8th grade students are a special bunch. They often behave as though they are too cool for school, yet they keep coming back. Ha ha. We love them. This page has all of my reading worksheets that were written at or around the 8th grade level. I've used this website to determine the reading scores, but you'll want to read and approve each of these worksheets before giving them to your students. I've worked hard to produce the following materials and make them available to you. I hope that these resources help your students reach your learning goals.
Include Worksheets Within 1 Grade Level (7th and 9th)
Include Worksheets Within 2 Grade Levels (6th through 10th) Recommended
Reading Comprehension Worksheets
“Gilray’s Flower-Pot” | By J.M. Barrie - Barrie, who is better known for creating Peter Pan, writes a whopper of a short story that highlights just how unreliable a narrator can be. This is a fun one to read out loud. View my readibility scores.
“Gilray’s Flower-Pot” | By J.M. Barrie | RTF
“Gilray’s Flower-Pot” | By J.M. Barrie | PDF
“Gilray’s Flower-Pot” | By J.M. Barrie | Preview
“Gilray’s Flower-Pot” | By J.M. Barrie | Answers
“Gilray’s Flower-Pot” | By J.M. Barrie | Ereading Worksheet
“The Hydrophobic Skunk” | By Irvin S. Cobb - Cobb takes readers on a snipe hunt in this short, witty tale. Students should appreciate the humorous plot movements so much, that they may not even get hung up on the bits of dialect. View my readibility scores.
“The Hydrophobic Skunk” | By Irvin S. Cobb | RTF
“The Hydrophobic Skunk” | By Irvin S. Cobb | PDF
“The Hydrophobic Skunk” | By Irvin S. Cobb | Preview
“The Hydrophobic Skunk” | By Irvin S. Cobb | Answers
“The Hydrophobic Skunk” | By Irvin S. Cobb | Ereading Worksheet
“A Respectable Woman” | By Kate Chopin - The presence of a guest causes tension in a married woman’s home. Warning: this story deals with issues of infidelity, or at least the implications of such. View my readibility scores.
“A Respectable Woman” | By Kate Chopin | RTF
“A Respectable Woman” | By Kate Chopin | PDF
“A Respectable Woman” | By Kate Chopin | Preview
“A Respectable Woman” | By Kate Chopin | Answers
“A Respectable Woman” | By Kate Chopin | Ereading Worksheet
“A Piece of Steak” | By Jack London - What is the difference between winning and losing? Sometimes, it can be less than you think. This is the story of an old boxer who cannot afford to lose his next fight. View my readibility scores.
“A Piece of Steak” | By Jack London | RTF
“A Piece of Steak” | By Jack London | PDF
“A Piece of Steak” | By Jack London | Preview
“A Piece of Steak” | By Jack London | Answers
“A Piece of Steak” | By Jack London | Ereading Worksheet
“The Son” | By Hermann Hesse - The story of a loving and patient dad who struggles with his restless and undisciplined son. View my readibility scores.
“The Son” | By Hermann Hesse | RTF
“The Son” | By Hermann Hesse | PDF
“The Son” | By Hermann Hesse | Preview
“The Son” | By Hermann Hesse | Answers
“The Son” | By Hermann Hesse | Ereading Worksheet
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Context Clues Worksheets
Context Clues 2.5 - This worksheet has another 12 context clues problems. Students determine the meanings of the bolded words based on the context, and then explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Context Clues 2.5 | RTF
Context Clues 2.5 | PDF
Context Clues 2.5 | Preview
Context Clues 2.5 | Answers
Context Clues 3.1 - This worksheet will help students sharpen their vocabulary skills with 12 challenging practice problems. Determine the meaning of challenging vocabulary words based on contextual clues and explain your answer. View my readibility scores.
