I am a licensed teacher with the NYC Board of Ed for 16 years. I have taught 5th and 6th grades for my entire career. I have extensive experience in ELA as that has been my primary grade taught for the past 9 years. I have 5 years experience with Math, SS, and Science. I also incorporate technology into many of my lessons. All of my products are Common Core aligned.
I am a licensed teacher with the NYC Board of Ed for 16 years. I have taught 5th and 6th grades for my entire career. I have extensive experience in ELA as that has been my primary grade taught for the past 9 years. I have 5 years experience with Math, SS, and Science. I also incorporate technology into many of my lessons. All of my products are Common Core aligned.
This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter.
There are three different levels of questions so you can differentiate with your students.
The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key.
After the discussion questions there is a list of many examples of figurative language found in the book.
The following questions types and skills are used:
*Analyze characters
*Identify major plot elements
*Explain cause and effect relationships
*Draw inferences
*Determine central ideas and details
*Determine theme
*Describe plot
*Identify conflict and resolution
*Assess author's purpose
The figurative language elements addressed are:
*Alliteration
*Hyperbole
*Imagery
*Metaphor
*Onomatopoeia
*Personification
*Simile
This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Gorilla Doctors Saving Endangered Great Apes by Pamela S. Turner. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key.
The following questions types and skills are used:
*Central Idea and Supporting Details
*Context Clues
*Author's Purpose
*Author's Point of View
*Evaluating Arguments
*Facts and Opinions
*Topic Specific Vocabulary
This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Under the Egg by by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key.
The following questions types and skills are used:
*Analyze characters
*Identify major plot elements
*Explain cause and effect relationships
*Draw inferences
*Determine central ideas and details
*Determine theme
*Describe plot
*Identify conflict and resolution
*Assess author's purpose
*Inferencing
This is a complete Common Core aligned Close Reading Unit focusing on endangered animals. It will take about a month to complete the entire unit. There is no prep required and all are Common Core aligned. There are 10 articles, each with 3 levels of differentiation (grades 4, 5, and 6). Each article has a set of Key Ideas and Details Questions, Craft And Structure Questions, Integration of Ideas and Knowledge Questions and an extension question. There are 3 graphic organizers as well: Note Taking, Main Idea, and Context Clues.
Included:
1. The Main Plan - how to use the articles in your classroom
2. Tag it Up - how to annotate texts
3. 10 articles with 3 levels of differentiation for each
4. All articles are based on endangered animals (tigers, elephants, polar bears, mountain gorillas, narwhals, axolotls, quokkas, komodo dragons, green sea turtles and macaws)
5. Key Ideas and Details Questions for each article
6. Craft and Structure Questions for each article
7. Integration of Ideas and Knowledge Questions for each article
8. Extension Question for each article
9. Note Taking graphic organizer
10. Main Idea graphic organizer
11. Context Clues graphic organizer
12. Answer Key for each article
This is a complete step by step guide to help students write a 5 paragraph persuasive essay with a counterclaim.
You will receive:
1. A file with the student writing guide
2. A file with the teacher's how to and pacing calendar
3. A PowerPoint to introduce the persuasive genre to your class
The student guide includes:
1. Outline of what's expected
2. Helping Hands for the intro and conclusion
3. Writing Reminders
4. Pro/Con List
5. Graphic Organizers for each of the 5 paragraphs
6. Rough Draft section
7. Bibliography section
8. 3 Writer's Checklists for Wonderful Writing, Revising, and Editing and Proofreading
The teacher's guide includes:
1. Suggested Pacing Calendar
2. Page by page overview of how to use the student guide
The PowerPoint includes:
1. Introduction to the genre
2. Argument explanation
3. Pro and con explanation
4. Counterclaim explanation
5. Review of essay parts
6. Explanation of what to include in each section of a persuasive essay
This is a great resource to help middle school teachers work with students on character analysis. There is a PowerPoint presentation to introduce more sophisticated character terms for use in middle school, including:
*Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Characters
*Dynamic and Static Characters
*Protagonist and Antagonist
Also included are 4 different graphic organizers to help students analyze characters in any book, including:
*Character Trait Chart (for use with Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Characters and Protagonist/Antagonist)
*Character Motivation (for use with Dynamic and Static Characters)
*Character Growth (for use with Dynamic and Static Characters)
*Character Reaction (for use with Dynamic and Static Characters)
*Character Selfie (for use with Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Characters and Protagonist/Antagonist)
Each graphic organizer comes with three levels for differentiation:
Advanced, Grade Level, and Extra Help. There are also boy/girl organizers, and blank copies so you can add your own images.
