10th grade is an important year for students in terms of reading comprehension. Unlike the primary grades, this is the point where they’re expected to not only understand but also apply what they’ve read. This application comes in the form of answering questions and long-form writing, and it’s a skill that will take them through higher education and beyond.
Of course, it’s not easy to get all of your students to a 10th grade reading level or higher, and that’s why we’ve put together this list of the top 20 resources for 10th grade reading comprehension.
1. 10th-Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets
This packet of exercises includes everything in relation to comprehension and application for 10th grade readers. There are worksheets featuring everything from multiple-choice questions to abstract questions with long-form answers, and there are so many topics and strategies included here.
Learn more: Edmentum
2. A Unit on Text Analysis
This online unit can be used in the 10th grade classroom or assigned as homework. It is designed to introduce students to textual and literary analysis, and it covers the topic from the very beginning. It’s a great resource for the beginning of the school year and for distance learning.
Learn more: Study
3. Standardized Test Practice
One of the main reasons that 10th grade students need to practice their reading skills is for statewide testing. This resource is originally from California, and it features many of the question types seen around the country on 10th grades assessments.
Learn more: English Language Proficiency Assessments for California
4. Screaming for Munch
This 10th grade reading comprehension activity is geared toward contextualizing vocabulary and practicing careful reading skills. Students will enjoy the text since it features relatable material for tenth grade students.
Learn more: eTutor World
5. Short Stories
This lesson plan looks at short stories and focuses on the reading comprehension factor related to both fiction and nonfiction narratives. It covers many different topics, so every student will have a reading passage that they can really identify with.
Learn more: NECT.org
6. Comprehension Skills Overview
This video lesson is a great place to start for your students with poor reading comprehension. It is designed to teach comprehension skills such as context clues and active reading that will bring your students to the 10th grade reading level and beyond. Plus, it’s an effective tool for flipped-classroom sessions outside the school building.
Learn more: Mozambik Restaurants
7. Poetry Comprehension
This worksheet introduces students to the types of questions that are commonly asked for poetry texts. It encourages students to look for figurative language and consider deeper meanings in the poem, which makes it a great resource for basic literary skills.
Learn more: eTutor World
8. Reading Comprehension for Exams
This video focuses on reading material and the decoding fluency factor needed for standardized testing. It offers skills that tap into both oral language ability and the reading comprehension factor. It’s also a great source for testing tips, especially when it comes to comprehension questions and structure questions.
Learn more: Learn English Lab
9. Real-Life Class Inspiration
This video of a 10th grade English class shows how you can use oral language factors such as activities and class discussions to promote the decoding fluency factor while your students are reading. It relies on activating schemata and engaging with the sophomore students over the course of the entire class period.
Learn more: Massachusetts DESE
10. Getting Liberty Drunk
This exercise is a great way to practice basic skills like textual support and figurative language. It focuses on metaphoric descriptions of ideas and actions in the comprehension questions, which is an important transition for adolescent readers.
Learn more: eTutor World
11. Introduction to “Crime and Punishment”
In this fun animated video, your students will learn all of the basic facts and context for the classic work of literature “Crime and Punishment.” They’ll be able to confidently start reading the text, which is a staple for the 10th grade student level.
Learn more: TED-Ed
12. Grammar for Reading Comprehension
Here is a resource that combines grammar and reading to make an excellent study aid and reading assessment tool. It will also allow your students to translate oral language factors into writing as their reading comprehension skills continue to improve.
Learn more: Your Dictionary
13. Reading Comprehension Test
This resource is more geared towards English language learners, but it incorporates the same study aid and reading assessment for native English readers. It focuses on the impact of technology and social media, which is a relatable topic for most sophomore students.
Learn more: iSL Collective
14. Introduction to “Lord of the Flies”
This video explains the classic work of literature that really speaks to adolescent readers. It’s often included in the eighth grade sample of reading materials, but all high school students can benefit from this book as active readers. It’s essential high school reading material!
Learn more: TED-Ed
15. Nonfiction Texts for 10th Grade
These texts are sure to be interesting for your adolescent readers, and you can use them in the school building or for homework. Either way, the texts are easily contextualized to the larger school environment with the aim of improving poor reading comprehension.
Learn more: The Literary Maven
16. Close Reading Skills
This video shows an excellent example of a class that focuses on close reading skills with sophomore students. It takes into account the individual differences of each student and their relation to the text. It also shows different ways to assess ability in school in the middle of a class period.
Learn more: Fisher and Frey
17. Podcasts for Reading Class
This list of podcasts is a great way to keep adolescent readers engaged with the texts outside of the school building. The podcast medium is also a great way to strengthen the relationship between decoding and the student’s oral language ability.
Learn more: Building Book Love
18. Ultimate List of 10th Grade Books
These books were specifically chosen for adolescent readers to help them improve their active reading skills. You can explore the comprehension questions and structure questions that correspond to each of these books. Your students will learn a lot about themselves and the world around them with these text selections.
Learn more: 23 Contemporary Books 10th Graders Will Love
19. Experience Gallery Walk
In this activity, students apply what they’ve read to make impressive art. Then, it is displayed around the classroom and the other students can view it and make comments. It’s an effective way to incorporate art and peer-review of reading comprehension into the English language arts classroom.
Learn more: Mrs. Kaseta’s Class
20. Common Core Reading Comprehension Questions
This practice test is designed in line with the 10th grade Common Core standards. It focuses on the necessary reading comprehension skills needed to prepare students for reading proficiency, as well as their analytic and critical thinking skills.
Learn more: Test Prep Review