Help students practice identifying and analyzing figurative language and word meaning while giving them meaningful student choice.
This middle school ELA differentiated bell ringer set allows students to demonstrate their understanding of figurative and word meaning through three response pathways. Each bell ringer aligns with CCSS RL.6.4 and can be used with any literary text, including independent reading, class novels, or short stories.
Students choose one of three differentiated pathways (Option A, B, or C) to demonstrate their understanding of figurative and word meaning. This structure allows teachers to differentiate instruction while maintaining consistent expectations.
These bell ringers are designed to be quick, flexible warm-ups or formative assessments that can be used at the beginning of class.
This resource includes:
✔ 5 differentiated bell ringer prompts
✔ Student choice response pathways (Option A, B, C)
✔ Color classroom version
✔ Print-friendly black and white version
✔ Standards-aligned objective (RL.6.4)
Students respond in notebooks, on separate paper, or digitally, making this resource easy to implement in a variety of classroom settings.
Perfect for:
• Middle school ELA
• Figurative and word meaning practice
• Bell ringers / warm-ups
• Differentiated instruction
• Quick formative assessments
• Independent reading responses
⭐ Looking for longer differentiated activities? Explore our Differentiated Reading Assignments for Middle School ELA for deeper standards-aligned practice. ⭐
Grades
5th–8th Grade, Middle School ELA
Standard:
CCSS RL.6.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
Help students practice identifying and analyzing figurative language and word meaning while giving them meaningful student choice.
This middle school ELA differentiated bell ringer set allows students to demonstrate their understanding of figurative and word meaning through three response pathways. Each bell ringer aligns with CCSS RL.6.4 and can be used with any literary text, including independent reading, class novels, or short stories.
Students choose one of three differentiated pathways (Option A, B, or C) to demonstrate their understanding of figurative and word meaning. This structure allows teachers to differentiate instruction while maintaining consistent expectations.
These bell ringers are designed to be quick, flexible warm-ups or formative assessments that can be used at the beginning of class.
This resource includes:
✔ 5 differentiated bell ringer prompts
✔ Student choice response pathways (Option A, B, C)
✔ Color classroom version
✔ Print-friendly black and white version
✔ Standards-aligned objective (RL.6.4)
Students respond in notebooks, on separate paper, or digitally, making this resource easy to implement in a variety of classroom settings.
Perfect for:
• Middle school ELA
• Figurative and word meaning practice
• Bell ringers / warm-ups
• Differentiated instruction
• Quick formative assessments
• Independent reading responses
⭐ Looking for longer differentiated activities? Explore our Differentiated Reading Assignments for Middle School ELA for deeper standards-aligned practice. ⭐
Grades
5th–8th Grade, Middle School ELA
Standard:
CCSS RL.6.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