This is a complete Common Core aligned novel study for Cinder by Marissa Meyer, the first book in her Lunar Chronicles Series. You will find everything you need to completely teach and review the plot, characters, setting, themes, etc. with your class.
In this resource, you get:
1. An introduction to the product
2. A suggested pacing calendar
3. Author Info including links to her website and several video interviews
4. Building Background Lessons with graphic organizers with 3 levels (advanced, intermediate, and extra help) and links to websites with additional resources
5.Character List
6. Vocabulary Lists broken down by books with a quiz and answer key for each list
7. Discussion questions and answers for each book
8. Multiple choice quizzes with answer keys for each book
9. Character Motivation graphic organizers in 3 levels (advanced, intermediate and extra help) each one with a robot, prince, and queen clipart design and 2 blank versions so you can add your own clipart
10. 2 essay questions with rubrics
This is a thorough overview of The Hidden Oracle Book One of The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key.
The following questions types and skills are used:
Analyzing characters
Identifying major plot elements
Explaining cause and effect relationships
Drawing inferences
Determining central ideas and details
Determining theme
Describing plot
Identifying conflict and resolution
Assessing author’s purpose
Inferencing*
This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Peak by Roland Smith. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key.
The questions ask the students to:
*Analyze characters
*Identify major plot elements
*Explain cause and effect relationships
*Draw inferences
*Determine central ideas and details
*Determine theme
*Describe plot
*Identify conflict and resolution
*Assess author's purpose
*Make inference
*Identify and explain figurative language
This is a complete Common Core aligned digital novel study for My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian. You will find everything you need to completely teach and review the plot, characters, setting, themes, etc. with your class. There are also pre and post reading activities that will introduce/review concepts in the story.
All materials can be uploaded to a variety of online platforms including: Google Classroom, Microsoft OneDrive, Schoology, Edmodo, Notability, Seesaw, Padlet, Nearpod, Canvas, Evernote and Blackboard.
There is a Student Edition, Teacher Edition, Essay Tasks, End Projects, and a tutorial on how to upload the files to various online platforms.
Included in the Novel Study:
* Introduction to the Book
* Suggested Pacing Calendar
* Author Study
* Calvin and Hobbes Study
* Reluctant Readers Info and Worksheet
* Vocabulary words and quiz
* Discussion Questions and Answers broken down by chapter
* Character Graphic Organizers
* 4 End of Book Projects
* 2 Essay Tasks
* Answer Keys or Rubrics included for all questions, quizzes and activities
Morning Bellringers to keep your kids busy to start the day are here! This growing bundle of Morning Messages is what you need.
There are 4 sections to each slide; "Today is" "Get Ready for the Day", "Joke of the Day" and "Bet You Didn't Know" (fun facts for the kids).
The "Today is" and "Get Ready for the Day" sections are editable. You add the date and what your kids need to do when they come in. For example: Unpack, Take out hw for science, Sharpen your pencils, Take out permission slips, etc.
The "Joke of the Day" and "Bet You Didn't Know" sections are not editable. They are great ways to get kids thinking first thing in the morning. Each week features a theme like animal jokes or fun facts about everyday objects. The answers to the jokes are included in the information file.
Every month, each of the 4 weeks will feature a slightly different background. There will be 10 months in all when the bundle is finished, for a total of 40 weeks. Each month will feature a different themed background. The bundle will cost $20 when finished and the price will increase with every update.
