ELA Test Prep Centers

Transform your students’ writing skills with this STAAR ECR Mastery Resource, designed to make essay writing both engaging and effective for grades 6-8. This product breaks down the often overwhelming task of essay writing into clear, manageable steps, ensuring that your students feel confident and prepared for the Extended Constructed Response (ECR) section of the STAAR exam. Whether for classroom instruction, intervention, or test prep, this resource delivers everything you need to support your students in writing strong, structured essays.

✅ Thorough Skill Development Across 3 Days

This 3-day lesson plan guides students through each critical step of informational essay writing. Starting with a solid foundation in developing a thesis, students will then practice writing claims, supporting them with evidence, and providing sound reasoning. By the end of the unit, students will have completed a full-length informational essay on a highly engaging topic—Fortnite—a subject that captures their attention while reinforcing essential writing skills.

✅ Engaging and Interactive Resources

To maintain student engagement, this resource includes interactive slides that break down each element of essay writing. These slides are designed to support all learners by making the concepts of thesis development, claims, evidence, and reasoning more accessible and relatable. The step-by-step instructions and accompanying answer keys ensure that students receive clear feedback and can refine their skills with guided practice.

✅ Real-World Topic for Practice

Students will have the opportunity to write a complete essay on Fortnite, a popular video game that they are likely familiar with and excited to discuss. This essay topic makes practicing the skills they need for STAAR ECR a fun, relevant experience, allowing them to see the real-world application of writing techniques.

✅ Key Features of the Resource:

• Full 3-Day Lesson Plan: Walks you through each stage of essay instruction, from teaching concepts to peer review and revision.
• Comprehensive Essay Practice: A full-length essay assignment on Fortnite to engage students while practicing thesis, claims, evidence, and reasoning.
• Interactive Slides: Detailed slides to introduce and guide each stage of writing, ensuring clarity and engagement.
• Answer Keys: Provided for every activity so that students can receive clear, actionable feedback.
• Test Prep and Intervention: Ideal for helping students strengthen their essay writing skills, both for general classroom use and targeted interventions.

✅ Perfect for Test Prep and Classroom Instruction

This resource is perfect for helping students master the skills needed to succeed on the STAAR Extended Constructed Response. Whether used for whole-class instruction or focused intervention, the STAAR ECR Mastery Resource delivers everything you need to elevate your students' essay writing abilities.

Prepare your students for STAAR writing success with a resource that not only builds essential writing skills but also keeps them engaged and excited to learn. Perfect for middle school teachers looking for practical, engaging ways to improve writing outcomes.

Additional STAAR resources:

ECR Relay Race: Engaging STAAR Writing Prep Grades 5-8 Comprehension 12 Prompts!

Thanksgiving Argument Writing Unit Debate Topics & Lesson Plans 4 STAAR ECRs

Should the federal minimum wage be increased? This is an argumentative essay prompt, 3 articles, graphs , and outline sheet. Your kids will all have their own opinions about the federal minimum wage and whether or not it should be increased. This comes complete with rubric

Looking for more argumentative prompts with articles?

Cell phones in School: Argumentative prompt, articles, and outline sheet

Facebook: Argumentative prompt, articles, and outline sheet

Did Shakespeare write his own stuff?:Argumentative prompt, articles, and rubric.

Should Schools Ban Soda? - Argumentative prompt, articles, and outline sheet

This is a powerpoint drag and drop activity on prefixes and suffixes.

This prefix and suffix activity includes:

• Prefix, suffix, and root word definition match
• Finding the prefix, suffix, and root word
• Matching a prefix to the root word to create a word
• Finding the prefix and the root word to match the given definition
• Matching a root word and a suffix to create a word
• Finding the root word and the suffix to match the given definition

All slides include movable pieces. Includes 7 activity slides.

This product can be used:

• To supplement a lesson
• To assess student understanding
• To review the standard with students
• As a center activity for students to complete individually or in pairs/groups

TOU:

This product may not be used by more than one teacher unless multiple licenses are purchased.

Introducing Super Star Synonyms – the ultimate Synonym and Antonym game that brings fun to literacy centres! Perfect for Years 3-6, this exciting game transports students onto the red carpet as they learn synonyms and antonyms in an engaging and interactive way. Up level those literacy centres!

