Over twenty years teaching, developing lessons and conducting professional development - coupled with fiction and film writing - is who I am. Family, education and writing define what I love.
Over twenty years teaching, developing lessons and conducting professional development - coupled with fiction and film writing - is who I am. Family, education and writing define what I love.
FREEBIE FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. ELEVEN Reading Comprehension Daily Reading and Writing Warm-Ups are aligned to the Common Core State Standards and help to foster the 21st Century higher order thinking skills necessary in today's world. Not your ordinary multiple-choice bell-ringers, but learning tasks designed to engage students and get them thinking.
Eleven in all , these Daily Reading and Writing Warm-Ups are themed for any day of the school year and are written at reading levels from 4th through 8th grades.
The ageless tale of Dorothy, Scarecrow and her friends comes to life with infused vocabulary, interactive text and Common Core State Standards aligned lessons to go with each chapter. This is a novel and workbook combined -- perfect for educators who want embedded higher order thinking activities at the turn of every page. Engaging lessons that are differentiated and infused with 21st Century learning skill development opportuntites.
Student workbook, ebook and answers are included.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Cyclone page 9
Vocabulary Words and Exercise page 12
Predicting from Chapter 1 page 13
Quick Write: Compare and Contrast page 14
Timed Fluency Exercise page 15
Pair Work: Assets in Literature page 16
Science Tie‐In: Introduction to Cyclones page 17
Chapter 2: The Council with them Munchkins page 18
Vocabulary Words and Exercise page 23
Active Reading: Making Inferences page 24
Active Reading: Character Traits and Motives page 26
Timed Fluency Exercise page 27
Chapter 3: How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow page 28
Vocabulary Words and Exercise page 33
Character Conflicts Chapter 3 page 34
A Look at Two Points of View Chapter 3 page 35
Comprehension Check Chapter 3 page 36
Words, Words, Words! Figurative Language page 37
Making Inferences Exercise page 38
Timed Fluency Exercise page 39
Chapter 4: The Road Through the Forest page 40
Vocabulary Words and Exercise page 43
Chapter 4: Think and Write: Symbolism Opinion page 44
Active Reading: Character Traits and Motives page 45
Chapter 4: In Review Writing page 46
Think About It: Critical Thinking Literature Discussion page 47
Character Compare and Contrast page 48
Timed Fluency Exercise page 49
Chapter 5: The Rescue of the Tin Woodman page 50
Vocabulary Words and Exercise page 55
Character Compare and Contrast: Scarecrow/Tinman page 56
Character Conflicts Chapter 5 page 57
Active Reading: Skillbuilder page 58
Making Inferences Exercise page 59
Think and Write: Your Opinion page 60
Timed Fluency Exercise page 61
Chapter 6: The Cowardly Lion page 62
Vocabulary Words and Exercise page 66
Think and Write: Passage Critical Thinking page 67
Timed Fluency Exercise page 68
And much much more... 200 pages more!!!!
These Reading Comprehension Daily Reading and Writing Warm-Ups are aligned to the Common Core State Standards and help to foster the 21st Century higher order thinking skills necessary in today's world. Not your ordinary multiple-choice bell-ringers, but learning tasks designed to engage students and get them thinking.
Fifteen (15)in all, these Daily Reading and Writing Warm-Ups are themed for any day of the school year and are written at reading levels from 3rd through 5th grades.
Dorothy Vaughn page 2
Frederick Douglass page 4
Frederick Douglass Life as a Slave page 5
Thurgood Marshall page 6
Carter G. Woodson page 7
Vonetta Flowers page 8
Mary Jane Patterson page 9
Halle Berry page 10
Frances Perkins page 11
Dolores Huerta page 12
Nelson Mandela page 13
Queen Elizabeth II page 14
Walt Disney page 15
Cleopatra VII page 16
Babe Ruth page 17
FREE 36-page Print-and-Go NGSS/CCSS Fiction/Non-Fiction Reader for grades 3-5. Chapter 3
File 1 The Lessons, Experiments and Activities
Page 2: Comprehension Quiz
Page 3: Five Minute Fluency Exercise 4.Ob.1
Page 4: Constructive Response Comprehension Quiz
Page 5: The Great Panda Rescue Chapter 3 – Research Project Scientist in the Field
Page 6: RI.4.1; RI.4.2; RI.9 RF.4.4; SL4.1c; SL.4.5; NGSS: 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2.1
Including 2 Non-Fiction Readings
Page 13: Cloze Reading
Page 14: Making Inferences in Reading RL.1
Page 15: Observations, Inferences and Conclusion RL.10
Page 16: Determining Importance RL.1 and RL.10
Page 17: The Great Panda Rescue Words, Words, Words
Page 18: Central Message and Key Details Interactive Notebook Page RL.2
Page 19: Summarize the Text Template RL.2.1
Page 21: Illustrations RL.7
Page 23: Character Trait Templates RL.3
Page 24: Science Words For Analysis and Word Wall
Page 25: Answers where applicable
File 2 – The Great Panda Rescue Chapter 3 Interactive Reader
This is Chapter 1 of “The Great Panda Rescue” Interactive Reader. This is a perfect NGCC, CCSS, STEM story with ELA and other cross-curricular activates and lessons for each chapter. Lessons include: fluency, comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, science, math and more. This chapter is aligned with 3, 4 and 5 New California Standards as well.
