The Learning Department
15 Followers
Georgia, United States
About the store
Hi, I'm McKenzie! I have over a decade of secondary ELA experience.
In my time as a middle school teacher, I boosted student reading levels and improved writing performance, often achieving the highest growth and achievement rates in the district. I also designed district-wide assessments and chaired ELA and grade-level teams with fabulous results!
As an English Language Learner Coordinator, I coached teachers on effective ELL strategies and facilitated professional development for over 50 educators.
When I taught high school, I supported my students in scoring 40% higher on state tests than students at schools in the surrounding area.
With this wealth of experience and success, I create thoughtful and practical teaching resources designed to enhance teaching and learning in your classroom!
Read moreAll resources
Filters
Grade
Subject
Resource type
Standard
Audience
Middle & High School Short Story with Questions - Everyday Use, Alice Walker
This no-prep short story lesson on Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” will help you expertly guide high school students through a literary analysis of the text. This product includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This lesson is made for you if you…Are a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded, standards-aligned lessons Want the option to edit materials so they perfectly meet y
7th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS, TEKS
RL.9-10.1
, RL.9-10.3
, RL.9-10.10
+18
Also included in: High School Short Story Bundle - Comprehension Questions - Alice Walker
Novel Study Unit Lesson Plan Template Organizer - Digital and PDF
This Novel Study Unit Plan Template will help you masterfully design a unit that guides students from background knowledge to the final assessment, building student comprehension and analysis skills along the way! Using this planner will improve learning outcomes for your students by helping you create a more organized, engaging, and focused unit. This product is made for you if you…Have amazing ideas for your novel units but need more structure to improve cohesion from week to week Want to cent
6th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
High School Short Story, Comprehension Questions - The Flowers by Alice Walker
This no-prep short story lesson on Alice Walker’s “The Flowers” will help you expertly guide middle school or high school students through a literary analysis of the text. This product includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This lesson is made for you if you…Are a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded, standards-aligned lessons Want the option to edit materials so they
7th - 10th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.9-10.1
, RL.9-10.2
, RL.9-10.5
+1
Also included in: High School Short Story Bundle - Comprehension Questions - Alice Walker
High School Grammar BUNDLE - Phrases, Clauses, Parallelism, Semicolon & Colon
This High School Grammar bundle - will help you expertly guide high school students through engaging, easy-to-understand, curriculum-aligned grammar lessons. Each product in the bundle includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This bundle is made for you if you…Want to save time and money by buying multiple related lessons at onceAre a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded,
9th - 12th
Grammar
CCSS, TEKS
L.9-10.1a
, L.9-10.1b
, L.9-10.2a
+6
High School Short Story with Comprehension Questions - Civil Peace by Achebe
This no-prep short story lesson on Chinua Achebe’s “Civil Peace” will help you expertly guide high school (or advanced middle school) students through a literary analysis of the text. This product includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This lesson is made for you if you…Are a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded, standards-aligned lessons Want the option to edit materia
8th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.9-10.1
, RL.9-10.3
, RL.9-10.6
+1
High School Short Story Bundle - Comprehension Questions - Hughes, Walker
This no-prep short story lesson bundle - with stories by Langston Hughes and Alice Walker - will help you expertly guide high school (or advanced middle school) students through a literary analysis of the texts. Each product in the bundle includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This bundle is made for you if you…Want to save time and money by buying multiple related lessons at onceAre a secondary ELA teacher who’s short o
9th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Short Stories
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.3
+1
Activities: Crossword, 1-Pager, Creative Writing - The Flowers by Alice Walker
