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.
Mother's Day Verb Poem. Mothers are always doing things! They are very busy. Students can let their mom know they notice by writing a Mother’s Day Verb Poem. They can pay attention to what their mom does, and collect the verbs! Use the verbs in the poem to make a special poem about mom. If students can’t think of any verbs, there is a verb bank for ideas. Includes directions and a list of verbs, and a template to fill in with verbs. Write a verb poem for mom to let her know you notice how much she does. - HappyEdugator
Correlative Conjunctions Practice Worksheet. Worksheet on correlative conjunctions. Definition, Examples, and practice identifying the conjunctions in a sentence and what they connect. Writing practice using correlative conjunctions in sentences. Key inlcuded. Supports common core. - HappyEdugator
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1e Use correlative conjunctions (e.g., either/or, neither/nor).
Writing an Advice Column - Writing Assignment and Rubric. This is a writing assignment where the student has to pretend to be a newspaper advice columnist and respond to a reader's question. A word bank of suggested words will help the writer get started on offering ideas and advice to the reader to help solve their problem. You will get two pages. The first is the student assignment sheet and the second is a rubric for grading guidelines. - HappyEdugator
Fun Math Terms Word Search. Math terms are hidden in this word search puzzle made for upper elementary and middle grades. Have fun trying to find them all 21! Terms are hidden forwards, backwards, up and down, across, and diagonally. Key included. Also includes a bonus list of the terms with their definitions which you can use as a study guide for state testing or test prep. - HappyEdugator
Imagery with Weather Poems! Have your students create weather poems using descriptive adjectives and imagery. Three different poem formats support differentiated instruction. After reading a story or novel in which weather plays a major role in developing the plot (such as the short story “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury or the novel The Cay by Theodore Taylor), have your students write weather poems. Discuss how to create imagery using words that appeal to the senses. They will enjoy coming up with vivid adjectives and descriptive language. Ask your students to think of words that will create the best images, or they can look up adjective lists online if they have access to technology.
The first format has the most scaffolding for the kids who have trouble putting words on paper. The second format is a little more challenging, and the third one is great for your high achievers. If you prefer, you can also use these in sequence and build up to the higher level thinking format. After your students complete the format, ask them to share, edit and revise, and then type up the poems to publish and make a great display.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Test on Strunk and White -The Elements of Style. This test has students apply the principles of writing English as discussed in The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, the classic writing manual used in high school and college English classes for years. The contents of the book is on Bartlby's website as well. This test has students punctuate sentences, correct errors in usage in sentences, make sentences more interesting by revising, eliminate wordiness by revising, and identify words and phrases that are generally considered not good usage.
The Red Scarf Girl Discussion Questions Handout. This handout has twelve discussion questions for students on the book The Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang. This is the true story of a girl living through the Chinese Revolution and the difficulties she and her family faced. Many questions require higher level thinking. Useful for a literature circle, whole class discussion, or even as an individual assignment.
Thanksgiving ABC Word Wall List. A Thanksgiving word list for your Thanksgiving word wall. Sorted alphabetically. You can also use as a handout. Students can use these Thanksgiving words to write picture books, stories, poems, or songs about the holiday. Have them try to use a word from each letter of the alphabet in a story. Teachers can use the list to design Thanksgiving printables, puzzles, skits, and other holiday activities. Enjoy!
- HappyEdugator
Independent and subordinate clauses worksheet supports the story After Twenty Years by O. Henry. Students have to determine the independent and subordinate clauses in four sentences, and then they have to add their own subordinate clauses to a given main clause to create complex sentences. - HappyEdugator
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1a Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1b Choose among simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1c Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers.
Recommended Novel Reading Lists for Grades 7 - 12 with Lexile Levels. Useful when planning novel studies. Includes an alphabetical list of 180 novels and authors, along with their grade level recommendations and lexile reading levels, a list for high school, and a list for middle school. Useful for planning appropriate text complexity with the new common core standards. Can also be used as a suggested summer reading list - HappyEdugator
Moon Crossword Puzzle - Moon Samples. Words are based on moon geology and features of the moon.
18 clues. If you are studying the solar system, space, or astronomy, you can use this for enrichment. Words include: rille, maria, brecchia, basalt, highlands, seas, etc. Key included. Enjoy! Fun for all ages. Allow students to research answers online if they are challenged. Especially good for enrichment.
Rebus Puzzles - a fun critical thinking activity. Figure out the word puzzles. Great to do with partners, or use as a warm up. Print and go, Works especially well for gifted and talented students who enjoy challenges, but will work with other student populations as well. Enjoy! - Happyedugator
Ancient Egypt Fun Activities - includes Ancient Egypt word search with key, mummy writing prompt, ancient Egypt pharoah writing paper, ancient Egypt True/False quiz, and an ancient Egypt coder breaker activity. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Drama - Play Outline for Play Writing Project. Drama writing activity. If you want your students to write their own play, this is a good way to get them to start thinking. They must write an outline of what their play is about, and they will need to complete the ten steps required for a good outline of their play. Students will have to include information on characters, setting, conflict, plot, etc. Includes brainstorming sheet and easy to grade checklist, for a total of 100 points.Students should write the actual outline on their own sheet of notebook paper or type it, using the checklist as a guide. - HappyEdugator
Point of View - Four Types Handout. Understanding point of view in reading. Describes the four types of point of view: first person, second person, third person, and omniscient point of view. (Also, Omniscient point of view and Limited ominscient point of view are distinguished, so we now have five) Supports common core standards for reading literature. A comparable example is given for each so students can see the difference point of view can make. - HappyEdugator
Theme Graphic Organizer for Any Novel or Short Story. Helps students understand how to identify theme in a novel or a short story by looking at dialogue, conflict, and endings. Includes examples of each from literature, and uses a mnemonic device to remember what theme is. (THEME = THE MEssage) Supports Common Core Standard for reading Literature #2, Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text Includes a blank copy for students. - HappyEdugator
Rhyme in Poetry Practice Sheet. This poetry worksheet defines rhyme and then lets students actively identify the rhymes in ten silly sentences. There are more than one rhyming pair in the sentences,and rhyming word endings are not always spelled the same, so students have to look carefully. Also, there are some words that students may not be familiar with, so that presents an additional challenge and a way to develop vocabulary by introducing new words. Key included.
- HappyEdugator
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.5 Explain major differences between poems, drama, and prose, and refer to the structural elements of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) and drama (e.g., casts of characters, settings, descriptions, dialogue, stage directions) when writing or speaking about a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
Comparison and Contrast Graphic Organizer for Fictional Literature. Use this simple graphic organizer to compare two fiction literary works. Students can compare two novels, two short stories, two narrative poems, or even a book and a movie. Compare literary elements, including character traits, setting, plot and conflict, tone and mood, and theme. Helps students prepare for new common core assessments that require comparison and contrast of different texts. - 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
Halloween Word Problems - Fun Practice. Halloween math practice in basic operations. 2 pages of addition and subtraction word problems and 2 pages of multiplication and division word problems. Teaches problem solving and critical thinking with a Halloween theme. - HappyEdugator