Twelve-year-old Claire wants to be a large animal vet when she grows up, but not the typical horse and cow variety. Claire wants to doctor endangered and vulnerable animals – especially giant pandas. Claire gets the thrill of her life when her class takes a field trip to the Randolph Reserve. Not only does she get to see the giant pandas – she and Julia and their group receive the special honor of viewing a set of panda cub twins – only weeks old.
Just when she thinks the day can’t get better, Claire is asked to volunteer at the center for a month that summer. With summer only four weeks away, Claire acts fast. She loves her job; however, she soon discovers that Chenguang, the mother of the cubs, is being sent home to China. A great victory for the Randolph Reserve – as one of their pandas is going back to her natural habitat!
Novel Included. This is a novel study and a cross-curricular NO PREP unit with STEM, ELA, and math assignments included. It is an original novel that can be printed in packets for students.
Common Core State Standards aligned for the 3rd and 4th grades. 164 pages
Janie has trouble sleeping one winter night. When she gets up to roam the house, a mysterious light, from across the street, catches her eye. She quickly goes outside to explore.
The light is radiating from a tiny violet. The smell of the flower is scrumptious. Janie bends to get a better whiff and tumbles down its stem – falling, falling, falling – finally to land in a thump in the Kingdom of Fluberbia – where she meets the Princesses Claire and Julia and the adventure begins. The three embark on a quest to solve the riddles of the Crown of Goodness – to rescue the princesses’ parents and save Fluberbia from the evil Empress Ephora. The fearless friends trick Ogres, battle Cinderbeasts brave the Enchanted Forest and prove that the power of friendship can conquer all!
Introduction 5
Vocabulary for 21st Century Teachers 6
Before You Begin: Plot Overview, Theme, Main Characters, Teaching Fluberbia 7
Chapter 1: The Magic Flower 9
Performance Task 1: ELA 11
STEM Tie-In Plant Growth Rate 16
Quick Write Comprehension 23
Constructed Response Comprehension Questions 24
Chapter 2: Down to Fluberbia 25
Janie and Princess Julia: CCSS RL 3.3 29
Constructed Response Comprehension Questions 30
Differentiation Advanced Learning: Making Inferences 31
Storyboard Your Narrative 33
Math Performance Tasks 2 and 3 34
Chapter 3: The Only Way Home – Close Read: Conflict in Literature 37
Chapter 4: The Violet Path 38
Comprehension Questions for Critical Thinking: “The Violet Path” 41
The Violet Path Grammar Corrections 42
Dictionary Skills 43
Math Performance Task 4 44
Chapter 5: The Princess Claire 46
Fluberbian Food 50
Comprehension Questions for Critical Thinking: “The Princess Claire” 51
Chapter 6: Miloph 52
Comprehension Questions for Critical Thinking: “Miloph” 60
Miloph Sentence Strips 61
Socratic Seminar: Teacher Pages and Student Templates 62
Chapter 7: The Journey Begins 65
Fluberbia, So Far…In My Opinion 66
Summary: Four Panel in Pictures 67
Comprehension Questions for Critical Thinking 68
Chapter 8: Flash: Close Reading 69
Write a Summary of Chapter 8 75
Chapter 9: The Stranger 76
Chapter Summary – Fluberbia – Characters, Setting, Plot Problem, Plot Solution 80
And so much more!!!
Print-and-Go Readers - a series of engaging English Language Arts lessons that allows students to incorporate engaging and essential ELA themes and standards while learning about fun places to visit. Perfect for centers, early finishers, ESL, intervention, whole class , SPaG and more.
