This page includes the student reader for the unit, as well as editable resources from the teacher manual: writing tasks, charts for discussion, forms and graphic organizers. All resources can be downloaded for implementation with students

Table of Contents

Unit Texts

Grade 8, Unit 1 Student Reader
PDF

Writing Tasks

S-1: Baseline Writing Task
PDF
S-2: Day 1 Showing, Not Telling
PDF
S-3: Day 2 Showing, Not Telling
PDF
S-4: Day 3 Showing, Not Telling
PDF
S-5: Day 4 Showing, Not Telling
PDF
S-6: Day 5 Showing, Not Telling
PDF
S-8: Writing Like Sandra Cisneros
PDF
S-11: Writing Like Bessie Head
PDF
S-14: Writing Like Violet Kupersmith
PDF

Charts for Discussion

S-2: Why Read? What the Research Says
S-3: Interviewing Books
S-5: What We Know About Book Recommendations
S-6: Expectations for Independent Reading
S-6: Rules for Independent Reading
S-8: First-Person Point of View
S-10: Third-Person Point of View
S-13: Significant Moments in “Boat Story”
S-14: Dialogue-Based, Story-Within-A-Story
 S-20: The Independent Writing Life
S-A: Studying Favorite Writers
S-A: Short Assignments for the Author Study
S-B: Intra-Book Study Topics
S-D: Author Study Contract
S-G: Independent Writing Project Contract

Forms and Graphic Organizers

S-1: Rationales for Reading
PDF
S-2: Statistics About Education and Literacy
PDF
S-3: Book Interview
PDF
S-4: Book Pass
PDF
S-5: Book Recommendation
PDF
S-5-A: Guideline Letter
PDF
S-5-A: Sample Reading Letter
PDF
S-6: Goals for My Reading Life
PDF
S-20: Setting Goals for Independent Writing
PDF
S-A: Author Study Proposal
PDF
S-B: Intra-Book Study
PDF
S-E: Author Study Score Sheet
PDF
S-F: Independent Writing Project Proposal
PDF
S-F: Getting Published
PDF
S-H: Independent Writing Project Commentary
PDF
S-I: Independent Writing Project Review
PDF
Feedback, suggestions, or questions about the Digital Toolkit? We value your opinion!

Curriculum use limited to terms of contract. All IBD curriculum can only be used during the time and for the quoted quantity, during the contracted terms. If IBD learns of reproduced curriculum outside of those terms, IBD is entitled to follow-up with district to execute a new contract based on that use. This may include retroactive payment if determined that contract was breached in violation of the terms of contract.

©2026 Inquiry by Design, Inc.