As students move along the game board, they’ll land on Hollywood stars, pick up star cards with words, and record their synonyms on the included recording sheet. For an added challenge, they can also write down antonyms to further expand their vocabulary skills. That's right, working in synonyms AND antonyms! The goal is to reach the end of the board while mastering key vocabulary concepts!

Whether you're using it in the classroom or for small group activities, Super Star Synonyms is a fantastic resource for reinforcing vocabulary in your literacy centres. This game not only builds synonym and antonym knowledge but also encourages collaborative learning in a fun, Hollywood-inspired setting.

Key Features:

• Hollywood theme with stars, red carpet, and movie-related words
• Includes recording sheets for synonyms and antonyms
• Perfect for Years 3-6 literacy centres
• Fun and engaging way to practice vocabulary skills

Add some Hollywood glamour to your literacy centres with Super Star Synonyms and watch your students shine as vocabulary superstars!

Follow along on the blog Captivating Kids blog

Hoping to deepen your students' knowledge of figurative language? Eager to equip your students with the tools and techniques for analyzing figurative language in Shakespeare's plays?

This FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE STATIONS activity is a fun and effective method for giving students practice at analyzing the most important types of figurative language. Students will develop the skills not only to identify types of figurative language but also to explain how figurative language contributes to the meaning of a literary text!

This stations activity focuses on the 8 types of figurative language that are used most frequently in William Shakespeare's plays: metaphor, simile, metonymy, personification, apostrophe, paradox, oxymoron, and hyperbole. It features over 120 quotations from Shakespeare's best plays. Students will learn about figurative language while gaining exposure to the most profound and thought-provoking lines from the world's greatest playwright!

Here's what you'll find inside this 40-page resource:

• Stations Worksheets (x8): This resource includes a total of 8 worksheets focused on 8 types of figurative language. Each worksheet challenges students to explain the meaning or effect created by the same figure of speech found across 6 quotations from Shakespeare's plays. The quotations include some of the most profound and thought-provoking lines from Shakespeare's best plays: Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, The Tempest, and more. There are a total of 48 quotations from over 15 plays! (8 pages)

• Answer Keys to Stations Worksheets (x8): The answer keys explain how the figures of speech found across 48 quotations contribute to the meaning of Shakespeare's plays. (8 pages)

• Station Placards (x8): The 8 placards can be folded and placed on the desks that correspond to the 8 stations. The placards add a splash of colorful decoration to this activity. (8 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: This 1-page glossary features the 8 types of figurative language that are used most frequently throughout Shakespeare's plays. The glossary includes definitions of the 8 types of figurative language as well as one or two examples of how each figure of speech gets used in one of Shakespeare's plays. Students can use the glossary to study for the quizzes on figurative language. (1 page)

• Quiz on Metaphors & Similes: This quiz focuses only on metaphors and similes; it challenges students to identify the figures of speech used across 15 quotations from Shakespeare's plays. Includes answer key. (2 pages)

• Quiz on 8 Types of Figurative Language (x2): These two quizzes focus on all 8 types of figurative language. The first quiz challenges students to identity the figures of speech used across 25 quotations. The second quiz is similar but features 20 longer quotations; it could be used as a make-up quiz or extra-credit quiz. Includes answer keys. (8 pages)

Here are the types of figurative language featured across the 8 stations:

1. Metaphor

2. Simile

3. Metonymy

4. Personification

5. Apostrophe

6. Paradox

7. Oxymoron

8. Hyperbole

This entire 40-page unit will come to you in two separate formats: a Word doc *and* a PDF. Because the Word doc is editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your students. If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access the entire unit as a PDF — which is easy to navigate and quick to print!

If you have any questions, please don't don't hesitate to get in touch. As a full-time teacher who is currently teaching a year-long Shakespeare elective, I'm eager to do everything I can to ensure that you have an amazing experience with the swan of Avon!

Thank you for stopping by Rigorous Resources!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

P.S. Don't forget to click “follow” for email updates on new products by Rigorous Resources. New products will be 50% OFF for the first 24 hours!

