CommonLit
Common Lit: "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe
This is the full text of the poem "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe; it was published in 1849 and is the last complete poem published by Poe before his death. Guided reading, discussion questions, and quiz are available [Free account...
CommonLit
Common Lit: 5 Surprising Facts About the Refugee Crisis by Jason Beaubien
In recent years, the number of refugees seeking safety in other countries has become alarmingly high. In this NPR article, Jason Beaubien describes some of the most severe refugee crises around the world and how other countries are...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Adolf Hitler" by Jessica Mc Birney
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was a German politician who was a leader of the Nazi Party and later became a dictator in Germany. Hitler's leadership in Germany resulted in World War II and the deaths of countless soldiers and citizens,...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Before Rosa Parks, There Was Claudette Colvin" by Margot Adler
Rosa Parks is well-known for her refusal to give up her seat to a white person on a bus in Alabama. A famous bus boycott followed because of her act of protest. However, Parks was not the first person to refuse to give up her seat. In...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Apollo and Hyacinthus by Thomas Bulfinch
Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867) was an American writer best known for his book Bulfinch's Mythology, a compilation of his earlier works. In this short story, Bulfinch retells the classic myth about Apollo, the god of music, and his affection...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Akron at Night by Teri Ellen Cross Davis
Teri Ellen Cross Davis is a poet who draws upon small, personal moments to explore large themes. Common subjects in her poetry include the experiences of women and people of color in America. This poem is from her 2016 collection Haint....
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Fastest Woman in the World" by Pat Parker
A learning module that begins with the poem "Fastest Woman in the World" by Pat Parker, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Heartbeat of Mother Earth
A learning module that begins with the poem "Heartbeat of Mother Earth" by CR Willing McManis, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Soaring "On the Wings of Wind"
A learning module that begins with the poem "Soaring "On the Wings of Wind"" by Lois Miner Huey, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
CommonLit
Common Lit: The Anklet
A learning module that begins with the "The Anklet" by Neil Philip, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free teacher and...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Seeing Through Dorothea's Eyes
A learning module that begins with the "Seeing Through Dorothea's Eyes" by Sudipta Bardhan, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
CommonLit
Common Lit: The Poppy Lady
A learning module that begins with the "The Poppy Lady" by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Can We Cultivate Our Own Happiness
Martin Seligman coined the term "positive psychology" to describe his exploration of how people can improve their own happiness. In this report from 2002, ABC News explains Seligman's research and findings in the field of positive...
CommonLit
Common Lit: A Woman Who Went to Alaska by Mary Kellogg Sullivan
In Mary Kellogg Sullivan's book A Woman Who Went to Alaska, Sullivan describes her adventures in Alaska during her search for riches. Between 1896 and 1899, an estimated 100,000 people migrated to the Klondike region of the Yukon in...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Conflicting News Reports on the Fate of the Sinking Titanic
The RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in the early morning of 15 April 1912, after colliding with an iceberg. More than 1,500 passengers died as a result of the ship sinking. After the ship...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Autumntime by Anthony Lentini
The story "Autumntime" by Anthony Lentiniis set in a future where technology meets almost all human needs. It also provides a guided reading mode, assessment, discussion questions, and teacher's guide. [Free account registration required...
CommonLit
Common Lit: A Respectable Woman by Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin (1850-1904) was an American author of short stories and novels based in Louisiana. She is considered one of the leading feminist writers of the 20th-century. This story begins with a married woman's disappointment over the...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Behind Closed Doors: "Colorism" in the Caribbean by Michel Martin
In this interview, Michel Martin discusses Frances Robles's report on colorism in the Dominican Republic. Colorism is a form of prejudice based on the darkness of a person's skin color. Discrimination based on colorism often occurs...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "A Nation Divided: North vs. South" by Us history.org
The American Civil War was fought within the United States from 1861 to 1865. The election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860 increased tension between the North and South. Lincoln's political party was interested in stopping the...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Censorship: For the People or for Controlling the People? By Mc Birney
Censorship has, and continues to be, a highly debated topic. Some people believe that in order to secure the safety of citizens, information should be closely censored. However, many other people believe that this is a violation of...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Courage in Denmark: Resistance to the Nazis in Wwii by Us Holocaust
World War II (WWII), a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 involved more than 100 million people and over 30 countries. The Allied powers - including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union - worked together...
CommonLit
Common Lit: American Justice in the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court of the United States. It was set up by our Constitution to make important decisions about the law. This article describes how the Supreme Court works, and its impact on American justice. It also...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Alexander Hamilton" by Jessica Mc Birney
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) was an American political figure and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. In this informational text, Jessica McBirney discusses Hamilton's life and accomplishments, specifically his...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Dance Mama Dance by Daniel Beaty
Daniel Beaty is an award-winning actor, singer, writer, and poet. His productions are known for incorporating music, movement, and words. In this poem, the speaker discusses their mother and their wish to see her dance. It also provides...