Free Lesson Plans For Teachers

Reading Progress Journal

The reading progress journal is a great resource for holding students accountable for their reading assignments. Designed to be easily copied for multiple entries, this template includes thoughtful response questions to help students think deeply about what they’ve just read.

Dialectical Journal

The dialectical journal encourages students to identify and analyze significant quotes, events, and literary devices as they make their way through an assigned text. Multiple types of entries might prove valuable, including entries that pose questions, make predictions, interpret meaning, draw connections to personal experiences, and analyze the effects of language and literary choices.

Figurative Language Journal

The figurative language journal gives students a space to record examples of different types of figurative language found in the text. However, rather than simply catalog examples, students are asked to consider the author’s purpose for the figurative language and the effect that it has on elements such as characterization, plot, imagery, tone, and mood. This journal template also includes a glossary of common types of figurative language.

Literary Devices Tracker

For each entry in this tracker, students will record an example of a literary device found in the text and comment on its effect. Then, they’ll choose an alternative device and use it to rewrite the excerpt. This exercise will help your students begin to think about the “how” and “why” of specific language choices in the text.

Literary Theme Tracker

This theme tracker helps students take note of thematic elements within a text. As students read, ask them to record examples of the universal idea and related motifs. As these elements develop into a theme, encourage students to begin drawing conclusions about the message that the author is trying to convey. These conclusions should take the form of a theme statement at the bottom of the sheet.