area.
BACK TO SCHOOL: Featured Resources and Activities for the Fall of 2026:
Click on the resources below to access them in my TPT store and see the full product description and reviews. Happy Shopping 😉
Not seeing what you need here? No problem- just message me to create the resource you need 🙂
Let’s Dive into Some Great Stories to Get your New School Year Started!
Ah, the start of the school year: that magical time when pencils are sharp, planners are color‑coded, and everyone swears they’re going to stay organized…
If you’re hunting for stories that will charm your students, spark discussion, and maybe, just maybe, convince them that reading is more fun than scrolling TikTok, I’ve got you. From Harriet spying her way into trouble, to the eerie brilliance of The Lottery (because nothing says, “Welcome back!” like mild existential dread), these novels and short stories are the perfect way to kick off your year. Whether you want mystery, mayhem, moral dilemmas, or melodrama, this lineup will have your readers hooked faster than you can say, “But what does 67 actually MEAN?!.”
100 Short Stories and Poems: Activities and Answer Keys for All
Looking to build a bank of activities for short stories and poetry? Need some supplemental assignments, paired texts, materials for literature circles, enhancement activities, or substitute assignments to have on hand? I’ve got you!
(A list of all stories and poems covered in this product can be found on the description in my TPT store)
YOUNG READERS: Harriet the Spy Novel Study & Answer Key
Complete novel study for Harriet the Spy, including: Chapter based comprehension and analysis questions
20 skill-based reading comprehension questions, Analysis for plot, conflict, theme, symbolism, POV, tone, and structure
Creative Spy Notebook Reconstruction Project with rubric
Compare/contrast text‑to‑film activity
4–5 sentence novel summary frame
Student‑friendly design that supports visual learners & Answer Key
Hidden Pictures: Murder is Bad Manners- A Search and Find Activity
Tired of the same old activities? Me Too! So, one day I put the pen to paper and started to draw something a little more exciting for my kiddos. This product is the “Where’s Waldo” of the literary world. Instead of simply answering 20 questions about Murder is Bad Manners, students look at the search and find picture and have to find the answers first within the image.
Looking for the novel study to pair with this? Just check it out in my TPT store.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Novel Study & Answer Key
Complete novel study for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, including: Pre reading questions, Vocabulary for the entire book, Chapter questions with figurative language and literary device practice, and current application to 21st century living, Review sections for each part of the story, which includes writing assignments, grammar practice, summary practice, historical perspective, and bonus activities, Final thoughts and activities section, & Answer Key
Meet the Creator
My name is Susan Williamson, and I have been in education for 16 years. When I was in high school, I really wanted to become an automotive engineer. I love to build and design, and I enjoyed working on cars with my dad. But after some not so hot grades in pre-calculus, I had an epiphany, realized my math wasn’t mathing, and I needed to find something in a different field that would allow me to be creative, but not work with trigonometry. I may not be a top-notch mathematician, but I did find my superpower in being able to read texts and help others to understand them. Not only that, but designing products for those texts helps channel the creative outlet I so badly need. Enter, education!
After obtaining my Bachelors in English, Masters in Curriculum and Instructional Technology, and Endorsement in Art k-12, I spent eight years teaching grades 6-8, and eight more-years teaching grades 9-12. Through working with a variety of students in the secondary level, I have had a ton of practice figuring out the activities and assignments that engage students.
Now I balance my time between my two kids and being a full-time content creator: Equal parts caffeinated chaos and creative brilliance. Both gigs keep my busy, on my toes, and most importantly, bring me so much joy. My kids teach me new things every day, and I am growing as an educator and designer because of them.
Creating these products also helps me to help others, which is another passion of mine. I absolutely love being able to save you time and help you spend less. So, whether you are a public or private school educator, a stay-at-home mama and/or homeschooler, or anyone just looking to really understand what happens in some of these hard to read classics, I got you. I see you. I can help.
My Full TPT store site can be accessed here
Not seeing what you need there? No worries. Email me at sleclair14@yahoo.com, and I will work to create the product you need.
What people are saying
This is THE BEST thing I’ve ever purchased on TpT….EVER! Thank you so much for such an inclusive and detailed item! I am so grateful that you just made my year turn from totally stressed out to extremely excited!!! Now I’ll have more time to focus on the students rather than on lesson planning!! Hugs to you!!!!!!!!!
– Mrs- Dyslexia
Where do I start? This resource is invaluable as a first time senior teacher. So many thought out activities and lessons. I’m especially excited to start using the vocabulary resource.
-Diane M.
These are great to use especially since I serve multiple schools. I can pull these out and use them any time anywhere.
-Mixed Bag of Tricks
What is happening this season @ The Lit Fairy:
Welcome back to The Lit Fairy, where the vibes are magical, the books are plentiful, and the kitchen renovation is… still not finished. Yes, friends, we are entering Month Who‑Even‑Knows of “Why Are There So Many Tile Decisions,” and at this point I’m convinced my contractor is actually a literary villain studying the slow psychological unraveling of an English teacher.
To survive, I’ve been living almost exclusively on Starbucks egg bites, which I’m pretty sure now count as one of my major food groups. I don’t even chew them anymore, I just inhale them like a stressed woodland creature who hasn’t seen a functioning stove since spring.
And let’s talk about my semi‑dripping Keurig, which has become less of a coffee maker and more of a caffeine IV that occasionally sputters like it’s giving up on life. Honestly, same.
But fear not, because it’s Back to School Season, baby. That magical time when teachers everywhere sharpen their pencils, organize their planners, and pretend they’re absolutely ready for 120+ children to ask, “Do we need to write this down?” at the exact same time.
So here at The Lit Fairy, we’re juggling curriculum maps, novel studies, classroom setups, and the faint hope that one day, ONE DAY, my kitchen will have countertops again. (Takes a deep breath)
Until then, I’ll be over here sprinkling Lit Fairy dust, sipping Keurig drips, and praying to the renovation gods while prepping all the bookish goodness for the new school year.
Stay caffeinated. Stay whimsical. Stay patient with contractors.
A