Context Clues 3.1 | RTF
Context Clues 3.1 | PDF
Context Clues 3.1 | Preview
Context Clues 3.1 | Answers
Context Clues 3.2 - This worksheet will give students practice with challenging vocabulary words. They will figure out what the words mean based on how they are used and then explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Context Clues 3.2 | RTF
Context Clues 3.2 | PDF
Context Clues 3.2 | Preview
Context Clues 3.2 | Answers
Context Clues 3.3 - This worksheet will give students even more practice with context clues. Students will determine the meanings of 12 more challenging vocabulary words and explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Context Clues 3.3 | RTF
Context Clues 3.3 | PDF
Context Clues 3.3 | Preview
Context Clues 3.3 | Answers
Context Clues 3.4 - This worksheet features another 12 tricky vocabulary words used in context-rich sentences. Students determine the meanings of the words and explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Context Clues 3.4 | RTF
Context Clues 3.4 | PDF
Context Clues 3.4 | Preview
Context Clues 3.4 | Answers
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Figurative Language Worksheets
Figurative Language Poem | "The Grave" - This wry Robert Blair poems contains some great examples of personification and metaphor. Students read the poem and answer questions about figurative language and poetic techniques used in the poem. View my readibility scores.
Figurative Language Poem | "The Grave" | RTF
Figurative Language Poem | "The Grave" | PDF
Figurative Language Poem | "The Grave" | Preview
Figurative Language Poem | "The Grave" | Answers
Figurative Language Poem | "X" and "XXI" - This figurative language worksheet focuses on two short poem excerpts from Emily Dickinson. These are great poems that promote literacy and also have a bunch of metaphors. Students read the poems and answer questions about figurative language and poetic techniques. View my readibility scores.
Figurative Language Poem | "X" and "XXI" | RTF
Figurative Language Poem | "X" and "XXI" | PDF
Figurative Language Poem | "X" and "XXI" | Preview
Figurative Language Poem | "X" and "XXI" | Answers
Figurative Language Poem | "A Lady" - Amy Lowell's interesting poem focuses on an interaction between a young woman and an old woman. It contains metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and simile. Students read the poem and answer questions about figurative language techniques and poetic devices. View my readibility scores.
Figurative Language Poem | "A Lady" | RTF
Figurative Language Poem | "A Lady" | PDF
Figurative Language Poem | "A Lady" | Preview
Figurative Language Poem | "A Lady" | Answers
Figurative Language Worksheet | Shakespeare - If you've never heard of William Shakespeare, he wrote sonnets and plays. Ha ha. Just joking. Of course you've heard of William Shakespeare. This four page worksheet has 23 figurative language examples taken from some of the master's texts. Students read each example, determine the technique being used, and explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Figurative Language Worksheet | Shakespeare | RTF
Figurative Language Worksheet | Shakespeare | PDF
Figurative Language Worksheet | Shakespeare | Preview
Figurative Language Worksheet | Shakespeare | Answers
Figurative Language Worksheet | Shakespeare | Ereading Worksheet
Personification Worksheet 6 - This worksheet features another 10 examples of personification from classic poems. Students find the object or idea that is being personified in each example and then explain the quality or trait that is given. View my readibility scores.
Personification Worksheet 6 | RTF
Personification Worksheet 6 | PDF
Personification Worksheet 6 | Preview
Personification Worksheet 6 | Answers
Personification Worksheet 7 - This worksheet features 10 more poetic examples of personification. Students identify what is being personified and then explain the human quality or trait that is given. View my readibility scores.
Personification Worksheet 7 | RTF
Personification Worksheet 7 | PDF
Personification Worksheet 7 | Preview
Personification Worksheet 7 | Answers
View All of My Figurative Language Activities?
View My Simile Worksheets?
View My Idiom Worksheets?