These no-prep short story activities on Alice Walker’s “The Flowers” will help your students comprehend and analyze the text in new, engaging ways! What’s included?Crossword puzzle & answer key1-Pager & exemplar/modelCharacter journal (text-based creative writing exercise) Story Summary"The Flowers" is Southern Gothic literature. Ten-year-old Myop is a carefree Black girl whose parents are sharecroppers. She skips through the woods, gathering wildflowers. As she ventures farther from home, sh
7th - 10th
Creative Writing, Literature, Reading
CCSS, TEKS
RL.9-10.2
, RL.9-10.3
, W.9-10.3
+7
Middle School Short Story with Questions - The Medicine Bag by Sneve
This no-prep short story lesson on Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve’s “The Medicine Bag” will help you expertly guide middle school students through a literary analysis of the text. This product includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This lesson is made for you if you…Are a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded, standards-aligned lessons Want the option to edit materials so
6th - 10th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.7.1
, RL.7.3
, RL.7.10
+3
Figurative Language & Literary Device - Crossword Puzzle - Review, Test, Game
This Figurative Language & Literary Devices no-prep crossword puzzle is a creative way to review key concepts from the text! What’s included? This resource includes 2 crossword puzzles: 1 on characters, and 1 on plot, themes, and analysis. There is an answer key to make checking work easy! How can you use the resource? End-of-unit reviewGames and competitionsExtra creditSub plansIf you find this resource helpful, you might like these too! Julius Caesar Crossword PuzzleMacbeth Crossword PuzzleI
7th - 12th
Literature, Other (ELA)
Macbeth - Shakespeare Crossword Puzzle - Review, Test, Game, Extra Credit
This Macbeth (Shakespeare) no-prep crossword puzzle is a creative way to review key concepts from the text! What’s included? This resource includes 2 crossword puzzles: 1 on characters, and 1 on plot, themes, and analysis. There is an answer key to make checking work easy! How can you use the resource? End-of-unit reviewGames and competitionsExtra creditSub plansIf you find this resource helpful, you might like these too! Julius Caesar Crossword PuzzleRomeo and Juliet Crossword PuzzleIf you ha
7th - 10th
Literature, Other (ELA)
Julius Caesar - Shakespeare Crossword Puzzle - Review, Test, Game, Extra Credit
This Julius Caesar (Shakespeare) no-prep crossword puzzle is a creative way to review key concepts from the text! What’s included? This resource includes 2 crossword puzzles: 1 on characters, and 1 on plot, themes, and analysis. There is an answer key to make checking work easy! How can you use the resource? End-of-unit reviewGames and competitionsExtra creditSub plansIf you find this resource helpful, you might like these too! Macbeth Crossword PuzzleRomeo and Juliet Crossword PuzzleIf you have
7th - 11th
Literature, Other (ELA)
High School Short Story Bundle - Comprehension Questions - Alice Walker
This no-prep short story lesson bundle - with stories by Alice Walker - will help you expertly guide high school (or advanced middle school) students through a literary analysis of the texts. Each product in the bundle includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This bundle is made for you if you…Want to save time and money by buying multiple related lessons at onceAre a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Va
9th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Short Stories
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.3
, CCRA.R.4
+1
Curriculum Planning Templates - Daily, Weekly, Unit, Full Year - Multiple Preps
This Curriculum Planning Template Set will help you masterfully design lessons, weeks, units, and entire curricula and improve teaching and learning! Using this planning template set will improve learning outcomes for your students by facilitating teaching that is more organized, engaging, and focused. This product is made for you if you…Have amazing ideas for your lessons and units but need more structure to improve cohesion across days, weeks, and months Want to centralize all of your best pl
6th - 12th
For All Subjects, Other (ELA), Other (Math)
High School Grammar - Types of Phrases Set 2 - Digital
This no-prep grammar lesson covers noun, verb, and adjective phrases. With the included lesson plan, notes organizer, and slides, teaching grammar has never been easier! Looking for the PDF/printable version of this resource? Click here!This lesson is made for you if you…Are a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Believe grammar doesn’t have to be frustrating to teach or learn Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded, standards-aligned lessons Want the option to edit materials so th
9th - 10th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
L.9-10.1
, L.9-10.1b
St. Patrick’s Day Parts of Speech Word Sort - Middle & High School Grammar
