I have a total of 27 years teaching experience . After I received my M.Ed. from the University of Florida (hence the name "HappyEdugator"), I began teaching in elementary school, where I taught pull-out remedial classes for grades 2-5 and a section of K-1. Then I taught Pre-K for 5 years, before I went up to Middle School, where I have been in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Last year, I went back to 1st grade in a private setting. I have traveled worldwide and am also fluent in Spanish.
I have a total of 27 years teaching experience . After I received my M.Ed. from the University of Florida (hence the name "HappyEdugator"), I began teaching in elementary school, where I taught pull-out remedial classes for grades 2-5 and a section of K-1. Then I taught Pre-K for 5 years, before I went up to Middle School, where I have been in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Last year, I went back to 1st grade in a private setting. I have traveled worldwide and am also fluent in Spanish.
Vocabulary Builder - Pump Up Your Vocabulary in Ten Easy Steps PowerPoint. Going back to school? Give students vocabulary strategies that will help them build a strong vocabulary for reading and writing. Interactive PowerPoint lesson. Ten vocabulary builders. The ten steps for building vocabulary include:
Pronounce words correctly
Use a dictionary
Use a thesaurus
Make word cards
Use mnemonics
Use context clues
Distinguish between multiple-meaning words
Learn word origins
Study word parts
and
Distinguish connotation and denotation
33 slides with activities for practise and answers.
Materials required: a dictionary for each student or group of students, and 4 index cards for each student.
- HappyEdugator
EDITABLE Teacher Binder Covers - 50 Different Ready Made Binder Covers and 50 Spines. Choose which ones you wish to use, print out and slip into your binder front and spine. Also includes an editable cover and an editable spine, so you can add your own words if you need to! These can also be used as dividers in a larger teacher binder (cover for that included) and the spines can double as page tabs. Just print out the pages you need and put in page protectors. Print out the tabs on card stock and attach with clear packing tape to protect and make durable. Clouds and sky background. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
With the EDITABLE BLANK covers and spines, you can create your own binders for anything you wish. Also includes ready made covers for:
504's
Art
Assessments
Benchmarks
Calendar
Class Rosters
Common Core Standards
Conferences
Curriculum Maps
Cursive
Data
Department
Duties
ELL
English Language Arts
Evaluations
Extracurricular Activities
Field Trip Information
Foreign Language
Geography
Gradebook
HIstory
IEP's
Lesson Plans
Mathematics
Meeting Notes
Modifications
Music
Newsletters
Parent Guardian Contacts
Passwords/Tech Information
Professional Development
Reading
Schedule
Science
Social Studies
Spelling
Standards
STEM
STEAM
Student Information
Substitute
Syllabus
Teacher Binder
Transportation
Website Information
Work Samples
Writing
Use this sheet on Veterans Day to reinforce your lessons on fact and opinion. Students have to read the eight sentences and then decide if they are facts or opinions. - HappyEdugator
Ending Sounds Matching Game. Teach phonemic awareness and build vocabulary. This is a Literacy Center that is fun for your emergent readers! Students match the ending sound of the picture on their game card to one of 6 pictures on their game boards.
Included materials:
Game Sign for Center (Slide 1)
Directions for Center (Slide 2)
Game boards: 8 for variation of play (Slides 4-12)
Game cards: 60 (Slides 13-23)
Manage Your Literacy Center:
Print out materials on cardstock.
Laminate materials for durability.
Materials can be stored in large gallon zip lock freezer bags.
Model the game for students and emphasize ending sounds by stretching them out.
Demonstrate how to clean up the center when the game is over.
State Standards: Supports Phoneme matching: Final sounds. Builds vocabulary and phonemic awareness.
•Game Board 1 - stop, bed, sock, shell, ear, elf
•Game Board 2 – dog, key, cave, crib, broom, bag
•Game Board 3 – penguin, bus, nose, worm, bib, tent
•Game Board 4 – lollipop, turtle, box, lemon, carrot, goose
•Game Board 5 – school, chick, knife, car, pig, hose
•Game Board 6 – shoe, sun, ram, truck, fish, giraffe
•Game Board 7 – chair, ship, eye, badge, yellow, nickel
•Game Board 8 – fruit, brush, mouth, match, cry, five
Students (non-readers) may name their pictures with similar items. ( for example, lamb = sheep)
Apple Sled Kite Deer Elephant Fan
Tire Crab Violin Watch Frog Zoo
Gum Harp Lion Jet Kitten Lamp
Map Nut Ostrich Paint Brush Rat Flag
Abacus Cake Exit Tooth Thumb Butterfly
Fox Guitar Horse Jug Fridge Mop
Pie Olive Pumpkin Rose Scarf Wolf
Umpire Magnet Vet Yard Web Avocado
Tomato Wood Piano Yogurt House Tree
Watermelon Train Drum Camel Scissors Tack
Rake Brush Bridge Ball Cash Radish
Analogies PowerPoint. Interactive practice and strategies for understanding what is an analogy and how do you figure it out. 25 slide presentation defines what an analogy is, how analogies are written, and what kinds of relationships to look for when solving analogies. There are 10 practice questions for students, with answers and explanations given after they have had a chance to think. This type of guided practice will help students develop critical thinking skills and help prepare them for standardized tests. At the end is a practice quiz. Editable for your classroom needs. Can be projected on whiteboard and used as a whole class activity where students can write answers in their notebooks, or it can be assigned to students to work on independently on individual computers, tablets, or chrome books.