View My Personification Worksheets
View My Figurative Language Poems with Questions
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Genre Worksheets
Genre Worksheet 3 - This worksheet contains another 8 problems that will help students master genre. Based on short descriptions of texts, students must determine the genre and subgenre of a variety of works. They also must explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Genre Worksheet 3 | RTF
Genre Worksheet 3 | PDF
Genre Worksheet 3 | Preview
Genre Worksheet 3 | Answers
Genre Worksheet 3 | Ereading Worksheet
Genre Worksheet 4 - This worksheet has 9 problems to help students become genre experts. Students read short descriptions of texts and determine the genre and subgenre based on textual details. Then they explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Genre Worksheet 4 | RTF
Genre Worksheet 4 | PDF
Genre Worksheet 4 | Preview
Genre Worksheet 4 | Answers
Genre Worksheet 4 | Ereading Worksheet
Genre Worksheet 6 - This worksheet has 8 short descriptions of texts. Students read these descriptions and determine the genre and subgenre of each text. Then they explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Genre Worksheet 6 | RTF
Genre Worksheet 6 | PDF
Genre Worksheet 6 | Preview
Genre Worksheet 6 | Answers
Genre Worksheet 6 | Ereading Worksheet
Genre Worksheet 9 - This worksheet has 9 more descriptions of texts. Students read each description and determine the genre and subgenre of the text. Then they explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Genre Worksheet 9 | RTF
Genre Worksheet 9 | PDF
Genre Worksheet 9 | Preview
Genre Worksheet 9 | Answers
Genre Worksheet 9 | Ereading Worksheet
View All of My Genre Activities?
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Main Idea Worksheets
Main Idea, Text Structure, and Valentine's Day - This worksheet has six passages related to Valentine's Day. Students read the passages, interpret the main ideas, express the main ideas as a title, and represent the text structures using graphic organizers. View my readibility scores.
Main Idea, Text Structure, and Valentine's Day | RTF
Main Idea, Text Structure, and Valentine's Day | PDF
Main Idea, Text Structure, and Valentine's Day | Preview
Main Idea, Text Structure, and Valentine's Day | Answers
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Robots - Students read six paragraphs about robots and identify and express the main idea of each. Then they write a title for the passage that expresses the main idea of the text, and create a graphic organizer that represents the structure of text. View my readibility scores.
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Robots | RTF
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Robots | PDF
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Robots | Preview
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Robots | Answers
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Bicycles - Students will have a "wheelie" good time completing this 6 question text structure and main idea worksheet. Students read each passage, identify and explain the main idea, create a title related to the main idea, and draw and use an appropriate graphic organizer to contain information from the text. View my readibility scores.
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Bicycles | RTF
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Bicycles | PDF
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Bicycles | Preview
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet | Bicycles | Answers
Point of View Worksheets
Point of View Worksheet 4 - This worksheet has 9 passages taken from short stories. Students read the passages, determine the narrator's view point, and explain their answers. View my readibility scores.
Point of View Worksheet 4 | RTF
Point of View Worksheet 4 | PDF
Point of View Worksheet 4 | Preview
Point of View Worksheet 4 | Answers
Point of View Worksheet 4 | Ereading Worksheet
View All of My Point of View Activities
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Story Structure Worksheets
Story Structure Quiz | "Blood is Thicker" - Students read a short story about two sisters who learn to work together. Then they answer multiple-choice questions about the story structure. View my readibility scores.
Story Structure Quiz | "Blood is Thicker" | RTF
Story Structure Quiz | "Blood is Thicker" | PDF
Story Structure Quiz | "Blood is Thicker" | Preview
Story Structure Quiz | "Blood is Thicker" | Answers
Story Structure Worksheet | "The Way of the World" - Students read a short story about an old-school businessman who must learn to adapt to the new world. Then they analyze the story structure and answer questions related to the plot. View my readibility scores.
Story Structure Worksheet | "The Way of the World" | RTF
Story Structure Worksheet | "The Way of the World" | PDF
Story Structure Worksheet | "The Way of the World" | Preview
Story Structure Worksheet | "The Way of the World" | Answers
View All of my Story Structure Activities?
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Summarizing
Summary and Main Idea with Trains - Students read four short passages related to trains. Then they summarize each passage and come up with a title related to the main idea of the passage. View my readibility scores.
