Reading Mysteries Program - Full Year Close Reading Inference Activities for ELA

Reading Mysteries Program - Full Year Close Reading Inference Activities for ELA: This year-long program offers 40 weeks of interactive reading mysteries that engage middle and high school students in close reading, inference, and finding text evidence. Designed for ELA classrooms, each mystery encourages students to gather text evidence, make inferences, and develop critical reading skills to solve unique mysteries. There are 40 creative mysteries included to last you the entire school year. Perfect for fostering collaboration and curiosity, this program brings engaging narrative puzzles into your classroom to challenge your students!

Included in This Reading Mysteries Program:

➡️ 40 Presentations: Each mystery is introduced with an interactive presentation that provides the story background, clues, suspects, and the final reveal. With step-by-step slides, the presentation guides students through the evidence and explanations, offering a structured approach to each activity.

➡️ 40 Mystery Posters: These vibrant posters, designed to pique student interest, can be displayed on your door or around the classroom to build excitement for each new mystery. Each poster sets the stage for the story and invites students to solve the puzzle within.

➡️ 40 Original Narrative Backstories: Every mystery begins with a unique narrative that sets up the clues and suspects. These backstories provide a compelling context, drawing students into the investigation.

➡️ Diverse Evidence Formats for Each Mystery: Each mystery features varied evidence types—such as text messages, emails, social media posts, and more—to challenge students’ inference and analytical skills. The evidence aligns with the mystery’s theme, making each experience unique and tailored to the story.

➡️ Graphic Organizers: Students can track clues, record inferences, and organize evidence as they work through each mystery. The organizers support critical thinking, helping students systematically evaluate suspects and refine their conclusions.

➡️ Detailed Answer Keys: Complete teacher answer keys are included in both print format and within each presentation, allowing for easy review and class discussion. These keys provide thorough explanations for each solution, reinforcing students’ understanding of evidence-based analysis.

How the Reading Mysteries Program Works:

1. Set the Scene: Begin each mystery by displaying the poster to build excitement. Group students to encourage collaboration and problem-solving.
2. Guide the Lesson: Use the presentation slides to walk students through the narrative, introduce suspects, and present the evidence.
3. Analyze the Evidence: Distribute the clues and let students analyze, infer, and discuss each piece of evidence. Students can work in groups to make predictions and draw conclusions.
4. Reveal the Solution: Once students have shared their final conclusions, use the slides to reveal the culprit. Each presentation concludes by explaining why each suspect is innocent or guilty, solidifying students’ understanding of logical deduction.

What Teachers Are Saying About The Reading Mysteries Program:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I have been using these since Thanksgiving. I started with the lesson "Who Stole the Pie" and then I did the lesson "Who Destroyed the Snowman." My admin was so impressed with the lessons that she ordered the entire package for me so that I could thread them in throughout the remainder of the year. Our students struggle with reading in between the lines and making inferences. We hope to see a difference in our test scores. Thank you for this resource!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My students and I love these! I always work through them first before I give them to the students so I will know how to guide them. It keeps all of my students engaged and presents a challenge to even my highest students. It teaches them to really pay attention to all of the details - even the small ones! Thanks so much for this resource!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is such an excellent resource! I also have the grammar program and I alternate between the two on Fridays with my grade 7s. They get so excited for Fridays! I put them in small groups for this and give a lot of time for them to work through. This is my first year using it straight from September and it is amazing to already see how much their inference skills have improved! It's definitely an investment but it is well worth it!

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