Writing Resources Resources for Teachers

Extended response comparing Roger before and after

Two or three paragraphs comparing how Roger behaves at the purse-snatch with how he behaves after time with Mrs. Jones, explaining how her belief in his potential helps him show his best self. Holt SE page 75, standard W.2.

In-character apology letter to Mrs. Jones

Roger writes Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones the morning after. Writing quality sets the writing quality level, with stronger writing earning a higher assessment. Practices possessive spelling per L.2b.

Found poem from Thank You, M’am

Students build a found poem from the language of the story. The technique maps onto bookworm reflection on what mattered in the encounter.

Lasting Legacy essay

Short essay on the enduring message Hughes leaves, tied to the theme question and the Emily Dickinson connect-poem.

Inference and conflict charts

A two-column inference chart, detail then what the reader infers, and an internal versus external conflict chart that identifies which conflict sets the plot in motion. Standards RL.1 and RL.3.

Vocabulary in context (barren, frail, mistrust, presentable)

The four unit words plus the prefixes-that-mean-not strategy across dis, in, un, mis, and non. Standards L.4b and L.6.

The Apology Letter: Roger writes Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones (writing assessment)

Saul Nassau / Seminar Schools

Students write as Roger, 20 years after the encounter, composing a thank-you and apology letter to Mrs. Jones. Letter quality determines writing quality assessment. Stronger writing earns a higher level, which opens richer possibilities in the game…

The Bradbury Parallel: apology letter from the children who locked Margot in the closet (All Summer in a Day)

Saul Nassau / Seminar Schools

Companion to the Roger apology letter. Students write as one of the children from Bradbury's All Summer in a Day, apologizing to Margot for locking her in the closet during the one hour of sunshine on Venus. Same writing quality assessment…

Presto Plans: Roger writes Mrs. Jones 10 years later (creative writing letter assignment)

Krista Mahan / Presto Plans

Full pedagogical walkthrough: pre-reading discussion questions (second chances, power of kindness, It takes a village proverb), during-reading comprehension stops, post-reading discussion…

TPT: Thank You M’am literary analysis essay (introductory paragraph builder)

Teachers Pay Teachers seller

One-day lesson plan with six deep-thinking questions (answer key included) and optional writing activity: step-by-step construction of a powerful introductory paragraph for a literary analysis essay. PDF and Google Drive formats…

Lovin Lit: full 2-week Thank You M’am unit (pre/during/post reading, Hughes paired passages, theme comparison)

Lovin Lit

Full unit with Common-Core-aligned worksheets, Hughes poem and Hughes memoir paired passages, theme comparison work, vocabulary exercises, comprehension questions, discussion prompts, creative writing tasks. Focus on characterization, theme, plot structure…