction to Reading Skills: Identifying Themes in a Story/Fable

Published on Feb 4, 2017

Compiled By Kristin Sessler

 

Teaching Theme with Songs

Published on Jun 12, 2014

This quick animation provides a fun and engaging introduction to Identifying main ideas and supporting details, a key main ideas skill of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. 
Visit http://www.flexliteracy.com to learn more about or sample this reading intervention program.

 

Introduction to Reading Skills: Identify main idea and supporting details 

READING FICTION & INFORMATIONAL TEXT

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

// OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
  • Facebook Round
  • Twitter Round
  • YouTube - Black Circle
  • Google+ - Black Circle
  • LinkedIn Round

Reading objectives strive to promote the development of various vocabulary and comprehension skills that foster recreational reading from a variety of genres, authors, and resources. Students will be exposed to broader and more complex material. For example, they will explore how imagery and style affect the reader.  

​

Grade 6

Language Standards Standard Conventions of Standard English: Literature & Informational Text

6.R READING

6.R. ACADEMIC STANDARDS:  Reading

 

PRACTICE READING WITH TECHNOLOGY

Getting Started With Digital Tools

The following list includes the Top 10 Free Educational Tools for teaching reading and writing. Help your students make the best of their learning experience by trying out these online tools.

​

1. Poetry Idea Engine
Learn the many ways to write poetry and create your own haiku, limerick, or free verse poem with the Poetry Idea Engine.

2. Bartleby
Bartleby is an online source of literature, reference and verse, providing students, researchers and the intellectually curious with unlimited access to books and information on the web, free of charge. The indices are by author, subject and title.

3. Online Spell Checkers
Avoid spelling errors by using these online spell check tools to create impeccable texts.

4. Books should be free
Here you can find thousands of free audio books that you can download in mp3, iPod and iTunes format for your portable audio player.

5. Children’s storybooks
Many wonderful free illustrated childrens’ books are available to read at Children's Storybooks Online. Stories span age ranges from preschool, young children, teens, through young adults.

6. Free classic audiobooks
As the title says, here you can find classic stories and encourage your students to read them for free.

7. Free rice
For every correct answer you choose, 10 grains of rice are raised to help end world hunger through the World Food Programme. While your students play this vocabulary game, they learn while donating food to people in need.

8. Word search maker
Learn easier new words with word search maker. Make your own custom word search worksheets for your students. A variety of options is available including font size, font style, lowercase or uppercase letters, grid shape, word placement, and more.

9. Writing prompts/journal topics
In this website you can get useful ideas on topics to assign to your students.

10. Rhyme zone
RhymeZone is a language arts reference tool and comprehensive search engine for words. Includes the functions of a rhyming dictionary, thesaurus, and spelling check. Just type in a word to find a whole bunch of related words.

​

QUOTATION

Grammar.CCC:  EMINENT QUOTABLES:  What Writers Say about Writing

​

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is … the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
~Mark Twain

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND

READING PROCESS

Reading expands understanding of the world, its people and oneself.

  • Why do people read?

  • What do people read?

  • What are the benefits of reading?

  • How does reading affect your life?

 

READING STRATEGIES

Readers use strategies to construct meaning.

  • How do readers prepare for reading?

  • What are readers thinking about as they read?

  • What can a reader do when they don’t understand?

  • What impact does fluency have on comprehension?

  • Why are strategies important?

​

​RESPONSES TO LITERATURE

Authors write with different purposes in mind.

  • How does reading influence us?

  • Why do we need to evaluate what we read?

Readers develop a deeper understanding through reflection of text.

  • How do readers reflect and respond?

  • What connections do readers make?

  • How might being able to recognize literary features help in appreciating literature?

INFOGRAPHICS
CRAFT AND STRUCTURE

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone:  Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of a text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole. 

​

Grade 6.RL.CS.5 & 6.RI.CS.5
Reading Standards:  Craft and Structure
​

Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot. 

​

Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas. 

​

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Identify and analyze text structures and their parts

​

Identify and understand types of sentences and syntactic structures

​

Identify and understand how a theme, setting, or plot develops

​

Understand and analyze how text structure contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot 

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANDING

Close reading 

​

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY/LANGUAGE

​

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Determine Text Structure

TEACHING CLOSE READING

PINTRTRST:  Close Reading Strategies

​

TEACHING PLACING SELECTED TEXT IN STORY STRUCTURE

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Placing Selected Text in Story Structure Worksheets

​

TEACHING ANALYZING A SPECIFIC PORTION OF TEXT 

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Analyzing a Specific Portion of Text Worksheets

​

TEACHING PLOT

ENGLISHLINX:  Plot Worksheets

A plot of a story is the sequence of events that occur. There are five major parts of plot; introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Each part of plot represents a different part of the story. The introduction includes the indroduction of the setting and characters. The rising action usually is about how the drama builds and the first conflicts arise. The climax is the highest point of action in the story. The conclusion is what happens at the end of the story. The plot is a major part of writing and reading narratives or stories in the English language.

​

TEACHING THEME

ENGLISHLINX:  Theme Worksheets

A theme is the central message about life that the author wishes to convey to the reader. Most narratives or stories students read have a theme. The theme is sometimes hard to find. There are two kinds of themes, stated themes and implied themes. Stated themes are directly stated by a character or narrator in the story. Implied themes are not said directly, but the reader has to come up with what the think the message of the story is. Themes touch on the moral aspect of the story and how we as readers can learn lessons about life through literature.

Published on Jan 12, 2015

http://www.bloopanimation.com/
Click here to subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...