High Interest Content!
Disney’s California Adventures: California Screamin’ – contains 12-print and go pages of activities that include: fluency practice, comprehension, word play, informational text , grammar, study and more.
Perfect for whole class, groups, pairs, intervention, centers and more. Use with the entire Journey series for a comprehensive fifth grade program. Works for summer school as well.
• Twelve pages in color and also in black and white for printing ease
• Great for students learning English
• Great for early finishers
• Work in pairs for intervention
Students practice reading, writing, grammar, critical thinking and 21st century skills
• Access their creativity
• Learn new words
• Learn about new places
This is a template for students to outline, storyboard and write their own Novella or Novel. This is a differentiated unit that is engaging and LOVED by all students.
Included is a CCSS matrix for grades 4 through 12 – as it is fully adaptable.
Also included is a completed template so you can walk you students through the process!
41-pages in all.
This is great for whole class Common Core writing work, for early finishers or broken down into centers.
This is a template-based lesson designed for students to either work through independently or be guided through, depending upon the grade level you teach and the particular levels of your students. The end product will be an outline for a novel, novella or long short story.
The project can result in actual written novels or may be used as the end product. Over the years, my students have enjoyed publishing their work in real book form. This is easily done by students and is Common Core Standards based!!
Students create a pdf of their work and we use the pdf to publish them. The resulting books are professional looking, there are no set up costs and students can purchase their work for only a few dollars.
My students love this! I have even compiled shorter work into one document and published anthologies. If you are working with a group of students at varying levels, it is helpful to begin the lesson in guided fashion and then let students fade off to write when they are individually comfortable doing so. After the templates are completed, have student write their masterpieces!!
The Elements and Before You Begin sections should be discussed/taught using active participation techniques. I find it helpful to walk through the entire template with struggling learners and create a group novel together.
Another way to use the template: This is a wonderful, standards-based project for individuals, Gifted or advanced, who finish their work quickly and like to be challenged.
Sight Word “Go Fish” and Concentration
These are engaging versions of Go Fish! and Concentration that use Dolch Sight Words rather than numbers for these fun and engaging games. The decks of cards are Dolch lists.
This packet includes:
Pre-K -40 words – 160 card deck
K – 52 words -204 card deck
1st Grade – 41 words 204 card deck
Go Fish First! This is an engaging version of Go Fish! that uses Sight Words rather than numbers rather than numbers. The decks of cards are Dolch lists.
Copy cards on cardstock. (Avery 5271 Business Card template also works and makes cutting easier!)
Laminate for durability.
Each player gets five cards.
If you are dealt four of a kind, or get four of a kind during game play, those cards are removed from your hand, and you get a point.
Moving clockwise, players take turns asking a specific player for a given word card: “Do you have any “the”s?
The person with the most packs of four at the end of the game wins.
*Option: If you want to put backs on the cards – the last page can be used to copy the backside of each set.
*Note: Mix and match the cards any way you wish. Some of the sets are large – break them up but be mindful of needing to keep “packs” of four together.
The font is KG Behind These Hazel Eyes. I have paid for a license; however, since you are using this resource for your class and are printing the Word version – you may download the font for free. I chose this particular font because the “a”s are: a and easier for students to read.
Concentration Rules
Use the same cards as for Go Fish!
Game Set Up:
1. Shuffle, or mix up, the cards well
2. Place each card face down in rows and columns
Game Play
1. Each player takes a turn by turning two cards over.
2. If the cards match, then the player picks up the cards and keeps them
3. If they don't match, the player turns the cards back over
Included:
Pre-K Dolch Word Card Deck: 40 words – 160 cards
K Dolch Word Card Deck: 52 words – 204 cards
1st Dolch Word Card Deck: 41 Words - 164 cards
Great for whole class, early finishers, interventions, buddy work and more...
This bundle includes :
40 Words 160 Card Deck for Pre-K
52 Words – 240 Card Deck for K
41 Words – 204 Card Deck for 1st
46 Words: 184 Card Deck for 2nd Grade
41 Words: 164 Card Deck for 3rd Grade
51 Dolch Noun List 1: 204 Card Deck
42 Dolch Noun List 2: 204 Card Deck
Plus: "Word Family Flowers: Phonics - 45 word families in all.
The non-fiction Common Core aligned readings and primary source Document Pamphlet series: Discovering America is designed to help students read for information and think critically while forming their own ideas. Students and adults alike will discover history by looking at artifacts constructed by the people who shaped the United States of America.
