Reading Response Activity - What's Your Two Cents Worth? Helps students with close reading and writing a response to literature. An active reading activity you can do with a a picture book, short story or even a poem. After reading a story, students have to give their two cents about different parts of a story. Print out sheets for each student. You may choose to print out on card stock and laminate for durability. You may do the same with the sheet of pennies, or you may choose to use real pennies for the activity or have students draw pennines in the boxes. Give each student a copy of the What's Your Two Cents Worth? Explain that you are going to read a story, and during the story you will pause five times for them to reflect and think about how that part just read affected them personally. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss is perfect for this activity. This book has multiple levels of interpretation which help students analyze and react to the themes in the book. At each stopping point, students can decide if the story is causing them to think (head), touching their emotions (heart), or making them want to laugh (funny bone). Students can then give their two cents worth by placing zero, one, or two pennies in the boxes across from the number of each stopping point. They may split up the pennies into different columns if more than one body part is affected. They do not have to use all their pennies, or none if the story is not having an impact on them individually at that point. Stop at five predetermined points while reading the book or story aloud so that students can give their two cents' worth each time. Use the after reading questions as a guide for students to write a literature response. Step by step instructions for the teacher for whole class and group instruction. Includes Reading Response Sheet, Sheet of pennies, After-reading questions, and teacher directions, along with activating strategy, summarizing, and extension. - HappyEdugator

Red Scarf Girl Vocabulary Sheets. 4 weeks of vocabulary based on the novel Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang. The lists can be projected on your white board, and students can fill in the words on their matching study guides. - 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

Poetry vs. Prose Chart and Word Lists. A good word sort activity to use when introducing poetry to your students. Students will have to categorize the terms as either used in poems, prose, or both and put them in a chart. This is an activating thinking strategy and pretest which can also tell you what your students know and don't know about poetry and prose. Two word lists for differentiation. ©2012, 2017 HappyEdugator. All of the activities included in this product are the intellectual properties of Deborah Hayes aka 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

Using Context Clues - Text Signals Handout. Explains how context clues and text signals can help students figure out the meaning of unknown words when they are reading. Includes signal words and sample sentences for explanation/definition, synonym/restatement, antonym/contrast, and cause/effect context clues. - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.4a Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4a Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

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.

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.

3D Diorama Project. Use this project as a culminating activity for any unit of study in Reading, Social Studies, Science or Math. I like to use it after reading a class novel, but I have also used it in Social Studies after we studied a region or a country. Includes a student handout with directions and grading checklist, and detailed directions with photos. Thanks and enjoy! - Happyedugator

Classroom Jobs Super Star Helpers Bulletin Board Set is a beginning of the year set you can print out on cardstock, laminate, and display. Good for back to school when you are setting up your room. A nice classroom management tool. Super Star Helpers Bulletin Board -Print out on cardstock. Cut out pieces. Laminate. Place triangular rays around center oval and post. Place task names on rays. Place names of students on stars. Write on laminated stars with transparency markers (or type them in the stars before you print). Match student names written on stars to the tasks. Change out as needed. Approximate measurements...Center 8 1/2" x 11", Rays 8 1/2" x 2", Stars 8" x 4"...Total width of display when completed will be about 32"-36", depending on how much space you put between pieces. Editable for your specific needs. Looks nice on a shiny deep blue background.

Planners: 2015 - 2016 Teacher Planner and Calendar. Back to school! Includes 2015 and 2016 Calendar, Agenda, Schedule, Daily planners, Lesson plan sheets, Assignment sheet, Substitute information, Seating charts, and more. Especially useful for middle school teachers at the beginning of the year. 19 pages to help you get organized for the new year. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

REINDEER Writing Paper - Lined Paper - Reindeer Theme. Eight different reindeer designs, two different sizes of lines for writing at different ability levels. Students will have fun writing with some cute little reindeer to inspire them. - Enjoy! HappyEdugator

SANTA Writing Paper - Lined Paper - Santa Theme. Eight different Santa designs, two different sizes of lines for writing at different ability levels. Students will have fun writing with cute little Santa to inspire them. - Enjoy! HappyEdugator

Christmas Gift Writing Paper - Lined Paper - Christmas Present Theme. Eight different Christmas gift designs, two different sizes of lines for writing at different ability levels. Students will have fun writing with cute little gifts and presents to inspire them. - Enjoy! HappyEdugator

Use this word scramble puzzle in a center for a fun activity around Halloween. Students will love it. Answers are at the bottom, upside- down, but you can remove them if you wish. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Teacher Appreciation Goody Bag - Just print these notes off, add the goodies, and pass out to your teachers, colleagues, and team members to thank them for a job well done! Great for Teacher Appreciation Week or the End of the Year! Goodies not included. :) Here is a list of what you will need: Hershey’s Kiss Snickers Pencil Paper Clip Rubber Band Lifesavers Toothpick Bubble gum Put them all in a plastic zipper bag with one of these notes. Four notes to a page. Thanks and enjoy!

Presidents' Day Word Search. 38 Presidents are hidden in this President's Day word search puzzle. Students need to find the United States Presidents hidden in the puzzle. Fun activity for Presidents Day and other patriotic holidays such as Flag Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth or Independence Day, and Veterans Day! Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

TEST PREP: Reading - English Language Arts. Key terms and academic vocabulary. List of terms and flashcards. Standardized test terminology. A list of vocabulary and terminology often seen on standardized tests for Grade 1 - 3. Includes the words on flashcards that can be used for word walls, pocket charts, sorting activities, and centers. These words may be found on state tests or common core assessments. Make sure your students are familiar with the terminology before testing begins. - HappyEdugator

Verb - Punctuation TEST. Assessment of using the correct verb form, direct and indirect objects, transitive and intransitive verbs, irregular past participles, and a short basic punctuation review of sentences using commas, periods, question marks and exclamation points. Good test prep for standardized tests. - HappyEdugator

Middle School Language Arts Essential Study Guide. Practice questions on author's purpose, principal parts of verbs, subject-verb agreement, context clues, idioms and prepositions, misplaced modifiers, and sentence structure. This six page study guide or practice sheet reviews several areas of concern many middle school students have trouble with in Language Arts. Key included. Good for test preparation! - HappyEdugator