Writing by Dean Movshovitz

Pixar Storytelling Rules #8: Developing an Idea

Published on Feb 2, 2015

http://www.bloopanimation.com/
Click here to subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
Theme gets a bad rap for being one step removed from a ‘message movie’ or something abstract and artsy. But when used wisely, it can be a powerful tool.
Writing by Dean Movshovitz

Pixar Storytelling Rules #10: Theme

Published on Dec 8, 2014

http://www.bloopanimation.com/
Click here to subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
Story structure is deceptively simple. There are many templates out there, many of them with years of wisdom behind them. And they are all useless unless you understand what their parts truly represent. Pixar suggests the following story structure: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___. Rather than blindly trying to fill in the blanks, let’s try to understand each part of this formula.
Writing by Dean Movshovitz

Pixar Storytelling Rules #5: Essence of Structure

Published on Mar 25, 2015

In this video from our course video series involves short stories and setting.

Power in Literature, Short Stories Part 2: Setting

Published on Apr 1, 2015

Well, you start with the first word, then the second, then the third...until you finish an entire sentence. Next comes the second sentence… Okay, so you know it’s more complicated than that. This video would be a complete waste of time otherwise.  Want to test out the skills you learned in this video? Check out our Literature section! http://www.shmoop.com/literature/

How to Read Novels by Shmoop

Published on May 31, 2014

We are all about having options here at Shmoop. Having the same chocolate chip cookie every single day would get pretty boring (maybe). Same goes for sentences. Try out the various flavors in this video to see which one suits your grammar taste buds best.
Learn more about grammar at our website: http://www.shmoop.com/courses/grammar...

Sentence Types by Shmoop

Published on Jul 17, 2013

An overview of our new book, to be published by Corwin Press.  

See:  http://www.amazon.com/Rigorous-Readin...

Rigorous Reading by FisherandFrey

What it really means to “read closely.”

Call it close reading, call it deep reading, call it analytic reading—call it what you like. The point is, it’s a level of understanding that students of any age can achieve with the right kind of instruction. In Rigorous Reading, Nancy Frey and Doug Fisher articulate an instructional plan so clearly, and so squarely built on research, that teachers, schools, and districts need look no further: 

  1. Purpose & Modeling 

  2. Close & Scaffolded Reading Instruction 

  3. Collaborative Conversations 

  4. An Independent Reading Staircase 

  5. Performance

Published on Jul 8, 2013

This video defines themes, specifically universal themes like good vs. evil, the individual vs. society, and the individual vs. self. What makes a theme universal? How do you identify themes? Why are they important?

Themes by Shmoop
CRAFT AND STRUCTURE

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. 

​

Grade 6.RL.CS.6 & 6.RI.CS.6
Reading Standards:  Craft and Structure
​

Explain how an author establishes and conveys the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text. 

​

Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in a text. 

​​

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Identify the point of view

 

Understand and explain how the point of view is developed by the narrator or speaker

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANDING

Types of points of view

 

Close reading

​

Dramatic situation (who is speaking? to whom? about what? when/where? why/purpose? tone?) 

​

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY/LANGUAGE

​

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Identify Author's Point of View and Purpose

Published on Oct 24, 2006

Learn author's purpose: inform, pursuade, narrate, describe, entertain: from the Comprehension Upgrade course at learningupgrade.com

Author's Purpose Song – Learn Comprehension – Learning Upgrade

Published on Nov 10, 2010

A video about perspective in stories, including 1st person, 2nd person, third person, objective, omniscient, and limited omniscient.

Narrative Point of View
Can My Essay Be In First Person? by Shmoop

Published on Apr 12, 2014

Well, if you're crafting a formal exposé on the accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln, you probably shouldn't use first-person pronouns. You don't really belong there. However, writing about your latest hike up Mt. Everest might be difficult without a few I's and me's.

Lesson 7 - Purpose and Tone by Townsend Press

Published on Aug 28, 2014

The author’s reason for writing is called the purpose of a selection.  Here are three common purposes in writing:
- To inform—to give information about a subject.
- To persuade—to convince the reader to agree with the author’s point of view on a subject.
- To entertain—to amuse and delight; to appeal to the reader’s senses and imagination.
Tone is a writer’s attitude toward his or her subject.
Tone is expressed through the words and details the writer selects. 
A writer’s voice can project one or more tones, or feelings, such as anger, respect, and cheerfulness.

​A Humorous Moment

Published on Nov 12, 2008

A video on why reading is important.

 

Published on Jan 9, 2014

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-buil...
Why is J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy so compelling? How about The Matrix or Harry Potter? What makes these disparate worlds come alive are clear, consistent rules for how people, societies -- and even the laws of physics -- function in these fictional universes. Author Kate Messner offers a few tricks for you, too, to create a world worth exploring in your own words.  Lesson by Kate Messner, animation by Avi Ofer.

READING LESSON RESOURCES

​

​

​

  • Reading Keys - online passages and questions for many concepts - middle/high school

​

  • Reading Passages - vocab, word selection, sequencing and conclusion activities.

​

  • Reading Passages - vocab, word selection, what did you learn, spelling and more.

​

  • ReadPrint - free online library, thousands of free books.

​

  • Short Fiction on the Carnegie Mellon University English server.

​

​

​

​

  • Story Modules - modules designed to test comprehension of a news story (Click on Story Archives on the left to find the stories) 

​

​

​

EDUCATIONAL GAMES

​

UTAH EDUCATION NETWORK:  Language Arts 7-12 Student Interactive 

​

TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS READING

CRAFT AND STRUCTURE

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. 

​

Grade 6.RL.CS.4 & 6.RI.CS.4
Reading Standards:  Craft and Structure
​

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including allusions to other texts.

​

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings. 

​

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Interpret words and phrases

​

Identify and analyze figurative language

 

Identify and analyze tone

 

Understand how word choice (diction) and figurative language impact meaning and tone 

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANDING

Identify and analyze above-grade-level figurative language and vocabulary 

​

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY/LANGUAGE 

  • analyze/analysis

  • connotation/connotative

  • denotation

  • determine

  • diction

  • figurative language:  Words that mean more than their literal meaning.  For example, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”  Literally, it is not raining cats and dogs.

  • phrases

  • tone:  The author’s attitude towards the characters or the story.  The author may not like the characters, and may make fun of them in a subtle way.  Tone is different from mood because it describes how the author feels about the characters, whereas mood describes how the reader feels when reading the story.

