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.
eading - Author's Purpose Activity Handout. This reading activity handout explains author's purpose (to inform, to persuade, and to entertain) and gives students six different author's purpose reading selections they need to identify. Key is included. - HappyEdugator
Literary Terms for Fiction TEST. Elements of Literature multiple choice test on 33 critical literature terms or story elements of literature that are important to student understanding of fiction texts, such as plot, theme, conflict, setting, etc. 10 pages, including key. It is based on my literary terms for fiction handout which is also available to use as a study guide. - HappyEdugator
4 Types of Sentences Worksheet. The four types of sentences - definition of and example of each given. Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative and Exclamatory Sentences with definitions and examples, and then students practice converting one type to another, and learn a little about a couple of South American landmarks as well. Good for quick review for test prep, too.
- HappyEdugator
Roots with Meaning and Example Words Handout. Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes along with their meanings and example words. alphabetical order. 5 pages, useful as a study guide for test preparation. Supports common core. - HappyEdugator
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., photograph, photosynthesis)
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).
Back to School Classroom Expectations PowerPoint. Just what you need at the beginning of the year. Use at Open House, Back to School Night, or Parent Night. A basic slideshow template of classroom expectations for students at the beginning of the year. Fill in your own specifics. Back to school expectations include behavior, routines, etc. Project it on your SmartBoard for the first day of school. Editable. Revise for yourself as necessary. I also play it continuously looping at Open House at individual student computers, set up like kiosks.
- HappyEdugator
MLA Format Handout. This printable handout is a guide for students when making citations in essays using Modern Language Association (MLA) format. Includes general guidelines for margins, font and spacing, how the heading, title and page numbers should be formatted, and how to make citations for both long and short quotations, which are defined. An example included.
- HappyEdugator
Independent Clauses and Subordinate Clauses. Worksheet or Quiz. Sentence structure practice, review, or assessment. Students will identify whether the underlined clauses are either independent clauses or dependent clauses (subordinate). Ten sentences with key. Supports common core. . - HappyEdugator
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.a
Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences.
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
Appositives and Appositive Phrases PowerPoint. Animated graphics and interactive slides helps students Identify appositives and appositive phrases, how to punctuate sentences with appositives, and how to use appositive phrases to combine sentences. Sentence combining is a skill that helps student correct short choppy sentences in their writing. Supports common core standards. - HappyEdugator
Poetry Terms Study Guide. Twenty poetry terms listed for students to define on the line provided. Answer key is provided for self check. This can also be used in reverse. The answer key can be given as notes, and the study guide can be used as a test. This comes out as two pages...one without answers and one with the answers. I have added an assessment piece...students need to identify the poetry term that best describes the example given. 10 questions...two sheets to a page to save paper, and answer key. 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
Fairy Tale Homophones. Fun practice sheet identifying homophones in famous fairy tales. Sheet includes ten sentence that have incorrect homophones for students to find and fix. Supports common core. - HappyEdugator
An analogy shows the relationship between pairs of words. The relationship between the first pair of words is the same as the relationship between the second pair of words. For example, quick is to fast as loud is to noisy. Four practice sheets for students. They must use the words in the box to complete the analogies. - HappyEdugator
Fairy Tales Reading Activity. Elements Chart. Students read 5 fairy tales out of the fifteen suggested choices and mark with an x the elements and characteristics of fairy tales they find in their stories. Students can read the fairy tales online at the suggested website and complete this as a webquest, or you may prefer to provide books for them to peruse. Either way, they will see through discovery that fairy tales have many characteristics in common.
- HappyEdugator
Greek and Latin Roots. 30 WEEKS of Word Stems from Latin and Greek Roots. Basic Lists of Greek and Latin roots. prefixes, suffixes, and affixes, tests, and answer keys included. Perfect for Back to School. Teacher directions, suggestions for homework activities, and differentiation included. This program will prepare your students for standardized tests. Starting at the beginning of the year, go through all 30 weeks, and then spend some time reviewing these as test prep before state testing. Knowing these Latin and Greek roots (which are labeled as to origin) will help your students understand the building blocks of the English language.
In this file you will find thirty sets of word stems from Greek and Latin
Roots. Each page has ten stems, with their meanings and example words. After the first set, most pages will have two review stems from a previous page. The origin of each stem is marked L for Latin or G for Greek. Supports common core standards. Suggested for middle grades, but may be adapted for grades 4 - 5 by following the suggestions for differentiation. Enjoy!
- HappyEdugator
Standards
L.4.4b, L.5.4b, L.6.4b, L.7.4b, L.8.4b
Keep all your parent contacts in one place on this easy to use spreadsheet. Includes a separate sheet for each month of the school year, a field for last name, first name, date, and a field with a drop down menu for type of contact (phone, email, etc.) Editable for your classroom needs. - HappyEdugator
Differentiated Instruction in Learning Focused Classrooms PowerPoint. A 38 slide presentation for teachers to learn about the concepts of differentiation in classrooms where learning is focused and where students are engaged, and how to implement differentiated instruction. -
Classroom Area Signs for Pre-K. Use these activity center signs for your Pre-K classroom. Great for HighScope preschool centers. Includes signs for Art Area, Block Area, Writing Area, Reading Area, Music and Movement Area, Sand and Water Play Area, Dramatic Play Area, Woodworking Area, House Area, Toy Area, Outdoor Area, Computer Area, Math and Science Area, Lost and Found, Circle Time, and Table Toys. - HappyEdugator
Memorial Day and Flag Day Coloring Activity. This print and go sheet for Memorial Day and Flag Day explains why we celebrate and what the colors of the flag symbolize. Students then follow the color codes to color the flag. Have them cut out and attach to a craft stick or paint stirrer to wave. - HappyEdugator