Read Write Think- Developing lifelong learners

Use these Socratic Seminar sheets to help students engage in meaningful conversation in the classroom. In this format, you split the class into two groups, an inner circle (those in the discussion) and an outer circle (observers). Observers are assigned one student to shadow and provide feedback using the "Socratic Seminar Discussion Tracker". Students in the discussion circle can use the "Socratic Seminar Discussion Guide" to track their own participation and help them to add insight to the

This 16-page packet is a great way to review important literary devices to help middle school students access and more deeply understand grade-level texts. Students can track their own understanding of each term as they review each term. Each page includes definitions, examples, and an opportunity for students to practice identifying and analyzing these literary devices. You can have students work together as a class, create stations, or allow students to work at their own pace. This is a gr

In this unit, students work to identify and analyze author's craft. In this exercise, students will analyze the poetic devices and structure of Kwame Alexander's "Five Reasons I Have Locks" poem. After identifying the devices and structure of this poem, students will write their own version of a list poem that mimics the style and structure of the original. This allows students to practice analyzing author's craft while having choice and showing off some creativity as well. A sample poem i

This is the culminating project for a research-based unit with the scoring rubric attached. In my class, students work on this unit of study after reading the nonfiction text Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. There are newspaper and magazine articles that are also readily accessible about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old African American girl that was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus 9 months before Rosa Parks did, if you choose to use her as an example. Stude

This bundle includes vocabulary, writing assignments, and a reading assignment that can be tailored to cover the entire novel. Use these to focus a novel study that allows students to practice creative writing, argument-based writing, identifying poetic devices and structure, and analysis of author's craft.

This multimedia project allows students to explore themes within any given text and analyze how it is developed throughout the story. Students are asked to create a multimedia project that shows one lesson that they have taken from a text and explain how that theme is conveyed. Students have a ton of choice with this project, as they get to choose the format of their final project. Some students create a slideshow presentation or video, while others create posters using old tech (poster board)

Create lifelong readers by providing students the opportunity to read books of their choice. This independent reading system allows students to find books that are of high interest to them, while also helping them to push their reading by finding books that are at an appropriate reading level. Students earn points for each book they read based on the length and reading level of the book. This provides students with total control over their independent reading grade, and allows students to dev

This student exploration project has students go back into the first three chapters of American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang to find what they believe to be examples of foreshadowing. Students complete this slideshow and craft arguments for what they think is being hinted at in the frames they have choses. A scoring rubric is included.

Have students read the brilliant graphic novel American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang and use this bundle to guide students thinking, discussions, and writing throughout the unit. This bundle allows students to go beyond simple reading comprehension. They will explore larger ideas within the text and analyze author's craft as they dissect the choices Yang makes to tell his story. Students can demonstrate their thinking and learning in a variety of ways. My students love this book and have

In this unit, students work to identify and analyze author's craft. In this exercise, students will analyze the poetic devices and structure of Kwame Alexander's "i-ron-ic" poem. After identifying the devices and structure of this poem, students will write their own version of a definition poem that mimics the style and structure of the original. This allows students to practice analyzing author's craft while having choice and showing off some creativity as well. A sample poem is provided that y

Are you tired of having students ask you, "How many sentences do I need to write?" This guide will help students to understand the fundamental pieces of a strong argument-claim, reasons, evidence, and explanation. It will show students how these parts can come together in a variety of ways to create a clear and compelling writing piece and help them to take ownership of their ideas. The packet also includes a tutorial on adding context to writing for students that are ready to be pushed to the

Use these discussion questions and writing prompts to engage students in critical thinking around the larger themes and topics of American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Included in this packet, you will find discussion questions for the second part of the Monkey King, Jin, and Danny stories. There are also writing prompts and a scoring rubric. Use this packet to engage students in literature circles, class discussion, and independent thinking.

Get students talking to each other! This packet contains two sets of guiding questions that will engage students in meaningful conversation about the novel The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. One set is designed to be used halfway through the novel and the other at the end. It also contains observation sheets used to score students on their discussion habits and skills and a guide sheet to help students during the Socratic Seminar. Students spend one class period prepping for Socratic Seminar a

Helping to develop students that become lifelong readers and learners involves giving students choice. This work can be assigned to students that have complete choice of what they are reading outside or inside the classroom. In my classroom, students are given time each week (and in most classes) to read an independent book of their choice. This assignment is then given at least twice a quarter. Students can choose what prompt they want to respond to that best fits the genre of the book they

Get students talking to each other. This packet contains four guiding questions that will engage students in meaningful conversation about the novel The Crossover by Kwame Alexander once they have completed the novel. Students spend one class period prepping for and then one class discussing. Students collect their thoughts and textual evidence using this packed and then bring it on the day of their seminar to help guide them in their discussion.

Use these discussion questions and writing prompts to engage students in critical thinking around the larger themes and topics of American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Included in this packet, you will find discussion questions for the second part of the Monkey King, Jin, and Danny stories. There are also writing prompts and a scoring rubric. Use this packet to engage students in literature circles, class discussion, and independent thinking.

Use these discussion questions and writing prompts to engage students in critical thinking around the larger themes and topics of American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Included in this packet, you will find pre-reading discussions around some of the larger themes of the novel as well as an article that discusses Yang's use of the controversial Chin-Kee character. There are also discussion questions and writing prompts for the first three chapters of the novel and a scoring rubric. Use this

These Google Forms can be used to quickly assess students reading comprehension. This allows the teacher to quickly identify misconceptions and address them before moving into deeper novel study. Reading checks available for chapters 5, 6, 8, 13, 15, 18, 22-23, and 27.

This Google Form Escape Room allows students to practice key skills of closing reading while having fun! Students can work in pairs or individually after reading the text to complete the escape room by answering questions and solving the final puzzle by unscrambling letters they have collected along the way. Print out copies of "The Sniper" by Liam O'Flaherty and watch how engaged the students become to read and be the first to escape!

Students practice analyzing author's craft in Liam O'Flaherty's "The Sniper" while also being allowed to be creative. In this assignment, students are asked to write a story that continues where the original left off. Their goal is to make their story look and sound like the original by mimicking the point-of-view and literary devices used in the original and to keep key literary elements (characterization, setting, etc) consistent. Students have so much fun with this challenging task.