TEACHING WORD MEANING

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Word Meaning Worksheets

​

TEACHING FIGURATIVE, CONNOTATIVE, AND TECHNICAL WORD MEANINGS

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Figurative, Connotative, and Technical Word Meanings Worksheets

​​

TEACHING FIGURES OF SPEECH

ENGLISHLINX:  Figures of Speech Worksheets

A figure of speech is the use of a word or words diverging from its usual meaning.  Our figures of speech worksheet subtopics include;

  1. Idioms

  2. Similes

  3. Metaphors

​

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Determine the Meaning of Words and Phrases

Published on Mar 7, 2016

From the Comprehension Upgrade course. Play demo: blog.learningupgrade.com/courses

Main Idea – Learn Comprehension – Learning Upgrade

Published on Mar 17, 2013

Radio Lab's video with the words added so that it can be used to teach connotation and denotation.

Close Reading: Denotation and Connotation

Published on Sep 11, 2014

This video explains the importance of word choice and analyzes the word choice of authors like Jane Austen and Robert Frost and statesmen like Abraham Lincoln. Why do these writers and orators choose the words they do? How do you increase your own vocabulary?

Word Choice by Shmoop

Published on Jul 30, 2015

Learn the difference between denotation and connotation, how connotations create the author's tone, and how both create meaning. 
Closely study a poem by Ernest Hemingway, "All armies are the same..." Hemingway's poem, written about his experiences in World War I, remains a devastating statement about war seen from the soldier's perspective.
"Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone)."

How does word choice affect tone and meaning?

Published on Dec 8, 2014

How to Use Context to Determine the Meaning of Words

Published on Oct 24, 2006

Learn to use context clues to help you find the meaning, from the Comprehension Upgrade course at learningupgrade.com.

Context Clues Song– Learn Comprehension – Learning Upgrade

Published on May 22, 2014

This dynamic program takes an in-depth look at the structure and components of narrative writing. Whether it be a novel, short story, film or video game, narratives can take many forms but will always include character, plot, setting and themes. These elements are brought to life through the careful stylistic choices of the author. This program provides clear and concise explanations of the key elements of narrative writing with examples that viewers will readily relate to.

Tone, Mood and Setting - Elements of Narratives

Published on Jan 9, 2014

This brief animated video from SRA FLEX Literacy provides a fun introduction figurative language: antonyms - a key reading skill of the common core state standards (CCSS) for English language arts. Learn more and sample this program at www.flexliteracy.com

Introduction to Reading Skills: Figurative Language - Antonyms

Published on Dec 23, 2013

This brief animated video from SRA FLEX Literacy provides a fun introduction figurative language: metaphors - a key reading skill of the common core state standards (CCSS) for English language arts. Learn more and sample this program at www.flexliteracy.com

Introduction to Reading Skills: Figurative Language - Metaphors

Published on Nov 12, 2013

This brief instructional animation from SRA FLEX Literacy provides an entertaining and informative introduction to using similes in figurative language - a key reading and English language arts concept of the Common Core State Standards. FLEX Literacy provides engaging animations for every key CCSS language arts objective. Visit www.flexliteracy.com to sample the program and learn more!

Introduction to Reading Skills: Figurative Language (similes)
KEY IDEAS AND DETAILS

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone: Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. 

​

Grade 6.RL.KID.3 & 6.RI.KID.3
Reading Standards:  Key Ideas and Details
​

Describe how the plot of a story or drama unfolds, as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. 

​

Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and developed in a text. 

​

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Describe a plot line

 

Describe how characters respond and change as the plot moves forward

 

Sequence a series of episodes in a story or drama

​

Identify plot elements

​

Describe characterization 

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANDING

Types of plots and characters


Literary terms for plot elements and characterization 

​

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY/LANGUAGE

Published on Feb 7, 2013

Teaches elements of the plot/story map to the tune of Adele's Rolling in the Deep.

Elements of the Plot

TEACHING EXPLAINING LITERARY ELEMENTS

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Explaining Literary Elements Worksheets

​

TEACHING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Character Development Worksheets

​

TEACHING STORY PLOT AND SEQUENCE 

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Story Plot and Sequence Worksheets

​

TEACHING PLOTS

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Plot worksheets

​

TEACHING ANALYZING KEY DETAILS FROM TEXT

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Analyzing Key Details from Text Worksheets

​

TEACHING PLOT

ENGLISHLINX:  Plot Worksheets

A plot of a story is the sequence of events that occur. There are five major parts of plot; introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Each part of plot represents a different part of the story. The introduction includes the indroduction of the setting and characters. The rising action usually is about how the drama builds and the first conflicts arise. The climax is the highest point of action in the story. The conclusion is what happens at the end of the story. The plot is a major part of writing and reading narratives or stories in the English language.

​

TEACHING CHARACTER ANALYSIS

ENGLISHLINX:  Character Analysis Worksheets

The character analysis is a specific character's traits. You can include feelings, acts, says, looks, thoughts, title, author, etc. Our character analysis worksheets include study of flat, round, static and dynamic character evaluation. It is important to learn about the different types or kinds of characters in a narrative or story.

​

TEACHING CONFLICT

ENGLISHLINX:  Conflict Worksheets

A Conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces. In a literary work, characters may experience internal conflict or external conflict. There are four major types of conflict; person vs. person, person vs. self, person vs. nature and person vs. society. It is important to recognize the different types of conflicts that occur during a story or given text.

 

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Published on Nov 18, 2013

This instructional cartoon from SRA FLEX Literacy provides an entertaining and informative introduction to introduce students to Order/Sequence of Events - a key reading and English language arts concept of the Common Core State Standards. 

Introduction to Reading Skills: Order of Events

Published on Mar 3, 2014

This quick animation provides a fun and engaging introduction to identify major events in a sequence, a key skill of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. Visit http://www.flexliteracy.com to learn more about or sample this reading intervention program.