Make grammar practice FUN with this St. Patrick's Day grammar word sort! Students will read about St. Patrick's Day and then figure out the part of speech of different words from the reading! This resource is made for you if you…Are looking for a fun and easy way to practice grammarValue low-prep, rigorous secondary ELA resourcesLove to be festive and practice strong instruction at the same timeWhat’s included?Sorting activity worksheetSorting activity answer key Parts of speech categoriesWord
5th - 10th
Literature, Other (ELA)
Romeo & Juliet - Shakespeare Crossword Puzzle - Review, Test, Game, Extra Credit
This Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare) no-prep crossword puzzle is a creative way to review key concepts from the text! What’s included? This resource includes 2 crossword puzzles: 1 on characters, and 1 on plot, themes, and analysis. There is an answer key to make checking work easy! How can you use the resource? End-of-unit reviewGames and competitionsExtra creditSub plansIf you find this resource helpful, you might like these too! Julius Caesar Crossword PuzzleMacbeth Crossword PuzzleIf you have
7th - 10th
Literature, Other (ELA)
Middle School Short Story, Questions, Answer Key - Seventh Grade by Gary Soto
This no-prep short story lesson on Gary Soto’s “Seventh Grade” will help you expertly guide middle school students through a literary analysis of the text. This product includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This lesson is made for you if you…Are a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded, standards-aligned lessons Want the option to edit materials so they perfectly meet y
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
CCRA.L.1
, CCRA.L.3
High School Short Story w Questions & Key - Spider the Artist by Nnedi Okorafor
This no-prep short story lesson on Nnedi Okorafor’s “Spider the Artist” will help you expertly guide high school students through a literary analysis of the text. This product includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This lesson is made for you if you…Are a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded, standards-aligned lessons Want the option to edit materials so they perfectly
9th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.11-12.1
, RL.11-12.3
, RL.11-12.10
High School Grammar Lesson - Types of Phrases Set 1 - Digital
This no-prep grammar lesson covers adverbial, participial, prepositional, and absolute phrases. With the included lesson plan, notes organizer, and slides, teaching grammar has never been easier! Looking for the PDF/printable version of this resource? Click here!This lesson is made for you if you…Are a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Believe grammar doesn’t have to be frustrating to teach or learn Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded, standards-aligned lessons Want the opt
9th - 10th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
L.9-10.1
, L.9-10.1b
Middle & High School Short Story with Questions - One Friday Morning by Hughes
This no-prep short story lesson on Langston Hughes’s “One Friday Morning” will help you expertly guide middle school or high school students through a literary analysis of the text. This product includes a lesson plan, worksheets, and slides. Teaching an amazing short story lesson has never been easier! This lesson is made for you if you…Are a secondary ELA teacher who’s short on time or energy Value no-prep, rigorous, scaffolded, standards-aligned lessons Want the option to edit materials
7th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.9-10.1
, RL.9-10.3
, RL.9-10.4
+1
Showing 1-20 of 40 results
About the store
Experience
Hi, I'm McKenzie! I have over a decade of secondary ELA experience.
In my time as a middle school teacher, I boosted student reading levels and improved writing performance, often achieving the highest growth and achievement rates in the district. I also designed district-wide assessments and chaired ELA and grade-level teams with fabulous results!
As an English Language Learner Coordinator, I coached teachers on effective ELL strategies and facilitated professional development for over 50 educators.
When I taught high school, I supported my students in scoring 40% higher on state tests than students at schools in the surrounding area.
With this wealth of experience and success, I create thoughtful and practical teaching resources designed to enhance teaching and learning in your classroom!
Teaching style
I love to carefully craft learning experiences so that students do the heavy lifting in the lesson. Lectures are not my style.
I also live for moments when a student reads a story and afterward say, "I never thought about things that way" or "I never knew stories like this existed." It's important to me to guide students to stories that cover a broad range of experiences and circumstances, and I want to provide resources that help teachers do the same!
My own education history
⭐ MA, English - University of Ohio
⭐ MA, Education - Stanford University
⭐ BA, English, Psychology, Spanish Minor - Washington University in St. Louis
TPT is the largest marketplace for PreK-12 resources, powered by a community of educators.
IXL family of brands