Description
“Geraldine Moore the Poet” by Toni Cade Bambara is a moving and thought-provoking short story that reminds students how little we often know about what others are carrying beneath the surface. Through Geraldine’s experience, students explore themes of identity, empathy, self-expression, and resilience, making this an especially powerful text for discussion and reflection.
This reading comprehension guide is designed to scaffold literary analysis and support students at every stage of reading. Students begin with a before-reading anticipation activity that builds curiosity and encourages prediction. During reading, they complete comprehension questions that help them track key events, characters, and moments of conflict.
After reading, students deepen their understanding through structured analysis activities that focus on theme, plot development, and internal and external conflicts. Guided discussion questions encourage students to form personal connections to the text and reflect on how assumptions and misunderstandings affect relationships. The lesson concludes with an after-reading poetry project, allowing students to respond creatively while reinforcing the story’s central ideas.
Complete answer keys are included to support instruction and assessment. Because the story is grounded in realistic experiences and emotional nuance, it is especially effective for teaching inference and character analysis. Written by African American author Toni Cade Bambara, this lesson also works well for highlighting Black voices and women writers, making it a strong addition to middle school or high school ELA classrooms focused on empathy, voice, and perspective.