Introduction to Reading Skills: Identifying Major Events in a Sequence
Power in Literature, Short Stories Part 5: Characterization and Archetype

Published on Sep 17, 2013

This video explains what role an antagonist serves and how to identify the antagonist in a story. Fun fact: the antagonist doesn’t have to be evil, contrary to popular belief. Why? Watch the video to find out.

Who is the Antagonist? by Shmoop

Published on Apr 12, 2014

Well, if you're crafting a formal exposé on the accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln, you probably shouldn't use first-person pronouns. You don't really belong there. However, writing about your latest hike up Mt. Everest might be difficult without a few I's and me's.

Who is the Protagonist? by Shmoop

Published on Mar 24, 2015

What do “characterization” and “archetype” mean? How are they different? This video defines both of these related terms and explains when and how each could be used in literature.

Published on Sep 26, 2014

This video covers Freytag’s Pyramid, a basic diagram that can be applied to the plots of most stories. It defines all seven of its elements, from exposition to dénouement. It also explains how to use Freytag’s Pyramid in plot analysis of The Count of Monte Cristo and how it can be used to compare even seemingly different stories.  Learn more about writing on our website: http://www.shmoop.com/essay-lab/

Freytag's Pyramid / Plot Analysis by Shmoop

Published on Dec 22, 2009

This animated story is a little spooky in my opinion, but that is what the students liked about it so much. The students I was working with all seemed to be really into suspenseful books, and I gave my lesson right around Halloween, so this ended up working perfectly. The kids all got into groups and each group wrote a piece of the plot for Alma, then we put the pieces of the plot all together and read the full story.

Alma by Bissigo Ricco
An Explanation of Booker's Seven Plot Types by Shmoop

Published on Oct 1, 2014

Who knew every book ever written could be slotted into one of seven plot types? Christopher Booker, that's who. J.R.R. Tolkien probably has a few things to say about the theory—but what do you think?

PLOT DIAGRAMS USING PIXAR'S SHORT FILMS 
​

Teaching with short films is a great way to engage struggling readers and English language learners. Using a short film as a text is a scaffold that enables struggling students to actively participate in discussions with peers about literary terms, without the barrier of their difficulty comprehending complex text and/or language.  Plot Charts are a necessary story analysis skill, so we've made them so much fun. Your learners will be begging for more (seriously, read the feedback) as they watch Pixar Short Films and analyze the plot.


"Day and Night"

Day and Night

Plot Diagram: Night and Day

​

"For the Birds"

For the Birds Short Film

Prezi:  For the Birds Plot Diagram

​

"Geri's Game"

Geri's Game

PDF Plot Diagram worksheet: Geri's Game

​

"Lifted"

Lifted

Plot Diagram for Lifted

​

"Tin Toy"

Tin Toy

Plot Diagram for Tin Toy

​

"Knick Knack"

Knick Knack

Plot Diagram for Knick Knack​​

​

"Presto"

Presto

Plot Diagram for Presto

KEY IDEAS AND DETAILS

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone: Read closely to determine what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text. 

​

Grade 6.RL.KID.1 & 6.RI.KID.1
Reading Standards:  Key Ideas and Details
​

Analyze what a text says explicitly and draw logical inferences; cite textual evidence to support conclusions.

​

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Reading comprehension

​

Draw inferences

 

Cite specific textual examples and details to support inferences and text meaning

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANDING

MLA Formatting for in-text citations and works cited pages

​

Analyze the text

​

ACADEMIC LANGUAGE/VOCABULARY

Published on Aug 15, 2014

Learn how to make inferences in literature, nonfiction and real life, and to support those inferences with strong, reliable evidence. An inference is just coming to a logical conclusion from whatever evidence you have. It’s one of the most valuable thinking skills you can learn. The ability to make inferences is one of the things that make a person what we call “smart.” And we say the person who can’t make inferences is “a little slow on the uptake,” right?, because other people figure out what’s going on more quickly than he or she does. We have to spell things out explicitly for that person. So, when your teacher says he or she is going to help you learn how to make good inferences, imagine in your head that he or just said that you’re going to learn how to be smart today. You’re going to learn how to think, because, ultimately, that’s what making inferences is all about.

Learn How to Make Inferences

Published on Mar 24, 2015

In this video from our course video series involves short stories, and textual evidence. .

Power in Literature, Short Stories Part 6: Textual Evidence
Making Inferences - Partly Cloudy

Published on Jan 12, 2015

This video is about Inference Project, by Amy Gender

Published on Mar 3, 2014

This quick animation provides a fun and engaging introduction to answer literal questions with text evidence, a key questioning skill of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. Visit http://www.flexliteracy.com to learn more about or sample this reading intervention program.

Introduction to Reading Skills: Answering Literal Questions with Text Evidence

READING:  LITERATURE WORKSHEETS

TEACHING USING EVIDENCE IN TEXT TO SUPPORT ANALYSIS

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND:  Using Evidence in Text to Support Analysis

​

READING:  INFORMATIONAL TEXT WORKSHEETS

TEACHING CITING TEXTURAL EVIDENCE

ENGLISH WORKSHEETS LAND: Citing Textual Evidence Worksheets 

​

TEACHING READING

ENGLISHLINX:  Reading Worksheets

Reading is the action or skill of reading written or printed matter silently or aloud. Reading is a multifaceted process involving word recognition, comprehension, fluency and motivation. It is important to practice reading at an early age and read often to maintain vocabulary and comprehension skills. The more one reads, the more they can improve their reading comprehension skills.

​

TEACHING WORKS CITED

ENGLISHLINX:  Works Cited Worksheets

A works cited page is a list of citations located at the end of a written work. A works cited page only contains citations for resources cited by an author within the body of his/her work.

​

TEACHING READING COMPREHENSION

ENGLISHLINX:  Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Reading Comprehension is defined as the level of understanding of a text. This understanding comes for the interaction between the words that are written and how they trigger knowledge outside the text. Reading comprehension is one of the most difficult concepts for students to master. Understanding the story or text often takes much background knowledge of words, vocabulary, sentence structure and much more.

