Essay Rubric - for a Formal Essay. Based on the rigor of the common core standards. Rubric measures nine areas of assessment which are: format, understanding of literary texts, idea development, text support,organizational pattern, word choice, sentence structure, transitional devices, and language mechanics. Criteria for assessment categorized as exceeds standards, proficient, meets standards-- but not proficient, and does not meet standards. - HappyEdugator

Christmas Holiday Sensory Writing Practice Worksheet. A Christmas or winter holiday writing worksheet. Ten different Christmas writing prompts for sensory writing, to create imagery with a holiday twist. Students will need to show, not tell, using words that utilize the five senses. You may use the worksheet in centers. group work, or individual instruction. You may wish to have them complete all the exercises, choose some, or assign them individually. Includes three pages of sensory words for students to use if needed. - HappyEdugator

Classroom Performance Evaluation Sheets for Reading and Writing. Oral reading rubric, writing rubric, and reading assignment tracker. Evaluate student's oral reading and writing with a simple rubric, and monitor completion of reading assignments with a simple classroom form developed for upper elementary and middle school students. Especially useful for novel study. Students and teachers can keep track of reading assignments, evaluate oral reading and writing about the selection. A tool that is quick and easy for teachers, and useful for students to use for self-evaluation and peer review. - HappyEdugator

Misplaced Modifiers Worksheet. This worksheet explains what a modifier is, and then it gives examples and practice identifying them. In addition, it explains how misplaced modifiers can change the meaning of a sentence. Students then have to pick the correct sentences that do not have misplaced modifiers. Supports common core standards. This is a skill that is important to clear writing and it is often tested on standardized tests. Key included. - HappyEdugator

Correlative Conjunctions Study Guide. Study guide and worksheet on correlative conjunctions. Definition, Examples, and practice using correlative conjunctions correctly in a sentence. Subject/verb agreement and pronoun/antecedent agreement using correlative conjunctions when writing sentences. Key inlcuded. Supports common core. -HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1e Use correlative conjunctions (e.g., either/or, neither/nor).

Spelling Words with Silent Consonants Worksheet. This worksheet gives your students a strategy to use to remember spelling words that have silent consonants. Included are examples and practice exercises with ten such word pairs. The practice exercises have them write the ten pairs and underline the silent or sounded consonants, match words from the list to their definitions, and complete some analogies with the new words.

Short Story Unit Culminating Activity. This is an assignment sheet for a culminating activity for a unit on short stories. Students have the option of choosing to write a short story or a children's book. Details are given about specific requirements, along with teacher directions. Includes the rubrics for the short story and the children's book, which are also available for sale separately. - HappyEdugator

Panama Canal Study Questions Webquest, Asks students to answer 10 basic questions about the Panama Canal. Questions are about location, climate, demographics, resources, etc. Students can complete as a webquest or do their own research to find the answers.Recommended sites included. Answer key is included, which can be used as a guide for class discussion as well. 2014 is the hundredth birthday of the Panama Canal! - HappyEdugator

Robert Frost - Biography Fill-in and Word Search Activity. A fill in the blank biography of Robert Frost with word bank. Students will learn about Robert Frost while completing the biography, and then have fun finding the words in a word search puzzle. Builds vocabulary and comprehension, as well as providing information about the famous poet's life. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Short Story Assignment Menu. Great for differentiation. This is an assignment menu which can be used as a culminating activity for a unit on short stories. It is differentiated by learning preference and level of difficulty. A rubric for grading is included.

Diary of Anne Frank - Forget Me Not Video Quiz. This video quiz or viewer's guide goes with the 1996 movie "Forget Me Not - The Story of Anne Frank." The eight question quiz is doubled up on one sheet so it can be easily copied and save paper. Includes answer key

Lesson Plan Template - Standards Based. A weekly plan in MS Word with plenty of room for you to organize and keep you focused on learning. Room for Standards, Essential Questions, Activating Strategies, Acceleration, Teaching, Summarizing, and Daily Products and Homework. 2 different styles! You may modify or edit for your own specific needs. Works best for middle school, but can be used for all grades. - HappyEdugator

Summer Reading List Grade 7 - 8. 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 young adults to read during the summer. Parents love it! Includes name of book and author. Chosen for the text level of complexity required by the common core standards. Good guide for homeschool parents, too. - HappyEdugator

Fairy Tales Story Pattern. How to write fairy tales! This is a simple story pattern that can be used to help students write their own fairy tale. They can fill in the blanks to create a story sketch, which they can then elaborate and expand on to create their own personal fairy tale. Good to use as a follow up to a unit on fairy tales, or after reading a fairy tale, like those written by Hans C. Andersen or the Brothers Grimm. Helps students avoid writer's block by scaffolding and gives them the confidence to complete their own story. Writing practice is essential to the CCSS (common core state standards ) in Language Arts. Example included. - HappyEdugator

Adverbs Hunt Worksheet. Parts of Speech fun. Find the adverb or adverbs in each sentence and identify them. Key is included. This is a one page worksheet with 25 sentences. This is a worksheet version of my Finding Adverbs in Sentences Interactive PowerPoint. Can also be used as a short assessment. - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1a Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general and their functions in particular sentences.

Short Story Writing Project Rubric. Have your students write a short story. They can use PowerPoint slides to get creative, using this rubric as a guide for including the literary elements, and making it easy for you to grade. This rubric specifies the requirements needed, and addresses the writing process, introduction, organization, problem or conflict, characters, setting, resolution/solution, and spelling and punctuation. UPDATED OCTOBER 2014 - HappyEdugator

Vocabulary Game - Race to the Finish! Can be used with any vocabulary list for students to practice their vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. Print out game board and student directions, (best on cardstock and laminated or placed in page protectors) and provide a die and a game piece for each player. Can be used as a file folder game. Works best with 2 - 3 students per board...but can be more. You can differentiate by allowing students to use resources or not. Also works well for gifted and talented kids who easily get bored. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Halloween Horrid Homonyms Worksheet. A Halloween writing activity. Many students get homonyms (or homophones) confused when they write, and this worksheet will help them practice using homonyms correctly. There are twenty sets of commonly misused homonyms, and students will write their own spooky sentences using the homonyms correctly. To make it more challenging, students can try to use both ( or all three) homonyms in the same sentence! Students can work with partners or individually, as the teacher directs. They can then write a Halloween story using their newly learned homonyms. Decorative lined paper included. The idea can be adapted for other holidays as well. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Vocabulary Builder - Pump Up Your Vocabulary in Ten Easy Steps PowerPoint. Going back to school? Give students vocabulary strategies that will help them build a strong vocabulary for reading and writing. Interactive PowerPoint lesson. Ten vocabulary builders. The ten steps for building vocabulary include: Pronounce words correctly Use a dictionary Use a thesaurus Make word cards Use mnemonics Use context clues Distinguish between multiple-meaning words Learn word origins Study word parts and Distinguish connotation and denotation 33 slides with activities for practise and answers. Materials required: a dictionary for each student or group of students, and 4 index cards for each student. - HappyEdugator

Poetry Sound Patterns. Writng poetry with sound devices. The first page of this handout discusses four different types of sound patterns or sound devices that are used in poetry, including alliteration, assonance, consonance, and rhyme. The second page of this handout is a writing activity for students to apply what they have learned. The third page gives possible solutions to the writing challenges. - HappyEdugator