Student Literature Study Guide Template

This adaptable study guide template helps teachers plan and deliver close reading instruction for literature that explores themes of migration. Designed for use before assigning texts to students, the guide provides a structured framework for analyzing migration narratives through three phases: Pre-Reading (examining author background, publishing context, and students’ ecology of identity), During Reading (exploring setting, characterization, themes of belonging, borders, and integration), and After Reading (three culminating writing projects).

Teachers can customize the template by adjusting questions, scaffolding sections, and modifying spacing based on whether students will complete it digitally or in print. The guide encourages students to connect characters’ migration experiences to their own stories while supporting analysis with textual evidence. Includes both teacher instructions for preparation and student directions for completion.

Ideal for English/Language Arts teachers seeking to deepen students’ understanding of migration themes in novels, memoirs, and other literary texts.

This guide was developed by Meisha Lamb-Bell with editing and guidance from educators Erin S, Catherine L., and Sara K. Ahmed