​

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Published on Mar 29, 2016

This video goes over MLA citations: where to put page numbers, how to set up a works cited page, and how to cite with long quotes.

Published on Jun 14, 2013

Because the world is working hard to make sure that your brain hurts, there is more than one way to cite an outside source within an essay. You can feel it throbbing already, can't you?

Citation Methods by Shmoop

Published on Nov 12, 2013

This instructional cartoon from SRA FLEX Literacy provides an entertaining and informative introduction to Inferencing - a key reading and English language arts comprehension strategy of the Common Core State Standards. 

Published on Mar 3, 2014

This quick animation provides a fun and engaging introduction to making inferences, a key inferencing skill of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. Visit http://www.flexliteracy.com to learn more about or sample this reading intervention program.

Introduction to Reading Skills: Making Inferences
MLA Style Citing
Introduction to Reading Skills: Inferencing

Published on Aug 30, 2012

eHow professional development ideas

Games for Students to Help Build Comprehension : Teaching With Games

Published on Feb 20, 2014

You want to be as picky with your citations as Goldilocks was with her porridge—not too many, not too few, juuust right. You want to prove that you did your homework but that you're also capable of forming original thoughts.

Using Citations Effectively by Shmoop

Published on May 20, 2014

Sing-along and learn about inferring!

Inferring Song

Published on Mar 31, 2016

For anyone who hated/hates hearing the dreaded words, "...include a bibliography." The Teacher-Helper breaks down why and how to cite the words of others in your research.

Citing Sources in MLA Format

Published on Sep 20, 2013

I have taken a 3-minute commercial from True Move, a mobile communication company in Thailand, to offer students practice with drawing conclusions and making inferences.

Inferences and Conclusions Practice - True Move Commercial

Published on Dec 27, 2013

Here are three of Aesop's Fables that come to some logical but surprising conclusions.

Aesop's Fables: Drawing Conclusions
103 THINGS TO DO BEFORE/DURING/AFTER READING

This article offers a collection of interactive activities that help kids become more involved in the stories that they read.

SKIMMING AND SCANNING SKILLS

Fast Reading Style

http://www.learnline.ntu.edu.au/studyskills/re/re_re_fa.html

This website provides an overview of fast reading techniques including scanning, key words spotting, and skimming.

Other Reading Techniques Websites:

Reading and Understanding Texts http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/read.html

Reading Techniques http://www.petech.ac.za/sc/reading.htm

 

Seven Steps to Effective Reading

http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/study/lss/tandl/eff_read.html

This page discusses different types of reading (skimming, scanning, reading in-depth), deciding what to read, getting ready to read, SQ3R, taking notes from reading, problems with reading, and continuing to improve your reading.

Other Sites on Effective and Efficient Reading:

Reading Effectively http://www.allenandunwin.com/eStudy/reading.asp

Reading Efficiently http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/speed1.html

  

Super Reading

http://www.school-for-champions.com/grades/reading.htm

This page provides an overview of reading techniques including reading for speed, skimming, and grouping words. You can even take a short online quiz.

 

Using reading strategies to read more quickly and effectively

http://www.mindtools.com/rdstratg.html

This article discusses effective use of reading strategies including active reading and reading particular types of texts.

Other Websites to Improve Reading Speed:

Rapid Reading http://www.uwgb.edu/esms/sss/read.htm

Reading Fast http://www.smcvt.edu/src/studyskills/reading_fast.htm

Speed Reading http://www.mindtools.com/speedrd.html

STORY STARTER IDEAS

Some Common Text Features within Non-Fiction
  • Captions: Help you better understand a picture or photograph

  • Comparisons: These sentences help you to picture something {Example: A whale shark is a little bit bigger than a school bus.}

  • Glossary: Helps you define words that are in the book

  • Graphics: Charts, graphs, or cutaways are used to help you understand what the author is trying to tell you

  • Illustrations/Photographs: Help you to know exactly what something looks like

  • Index: This is an alphabetical list of ideas that are in the book. It tells you what page the idea is on.

  • Labels: These help you identify a picture or a photograph and its parts

  • Maps: help you to understand where places are in the world

  • Special Print: When a word is bold, in italics, or underlined, it is an important word for you to know

  • Subtitles: These headings help you to know what the next section will be about

  • Table of Contents: Helps you identify key topics in the book in the order they are presented

Fiction Story Elements Include:
  • Characters: main characters & supporting characters

  • Setting: when and where did the story take place

  • Problem or Conflict: usually introduced early on; can be external or internal

  • Plot or Text Structure: the rise and fall of action

  • Solution or Resolution: how the problem or conflict is solved

  • Point of View: 1st person (main character telling story; use of “I” and “me”) or 3rd person (narrator telling story; use of “he/she”, “him/her”)

  • Theme: More than the topic of the story, the “message” the author is trying to send through the use of the story

Text Structure Techniques - Comparison

Published on Feb 2, 2015

Text Structure Techniques - Comparison Writing
Reading and learning memory strategies utilized by the some of the brightest minds of all time.
The structure strategy was designed by Dr. Bonnie J.F.Meyer in the 1970s and has been tested extensively with exemplary results in reading comprehension.

Published on May 13, 2015

Reading and learning memory strategies utilized by the some of the brightest minds of all time.  The structure strategy was designed by Dr. Bonnie J.F.Meyer in the 1970s and has been tested extensively with exemplary results in reading comprehension.

Text Structure Techniques - Sequence & Description

Published on Mar 30, 2015

Reading and learning memory strategies utilized by the some of the brightest minds of all time.
The structure strategy was designed by Dr. Bonnie J.F.Meyer in the 1970s and has been tested extensively with exemplary results in reading comprehension.

Text Structure Techniques - Problem/Solution & Cause/Effect
Types of Point of View
  • Objective Point of View
    With the objective point of view, the writer tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story's action and dialogue. The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer.

​

  • Third Person Point of View
    Here the narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters, but lets us know exactly how the characters feel. We learn about the characters through this outside voice.