Supports Common Core Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.5b Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., synonym/antonym, analogy) to better understand each of the words.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.5b Use the relationship between particular words to better understand each of the words.
- HappyEdugator
Reading Response Activity - What's Your Two Cents Worth? Helps students with close reading and writing a response to literature. An active reading activity you can do with a a picture book, short story or even a poem. After reading a story, students have to give their two cents about different parts of a story. Print out sheets for each student. You may choose to print out on card stock and laminate for durability. You may do the same with the sheet of pennies, or you may choose to use real pennies for the activity or have students draw pennines in the boxes. Give each student a copy of the What's Your Two Cents Worth? Explain that you are going to read a story, and during the story you will pause five times for them to reflect and think about how that part just read affected them personally. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss is perfect for this activity. This book has multiple levels of interpretation which help students analyze and react to the themes in the book. At each stopping point, students can decide if the story is causing them to think (head), touching their emotions (heart), or making them want to laugh (funny bone). Students can then give their two cents worth by placing zero, one, or two pennies in the boxes across from the number of each stopping point. They may split up the pennies into different columns if more than one body part is affected. They do not have to use all their pennies, or none if the story is not having an impact on them individually at that point. Stop at five predetermined points while reading the book or story aloud so that students can give their two cents' worth each time. Use the after reading questions as a guide for students to write a literature response. Step by step instructions for the teacher for whole class and group instruction.
Includes Reading Response Sheet, Sheet of pennies, After-reading questions, and teacher directions, along with activating strategy, summarizing, and extension.
- HappyEdugator
Try this fun Getting-to-Know-You activity for Back to School All. It's an All About Me Graphic Organizer. This is a great way to learn your students’ names at the beginning of the year, and your students will love making their special graphic organizer about themselves. Make enough copies for everyone in your class. Card Stock is best. Take photos of your students and attach them to the center of the graphic organizer. Your students can then fill it out with their best attributes, family, friends, interests, etc. There is a Character Traits list included so students can have a reference for their writing.
These make a great display, but don’t stop there. You can have students present them to the class, create a writing assignment based on their graphic organizer, use them to create lessons based on their interests.
You can do this activity as a whole group, giving an example to the class of your own personal graphic organizer to introduce your students to who you are. You can also have them complete them in groups or use them in centers.
- HappyEdugator
Spider Alphabet Letters. Fun printable spider themed cards that can be used in many ways. Perfect to project on whiteboards to use as whole class flashcards. Great for Halloween or anytime.
You can also:
Print them out in full size and laminate for classroom décor.
Use for alphabet practice.
Print them out smaller and use as desk labels and edit the names for your own class.
Use as bulletin board or door decorations and edit the names for your own class.
Print them out on cardstock using 6 or 9 slides per page to make cards and use them for games like concentration (memory game where you take turns to turn them over and find a matching card) or war ( a = lowest, z = highest...see who wins most of the cards
Use print outs in Centers - Students pick a card out of a cute container (plastic pumpkin, cauldron, etc. ) and practice writing that letter. Older students can try to write as many words they can think of that begin with the letter. Some may wish to draw and name their own spiders or write their name.
Included in this set:
1 set of non-gender specific spider alphabet cards
1 set of girl spider alphabet cards – with girl names
1 set of boy spider alphabet cards - with boy names
Editable for classroom use! - HappyEdugator
Shades of Meaning Verb Cards - SAID. Cut out and laminate these 16 different cards illustrating different synonyms of the verb "SAID" Helps students understand connotation. With guidance and support from adults, students acquire new vocabulary by defining word relationships and nuances in word meanings, sorting words into categories, choosing and acting out the different meanings. Aligns to Common Core Standards.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs differing in manner (e.g., look, peek, glance, stare, glare, scowl) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic) by defining or choosing them or by acting out the meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.5b Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related verbs (e.g., toss, throw, hurl) and closely related adjectives (e.g., thin, slender, skinny, scrawny).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5c Distinguish shades of meaning among related words that describe states of mind or degrees of certainty (e.g., knew, believed, suspected, heard, wondered).