Perfect for any classroom, from Fifth Grade to college, this series engages students and prompts them to think for themselves, question, reflect and gain a deeper understanding of history.
100s of Pages of Engaging Student Document Analysis, lessons, debates and Activities.
Print-n-Go STEM Readers – Upper Elementary: “Giant Pandas”. STEM Readers is series of STEM lessons that are cross curricular with ELA lessons that allows students to incorporate engaging and essential STEM and ELA themes and standards while learning about engaging subjects – like Giant Pandas. Perfect for centers, early finishers, whole class assignments and more. ALL NGSS-based.
Giant Panda STEM Reader - Next Generation Science Standards:
3-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
5-PS3 Energy and 5-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
S1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
Differentiated PLUS cross curricular – ELA embedded assignments – SPaG and standards based. STEM activities – including two video links (3 minutes and 5 minutes) with activities. Students can complete these items alone or as a class – depending on technology available and student aptitude.
Page 2 Fluency practice: “Life Cycle of a Giant Panda
Page 3: Comprehension Quiz
Page 4: Fluency practice: “Transfer of Matter in Ecosystems”
Page 5: Transfer of Matter in Ecosystems of Giant Panda Worksheet
Page 6: Giant Panda Fact Contraction Check Adjective and Alliteration Practice
Page 7: Giant Pandas – Shrinking Refuge Comprehension and Vocabulary
Page 8: STEM Vocabulary
Page 9: Sentence Structure and Perfect Panda Personification (see what I did there?)
Page 10: WoLong’s Pandas (3-minute video link and comprehension questions
Page 11: Bamboo Mountain: China’s Pandas (5:32) and comprehension questions with summary practice
Page 12: Describe Each Picture: Topic Lifecycle of a Giant Panda
FREEBIE - WINTER OLYMPIC THEMEDPrint-and-Go Readers - a series of engaging English Language Arts and social studies lessons that allows students to incorporate high interest topics with essential ELA, math and social studies themes and standards while learning about the Winter Olympics. Perfect for centers, early finishers, homework, whole class CCSS work, SPaG and more.
High Interest Content!
This 34-page Olympic themed unit contains tons activities that include: fluency practice, comprehension, word play, informational text , grammar, word study and more.
Perfect for whole class, groups, pairs, intervention, centers and more. Use with the entire Print-n-Go series for a comprehensive fourt/fifth grade program. Works for summer school as well. Super for advanced fourth and to reinforce sixth grade skills as well.
• 34- pages in color and also included
• Great for students learning English
• Great for early finishers
• Work in pairs for intervention
Students practice reading, writing, grammar, critical thinking and 21st century skills
• Access their creativity
• Learn new words
• Learn about new places
FREEBIE! Each student will be a scientist and create a unique scent through a science experiment. They will label, brand and market their product! Great for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day or anytime.
Students wil work through:
Next Generation Science Standards
•PK – grade 3 students
•K-LS1, 1-LS1, 2-LS1, 3-LS1, 2-PS1
•Grade 4 – 6 students
•4-LS1, 5-PSI, 5-LS1
•MS-PS1, MS-LS1
•Middle school students
•MS-PS1, MS-LS1
•High school students
•HS-PS1, HS-LS1
PS1- Structure and properties of matter: LS1-Structure and Function
and CCSS in this differentiated science and marketing project on how to make their own perfume.
These are Word Family – Short Vowel Flowers. I’ve been using them to teach students to read for years. They’re perfect for using at home or in a classroom learning center!
What are word families?
Word families are groups of words that share the same ending. For example, the words cat, fat, and mat all belong to the “-at” word family. The worlds ball, fall and tall belong to the "-all" word family.
Why teach reading with word families?
1) The English language is complicated. Word families help beginning readers find patterns within words.
2) Knowing word families makes sounding out words easier because instead of laboriously sounding out each letter, the reader reads the first sound and attaches it to the familiar word family name. When reading the word cat -- rather than reading /k/ /a/ /t/, the child learns to read /k/ /at/.
These daily Graces or Devotions are intended to be quick writes and help with critical thinking, comprehension -- as well as Bible study.
They are perfect for the beginning of the day, the beginning of class periods or end of the day actiities. They are aligned with the standards and 21st Century skills in that each verse touches on a standard that is required for college admission, while not sacrificing the strength of His work. Each Quick Write
begins with a Bible Verse and extends to the world in which students live today.
