Literature circles are a way to engage students in reading by selecting texts to read and discuss with peers. Instead of traditional literature circle roles, use question stems as a way to spark discussion. These question stems build in the complexity of thinking required. Reflection questions are included for debriefing after the small group discussion.

Literature circles are a way to engage students in reading by selecting texts to read and discuss with peers. Instead of traditional literature circle roles, use question stems as a way to spark discussion. These question stems build in the complexity of thinking required. Reflection questions are included for debriefing after the small group discussion.

Literature circles are a way to engage students in reading by selecting texts to read and discuss with peers. Instead of traditional literature circle roles, use question stems as a way to spark discussion. These question stems build in the complexity of thinking required. Reflection questions are included for debriefing after the small group discussion.

Literature circles are a way to engage students in reading by selecting texts to read and discuss with peers. Instead of traditional literature circle roles, use question stems as a way to spark discussion. These question stems build in the complexity of thinking required. Reflection questions are included for debriefing after the small group discussion and students will use flipgrid.com to complete their reflections.

This teacher's guide for Little Green by Chun Yu includes background information on the Cultural Revolution, discussion questions, activities, writing practices, and collaborative exercises.

In the short story, "Lob’s Girl," a girl, Sandy, and her dog, Lob, create an emotional bond that provides the will to survive. The story follows a chronological sequence from the time Sandy and Lob first met, how they strengthen their bond through life events, to the culminating accident where Sandy is seriously injured and Lob helps revive her in the most mysterious manner. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this story through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments; writing samples included.

The Lost City of the Aztecs is about the demise of the Aztec Empire and how Montezuma, the last Aztec emperor, reacted to the arrival of the Spaniards at Tenochtitlan in 1519. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this history through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

In this 1-3 day, 5 activity lesson, students will develop the ability to make evidence based claims through a close reading of the text, focusing on reading independently, finding evidence, and supporting their views.

From the Standford University Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute,the primary goal of this lesson is to challenge students’ preconceived notions about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and the roles they played in the African American Freedom Struggle. While there is certainly much to be learned by examining the different philosophies and tactics of each leader, these two men, who combined their religious leadership with political action, have much more to teach us as we explore how their vision for racial justice developed into a call for social and economic equality and human rights.

In this lesson, students will use the individual experience of Mary McLeod Bethune to analyze choice, its affects on social equality, and impact on their own life experiences.

In this lesson students examine how imagery is used to represent ideas, themes, periods of history, and make cultural connections to poem, "Still I Rise." Students will reflect through written expression how resiliency is in their lives, school, and community.

In this lesson, students will begin to read the central text, Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, and identify the narrator of the story.

In this lesson, students will continue reading articles and completing their Researcher's Notebook.

In this lesson, students will read, summarize, and analyze text evidence from an article in order to support the claim that it is beneficial to read every day.

In this lesson, students will use the poem "Skateboard" from Technically It's Not my Fault and the article "Councilman: Ban Skateboarding in Downtown Columbia."

In My Papa Mark Twain, Suzy Clemens, at thirteen years old, wrote a biography of her famous father, author Mark Twain. Through describing her favorite of Twain's books, The Prince and the Pauper, Suzy Clemens expresses the complete awe and beaming pride she has for her father as a published author, and critically comments on Twain's readership of the day. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this story through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments; writing samples included.

In this chapter from Russell Freedman’s photobiography, the author details Abraham Lincoln and one of the most difficult times in American history. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this history through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments. Includes printable copies of text.

Students will ask and record questions as they reflect upon the work of art. They will develop understanding of metacognition while considering questions and themes. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does asking questions lead to deeper thinking?

A young Bedouin girl has earned the nickname Nadia the Willful because of her quick temper. Her brother, Hamed, is the only one who can tame her temper. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this story through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments; writing samples included.

Julia Alvarez recalls her family's early years as Dominican immigrants in America, and describes her reactions to the mispronunciation of her family members’ names. Eager to fit into school, Alvarez allows herself to be called American names and nicknames” although proud of her heritage and native language, young Alvarez struggles to fit in. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this story through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.