Sell reading comprehension worksheets and passages
Reading comprehension sells well when the passages are your own and the questions make students go back to the text. Here is what to build, what to avoid and how to send it.
Short answer: You can sell reading comprehension worksheets on TeachLessons if the passages are your own writing or truly in the public domain. Apply with the short form, then email your PDFs, answer keys, previews and thumbnails to support@stifo.de. You set the price and keep 70% of net revenue.
Can I use passages from published books in reading worksheets I sell?
No. This is the single biggest rights mistake in reading resources. A chapter from a popular novel, a page from a picture book, a magazine article or a news story is someone else's copyrighted work. Copying it into a worksheet you sell is not covered by the fact that you use it in class. What a teacher may do for one class under local copyright rules is a different question from what you may sell.
You have three safe routes:
- Write your own passages. This is what most successful reading resources do. Short informational texts, original stories, letters, diary entries and poems you wrote yourself.
- Use public-domain texts. Older works whose copyright has expired can be used, but the rules differ by country, and a modern edition, translation or illustration can still be protected. When in doubt, leave it out.
- Write a companion that does not reproduce the book. Discussion questions, vocabulary lists and response prompts for a novel the class already owns, without copying text or cover art. Use the book title factually, not in a way that suggests the author or publisher made your resource.
TeachLessons does not check resources for third-party rights. If a claim arises because of a passage in your resource, you are responsible for it. Copyright basics for teacher-authors covers public domain and quoting in general terms.
What makes reading comprehension questions worth buying?
Teachers can find free passages with five recall questions anywhere. What they pay for is a set where the questions are carefully built and the passage was written to support them.
- Text-dependent questions. Students should have to return to the passage to answer. "What evidence shows Maya changed her mind?" beats "Did you like the story?".
- A mix of levels. A few literal questions, then inference, vocabulary in context, author's purpose and text structure.
- Paired passages. Two short texts on one topic with questions that compare them. These take time to write and teachers value them.
- Short constructed responses. One or two questions that ask for a written answer with evidence, plus a simple scoring guide.
- Line or paragraph numbers. They make questions like "Reread paragraph 3" usable and speed up class discussion.
Tip from experience: write the questions before you polish the passage. Then revise the passage so every question has a clear, findable answer. It saves a lot of messy answer keys.
How do I describe reading levels without trademark problems?
Teachers search for reading resources by level, so it helps to say who a passage is for. Some leveling systems are trademarks owned by companies, and claiming an official measure you have not obtained can mislead buyers.
- Use grade levels as the main label: "Grade 4", "Year 5", "Grades 3-4".
- Mention a named leveling system only if you actually measured the text with that system's own tool, and say so factually. Do not imply the company endorses your resource.
- Give practical signals instead: word count, sentence length, whether vocabulary is glossed, and the topic.
- For differentiated sets, say exactly how the versions differ: "same content, three versions: shorter sentences and glossary in version A".
In the short description column of your Resource Submission List, give us the grade, word count and question types. We write the product page, FAQ and SEO from that.
What should the answer key and rubric include?
For reading, a one-word answer key is often not enough, because many questions have more than one acceptable answer. A useful key gives a sample answer plus the evidence from the text, with the paragraph number.
| Question type | What the key should show |
|---|---|
| Multiple choice | Correct letter and a short reason why the strongest distractor is wrong |
| Inference | A sample answer and the line or paragraph that supports it |
| Vocabulary in context | The meaning in this sentence, not a dictionary definition |
| Constructed response | A 2- or 3-point scoring guide and one sample answer at full marks |
Put keys at the back of the PDF or in the same ZIP. Clear file names like Paired-Passages-Ocean-Animals-Grade-4.pdf help buyers find them later.
How should I preview a reading resource without giving it away?
Previews and thumbnails as PNG or JPEG are required. Reading resources have a particular problem: if you show a whole passage, a buyer may feel they already have it. Show enough to judge the quality.
- The first half of one passage, readable at normal size, so buyers can judge the writing and level.
- One page of questions, so they see the question types.
- One page of the answer key with a sample answer.
- A square thumbnail naming the skill and grade: "Main Idea Passages, Grade 3".
Show real pages, not mock-ups that differ from the file. More detail is in how to make previews and thumbnails.
How should I price reading comprehension worksheets?
Original passages take real writing time, and that is what you are selling. A set of five original passages with layered questions and a full key is worth more than a long packet of short recall questions. You decide your price in US dollars; we suggest at least $4.99 for a single resource, but that is only a suggestion.
| Reading resource | Example price | Payout per sale |
|---|---|---|
| One passage with questions and key | $3.00 | $2.04 |
| Five passages on one skill | $5.00 | $3.40 |
| Paired passages set, three levels | $10.00 | $6.79 |
| Year of weekly passages | $24.99 | $16.97 |
Check your own numbers with the payout calculator. Price changes sent by email take effect within 5 business days.
How do I start selling my reading resources here?
Apply with the short application form. We email you the Seller Agreement, the Resource Rights Checklist and the Resource Submission List. The rights checklist is worth reading carefully for reading resources, because it asks exactly the questions above about text sources.
Then send everything in one email to support@stifo.de: signed documents, final PDFs with keys, and previews and thumbnails. We set up your product pages and author page, and confirm receipt within 2 business days. Resources go live once set up, without an extra approval round, so check every passage and key first. If you also sell writing resources, see the writing and grammar guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell comprehension questions for a famous novel?
You can sell your own questions and activities for a novel as long as you do not reproduce text, cover art or illustrations from the book. Use the title factually and do not suggest the author or publisher endorses your resource.
Are public-domain stories safe to use?
Works whose copyright has expired can be used, but the rules vary by country and modern editions, translations or illustrations may still be protected. Use an older original edition or write your own text when unsure.
Can I use news articles in reading passages?
Not by copying them. Write your own informational text about the topic using facts, in your own words and structure.
Do I need to include answer keys?
It is strongly recommended. For open questions, include sample answers and the supporting paragraph so teachers can grade quickly.
Can I sell the same passages on my own website?
Yes. There is no exclusivity, so you can sell the same resources anywhere else unless you signed an exclusive deal elsewhere for them.
Who checks my passages for copyright?
You do. TeachLessons does not check resources for third-party rights, and the seller is responsible for any claim that arises from a resource.
Ready to sell your teaching resources?
Apply with the short form. We email you the seller documents, you send your final files with previews and thumbnails, and we set up your product pages, your author page and landing pages. You keep 70% of net revenue, with no fees and no exclusivity.
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General information about the TeachLessons Seller Program, not legal, tax or financial advice. The signed Seller Agreement sets out the binding terms. Questions: support@stifo.de.