Looking to boost instruction and save money? Get your school set up with assessments, data, and rostering for just $3,250. Get a quote for your school.

  • Text
  • Paired Texts
  • Related Media
  • Teacher Guide
  • Parent Guide
Library     Most Valuable Player     Paired Texts

Paired Texts > Most Valuable Player

by Sarah Van Arsdale 1988

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

Casey at the Bat
Casey at the Bat
Ernest Lawrence Thayer

Ernest Lawrence Thayer (1863-1940) was an American writer and poet, best known for this poem. It is considered a classic in sports-related literature and perhaps the most famous baseball poem ever written. In it, an arrogant player steps up to the plate with the weight of the game on his shoulders.

Pair “Casey at the Bat” with “Most Valuable Player” and ask students to discuss how the two poems explore success in sports. How does the portrayal of the two players compare? How does the point of view of each poem contribute to the overall themes?

7th Grade Poem
Should Girls Be Allowed to Play High School Football?
Should Girls Be Allowed to Play High School Football?
Josh Bean

High school football is an intense sport. Does that mean that girls shouldn't be allowed to play? In this 2013 article by journalist Josh Bean, locals in the Alabama community weigh in on this debate.

Pair “Should Girls Be allowed to Play High School Football” with “Most Valuable Player” and ask students to discuss how girls’ experiences in sports differ from boys’. After reading both texts, ask students to discuss why having the chance to be involved in sports is important, regardless of gender.

6th Grade News 1180L
Malala Yousafzai: A Normal Yet Powerful Girl
Malala Yousafzai: A Normal Yet Powerful Girl
NPR Staff

Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala is from the Swat Valley in northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban has banned girls from attending school. Malala, whose family ran a chain of local schools, publicly stood against the Taliban's actions and launched an international movement, surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban on October 9th, 2012. The article discusses this incredible young woman and her continuing advocation for universal women's education.

Pair “Malala Yousafzai: A Normal yet Powerful Girl” with “Most Valuable Player” and ask students to compare the two girls’ vision of success. How has Malala been successful in spite of the obstacles she has faced in her life? How does each text reveal that both girls are working hard towards their dreams?

6th Grade Informational Text 820L
Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Marty Kaminsky

In the informational text "Simone Biles," Marty Kaminsky discusses the Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and her widespread success.

Pair “Most Valuable Player” with “Simone Biles” and ask students to compare Biles with the speaker in the poem. Do both athletes focus on the same aspects of sports? How does Biles' idea of success compare with the speaker in the poem? How does each find happiness in their sport?

6th Grade Biography 1060L
CommonLit Logo

CommonLit is a nonprofit that has everything teachers and schools need for top-notch literacy instruction: a full-year ELA curriculum, benchmark assessments, and formative data.

Browse Content

Who We Are

  • About
  • Impact
  • Partners
  • Press

Schools & Districts

  • Plans & Pricing
  • Assessment Series
  • CommonLit 360
  • Rostering and LMS integrations

Resources

  • Blog
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Webinar Sign-Up
  • Security

Get Involved

  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Donate
© 2014-2023 CommonLit. ™ | CommonLit is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use