Month 1 has a school supplies on a desk background.
The Jokes and Fun Fact Categories are:
Week 1 - School/People
Week 2 - Animals
Week 3 - Household Items/Wacky Words
Week 4 - Music/Everyday Objects
Month 2 has an art supplies on a blackboard background.
The Jokes and Fun Fact Categories are:
Week 1 - Sports
Week 2 - Elephants/Animal Groups
Week 3 - Space
Week 4 - Gross Jokes/Gross Facts
This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian. There are digital group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions are in a Google Slide presentation and need to be shared with your class in an online platform. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key.
All materials can be uploaded to a variety of online platforms including: Google Classroom, Microsoft OneDrive, Schoology, Edmodo, Notability, Seesaw, Padlet, Nearpod, Canvas, Evernote and Blackboard.
This product includes the student edition of the discussion questions, the teacher addition with questions and answers and a how to upload the files to online platform manual.
The following questions types and skills are used:
*Analyze characters
*Identify major plot elements
*Explain cause and effect relationships
*Draw inferences
*Determine central ideas and details
*Determine theme
*Describe plot
*Identify conflict and resolution
*Assess author's purpose
*Inferencing
This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Cinder by Marissa Meyer. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each of the 4 books. The questions are furthered aligned to chapters within the books. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key.
The following questions types and skills are used:
*Analyzing characters
*Identifying major plot elements
*Explaining cause and effect relationships
*Drawing inferences
*Determining central ideas and details
*Determining theme
*Describing plot
*Identifying conflict and resolution
*Assessing author's purpose
*Inferencing
This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key.
The following questions types and skills are used:
*Analyzing characters
*Identifying major plot elements
*Explaining cause and effect relationships
*Drawing inferences
*Determining central ideas and details
*Determining theme
*Describing plot
*Identifying conflict and resolution
*Assessing author's purpose
*Inferencing
This is a complete novel study for Peak by Roland Smith. You will find everything you need to completely teach and review the plot, characters, setting, themes, etc. with your class.
Included in the Novel Study:
*Introduction to the Book
*Suggested Pacing Calendar
*Author Information with links to videos about the book and author
*Mount Everest Trivia Sheet with link to an age appropriate website
*Map it Out Activity for kids to map camps on Everest
*3 sets of Vocabulary Words in a test format with answers; Climbing Terms, Place Names, and Buddhist Terms
*Figurative Language Extra Credit Assignment
*Discussion Questions and Answers broken down by chapter
*4 Wrap Up Activities with rubrics
*2 Essay Tasks with rubrics
Digital Resources! This is a complete digital novel study for Peak by Roland Smith. You will find everything you need to completely teach and review the plot, characters, setting, themes, etc. with your class. There are also pre and post reading activities that will introduce/review concepts in the story.
All materials can be uploaded to a variety of online platforms including: Google Classroom, Microsoft OneDrive, Schoology, Edmodo, Notability, Seesaw, Padlet, Nearpod, Canvas, Evernote and Blackboard.
There is a Student Edition, Teacher Edition, Essay Tasks, Vocabulary Quizzes and a tutorial on how to upload the files to various online platforms.
Included in the Novel Study:
*Introduction to the Book
*Suggested Pacing Calendar
*Author Information with links to videos about the book and author
*Mount Everest Trivia Sheet with link to an age appropriate website
*Map it Out Activity for kids to map camps on Everest
*3 sets of Vocabulary Words in a test format with answers; Climbing Terms, Place Names, and Buddhist Terms
*Figurative Language Extra Credit Assignment
*Discussion Questions and Answers broken down by chapter
*4 Wrap Up Activities with rubrics
*2 Essay Tasks with rubrics
This is a handy guide to help you complete a close reading activity with your students. I have included an endangered animal article about elephants and all of the materials needed to conduct a close reading lesson.