​

  • First Person Point of View
    In the first person point of view, the narrator does participate in the action of the story. When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth. We should question the trustworthiness of the accounting.

​

  • Omniscient and Limited Omniscient Points of View
    A narrator who knows everything about all the characters is all knowing, or omniscient.
      A narrator whose knowledge is limited to one character, either major or minor, has a limited omniscient point of view.

​

  • As you read a piece of fiction think about these things:

How does the point of view affect your responses to the characters? How is your response influenced by how much the narrator knows and how objective he or she is? First person narrators are not always trustworthy. It is up to you to determine what is the truth and what is not.

Close Reading Questions
  • First Reading: Determine what the text says.

• What is the text about?
• What is the theme of the story?
• What was _____ (character) like, and what did he/she do in the story?

  • Second Reading: Figure out how the text works

• What does _____ (a word from the text) mean in this context?
• Who is telling this part of the story?
• What is the author’s purpose for this section?

  • Third Reading: Analyze and compare the text

• What information do these illustrations add to the text? Or, how does this picture differ from what the author wrote?
• Compare _____ (an aspect of the text, such as character or main idea) with the same aspect in another text by the same author. (Readers can also examine texts on the same topic or from the same genre.)
• What reasons does the author give to support _____ (one of the ideas)?

Author's Point of View

Published on Nov 21, 2014

AP.T. Barnum, a closer look from different perspectives.

Published on Jul 3, 2014

Learn the different kinds of narrative POV: reliable first person, unreliable first person, omniscient third person, limited third person, objective third person, and even the rarely-used second person. Also, better understand why understanding POV is an important life skill, beyond the writing or study of literature.

POV: Point of View

Published on Feb 7, 2014

Video #23 - Close Reading
Close reading is an important component of the Common Core. But how do you teach it? This video focuses on teaching students to look at Language, Narrative, Syntax and Context while reading and re-reading difficult text. 

How to do a Close Reading - TeachLikeThis
INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words. 

​

Grade 6.RL.IKI.7 & 6.RI.IKI.7
Reading Standards:  Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
​

Compare and contrast the written version of a story, drama, or poem to the experience of listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live production of a text. 

​

Integrate information presented in different media or formats, such as in tables, images, diagrams, and words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue. 

​

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Compare and contrast a print text to an audio-visual version of the text

 

Contrast what is seen/heard when reading a text to what is perceived when listening/viewing a text

​​

Reading, viewing, and listening comprehension 

​

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANDING

Film literacy 

​

Synthesize varied information 

 

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY/LANGUAGE

​

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Integrate Visual Information

Published on Aug 3, 2015

Book Wars: E-books versus Printed Books is an infographic video that compares e-books and printed books. The video shows their similarities and differences, and also the reasons and considerations on why people choose their own desired reading format.

BookWars: E-books vs. Printed Books - Infographic Video

Published on Mar 22, 2014

Find out why visual visual communication is so much more powerful for learning rather than just reading.

The Importance of Visual Communication
What is Media Literacy?

Published on Jan 17, 2017

Intended as a tool for advocates, the video introduces the concept of media literacy as a key that unlocks meaning behind the messages that we see, and allows us to be more thoughtful and deliberate as we create our own messages – such as those we create and share on social media.

Media Literacy Concepts and Metaphors: Critical Thinking

Published on Apr 5, 2013

"Media Literacy Concepts and Metaphors" is a mini series of three videos edited from our cartoon "A Journey to Media Literacy" (http://youtu.be/CmY_H5DjSEM). 
In this videos we want to explain, in a fun and simple way, three basic concepts of Media Literacy: technical skills, critical thinking and environmental factors.
You can read more in depth about these concepts and also find a conceptual map here: http://jackcommunity.ning.com/page/me...

Film and Media Literacy Resources for Teachers
Visual Thinking Strategies

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a specific approach to whole-class viewing and talking about art that primarily uses these questions:

  • What's going on in this picture?

  • What do you see that makes you say that?

  • What more can we find?

  • VTS encourages students to think beyond the literal by discussing multiple meanings, metaphors and symbols. Used with all ages -- elementary students (see video below) up to Harvard medical students -- implementation is simple. The New York Times' weekly VTS lessons are a good place to start.

  • THE ARTIST's TOOLKIT:  Visual Elements and Principles

eSpark Learning: Comparing and Contrasting Reading Experience Instructional Video (6.RL.7)

Published on Mar 22, 2013

This eSpark Learning instructional video aligns with Common Core State Standard RL.6.7: Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they "see" and "hear" when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.

Published on Nov 19, 2013

Visual literacy is the ability to read, comprehend, and write visual language. Art museums, the repositories of the greatest examples of visual communication in human history, are specially equipped to help people learn how to unlock the meanings of images.

What is Visual Literacy?

Published on Nov 25, 2013

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/making-a-te...
View original lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/exploration...
How can animation convey complex, intangible concepts? A visual metaphor, or an idea represented through imagery, can take an idea as massive as Big Data and tie it to the familiar depiction of a growing tree. TED-Ed animators explain how to make an abstract idea come alive visually.

Making a TED-Ed Lesson: Visualizing big ideas
INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone: Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.  

​

Grade 6.RI.IKI.8
Reading Standards:  Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
​

Not Aplicable to Literature

​

Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not. 

​

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Define and identify an argument


Define and identify a claim

​

Trace and evaluate arguments and claims

​

Identify reasons and evidence in a text that support claims

​

Distinguish claims supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANDING

Determine if reasoning is sound 

​

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY/LANGUAGE

​

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Distinguish fact, Opinion, and Reasoned Judgment

​

PERSUASIVE ARGUMENTS AND CLAIMS

Authors write persuasive arguments to persuade readers to believe, think, feel, or do something. In a persuasive text, the claim is what the author wants to persuade, or convince, readers to believe, think, feel, or do. 

​

Persuasive arguments and claims can be found everywhere, from TV commercials to the newspaper. When you read, ask yourself these questions:​

  • Is the author trying to make me believe, think, feel, or do something?

  • What claim is the author trying to make?

