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.
One of my favorite Easter activities is reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. It is a children's classic that is especially fun to read at Easter time. This PowerPoint will help your students understand the vocabulary in the story. Great story for Easter or Spring. Share this classic with your students, and use the PowerPoint slides to discuss difficult vocabulary as you read. The slides are in alphabetical order, but you can reorder the slides if you wish to present them in the order of the story. Each slide has the word, a definition, a graphic, and a sentence from the story. Use them before, during, or after reading to increase comprehension and expand vocabulary. Includes a link to the story if you don't have a copy.
Christmas Gift Writing Paper - Lined Paper - Christmas Present Theme. Eight different Christmas gift designs, two different sizes of lines for writing at different ability levels. Students will have fun writing with cute little gifts and presents to inspire them. - Enjoy! HappyEdugator
ELF Writing Paper - Lined Paper - Elf Theme. Eight different Elf designs, two different sizes of lines for writing at different ability levels. Students will have fun writing with cute little elves to inspire them. - Enjoy! HappyEdugator
SANTA Writing Paper - Lined Paper - Santa Theme. Eight different Santa designs, two different sizes of lines for writing at different ability levels. Students will have fun writing with cute little Santa to inspire them. - Enjoy! HappyEdugator
REINDEER Writing Paper - Lined Paper - Reindeer Theme. Eight different reindeer designs, two different sizes of lines for writing at different ability levels. Students will have fun writing with some cute little reindeer to inspire them. - Enjoy! 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
Phonics PowerPoint Bundle. Includes 8 PowerPoints to help students with decoding and sounding out words:
Letter Sounds PowerPoint.
Short a Sounding Out Words PowerPoint
Short e Sounding Out Words PowerPoint
Short i Sounding Out Words PowerPoint
Short o Sounding Out Words PowerPoint
Short u Sounding Out words PowerPoint.
Word Families PowerPoint.
Word Families.
- HappyEdugator
Shades of Meaning Verb Cards - Bundle of Six Sets. Cut out and laminate these 16 different cards IN EACH SET illustrating different synonyms of the verb "LAUGH, SEE, SAID, JUMP, RUN, AND WALK." 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. Buy the bundle and save 20%!
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
Dolch Sight Words Activities - BUNDLE Weeks 1 - 10. 100 pages - Ten weeks of Dolch sight word activities for the first one hundred words from the Dolch sight words list. Activities include: flash cards/ memory game, color the words, trace the words, match the words, cut and paste the words in alphabetical order, and write the words in letterboxes. Enjoy! Weeks 1 - 10 covers the first 100 Dolch Sight Words. Be ready for the beginning of the year or use for test prep. Good for summer school or homeschool practice, too. - HappyEdugator
A list of 120 writing prompts that will keep your students writing for most of the year! These ideas will motivate students to write creatively and may inspire them to write more! Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Fraction Hunt. This is a fun way to practice fractions. First, hide a candy bar (or any individually wrapped candy) somewhere in the room under a map, atlas, globe, or drawing of the earth. Then give students the sheet to decode the message and find the candy. They will have lots of fun trying to be the first one done to get the prize. - HappyEdugator
Back to school Editable labels will help you get organized! Three different sizes. Just insert a text box and write what you want. Great for name tags, desk plates, signs, posters, supply labels, and more. - HappyEdugator
Welcome students back to school with this WELCOME banner in black and white chevron. Includes the letters W-E-L-C-O-M-E-! and an editable one so you can write your own messages in your own fonts. - HappyEdugator
Chalkboard and Burlap Alphabet Posters and Bunting. Decorate your classroom this school year with these chalkboard and burlap alphabet posters and bunting. With the blue trim, they will go with a nautical theme or shabby chic, too! You can also use the letters to make welcome signs, or create other messages with the pennants.
Includes:
26 chalkboard and burlap alphabet posters
26 chalkboard and burlap alphabet bunting