Inspire your students to think critically about informational texts with this set of engaging, open-ended questions! Perfect for 4th-5th grade, these questions encourage students to explore main ideas, text features, structure, and author’s craft in any nonfiction text they read.

Ideal for:

• Class Discussions
• Small Group
• Center/Station Rotations
• Prompts for Close Reading
• Early Finisher Tasks
• Test Prep
• Comprehension Practice

Aligned with Common Core standards, this resource is a great way to help students build confidence in analyzing texts, connecting ideas, and uncovering the author’s purpose. Make each reading experience more meaningful and memorable!

THIS IS A PDF FILE

Why teach word meaning through nonsense words?

• Students must use critical thinking to solve
• Students must read the whole passage for context clues
• Students must problem solve to find the best word that makes the most sense.
• They can't find the answer except through problem solving.

All of these are things we want every student to do! This is something that is already adapted for high and low learners.

Starting with three nonsense words gets students going so they can work in groups or independently to decode the meaning of 7 REAL words (selected from the SAT vocabulary list).

This is a perfect activity for group problem solving and critical thinking!

Need help with organizing cause and effect essays? These 7 charts will guide students through planning and pre-writing cause and effect essays. Step-by-Step graphic organizers with note about cause and effect definitions, paragraph writing tip, and writing challenge to reorganize the essay on each handout.

Excellent for assessment practice, college test prep, standardized test prep, and expository writing. Helps build critical thinking skills. Meets state and federal ELA guidelines.

Students can use the printable or digital version of these fun conTEXT clue cards to infer how the character is feeling based on the conversation displayed on the phone-shaped cards. Blank templates are included on the digital version for you to create your own. I have also included answer sheets with and without sentence stems so students can practice answering questions based on text evidence. Twenty slides total are included (11 in the printable file and 9 in the digital file which is embedded in the pdf).

This engaging Sentence Sort Worksheet helps students practice and master sentence types by sorting simple, compound, and complex sentences. Perfect for middle school and upper elementary students, this worksheet promotes hands-on learning of grammar, syntax, and sentence structure in a fun and interactive way.

REVIEW GAME post-reading activity for novel Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

This interactive card game has been specifically designed to review the novel with comprehension questions and answers woven into the playing of "THE RESISTANCE" review card game.

This printable card game is made for groups of 2-4 players with 64 playing cards and 32 question/answer cards. The game is made to be played similarly to the card game "WAR". *Cards can be printed in COLOR or BLACK and WHITE.

Common and Proper Nouns Grammar Activity | Digital Google Classroom Self-Checking

Enhance grammar skills with this engaging Common and Proper Nouns activity, designed specifically for Google Classroom! Perfect for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders, this interactive Google Sheets activity helps students master identifying common and proper nouns with a fun, self-checking system. Students receive instant feedback as they work through 20 questions: answers light up in green for correct and red for incorrect responses. As students progress, correct answers reveal a hidden picture art for added motivation!

Aligned with CCSS standards (L.2.2, L.2.2a, L.3.1a), this activity is ideal for ELA Test Prep and Grammar practice. Boost engagement and mastery in English Language Arts with this effective digital resource, perfect for remote learning or classroom use!

Tags: Common and Proper Nouns, Grammar Activity, Google Classroom, Self-Checking, Digital Worksheet, English Language Arts, ELA

Review and practice those tricky comma rules by editing 10 short, unpunctuated (and uncapitalized) passages. If you've taught compound sentences, complex sentences, appositives, commas in dialogue, commas in a series, introductory element commas, direct address commas, and tag question commas, then this low-prep grammar resource is ideal for reviewing and honing those editing skills. Each passage uses several different types of commas making this activity fun but challenging. When laminated, these passages become reusable write & wipe boards and are the perfect addition for independent and small group writing centers/stations. Better yet, they can serve as a fast, informal assessment so you know exactly which comma rules to review and practice some more. Answer keys are included.

Comma Rules Included:

• compound sentences
• complex sentences
• apposition
• commas in dialogue
• commas in a series
• introductory element commas
• direct address comma
• tag question commas

You might also like . . .

