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.
Evaluating an Argument - Supports Common Core! Use around Earth Day, or any time you study nonfiction. PowerPoint slides helps students understand how to evaluate an argument, a critical reading skill. Students learn that evaluate means to judge a selection by looking for the author's main point, whether it is supported by evidence and facts, and whether the author argues against opposing arguments. Practice exercise with informational text included. Students will read and evaluate the argument from an excerpt of the book Green Planet Rescue by Robert Halpern. Good practice of common core standards and appropriate for Earth Day, too. Background vocabulary is endangered, species, and habitat. - HappyEdugator
Aligned to Common Core Standards RI 7.1, RI 7.2, RI 7.3, RI 7.5, 7.6, 7.8, RI 8.1, 8.2, 8.5, 8.6, 8.8
Supports College and Career Readiness Standards grades 6-12 for drawing evidence from informational text to support analysis and reflection
Common Root Words Handout. Common Greek and Latin roots, root words or stems, prefixes, suffixes, and math and science affixes and roots on a comprehensive printable handout. Includes reasons why learning roots and affixes are important. Good to review before standardized testing. 8 pages. 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).
Position Paper and Rubric. Writing an argument! A writing assignment that defines a position paper and its purpose, possible topics, an outline, and a rubric based on research, format, and requirements. Students must choose a controversial topic and present their argument for their opinion about it. They must research their topic to establish credibility, and provide at least three citations in either MLA or APA format. (You can designate which one, or let them choose.) Aligned to Common Core Standards for ELA Writing.
Supports Common Core ELA Writing Standard Grade 7: English Language Arts Standards >> Writing >> Grade 7 Text Types and Purposes:
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Introduce claim(s), acknowledge alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence.
Establish and maintain a formal style.
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.
The narrative poem The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes is a classic ghost story romance that students love. Middle school and high school students enjoy reading "The Highwayman" especially around Halloween. Includes slides on plot, characters, vocabulary, and literary elements. The poem is presented in verses, slide by slide. Students can take turns reading it. After reading, there is a writing response and a link to a ten minute video of this ballad poem set to music. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Use these library signs to make a great back to school display. Signs are places you will go when you read a book. 40 signs to choose from to make your own special display, or you can change them out as the year progresses.
Choose which signs you wish to use
Print out on card stock
Cut out
Laminate for durability
Attach to a pole for a fun display!
- HappyEdugator
Thanksgiving: A Thanksgiving Day Song. Get musical and teach your students this quick and easy Thanksgiving Day song. A fun song for all ages! Good Thanksgiving singing activity to fill some time around the holiday. You don't need a lot of musical talent for this Thanksgiving song. This fun little song about Thanksgiving is sung to the melody of "Santa Claus is coming to Town." It is easy to learn and to remember, and a great tune for all ages from preschool to adult. Includes score. Happy Thanksgiving!
- HappyEdugator
Transitions Handout. Supports common core! Lists many specific transitions to use in writing to help develop relationships between sentences, paragraphs, and ideas, such as addition, comparison, contrast, cause and effect, etc. Helps students write better persuasive and expository essays. They can also be used for a word wall on transitions and transitional phrases. - HappyEdugator
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3c Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3c Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2c Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.
First Day of School Activity - What if Poem. Read the poem by Judith Viorst "The First Day of School" and then have students write their own "What if..." poem. Includes a page of writing ideas and a rubric for poetry.
Vocabulary Builder Chart. A vocabulary graphic organiser chart you can use to help your students build their vocabulary. Students can look up the definition and a sentence from the story in which the word was used.
Acrostic Poem - Thankful. Autumn Harvest themed, 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.
Language Difficulty Indicators Handout. FREE A list of 16 indicators, such as limited vocabulary or delayed responses, that a child is having difficulties processing language, and may need special services or extra help. - HappyEdugator
Christmas Gift Coupons and Bookmarks! A variety of gift coupons that you can give to your students as a Christmas gift, along with six different styles of bookmarks that you can use to give students, parents and other staff members this holiday season! Merry Christmas!
How to Enjoy Poetry by James Dickey Organisational Chart. Graphic Organiser for the essay How to Enjoy Poetry by James Dickey. Sequencing activity. Includes a blank organisational chart for recording Dickey's tips for reading, a list of his reading tips which can be cut in strips and mixed up, and answer key. Students glue strips in the correct sequential order on the chart.
How to Enjoy Poetry by James Dickey Organizational Chart. Graphic Organizer for the essay How to Enjoy Poetry by James Dickey.Sequencing activity. Includes a blank organizational chart for recording Dickey's tips for reading, a list of his reading tips which can be cut in strips and mixed up, and answer key. Students glue strips in the correct sequential order on the chart.
Dolch Sight Words Activities - Week 7. A week of Dolch sight word activities for the seventh set of ten 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 will cover the first 100 Dolch Sight Words. - HappyEdugator
The Dying Detective Support Materials with Vocabulary and Test. Contains study guides, a vocabulary worksheet with key, a stage directions hand-out, and a TEST with a key to go along with the PLAY adaptation of The Dying Detective by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in which Sherlock Holmes appears to be dying, quite grumpy with Watson, and surprises everyone by his sudden comeback to catch a killer. - HappyEdugator
The Cay Novel Study.
Hige Resource Pack
Includes resources for teaching The Cay by Theodore Taylor. Word wall words, nautical vocabulary, and reading dialect...important background knowledge for students to understand this novel. Included are activities and projects, chapter guides, rubrics, anticipation guide, quizzes, and tests. Keys included. - HappyEdugator
Poetry Image Map. A graphic organizer for students to use to help them visualize images in the poetry they read. The organizer gives students space to identify the poem, describe 4 images they find in the poem, and a place to draw the images. Students can develop a better understanding of imagery when they have to create images from the words they read.
- HappyEdugator
Mother's Day Songs! Fun and easy to sing songs you can have kids learn to sing for Mother's Day! Great for circle time, or any time you want to add some fun to your day! Familiar tunes make these easy to remember. Enjoy! Slides can also be printed out and made into unique cards for Mom, or kids can learn serenade their mothers or even take video of themselves singing for Mom to make a unique keepsake for Mom.