Each Daily Devotion takes Bible passages and requires students to think and write about things
important to them, things happening in their lives – relevant to their world. By connecting
standards, His Word and their lives – students gain a greater understanding of the teachings of
our Lord and Savior, the Holy Trinity and everything that encompasses our Bible – as they gain
valuable reading and writing skills required for college in the process.
These Devotions also present an opportunity for creativity, collaboration, cooperation and
criticalThinking – if desired. Each devotion requires students to look within themselves, reflect
on how they are living and how they can find their place in the world - with the Holy Spirit in
their heart, but they also present opportunities for teachers to have students write and share
their ideas, insights, strengths and weaknesses with partners and the whole class – in order to
maximize engagement.
A Quick Write as “a literacy strategy which can be used in any content area to develop writing fluency, to build the habit of reflection into a learning experience, and to informally assess student thinking. The strategy asks learners to respond in 2–10 minutes to an open-ended question or prompt posed by the teacher.
This workbook combines Bible study, relevant issues, fluency and infuses a habit of reflection.
"Bible Study Quick Writes" are a fast and fun way for youth to learn the Bible – while getting in some writing and word practice as they go. Ten minutes - from start to finish - is all it takes for youth to analyze, think critically, reflect and learn His word.
This devotional is designed for Sixth Grade students is designed to help students, study school learners, kids attending catechism, homeschoolers -- all children -- travel through Bible verse study while getting an understanding of the goodness and strength of the Lord. This 124-page devotional workbook for youth 11-15 is perfect for use as warm-ups, bell ringers, for whole class study, homeschool, CCD, at the beginning of Sunday School lessons and more. Both homeschool and private school students will benefit from learning the Bible in five to ten minutes per day.
Five Minutes to Fluency and Comprehension is a research-based program that easily fits into any busy school day. Five minutes, from start to finish, as students peer read, one and two minute strategically worded passages and stories, partner review and then provide instant feedback.
Five Minutes to Fluency and Comprehension offers a quick, simple and inexpensive way to increase fluency and comprehension. The program is for classroom use, but can easily be incorporated into take home or parent involvement activities.
The instructions are easy to follow, best of all, Five Minutes to Fluency and Comprehension is easy to differentiate, adapt as close readings and effortlessly incorporate Response to Intervention into a whole class or individual setting.
Imperative for understanding, critical thinking and 21st Century learning is the ability for students to analyze primary source documents.
Included in this lesson are copies of the original, handwritten versions of the Emancipation Proclamation, a typewritten "Interactive Reader" version for analysis, student instructions on analyzing primary sources and a Source Document Graphic Organizer.
Primary sources provide a window into the past—unfiltered access to the record of artistic, social, scientific and political thought and achievement during the specific period under study, produced by people who lived during that period.
Bringing young people into close contact with these unique, often profoundly personal, documents and objects can give them a very real sense of what it was like to be alive during a long-past era.
"Bible Study Quick Writes" are a fast and fun way for primary aged children to learn the Bible – while getting in some writing and word practice as they go.
This devotional is designed for Third Grade students and incorporates cursive practice as well. This version also comes without Cursive practice!
Students, homeschoolers -- all children -- travel through Bible verse study while getting an understanding of the goodness and strength of the Lord. This 122-page devotional for children 7-9 is perfect for use as warm-ups, bell ringers, for whole class study, homeschool and more.
Both homeschool and private school students will benefit from learning the Bible in five to ten minutes per day.
These daily Graces or Devotions are intended to be quick writes. They are perfect for the beginning of the day, the beginning of class periods or end of the day activities. They are aligned with the standards and 21st Century skills in that each verse touches on a standard that is required for college admission, while not sacrificing the strength of His work. Each Quick Write begins with a Bible Verse and extends to the world in which students live today.
The Daily Devotion takes Bible passages and requires students to think and write about things important to them, things happening in their lives – relevant to their world. By connecting standards, His Word and their lives – students gain a greater understanding of the teachings of our Lord and Savior – and gain valuable reading and writing skills required for college in the process.
These Devotions also present an opportunity for Creativity, Collaboration, Cooperation and Critical Thinking – if desired. Each Devotion requires students to look within themselves, reflect how they are living and how they can find their place in the world and with the Holy Spirit in their heart, but they also present opportunities for teachers to have students write and share their ideas, insights, strengths and weaknesses with partners and the whole – in order to maximize engagement.