Summary and Main Idea with Trains | RTF
Summary and Main Idea with Trains | PDF
Summary and Main Idea with Trains | Preview
Summary and Main Idea with Trains | Answers
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Text Structure
Text Structure Worksheet 1 - This worksheet contains six passages, each structured using a different pattern of organization. Students read each passage, determine how it is structured, and add information from the passage into the appropriate graphic organizer. View my readibility scores.
Text Structure Worksheet 1 | RTF
Text Structure Worksheet 1 | PDF
Text Structure Worksheet 1 | Preview
Text Structure Worksheet 1 | Answers
Text Structure Worksheet 1 | Ereading Worksheet
Text Structure Worksheet | Dinosaurs - This worksheet contains 6 passages about dinosaurs. Students determine the structure of each passage and put information from the text into an appropriate graphic organizer. View my readibility scores.
Text Structure Worksheet | Dinosaurs | RTF
Text Structure Worksheet | Dinosaurs | PDF
Text Structure Worksheet | Dinosaurs | Preview
Text Structure Worksheet | Dinosaurs | Answers
Text Structure Worksheet | Dinosaurs | Ereading Worksheet
Text Structure Worksheet | Natural Disasters - This worksheet has 11 passages about tornados, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Students determine the structure of each text and put information from the passage into the appropriate graphic organizer. View my readibility scores.
Text Structure Worksheet | Natural Disasters | RTF
Text Structure Worksheet | Natural Disasters | PDF
Text Structure Worksheet | Natural Disasters | Preview
Text Structure Worksheet | Natural Disasters | Answers
Text Structure Worksheet | Natural Disasters | Ereading Worksheet
Text Structure Worksheet | Pizza - This worksheet has 10 delicious passages about pizza. Students identify the structure of each text and then put information from the passage into an appropriate graphic organizer. View my readibility scores.
Text Structure Worksheet | Pizza | RTF
Text Structure Worksheet | Pizza | PDF
Text Structure Worksheet | Pizza | Preview
Text Structure Worksheet | Pizza | Answers
Text Structure Worksheet | Pizza | Ereading Worksheet
Text Structure Worksheet | Twisters - This worksheet has 5 twister related passages. Students determine the structure of each text and then put information from each passage into an appropriate graphic organizer. View my readibility scores.
Text Structure Worksheet | Twisters | RTF
Text Structure Worksheet | Twisters | PDF
Text Structure Worksheet | Twisters | Preview
Text Structure Worksheet | Twisters | Answers
Text Structure Worksheet | Twisters | Ereading Worksheet
Text Structure Worksheet | Fireworks - Students will have an explosive time completing this text structure worksheet. They read 11 passages about fireworks, determine the structure of each, and create a graphic organizer that contains important information from the passage. View my readibility scores.
Text Structure Worksheet | Fireworks | RTF
Text Structure Worksheet | Fireworks | PDF
Text Structure Worksheet | Fireworks | Preview
Text Structure Worksheet | Fireworks | Answers
Text Structure Worksheet | Computers - Students read 10 paragraphs about computers and determine the text structure of each. Then they create and use a graphic organizer to visually represent the structure of the passage. View my readibility scores.
Text Structure Worksheet | Computers | RTF
Text Structure Worksheet | Computers | PDF
Text Structure Worksheet | Computers | Preview
Text Structure Worksheet | Computers | Answers
View All of My Text Structure Activities?
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Tone
Tone Worksheet 2 - This worksheet has another four emotive poems. Students identify the speaker's tone and support their answers by referring to the text. View my readibility scores.
Tone Worksheet 2 | RTF
Tone Worksheet 2 | PDF
Tone Worksheet 2 | Preview
Tone Worksheet 2 | Answers
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8th grade students are remarkable. What would the future of our world look like without them? It'd be a lot less bright. I hope this collection of worksheets and activities written at or around the 8th grade level will help you to better serve your students. I appreciate all comments, corrections, feedback, and suggestions. The easiest way to contact me is just to leave a comment below. Thanks for visiting!
