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.
Commonly Confused Words TEST. Good spelling help and standardized test prep. Fifty questions of commonly confused words that are often seen on state tests. Includes common homophones like there, they're and their; usage errors such as its, and it's and should have vs. should of; as well as words such as sit and set and lie and lay. Should really make them think. - HappyEdugator
Standards Based Grading Scale! A 4 point scale for standards based grading to hold students accountable for learning the standards and mastering the content. Works for all subject areas! Apply the grading scale to the performance standards you are evaluating. In color and black and white for easy printing. - happyEdugator
Interjections Study Guide. Study guide worksheet on interjections. Definition, Examples, and practice using interjections and identifying them in a sentence. Key inlcuded. Supports common core. -HappyEdugator
Christmas Activity - Christmas Coded Words Activity Sheet - Webdings. Fun! Use as a time filler or as a fun thing to do for a Christmas party. Figure out the coded Christmas words written with webdings by using the decoder. Winter fun! Like a puzzle, this exercises the brain and promotes visual discrimination. Keep kids occupied even on Christmas Eve. No prep. Print and go. Key included, of course. - HappyEdugator
Happy New Year Activity - Making Resolutions and Setting Goals. Making New Years Resolutions is a fun New Year activity. Ring in the New Year by making new year resolutions and setting goals. Includes slides (or print them out as task cards) on making resolutions and goal setting. Can be used for whole class instruction, cooperative learning groups or in writing centers. Happy New Year! - 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
Reading Strategies - Active Reading Strategies Concept Map. Graphic organizer can be blown up into a poster, used as a transparency, or projected on your LCD. The six active reading strategies on the map are Connect, Predict, Visualize, Question, Clarify, and Evaluate. Students learn what active reading strategies good readers use. Based on a beetle or bug theme. Includes a motivational poster with a BEETLE theme. Color and black and white versions. Here is my BEETLE acronym - BE EDUCATED EXPECT TO LEARN EAGERLY! :)
- HappyEdugator
Nonfiction Vocabulary You Should Know Test. Goes with my Nonfiction Vocabulary You Should Know PowerPoint, but can be used separately. Includes nonfiction, author's purpose, exposition, description, narration, and persuasion, types of nonfiction selections and their descriptions, nonfiction text structures, the difference between dialogue and dialect,as well as stereotype and bias. 25 fill-in the blank style questions with a word bank. Reading more nonfiction is essential to the common core standardsthat are assessed on many state tests. Prepare your students for the terminology.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
100 Points Research Paper Rubric. Writing a research paper? Use this detailed rubric for a research paper that is easy to grade! Specific standards based requirements for a research paper and will promote a high degree of performance. Based on a 100 points, It is easy to grade and students can self evaluate their work. Performance elements include: Purpose and Focus, Organization and Development of Ideas, References and Documentation, Formatting, and Conventions. Promotes independent reading, critical thinking, organizational skills, writing style, and citing sources without plagiarism. - HappyEdugator
3D Shapes - 3D Shape Match Game. Fun Math Center or Game! Also useful for homeschool or summer review.
Teacher Directions:
Print out all the shape cards and shape name cards.
Cut out all the cards.
Laminate if desired for durability.
Store in a large plastic zipper bag or manila envelope.
Cover can be used as a center sign.
Games may be played individually or in pairs.
For differentiation, there are two ways to play:
1. Place matching stickers (not included) of the back of cards that match. Players lay cards right side up in a 4 x 4 pattern. Then they must match the shapes to the shape words and take turns making matches. They can self check by looking on the back of the cards and seeing if the stickers match. If they are correct they keep the matching cards and go again. Player with the most matches when all the cards are matched wins.
2. Do not put stickers on the back of the cards, or remove them if they were used previously. Players lay the cards face down in a 4 x 4 pattern and take turns making matches. This will now be a memory game. They must match shapes to shape words. If they are correct they keep the matching cards and go again. Player with the most matches when all the cards are matched wins.
Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
A. A. Milne Biography Activity and Constructed Response. A short nonfiction text for students to read, with questions about the selection and a constructed response question. Learn how Winnie the Pooh came into being. Supports common core standards that require more intensive reading of nonfiction text and more writing about the reading, citing text evidence. - HappyEdugator
Suffixes for Parts of Speech Posters. These are posters ( or you may project overhead) that can be used to teach suffixes that are associated with parts of speech. In order to build a better vocabulary, students should have some sort of sense that a word that ends in MENT is a noun, whereas a word that ends IZE is a verb. Learning these suffixes will greatly expand a student's understanding of how words work in context and aid in reading comprehension as well. Includes full color version and color on white background to save ink. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Sentence Structure - How to Identify Sentence Structure Handout or Poster. This is a tool for identifying sentence structure. Similar to a flow chart, it walks students through the steps to figure out if a sentence is simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. Supports common core state standards!
Classroom Rules Sign or Handout. Back to school - Rules and consequences to post in your classroom at the beginning of the year. Three different versions - chalkboard, stick figure, and owl theme. The owl themed rules are also separated one per page. Thank you for stopping by my store! This file is editable only for your own classroom use. Download the preview to get a free sample! Thanks!
Reading: What Good Readers Do Poster Set. Eight different strategies good readers use to post in your room or put in your reading center. Pastel chevron background. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Inspirational Poster- Motivational poster on leadership for your classroom decor. "Be Somebody You Would Be Proud to Know." Sized 81/2 X 11. Print and laminate, or project on your whiteboard as a message for students to see as they walk in the door. This can also be used as a writing prompt. Have students reflect on the meaning of the poster and the image. Bird Theme. Enjoy!
Back to School Words of Wisdom Handout. Use at Open House! Beginning of the year inspirational quotes. Give this handout of important life lessons to your students on the first day of school, to parents and students at back to school parent night or open house, or use it as a send off for the end of the year. Twenty-one important thoughts and inspirational quotes about how to live life to the fullest. A good character building tool to foster respect and responsibility. Parents will enjoy it on parent night as well. You can also use it during parent conferences to start off with a positive note. You can also have students select a quote to write about as a beginning of the year writing activity. - HappyEdugator
Back to School Parent Letter from Reading Teacher. Give out at Open House, on the first day of school, Back to School Night, or Parent Night. An editable letter to middle school parents for back to school from a reading teacher, encouraging parents to participate in helping their children enjoy reading, and offers parents tips and ideas on how they can help. May be used for upper elementary asa well. Just fill in date, your name, and your contact information, and sign it. Ready to go with great tips for parents. 2 pages - Happyedugator
Sleep - Informational Handout for Parents. Back to school handout for the beginning of the year, or use to send home before standardized testing. You can also send it home anytime you see kids struggling with staying awake in class, especially around the holidays. What parents should know about making sure their children get adequate sleep so they can perform at their best in school. - HappyEdugator
