28 Context Clues ELA Reading Practice Worksheets/Test Prep

Develop expert, context clue proficiency among your students with these 28 ELA reading drills! Each printable includes a mini-lesson on determining the meaning of words and phrases, followed by reading comprehension questions and tips that reinforce effective reading strategies (e.g. finding text evidence). Use these worksheets to teach & practice the fundamental skills, or as test prep!

Bundle this item & save: Core ELA Value Bundle | READING! Grade 3 | READING! Grade 4 & 5

THIS UNIT INCLUDES:

• 28 drills, split between basic & advanced context clue practice
• 125+ questions, including figurative language/non-literal phrases (similes, metaphors & idioms), synonyms, antonyms & homonyms
• Short bursts of text/reading passages (informational & fictional)
• 4 FREE context clue exit slips/tickets, in addition to the 28 drills
• Digitally enabled (Easel Activities) version to assign via Google Classroom or any LMS

COMMON CORE DESIGNED, SIMULATED AFTER:

• Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)
• State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) / TEKS 
• Florida FSA (same test vendor creates FAST progress monitoring assessments)
• New York State Testing Program (NYSTP)
• Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)
• Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS)
• Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) 
• Ohio’s State Tests 
• North Carolina Ready End-of-Grade Assessment: ELA/Reading (NC Ready EOG) 
• Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP)
• New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) 
• Virginia Standards of Learning (VA SOL)
• Arizona’s Academic Standards Assessment (AASA, formerly AzM2)

USEFUL IN MANY WAYS!

All drills take 5 to 10 minutes to complete, and are fantastic for:

• Literacy lessons 
• Guided or independent practice  
• ELA test prep / reading test prep* (with test-taking strategies)
• Small group work / literacy circles / partner work 
• Reading intervention groups (RTI) / small group remediation & instruction
• Independent work / early finishers work
• Literacy center activities
• Morning work / do now / bell ringers / ELA warm-ups
• Progress monitoring/checks
• Exit slips or tickets
• Homework
• Context clues review/reteach  
• Tutoring (targeted reading skill work) 
• After-school programs / extended school days 
• Learning packets for anticipated school closings / snow days
• Winter/spring/summer vacation reading packets 
• Summer school programs / summer bridge activities 
• Substitute teacher lesson plans & activities 
• Homeschool lessons 
• Absent student make up work
• *including (but not limited to) reading summative assessments such as: SBAC for California, Washington, Oregon, Connecticut, Nevada & other member states, Tennessee TNReady, Massachusetts MCAS, Minnesota MCA, Maryland  MCAP, Colorado CMAS, Missouri MAP, Wisconsin Forward, PARCC and more

WHAT TEACHERS HAVE SAID:

♥ "This resource was very helpful for reviewing context clues before testing. My students struggled with this indicator all year and this resource gave them practice in a different way which helped them be able to apply the strategies. Thank you!" -- Melissa B.

♥ "Excellent context clue morning work, homework, or intervention lessons!" -- Katie C.

♥ “Very helpful for preparing my intervention students for SBAC!” -- Marissa O.

♥ "Love these! It was so nice to have the differentiated activities." -- Tawny G.

♥ "Fun graphics and short passages and activities keep kids interested!" --Geniese B.

♥ "This resource is great for my struggling readers and ESOL students learning the meaning of unfamiliar words." -- Roxanne B.

ADD THESE SKILLS-BOOSTING READING DRILLS TO YOUR ELA TOOLKIT:

• 36 Main Idea & Details Reading Drills & Test Prep
• 22 Character Study/Analysis Reading Drills & Test Prep
• or save by adding both with The Core ELA Value Bundle!

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ALIGNED WITH COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS

3RD GRADE STANDARDS

L.3.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

RI.3.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.

RL.3.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from non-literal language.

4TH GRADE STANDARDS

L.4.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.

RL.4.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).

5TH GRADE STANDARDS

L.5.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

RI.5.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.

RL.5.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.