Josephine Amos
/ October 28, 2023This website has been so helpful for many of my students and I am so thankful. The resources have helped in vocabulary, creative writing and comprehension!
Thank you so much!
Rouena M. Bonilla
/ September 14, 2023Thank you so much for the reading materials I accessed from your website. This could be a great help for my learners struggling in reading comprehension.
Qadeer
/ July 23, 2023Nice for students
Saad
/ June 17, 2023Thankyou
TJ Jones
/ January 5, 2023Just found this site, and I, too, am amazed at the quality and generosity. Thank you!!!
Marissa C. Cabanela
/ July 14, 2022This site is a useful source for my reading activities for students. I have to share this with my colleagues.
Saif
/ January 23, 2022Miss, I am a new teacher starlight out of senior high teaching grades 7-9 reading. It would be of great help to me if you could please post the answers to these question so I can use them for guidance.
I am working with a bunch of slow-learners but I want them to be better.
Dina Beydoun
/ May 27, 2021This is wonderfully organised! Great job!
Cathy
/ October 22, 2020The answer key for the reading comprehension worksheet named “A Respectable Woman” is wrong for Problem 1. I think the correct answer should be A instead of C.
Mehdi
/ October 17, 2019An excellent job
Chrissy
/ October 14, 2019This is the best educational website ever for all EFL students around the world.
Thank you so much!
Ina Mitchell
/ August 7, 2019my grand daughter needs reading material for the 8th grade reading test to get her driving permit
Honduranteacher
/ July 31, 2019Hello from Honduras. Just wanted to thank you for the provided activities and useful reading material. I am the Language Arts teacher in a bilingual school in Honduras and this material has been really useful. Thank you once again. Cheers
Zhang
/ March 9, 2019I’m a student in Asia and my teacher uses those materials in our class.I think all the English learners around the world can use it.It’s really a great website!
Mrs. Napa
/ February 19, 2019Awesome activities especially to challenge my Year 8 with a high level of reading comp. Highly recommended.
Thank you
Marie Fircz
/ February 13, 2019I admire your organized, informed, and thorough approach. I am also awed by your exceptional generosity. Thank you many times over! Marie Fircz, SSMS, RVC, NY
h b d
/ October 30, 2018I Really like this website thanks for making this website
Sahil.A
/ July 23, 2018This website is a very good website.I like this website because I learn a lot of knowledge from it thanks for making this website for all of us
Rama Alzamel
/ May 3, 2018hey, Ia Rama I want to read a story for 8th grade can you send me a story that i can read thanks
Alex
/ April 29, 2018Hello. Are all these stories Fair Use? Do we have to worry about Copyright?
Mr. Morton
/ June 29, 2018You may use them in classrooms, homes, and other educational settings. If you are a publisher or other commercial entity: contact me.
Brooke
/ September 7, 2017I cant find the long reponse answer :()
Mr. Morton
/ September 11, 2017Yeah, those vary and should be evaluated more openly.
Mr. Morton
/ September 11, 2017We can talk about any of them though, if you have a question or want to bounce your ideas off someone.
april siose
/ August 17, 2017Thank you so much… You made my preparation so easy… 🙂
Bill Bryant
/ July 30, 2017Wow! I have been searching all over the internet for something like this. I am doing a jumpstart class for struggling students prior to the beginning of the school year and this is exactly what they need. Thank you.
Ahmed Khan
/ June 5, 2017Where can i get a solution to these worksheets
Georgia
/ March 21, 2017I think this site is fantastic and it’s easy to use 🙂 It’s nice that for the reading comprehension worksheets there are multiple choice and long response questions, as students need practice answering harder questions.
Ahmed Khan
/ June 5, 2017Hey +Georgia , did you get a solution to these?
Mr. Morton
/ August 1, 2017Check the links that say “Answers”
S. Reining
/ February 21, 2017These are AMAZING!!! Thank you so much!!! A long-term substitute who has been struggling.
Bilal
/ January 18, 2017Hi I really need a story about friendship as a reading comprehension for my grade 8 learners
Thanks in advance
marry jane
/ December 25, 2016can i have a worksheet of seat belts?please?
