Browse / Topic
Honors ELA
Resources
Browse everything →
Zootopia 2 Viewing Questions
Sinners Viewing Questions
Structured viewing questions for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners that help middle and high school students analyze film techniques, theme, tone, and character.
Unlocking Literary Analysis with The House on Mango Street | Unit Overview & Pacing Guide
Complete figurative language and analytical writing unit for The House on Mango Street.
Intro & Guided Close Reading Lesson
Introduce the House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with a guided close reading and figurative language analysis lesson.
Build a Strong Thesis Statement Worksheet (Print & Digital)
A free, classroom-ready worksheet that helps students build clear, specific, analytical thesis statements for any text. Includes a printable PDF and a Google Docs digital version.
Indigenous / Native American Experience KWL Chart – Printable & Editable
KWL Chart for units, lessons, and activities centering the Indigenous/Native American experience. Designed for the opening of Marrow Thieves or Reservation Dogs, but adaptable for any Indigenous Works
Who Can Identify as Native American? – PBS Viewing Questions & Reflection Activity
Viewing questions for PBS Origins Video about who can identify as Native Americans. Help students process and discuss, develop cultural humility.
Reservation Dogs Viewing Questions
Poe Gothic Story Writing Workbook
Complete workbook that pairs figurative language and craft [of writing] analysis with parallel creative writing practices to guide students through creating their own gothic short stories. Rigorous and relatable.
Frankenweenie: Full ELA Film Unit & Pacing Guide
3 week pacing guide for teaching and analyzing Frankenweenie, includes links to all lessons (essentially a unit bundle).
Frankenweenie Socratic Seminar
Socratic Seminar Questions, Rubric, and Supplementary articles that pair with Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie & Frankenstein: Characterization Comparisons
Comparative Analysis of Victor, his father, and his mentor/teachers in Frankenweenie and Frankenstein. Scaffolded and ready to differentiate.
Coraline Film Analysis Practice Pack
Five scaffolded practice activities build film vocabulary, character analysis, and theme development.
Frankenweenie — “It’s Alive!” Scene Comparisons
Compare the “It’s Alive!” scenes from Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein, and Frankenweenie.
Frankenweenie — Subtext Activities (Lightning & Town Hall Scenes)
Unpack the hidden meanings in Frankenweenie with subtext activities for the Lightning and Town Hall scenes.
Frankenweenie — Caricature & Body Representation Activities
Analyze Burton’s gothic style through caricature and body representation in Frankenweenie. Includes student chart, answer key, and creative extension.
The Rematch — Close Reading & Characterization Lesson (BJ Novak)
Makes satire and characterization come alive with this 1–2 day lesson that includes guided reading questions and differentiated prompts that help middle and high school students analyze diction, irony, and theme while practicing evidence-based discussion.
Parallel Film Frame Analysis Practice for Into the Spider-Verse
A high-impact visual literacy + writing activity for high school ELA or Film & Media Studies classrooms in school or homeschool.
Into the Spider-verse Shot by Shot Film Sequence Analysis Practice Act 1
COMING SOON: Shot by Shot film sequence analysis practice with Miles and his father in Act 1 of Into the Spiderverse.
Scene Study Guiding Questions for Into the Spiderverse
40+ Scaffolded Film Analysis Prompts for Classroom & Homeschool Use
Scene Study Notebook for Into the Spider-verse
A deep-dive film analysis tool that blends visual literacy, literary analysis, and critical thinking.
Into the Spider-verse Viewing Questions
Viewing questions broken apart by act for Into the Spider-verse. Engage active viewing and develop visual literacy with no film experience.
Re-Integration & Reparation: Final Reflections on When the Emperor Was Divine
Final guided analysis for When the Emperor Was Divine. Reflect on Chapters 4 & 5, explore themes of reparation, identity, and the novel’s haunting ending.
Chapter 4: What Does It Mean to Be American? in When the Emperor Was Divine
Explore identity and assimilation in Chapter 4 of When the Emperor Was Divine with a freewrite and close reading activity on what it means to be “American.”
Chapter 3: Memory, Identity & the Camp Experience in When the Emperor Was Divine
Close reading questions for Chapter 3 of When the Emperor Was Divine. Analyze memory, identity, and motif development through independent literary practice.
Divining Deeper Meaning: Themes & Motifs in Chapter 3 of When the Emperor Was Divine
Literary analysis toolkit for Chapter 3 of When the Emperor Was Divine: explore symbols, motifs, and themes through guided close reading and reflection.
Chapter 2 Analysis Toolkit: POV Shifts & Symbolism in When the Emperor Was Divine
Chapter 2 analysis toolkit for When the Emperor Was Divine: POV shift chart + symbolism annotation activity. Ideal for student-led literary analysis.
Close Reading and Symbolism Practice for Chapter 1 of When the Emperor Was Divine
Lit & Lens Society practice for When the Emperor Was Divine Chapter 1: analyze character, mood, and symbolism through close reading and guided questions.
When the Emperor Was Divine Chapter 1 Close Reading Questions
Chapter 1 reading questions for When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka—perfect for IB English, literary analysis, and close reading.
Coraline Film Sequence Analysis Practice: First Night in the Other World
COMING SOON: Shot by Shot Sequence Analysis Practice for Coraline's first night in the Other World.
Film Analysis Assignment Sheet & Rubric for Coraline
A Thematic + Visual Analysis Project for Middle & High School Students
From the blog
All posts →
If you can't beat 'em, lean in and teach them
Lesson for members
How to Make Edgar Allan Poe Relevant: Scaffolded Creative Writing for Secondary ELA
I love Gothic literature. Something about it.
The monsters as metaphor. The rich, dense language that forces me to slow down. The layers of figurative language that overlap
Shots to Analyze in Coraline Act 2
Film frames to analyze or compare/contrast from Coraline Act 2. Film Analysis, Film Studies & ELA.
Why the Analytical Paragraph Still Matters in a World of Scrolls and Soundbites
When I first started teaching high school English in a wealthy, high-achieving public school district, I was surprised by how often students would argue over a single
How to Write a Strong Analytical Thesis Statement in High School and IB English
Lesson for members
Why So Many Students Struggle with Literary Analysis—And How The House on Mango Street Can Help
“Why can’t I get above a B on my English essays?”
I hear this question all the time from students—and I understand their frustration. They want
Film Analysis for Students: Visual Framing & Emotional Distance in Into the Spider-Verse (pt. 4)
Learn how to analyze film scenes with this breakdown of framing, distance, and symbolism in Into the Spider-Verse. Perfect for students, teachers, and visual storytelling enthusiasts.
Teaching Visual Literacy with Into the Spider-Verse (pt. 1)
Teach film analysis without a film degree! Use Into the Spider-Verse to build students’ visual literacy, critical thinking, and ELA writing skills.
Memberships
Want all of it?
Members get the whole library for their class, including everything I add while they're a member.