Additionally, words can be used for spelling practice, writing practice, and word walls. Includes definitions for the teacher.
- HappyEdugator
Standards
L.K.5d, L.1.5d, L.2.5b, L.3.5c
Characterization PowerPoint - Character Development in Short Stories. Shows students how to develop characters when writing short stories by analyzing author strategies, like using sensory details, gestures, and interior monologue. Demonstrates different strategies to use in developing a character in a short story, helping students write better by making their characters come to life! Animated graphics and sound. 18 slides. Includes a handout for students to put in their writer's notebook. Supports common core state standards. - HappyEdugator
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3a Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3b Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3a Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots Beat the Clock PowerPoint game. A fun interactive way to practice identifying Greek and Latin prefixes, suffixes and roots. Includes a review of affixes for students before starting the game. Students are given two questions and have thirty seconds each to identify the correct answer. They can work with a partner and use wipe-off white boards or write the answers down on paper. After time is up, the answers will disappear. (Timer is built in) Click again to check answers. Advance slide with another click to start with a new set of sentences. Grades 4 and up. Supports common core! 36 sentences in all. Revised March 2016. - HappyEdugator
Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Activities. Includes vocabulary list, study guide, a 30 question multiple choice vocabulary test for the short story Flowers for Algernon, and a crossword puzzle. Includes answer keys. - HappyEdugator
Adjectives PowerPoint - all about adjectives with practice slides including:
What is an adjective?
Descriptive Adjectives
Limiting Adjectives
Nouns Used as Adjectives
Proper Adjectives
Articles - Definite and Indefinite
Degrees of Adjectives - Positive, Comparative, Superlative
Review of Common and Proper Adjectives
Compound Adjectives
Classifying Adjectives
Demonstrative Adjectives
Coordinate Adjectives
Cumulative Adjectives
58 slides. UK version.
- HappyEdugator
End of the Year - Good-bye Cards. Send your students off with this cute little poem that will show how much you care! Personalize these good-bye cards with each student’s name and your name, then print out. Make great gift labels, or use by themselves. Ladybug theme. Business card size...can be printed out on business cards from Avery. Ten cards per sheet. Editing allowed for your classroom use only. You can type in student name and teacher name. You can also remove those fields. The poem itself is not editable, but you can remove the poem and write your own instead. Happy summer! - HappyEdugator
In this pack you will get 12 editable character awards for the end of the year. You may choose 4 different styles of boys and girls, and also if you want color or black and white. You may choose to use one of the ready made awards, or create your own since the character words are editable. You may move text around to where you like it as well. The character traits included for the awards are:
Respect
Responsibility
Trustworthiness
Compassion
Friendship
Perseverance
Cooperation
Patience
Honesty
Citizenship
Kindness
Sense of Humor
These are easy to use...just type in student name, your name and date. Then print and you are ready to go. 96 pages. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Funny Jokes and Puns for the Classroom. 60 school jokes! Fun for April Fools Day or anytime! Promotes critical thinking skills. Fun two minute activities. If you have two minutes, you can still get those brains working and have fun, too! Riddles, puns, and brain teasers that are sure to make everyone smile. Fun, humorous riddles about school that will crack you up! Enjoy these when class is not quite over, but the lesson is! You can also use as a fun filler at the end of the year! Or use before or after spring break, or after state testing for comic relief. Or use them as a daily warm up! 60 slides. Show slide to reveal the beginning...click to reveal the punchline. - HappyEdugator
Poetry Sound Patterns. Writng poetry with sound devices. The first page of this handout discusses four different types of sound patterns or sound devices that are used in poetry, including alliteration, assonance, consonance, and rhyme. The second page of this handout is a writing activity for students to apply what they have learned. The third page gives possible solutions to the writing challenges.
- HappyEdugator
Animal Farm Study Guide Handout. Reading Animal Farm by George Orwell? A printable study guide handout which asks students to come up with their own descriptions of major characters in Orwell's Animal Farm, and also asks them to list and discuss the commandments the animals used for their laws. Students will also have to use higher level thinking to analyze, synthesize and evaluate the novel.
Drama Terms and Test. Elements of Drama. Includes a study guide and a test of common drama terms in a matching format. In addition, you will get a higher level comprehensive list of drama terms, which you can decide to use in a variety of ways, such as independent study, enrichment, etc. Also included is a handout on the Elements of Drama. - HappyEdugator