Dhruv
/ September 22, 2016Where is the comprehension. Which. I can practice
Mr. Morton
/ September 22, 2016This is a pretty good section for that: http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/free-reading-worksheets/reading-comprehension-worksheets/
Maria
/ July 14, 2016How can I even begin to say THANK YOU for this incredible resource that you have created. It is much appreciated.
Norma Hernandez
/ April 27, 2016Need some worksheets on Connotation/Denotation
Courtney Meger
/ April 5, 2016Very helpful for me and my friends to learn more about language arts
Lori Reaves
/ March 18, 2016I teach a nursing assistant course. I came across your very helpful site while looking for a way to determine incoming students’ reading comprehension level. What grade would they have to score to be considered competent at that grade level? Thanks!
Mr. Morton
/ May 5, 2016These worksheets shouldn’t really be used to evaluate a student’s reading level. Rather, they should be used with students whose reading levels are known. If you know that a student is reading at a 6th-10th grade level, these 8th grade worksheets are probably appropriate for him or her. I’m sorry that I currently have no diagnostic test available. Perhaps I will devise one someday. Best wishes!
lala
/ February 4, 2016Thank you
Made it very easy to find anwsers to my work
Mr. Morton
/ February 9, 2016Yeah, this is an interesting situation.
I’ve thought about putting up a 99 cent annual paywall over the answer keys to prevent students from accessing them, but decided that it was a bad idea.
Mainly because motivated students use the site too, as well as cheaters,
and shouldn’t motivated students be able to check their work?
Not to mention that a resourceful student can always use the Internet to find the
answers to their homework and “workaround” the learning experience, so to speak.
I’m all for making it harder for cheaters,
but not to the point where it cripples the learning experiences of those with sincere intentions.
Any one else have any thoughts on this?
Gwen
/ January 9, 2016I just have to echo all the comments here. This is THE most helpful site I have ever found for teaching reading comprehension at a variety of levels. These are not boring and are not so extensive as to intimidate reluctant readers. You are an absolute life saver!!! Thank you!
Mr. Morton
/ January 19, 2016I appreciate your echoes. Thank you for visiting and I hope that I can continue to an asset to you in the coming years.
Theresa
/ December 27, 2015AWESOME stuff here!!! I am excited to be able to use this material for my low level 9th graders. Interesting passages with appropriate questions. Hoping they will have interest in improving their reading scores. Older new teacher here – thanks for all of your hard work and dedication.
Mr. Morton
/ January 19, 2016You are most welcome. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
dimple bakhda
/ December 11, 2015You have one of the best English language tutorial website. My compliments to you Sir, and my heartfelt gratitude!! Any student of English will be able to improvise and develop his language to another level with your worksheets. Amazing and painstaking work done!!
Mr. Morton
/ December 11, 2015Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment.
I appreciate it.
Ms. Parham
/ April 19, 2016I agree, thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting together such an amazing site. I teach a free GED program to low-income students ages & your site allows me to access wonderful resource materials for them.
Mr. Morton
/ April 21, 2016I am so happy to hear it. Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. Best wishes!
Pat
/ September 24, 2015Thank you for creating this website. I teach ESL students and the woksheets are very helpful.
Sue
/ August 11, 2015What can I say? Thank you and you are AWESOME! This is the most helpful site that I have found for teaching middle school ELA.
M. Kovacs
/ July 7, 2015Thank you very much for your time and effort in putting up this great site. I find it really useful and my students learn a lot! Thanks again.
s bell
/ June 25, 2015Thank you for the wonderful work you have done to provide such awesome resources. This makes my job much easier, as well as makes me more effective in teaching my students what they are expected to learn. I appreciate your efforts!!
Mr. Morton
/ June 29, 2015You are so welcome.
julie
/ March 21, 2015This is the best English site I have found! Love all the different reading levels and variety of passages!!!
Mr. Morton
/ March 27, 2015Thank you so much for saying so.