Included in this resource:
1. Introduction of how to complete a close reading lesson.
2. The Main Plan printable to help you and your students go through the close reading steps.
3. Tag it Up printable to help your students understand how to annotate the text.
4. 3 versions of the Exciting Elephants article for differentiation. (4th, 5th, and 6th grade levels) Lexile Levels and Word Counts can be found on each version.
5. Text Dependent Questions broken down for use after each reading, with a bonus extension writing activity and answer keys.
6. Graphic organizers for note taking, main idea, and context clues to be used with or in stead of the text questions.
All materials can be uploaded to a variety of online platforms including: Google Classroom, Microsoft OneDrive, Schoology, Edmodo, Notability, Seesaw, Padlet, Nearpod, Canvas, Evernote and Blackboard.
This is a bundle of my Expository/Informative Essay, my Narrative and my Persuasive Essay with a Counterclaim. In each resource you get a teacher's guide, student guide and a PowerPoint to introduce the writing genre.
In the Expository/Informative Essay, you will receive:
1. A file with the student writing guide
2. A file with the teacher's how to and pacing calendar
3. A PowerPoint to introduce the persuasive genre to your class
The student guide includes:
1. Outline of what's expected
2. Helping Hands for the intro and conclusion
3. Writing Reminders
4. Fact/Supporting Details List
5. Graphic Organizers for each of the 5 paragraphs
6. Rough Draft section
7. Bibliography section
8. 3 Writer's Checklists for Wonderful Writing, Revising, and Editing and Proofreading
The teacher's guide includes:
1. Suggested Pacing Calendar
2. Page by page overview of how to use the student guide
The PowerPoint includes:
1. Introduction to the genre
2. Fact and Supporting Details explanation
3. Review of essay parts
4. Explanation of what to include in each section of an expository/informative essay
In the Persuasive Essay you will receive:
You will receive:
1. A file with the student writing guide
2. A file with the teacher's how to and pacing calendar
3. A PowerPoint to introduce the persuasive genre to your class
The student guide includes:
1. Outline of what's expected
2. Helping Hands for the intro and conclusion
3. Writing Reminders
4. Fact/Supporting Details List
5. Graphic Organizers for each of the 5 paragraphs
6. Rough Draft section
7. Bibliography section
8. 3 Writer's Checklists for Wonderful Writing, Revising, and Editing and Proofreading
The teacher's guide includes:
1. Suggested Pacing Calendar
2. Page by page overview of how to use the student guide
The PowerPoint includes:
1. Introduction to the genre
2. Fact and Supporting Details explanation
3. Review of essay parts
4.. Explanation of what to include in each section of a persuasive essay
In the Narrative, you will receive:
1. A file with the student writing guide
2. A file with the teacher's how to and pacing calendar
3. A PowerPoint to introduce the narrative genre to your class
The student guide includes:
1. Outline of what's expected
2. Helping Hands for the intro and conclusion
3. Writing Reminders
4. Brainstorming Matrix
5. Character Matrix
6. Timeline of Events
7. Graphic Organizers for each of the 5 paragraphs
8. Rough Draft section
9. 3 Writer's Checklists for Wonderful Writing, Revising, and Editing and Proofreading
The teacher's guide includes:
1. Suggested Pacing Calendar
2. Page by page overview of how to use the student guide
The PowerPoint includes:
1. Introduction to the genre
2. Brainstorming Matrix explanation
3. Character Matrix explanation
4. Timeline explanation
5. Review of essay parts
6. Explanation of what to include in each section of an narrative
This is a bundle of my most popular Common Core aligned Prezi presentations. You'll receive my Alliteration, Endangered Animal Vocabulary, Genres, Poetry Terms, Story Elements and Writing an Essay Prezis.
This is a great Common Core aligned collection of my Nikki Grimes focused poetry unit. There are three building background activities; an alliteration Prezi, a figurative language Prezi and a figurative language match game to get kids familiar with types of poetic language.
Then are two full length novel studies; Words with Wings and Garvey's Choice both by Nikki Grimes.