  • How is the author trying to do this?

Published on Aug 28, 2014

Argumentation is part of our everyday dealings with other people. 
- In an argument, two parties each present their supporting evidence. 
- The goal is to determine who has the more solid evidence to support his or her point of view.   Argumentation is also an important part of much of what we read. Authors often try to convince us of their opinions and interpretations.
Very often the most important things we must do as critical readers are:
- Recognize the point the author is making.
- Decide if the author’s support is relevant.
- Decide if the author’s support is adequate.

Lesson 8 - Argument by Townsend Press

Published on Feb 19, 2014

This video gives you hints on how to read a book chapter or journal article so that you can find the author's argument.

Tune in to Finding the Main Argument
Claim Evidence Reasoning...in Five Minutes or Less

Published on Nov 13, 2016

This is a quick explanation on how to use the process of claim, evidence and reasoning in a social studies classroom. 

Looking for Evidence

Published on Sep 6, 2013

How can you recognize when a writer supports an argument with emotions rather than reasons and evidence? Learn about supporting an argument with reasons, not emotions.

INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone: Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches an author takes. 

​

Grade 6.RL.IKI.9 and 6.RI.IKI.9
Reading Standards:  Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
​

Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics. 

​

Compare and contrast two or more authors’ presentation of the same topic or event.  

​

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Reading comprehension

​

Recognize text forms and genres

  1. Fiction: stories that come from the author’s imagination.

    • Historical Fiction: based on a person or event from history.

    • Science Fiction: dealing with aliens, the distant future, or advanced technology.

    • Fantasy: containing monsters, magic, or other supernatural elements.

    • Realistic Fiction: a story that could have happened, but didn’t.

  2. Nonfiction: writing that is true or factual.

    • Informational Writing: provides information on a topic.

    • Persuasive Writing: attempts to influence the reader.

    • Autobiography: the story of one’s life told by oneself.

    • Biography: the story of one’s life told by another.

  3. Drama: writing that is meant to be acted on a stage (a play).

    • Comedy: has a happy ending.

    • Tragedy: ends in death and sadness.

  4. Poetry:  writing that is concerned with the beauty of language

  5. Folklore: stories handed down through speech from generation to generation.

    • Fairy Tale: a story with magic, monsters, and/or talking animals (like fiction / fantasy, but part of the oral tradition).

    • Fable: a very short story that has a moral or life lesson; usually has talking animals as main characters.

    • Myth: has gods or goddesses and often accounts for how something came to be.

    • Legend: an exaggerated story about something that may have been real at one time.

    • Tall Tale: stories set in the Wild West; the main character’s strengths, skills, or size have been exaggerated and the tone is funny.

​

Identify themes and topics

​

Compare and contrast the themes and topics of different versions of the same text 

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANIDNG

Close reading

 

Dramatic situation (who is speaking? to whom? about what? when/where? why/purpose? tone?) 

​

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY/LANGUAGE

​​

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Analyze Primary vs. Secondary Sources

​

LITERARY ELEMENTS

The essential techniques used in literature (e.g., characters, setting, plot, theme).

  • Character: A person or an animal in a story.

  • Setting: The time and place in which a story unfolds.

  • Plot: The structure of a story. The sequence in which the author arranges the events in a story.

  • Conflict: A struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions.

  • Resolution: The part of a story in which the conflict is resolved.

  • Summarize: To capture all the most important parts of the original text (paragraph, story, poem), but express them in a much shorter space and in the reader’s own words.

  • Theme: A topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.

Published on Jun 26, 2013

To find similarities and differences between two topics, just compare and contrast. This video explains the difference between comparing and contrasting and shows how to do both in an essay. Watch out—comparing and contrasting are not the same (they’re just good friends).

Compare And Contrast by Shmoop

Published on Jul 8, 2013

This video defines themes, specifically universal themes like good vs. evil, the individual vs. society, and the individual vs. self. What makes a theme universal? How do you identify themes? Why are they important?

Themes by Shmoop

Published on Jul 24, 2013

Universal Themes by Shmoop!

Universal Themes, Take Two by Shmoop
Introduction to Reading Skills: Text Structure - Compare and Contrast

Published on Jun 12, 2014

This quick animation provides a fun and engaging introduction to Text Structure - Compare and Contrast, a key Text Structure skill of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. Visit http://www.flexliteracy.com to learn more about or sample this reading intervention program.

Frog Song

Published on May 21, 2006

Frog Song from Liam Lynch's podcast.  Try teaching compare and contrast with this fun and clever song!

Literary Genres

Published on Nov 10, 2013

Provides an overview of the different types of genres in literature.

RANGE OF READING AND LEVEL OF TEXT COMPLEXITY

SIXTH GRADE

Cornerstone: Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently. 

​

Grade 6.RL.RRTC.10 and 6.RI.RRTC.10
Reading Standards:  Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Read and comprehend a variety of literature throughout the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with a gradual release of scaffolding at the high end as needed.

​

Read and comprehend a variety of literary nonfiction throughout the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with a gradual release of scaffolding at the high end as needed.

​

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Demonstrate comprehension of grade-level complex literary text

​​

Demonstrate comprehension of above grade-level, complex literary text with scaffolding

 

Identify/evaluate text complexity 

​

EXTENDED UNDERSTANDING

Demonstrate comprehension of above grade-level literary text without scaffolding

​

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY/LANGUAGE

​

RELEVANT GAMES & ACTIVITIES

​

READING SKILL BUILDERS

​

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCES

Read Grade-Appropriate Texts

​

WHY AND HOW TO TEACH COMPLEX TEXT

Ten Implications for K-12 Instruction

A growing body of research presents a challenge to current K-12 reading/English-language Arts instruction.  In essence, we need to “up” the level of text complexity and provide greater opportunities for independent reading. â€‹

1. Higher Expectations

Clearly, we teachers need to “up” the level of difficulty of text and provide the scaffolds students need to understand that text. We need to challenge our students to struggle a bit. We can’t focus all of our instruction on the lowest common denominators.

