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.
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
100 Points Book Report Rubric for Nonfiction. A detailed nonfiction book report guide that is easy to grade! This is a book report or book review rubric that very specifically sets the requirements for a book project on a nonfiction book. Based on a 100 points, it is easy to grade and students can self evaluate their work. It is similar in format to my 100 points fiction book report or book review rubric. Promote independent reading, critical thinking, and organizational skills all at the same time. Use the photo and caption on the cover sheet as a poster for your room, too.
HappyEdugator
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, Organisation and Development of Ideas, References and Documentation, Formatting, and Conventions. Promotes independent reading, critical thinking, organisational skills, writing style, and citing sources without plagiarism. - HappyEdugator
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
A Christmas Carol Christmas Card Project. Christmas activity! Students will create a Christmas card based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Directions with rubric included on one sheet. No prep. Print and go. Enjoy! Merry Christmas!
Persuasive Writing Recipe PowerPoint. We use recipes for many things, why not persuasive writing? This powerpoint gives students a “recipe” to follow when writing a persuasive essay, and gives them the basic framework for a persuasive writing piece, starting with an introductory paragraph that ends with a thesis statement, at least three well-supported paragraphs that have a topic sentence related to the thesis statement, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and calls the reader to agree and take action. Reminds students to be prepared for counter arguments, and to write with strong ideas, voice, fluency, organization, presentation, and conventions. Revised and updated 2013 with added information on the writing process, animations and graphics. - HappyEdugator
Supports Common Core ELA Writing Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1a Introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1b Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1c Use words, phrases, and clauses to clarify the relationships among claim(s) and reasons.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1d Establish and maintain a formal style.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1e Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the argument presented.
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
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 more intensive reading of nonfiction text and more writing about the reading, citing text evidence. - HappyEdugator
Persuasive Writing Recipe PowerPoint. We use recipes for many things, why not persuasive writing? This powerpoint gives students a “recipe” to follow when writing a persuasive essay, and gives them the basic framework for a persuasive writing piece, starting with an introductory paragraph that ends with a thesis statement, at least three well-supported paragraphs that have a topic sentence related to the thesis statement, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and calls the reader to agree and take action.
Reminds students to be prepared for counter arguments, and to write with strong ideas, voice, fluency, organisation, presentation, and conventions.
A Christmas Carol. Support Materials bundle. Included is a worksheet on figurative language, a subject and predicate grammar worksheet, an author biography and summary, vocabulary definitions and study strips, vocabulary test with key, stage directions practice, Adapting "A Christmas Carol" Writing Activity, and "A Christmas Carol Christmas Card" assignment and rubric, SMARTboard activities and PowerPoint game on figurative language. Supplemental resource for the book by Charles Dickens or can be used with the adapted play version as well. - HappyEdugator
A Christmas Carol. Support Materials bundle. Included is a worksheet on figurative language, a subject and predicate grammar worksheet, an author biography and summary, vocabulary definitions and study strips, vocabulary test with key, stage directions practice, Adapting “A Christmas Carol” Writing Activity, and “A Christmas Carol Christmas Card” assignment and rubric, SMARTboard activities and PowerPoint game on figurative language. Supplemental resource for the book by Charles Dickens or can be used with the adapted play version as well. - HappyEdugator
A Christmas Carol Subject and Predicate Worksheet. Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, this worksheet explains simple and complete predicates and subjects, and then students have to identify them in ten sentences that give facts about the story. No prep. Print and go. Key included.
A Christmas Carol Subject and Predicate Worksheet. Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, this worksheet explains simple and complete predicates and subjects, and then students have to identify them in ten sentences that give facts about the story. No prep. Print and go. Key included.
A Christmas Carol Christmas Card Project. Christmas activity! Students will create a Christmas card based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Directions with rubric included on one sheet. No prep. Print and go. Enjoy! Merry Christmas!
A Christmas Truce PowerPoint - A Reader’s Theater. 44 slides. You can use this in the classroom or make it into a production for Christmas. This is about the miraculous and spontaneous truce in the trenches during WWI where the British and German soldiers stopped fighting. Listen to the song Christmas in the Trenches, and use it as an introduction. We also connect this to Snoopy and the Red Baron’s Christmas Truce. Play slideshow while students are reading printed cards as a production for parents or visitors. We performed this for parents and invited the VFW to come visit. Includes details on the performance and how to do your own, ideas for backdrop, costumes, suggested music, links, and how to make Snoopy luminaries out of old gallon milk jugs! We ended our performance with everyone singing Snoopy’s Christmas. We did this several years in a row. It turned out to be a great success. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
A Christmas Truce PowerPoint - A Reader’s Theater. 44 slides. You can use this in the classroom or make it into a production for Christmas. This is about the miraculous and spontaneous truce in the trenches during WWI where the British and German soldiers stopped fighting. Listen to the song Christmas in the Trenches, and use it as an introduction. We also connect this to Snoopy and the Red Baron’s Christmas Truce. Play slideshow while students are reading printed cards as a production for parents or visitors. We performed this for parents and invited the VFW to come visit. Includes details on the performance and how to do your own, ideas for backdrop, costumes, suggested music, links, and how to make Snoopy luminaries out of old gallon milk jugs! We ended our performance with everyone singing Snoopy’s Christmas. We did this several years in a row. It turned out to be a great success. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Shades of Meaning Verb Cards - RUN. Cut out and laminate these 16 different cards illustrating different synonyms of the verb "run." Helps students understand connotation. With guidance and support from adults, students acquire new vocabulary by defining word relationships and nuances in word meanings, sorting words into categories, choosing and acting out the different meanings. Aligns to Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs differing in manner (e.g., look, peek, glance, stare, glare, scowl) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic) by defining or choosing them or by acting out the meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.5b Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related verbs (e.g., toss, throw, hurl) and closely related adjectives (e.g., thin, slender, skinny, scrawny).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5c Distinguish shades of meaning among related words that describe states of mind or degrees of certainty (e.g., knew, believed, suspected, heard, wondered).
Additionally, words can be used for spelling practice, writing practice, and word walls. Includes definitions for the teacher. - HappyEdugator
Summer Reading List Grade 4 - 6. A suggested summer reading list to encourage reading. Nice handout to give to parents at the end of the year as a helpful guide to some good literature for children to read during the summer. Parents love it! Includes name of book, author, AR reading level and points value. Chosen for the text level of complexity required by the common core standards. - HappyEdugator
Parts of Speech TEST. Comprehensive assessment of student knowledge of the parts of speech. May be used as a pretest, a formative assessment, or summative assessment. EDITABLE for your own classroom use only. This is not a multiple choice test. Students will have to write and construct responses, which is a critical thinking skill. - HappyEdugator
Watership Down Parts I - IV with Author and Character Notes BUNDLE. Includes all four of the Vocabulary and Question sets and the Author and Character Notes. Buy the complete set and save! - HappyEdugator