Interactive Grammar Bookmarks

Hands-On Grammar: Bundle

Build a Sentence: Comma Rules

Hands-On Grammar: Appositives

Hands-On Grammar: Tag Questions

Hands-On Grammar: Introductory Element

Hands-On Grammar: Complex Sentences

Hands-On Grammar: Compound Sentences

Hands-On Grammar: Punctuating Dialogue

I'd love to hear how you use this resource in your classroom! Feel free to email me at iteachiwrite@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions you may have. And don't forget to rate this product in order to earn TeachShare Credits for future purchases!

Copyright © iTeach & iWrite by Betsy Newmeyer.

All rights reserved by the author.

Permission to use for single classroom use only.

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Enhance vocabulary in any class or content area with this AVID-inspired vocabulary awareness chart in Google Sheets. This vocabulary awareness chart allows students to check their awareness and knowledge of words found in the content they are learning about.

Directions

• The vocabulary self-awareness chart allows students to assess themselves on class vocabulary words.
• In my classroom, we chose our words from the words students have come across in their reading.
• Students write the vocabulary words, determine how well they know the word (checking a checkbox in the correct column), and type any notes or definitions they have for the word.
• Simply duplicate the chart in Google Sheets when you are ready for students to make a new self-awareness chart over new content you are learning so that students can keep a log.

What's Included

• One Google Sheets document where students will duplicate and log their vocabulary awareness across all the readings completed in your class.
• In the document, students will include:

- Name

- Date

- What the vocabulary is for

- Word

- Students will check a box for the following: know it well & can explain it, heard it or seen it before, no Clue

- Notes/Definitions

*This resource is available for Outschool teachers to purchase without the need for extra licenses.

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check out other Reading resources HERE!

Check out Writing Resources HERE!

Check out Collaboration resources HERE!

Check out Public Speaking resources HERE!

Digital makes it easy! Differentiated learning makes topic review fun! Freebie makes it, well ... Free!

Are you ready to take the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire game to the next level? This Who Wants to Be a Millionaire preview game is truly not like the others. Animated, automated, with audio/video engagment, this Who Wants to Be a Millionaire preview game requires absolutely no prep whatsoever. Preview the best differentiated Who Wants to Be a Millionaire game experience on the platform! See for yourself how you can use this Millionaire game to elevate your classroom review sessions.

Before purchasing the full version, try this preview to and see for yourself how this dynamic, engaging, and interactive Who Wants to Be a Millionaire game promotes differentiated learning and is designed to make learning fun and engaging for students of all ages.

Key Features:

• Interactive Gameplay: This preview offers a progression through topics, just like in the TV show. The preview game also gives you a peek at the three boosters — Go Halfsies, Text a Buddy, and Poll the Audience.

• Differentiated - Use this preview to test drive the following gameplay options:

  • Timed and scored
  • Timed only
  • Scored only
  • No pressure

• No Prep Whatsoever: See for yourself how this game is ready to use right out of the box. After purchasing the full version, simply save the link as a Favorite and share with learners accordingly.

If you like this, you'll love the full version!

What to Expect:

You'll receive a PDF file that includes a link to the online game. This content is not editable. If there is something you would like added to the paid version, please let me know.

Help Me Get Better:

If you encounter any issues, please email me at zaneylaneylearning@gmail.com before posting a negative review. I have a lot of ideas, and I'm trying my best to present an error-free, high-quality product.

Engage 3rd-5th graders with this making inferences pack featuring three interactive activities, perfect for reading STAAR practice, stations, RTI  intervention, and comprehension review.

These low-prep activities are designed to help learners master making inferences in a fun and structured way within the Fiction Genre.

➡️ What’s Included

• Maze
• Cut and Paste
• Doodle Comprehension
• Answer Key

➡️ Why You Will Love

⭐STAAR rigor activities that are planned and prepped so you get your planning time back!

⭐Flexible Format to integrate into any curriculum. 

⭐Variety of activities to differentiate to help you reach every learner in your classroom. 

➡️ Suggested Classroom Uses

1. Literacy Centers or Stations
2. Small Group
3. Independent Practice
4. Partner Work
5. Homework
6. STAAR Prep

Bring creativity and comprehension together!

➡️ LET’S CONNECT

Follow ELA Vibes to get updates on new resources! 