2. Vocabulary

We need to use a systematic approach to vocabulary instruction including teaching structural analysis, context clues, and rote memorization and practice in what Isabel Beck calls “Tier Two” words that have high utility and applicability in academic language. Our students have got to master frequently used Greek and Latin affixes and roots.

3. Sentence and Text Structure

We need to not only analyze sentence and text structure, but also practice variations and complexities in our students’ writing. Good writers are better equipped to understand the complexities of how ideas are presented in academic text. The reading-writing connection is teachable.

4. Content

We need to teach the prior knowledge that students need to access difficult text independently. And we need to share and coordinate the load with our colleagues. For example, are our novels, poetry, and writing assignments aligned with what our students are learning in their history classes? We need to work smarter, not harder.

5. Reading Strategies

We need to be both content and process-driven. If we do not provide the tools and practice for our students, “reading to learn” will never work. Our elementary colleagues have largely handled the “learning to read,” but we need to apply the basic to the complex.

6. Critical Thinking

We need to teach the elements of logic and higher order thinking are prerequisites to understanding difficult reading text. Recognizing both solid and fallacious reasoning is an essential reading skill.

7. Expository Text

We need to put aside our exclusive love of literature and poetry for the sake of our students. College, workplace, and popular media texts are overwhelmingly expository in nature. We can do both.

8. Novel Selection

We may need to let go of traditional novels. Let’s take a hard look at what we are teaching to maximize content and process instruction. For example, Reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry may cover the content and standards nicely for an eighth grade ELA class, but the largely fifth grade reading level does not provide the text complexity that our students need. Additionally, shorter novels, selections, poems, articles, etc. will do the job more efficiently and with greater variety.

9. Differentiated Instruction 

We need to recognize that all of students simply do not read at the same levels. Students have  different reading issues that inhibit their abilities to comprehend challenging text. We have to find out who has what issues and adjust our instruction accordingly. It does no good to play the “blame game” on previous teachers. We teach standards, but we also teach students. Diagnostic reading assessment has got to be a given for the conscientious reading/ELA teacher.

10. Independent Reading

We need to stop being co-dependents. The Common Core emphasis on CLOSE READING STRATEGIES can can be overdone. We do have to transfer the demands of accessing text over to students at some point. Plus, we need to fight the hard fight and require students to read at home. The amount of independent reading needed to increase even one grade level in terms of reading comprehension and vocabulary development necessitates reading at home.

Published on Aug 2, 2013

Subscribe Now:
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
Watch More:
http://www.youtube.com/ehoweducation
Reading strategies for struggling middle school students involve seven different habits that all make up a "good reader." Find out about reading strategies for struggling middle school students with help from an educator-turned accomplished author and passionate speaker with a heart for healthy relationships in this free video clip.

Reading Strategies for Struggling Middle School Readers : Reading Lessons

Published on Oct 1, 2011

This video is for entertainment purposes only :)
I don't own and wrote this song, I just put the lyrics on it :D

"Gotta Keep Reading Lyrics"
Somebody Wanted But So Then - A Summarizing Song

Published on Mar 29, 2016

A tool for teaching students how to write a summary using the "Somebody wanted but so then" method.

Text Complexity Fisher Frey Rigorous Reading Trailer

Published on Jul 30, 2013

The Video Trailer to support the Soon to be Published book: Rigorous Reading by Nancy Frey and Douglas Fisher, Published by Corwin

How to Take Great Notes

Published on Oct 26, 2012

Sign up for our WellCast newsletter for more of the love, lolz and happy! http://goo.gl/GTLhb
This weeks worksheet: http://bit.ly/10ZVSAW
Do your notes look like they're written in a foreign language? In this week's WellCast, we took a viewer's suggestion on how to take better and more effective notes! We'll show you how note-taking should be an act of learning, instead of just mindlessly copying everything your teacher says. Sharpen those pencils, folks, 'cause we have three note-taking tips to help you retain all the information you learned!

The Hero's Journey

EDU​TOPIA:  Teachers, Students, and the Hero's Journey

We now begin to ask the difficult questions that might propel a few more deep dives into reflection and observation, while noticing how our own triggers can escalate the impending challenge or perceived crisis. These questions are for students and teachers:

  • What do I need?

  • What can my class do to assist me?

  • What can my teachers do to assist me?

  • How do I handle this negative situation?

  • Who are my heroes? What character traits do I admire in these individuals?

  • How will I know when I'm on the right track?

  • What are three positive emotions that I often feel? What are three negative emotions?

  • What are my strengths?

  • What are two or three challenges or obstacles that prevent me from reaching these small or large goals?

What makes a hero? - Matthew Winkler
Introduction to Reading Skills: Compare and Contrast - 1

Published on Mar 3, 2014

This quick animation provides a fun and engaging introduction to comparing and contrasting two or more characters, settings, events, drawing on specific details of story, a key comp/contrast skill of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. 

Published on Mar 3, 2014

This quick animation provides a fun and engaging introduction to comparing and contrasting two or more characters, settings, events, drawing on specific details of story, a key comp/contrast skill of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. 

Introduction to Reading Skills: Compare and Contrast - 2

Published on Jan 16, 2014

This educational cartoon from SRA FLEX Literacy explains how to compare and contrast two nonfiction texts on the same topic; a key learning objective of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts. 

Introduction to Reading Skills: Compare and Contrast Nonfiction Texts

Published on Dec 4, 2012

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-makes-...
What trials unite not only Harry Potter or Frodo Baggins but many of literature's most interesting heroes? And what do ordinary people have in common with these literary heroes? Matthew Winkler takes us step-by-step through the crucial events that make or break a hero.
Lesson by Matthew Winkler, animation by Kirill Yeretsky.

Introduction to Reading Skills: Context and Supporting Evidence

Published on Nov 7, 2013

This instructional cartoon from SRA FLEX Literacy provides an entertaining and informative introduction to Context and Supporting Evidence - a key reading comprehension and English language arts concept of the Common Core State Standards.

bottom of page