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.
End of the Year I Am Poem - Make a Poet T Craftivity. Fun end of the year activity, beginning of the year activity, or any time you study poetry. PowerPoint on how to make an I AM poem and transfer it onto a t-shirt. 11 slides will walk you and your students through the whole process. Format for writing a metaphor I AM poem, and a format for writing another I AM poem included. Literature connection - metaphor poem example from All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury. Students can use formats or create their own. Creative and fun! Students will love to wear their shirts. - HappyEdugator
Robert Frost - Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening PowerPoint. Poetry analysis for a close read of the poem and writing activity. Includes slides about the author, setting, characters, figurative language, alliteration, metaphor, end rhyme, internal rhyme, structure, meter, different interpretations (including a Christmas one), and a writing activity based on common core standards that requires citing text evidence. 27 slides. Enjoy
Christmas Pictionary and Charades Game. A fun Christmas game of Pictionary or Charades - where all words are related to Christmas, Winter, or December, and even include Christmas songs and Christmas movies. 99 Different Cards! Print out Cards. Cut out and Laminate. You can then use the cards to play the game Pictionary or Charades. Just team up. Either game is for four or more players. The more, the merrier! The object of the game is to have fun! Fun party game at school or at home! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! - HappyEdugator
Figurative Language in A Christmas Carol Worksheet. Using quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, students have to identify types of figurative language such as metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and allusion. Also includes a handout on types of figurative language. No prep. Print and go. Key included. - HappyEdugator
Standards
RL.6.4, RL.7.4, RL.8.4, CCRA.L.5
Easter Creative Writing Activity - The Very Large Egg. Especially fun for Easter, but enjoyable anytime. Sightings of giant eggs have been reported in various parks in the country. Students will look at the different photographs of the eggs, and then choose one picture to write about. Encourages students to use their imagination as they answer the questions and write a story that really engages readers. This activity can be done as a whole group, by projecting the photos on a whiteboard, and having the students write individually. Activities can be printed for differentiation. Also can be used in centers and for cooperatvie learning groups. - HappyEdugator
The Great Kapok Tree Rainforest Unit and Resources. Rainforest activities go with the book The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry. 24 pages includes features of the rainforest, useful websites, art projects, vocabulary, main idea and summarizing activity and graphic organizer, fun facts about the kapok tree, rainforest animals, how can I save the rainforest sheet, chocalate cocoa recipe, math activity, science activity making a terrarium, geography sheet, layers of the rainforest, why rainforests are important and why they are being destroyed, along with a rainforest word search puzzle. Good for Earth Day, too. Cover page includes a bookmark "Reading About the Rainforest."
- HappyEdugator
Poetry - Using Emotion to Create Poetry PowerPoint. Graphics and animations will engage your students as they learn about poetry writing. Includes a definition of poetry, explanation of figurative language, imagery, and sound devices, a list of human emotions, and a step by step approach to writing a sensory poem. You can also print out the included poetry frame if you desire. When students are finished, they will have created their own poem! Fun way to get reluctant poets to writing. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Easter Activity Pack - Literacy and Math Fun. Spring into spring with a 27 page packet. Includes an Easter writing prompt and coloring sheet, Easter writing paper, an Easter crossword, an Easter word search, an Easter acrostic poem sheet, an Easter poem writing sheet, Easter Syllables, Easter shopping math activities, Easter Fractions and Easter Decimals sheets, a Bunny Hop Search for Numbers divisible by 4, an Easter math puzzle, an Easter puppet template, an Easter bookmark, and Easter ABC order. Answer Keys included.
Lots of fun for April!- HappyEdugator
Beginning of the Year School Bus Safety PowerPoint. Back to school safety! 15 slide PowerPoint with animation on school bus safety. Use for back to school or anytime for review. Basic safety tips about how to get on and off a bus, cross in front of a bus, and behave on a bus in motion. - HappyEdugator
Christmas Around the World. Merry Christmas! PowerPoint on traditions and customs of the Christmas holiday in 19 different countries: Canada, England, Sweden, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, China, Vietnam, Australia, India, and the United States. Great introduction to your Christmas Around the World unit, or use as a follow up activity. Animation and lots of interesting fun facts! Kids will enjoy this before Christmas break. Great way to practice reading informational text. Fun! Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Following Directions Puzzles. A fun way to teach following directions and critical thinking. Great test preparation. You get three challenging puzzles! In the first puzzle, students cross words off of a table according to the directions provided. When they are finished, they will reveal a famous inspirational quote about life. In the second puzzle, students have to rearrange letters according to the directions to change one phrase into another. Finally, in the third puzzle, students must follow the arrows in order to reach the finish. Keys included. This is also a useful activity to do around testing time, at the beginning or end of the year, or anytime you wish to reinforce the importance of following directions. Good brain work out for gifted and talented, too. - HappyEdugator
Myths, Legends, Fables and Fairytales PowerPoint. Teach folktales and traditional tales: myths, legends,tall tales, fables, and fairytales. The slides discuss differences between myths and legends, tall tales, fables, and fairy tales. Examples of some famous tales and famous authors are mentioned. Myths are explanations for how ancient people understood their worlds, like Thor and Zeus. Legends were stories passed along that had a basis in truth, but were not real, like King Arthur and Robin Hood. Fables were told to teach lessons, most famously by Aesop. And folk tales and fairy tales were both passed down as stories for the children. Fairy tales we now enjoy were collected from oral tradition and written down in the 1800's. For instance, Hans Christian Andersen is remembered especially for his tales of The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Ugly Duckling, while the Brothers Grimm are known for Cinderella, Snow White, and The Frog Prince. Everything is presented against a beautiful castle background and sound effects have been added for interest.
Summer Outdoor Fun Crossword Puzzle! Fun and free as a thank you to all my wonderful followers We all hate to see summer go, but hopefully it will last just a little bit longer. Enjoy this little piece of summer! - HappyEdugator
Christmas Story Starters. 50 Christmas writing prompts that you can use to help your students get writing creatively around the holidays. A winter creative writing handout or resource that will help students find something to write about! Quick and easy December printable handout. 2 pages. Have fun with writing!
- HappyEdugator
Spider Webquest. Fun at Halloween or anytime. Explore the world of spiders. In this webquest, students will learn about a variety of different spiders, their habits and habitats, toxicity of venom, first aid, and interesting facts. Students will visit 3 websites and complete two different tables and answer the questions. Key included.
December Holidays PowerPoint - Guess the Word. Students guess the correct words to fill in the blanks about the winter holidays. Students will learn that Christmas, Hanukkah, and kwaanza are all celebrated in December, and that although there are different traditions, there are similarities as well. Happy Holidays! - HappyEdugator
SPIDERS Writing Paper - Lined Paper - Spiders Theme. Eight different spider designs, two different sizes of lines for writing at different ability levels. Fun paper for Halloween or anytime. Students will have fun writing with some cute little spiders to inspire them. - Enjoy!
Valentine Quiz...a free Valentine's Day Activity for choosing the right word. Multiple choice questions about Valentine's Day. Help children with word choice. Students have to choose the best choice of three words to fill in the blank. Grammar usage that is often tested on standardized tests. Great for building an understanding of how words are used correctly. Especially good for ELL, ESL and ESOL students, who may need extra help in identifying subtle differences in word choice and easily confused words. - HappyEdugator
Thanksgiving Acrostic Poem - Thankful. For Thanksgiving, students can use this festive template to write an acrostic poem using the letters in the word thankful. Lower grades can write one word answers, upper level students can write phrases or sentences. Adjustable for your grade level. Enjoy! Thank you for looking. While you are here, please check out my store. Happy Thanksgiving!