➡️ Additional Supports

Mini-Lessons

Activity Packs

STAAR Prep

Short and Extended Constructed Responses

Cause and Effect Anchor Chart Poster, Activities, & Task Cards w/ Digital Option:

These cause-and-effect activities with anchor charts and task cards are common core aligned for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. Give your students the GIFT of the tips provided in this resource to help them accurately identify the cause and the effect!

This product includes:

• Four anchor charts posters (an explanation of cause and effect as well as a trick to remember which part is the cause and which part is the effect)
• 36 task cards
• An answer sheet
• An answer key

The instructional pages will clear up cause and effect confusion if students work independently on the task cards. Use this product in stations, small groups, whole classes, centers, or for early finishers.

NOTE: THIS FILE INCLUDES A DIGITAL DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION!

This product includes a digital option (as well as the no prep printable option). The digital portion instructions appear at the end of the packet.

If you find this language arts product useful, you may also be interested in these products:

• TASK CARD PRODUCTS
• GRAMMAR PRODUCTS
• LITERATURE UNITS
• FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE PRODUCTS
• CHARACTER TRAITS PRODUCTS

Help your 5th-grade students master the essential reading skills of identifying character, problem, and solution with this thoughtfully crafted resource! This set includes three engaging fiction passages at a Level T reading level, each designed to strengthen students' ability to track character development, analyze the main problem, and understand the solution.

Each passage is accompanied by:

• 5 multiple-choice questions that focus on character traits, the main conflict, and how the problem is resolved.
• 3 higher-level discussion questions to encourage deeper thinking and classroom conversation.
• Answer keys for all questions, making grading easy and efficient!

Also included in this set is our popular "Story Detective" Anchor Chart—a visual tool that guides students through the key questions to ask themselves when reading any fiction story. This anchor chart breaks down the process of understanding the character, identifying the problem, and following the solution.

As a bonus, we've included a student note catcher, perfect for independent practice, where students can jot down their observations on the character, problem, and solution of any story they read.

What’s Inside:

• 3 Level T Fiction Passages with:

  • Strong character development and relatable situations
  • Multiple-choice questions to assess comprehension of character, problem, and solution
  • Discussion questions to spark deeper classroom dialogue
  • Answer keys for all questions

• Story Detective Anchor Chart: A helpful visual reference for understanding any fiction story.

• Student Note Catcher: A worksheet to help students independently track character, problem, and solution in their reading.

Why You'll Love This Resource:

• Differentiated Practice: Level T passages are perfect for 5th-grade students, reinforcing essential reading comprehension skills.
• Engaging Content: Stories feature relatable characters, everyday problems, and meaningful resolutions that will captivate your students’ attention.
• Easy to Use: Printable and ready to go, with everything you need to teach character, problem, and solution all in one place.

Perfect For:

• Independent practice
• Small-group reading
• Homework assignments
• Test prep for understanding fiction text structures

Transform your STAAR prep with our Texas-themed informational Text Sets for Grades 3-5!

What's Included:

This comprehensive bundle, perfect for Texas elementary teachers, features seven engaging texts, each accompanied by two STAAR-aligned multiple-choice questions, covering crucial skills.

Skills include:

1. inference
2. evidence
3. fact vs. opinion
4. text structure
5. author's purpose
6. vocabulary
7. text features.

Ideal for varied classroom settings - from whole class instruction to small group work, or even as enriching homework tasks - these print-and-go PDFs are an educator's dream for seamless integration into daily routines or as part of a focused test prep unit.

Try using these products for:

✅ Whole Class Test Prep

✅ Intervention Groups

✅ Small Group Work

✅ Independent Work

✅ Assessment

✅ Homework

Get ready to enhance your students' reading comprehension and critical thinking skills with this meticulously crafted, teacher-approved resource, which aligns perfectly with Texas educational standards.

This is a prompt with three sources. Students must respond to what are the effects which colonization has had on Africa. Rubric and Outline sheet are included. Great prompt for high school students.

***** Check out my other Writing Resources*****

Counterclaim and Rebuttal

Writing Graphic Organizers

Interactive Essay Writing Flipbook

Argumentative Essay

Essay prompt and articles :Narcissism

Essay prompt and articles: Hurricanes